CEI joins coalition commending waiver extension for the Jones Act
Dear Secretary Mullin, Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Wright, and Secretary Rollins:
The undersigned individuals write to commend President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend enforcement of the century-old Jones Act for covered commodities for an additional 90 days rather than allow his waiver to expire.
The Jones Act requires cargo shipped domestically over water to be carried on vessels that are U.S.-built, owned, and crewed, even if more affordable and efficient options are available.
However, U.S. law allows the Secretary of War to request a waiver of the Jones Act when “necessary in the interest of national defense to address an immediate adverse effect on military operations.”
The U.S. – Iran engagement and resulting energy disruptions underscore the ongoing importance of Jones Act waivers. President Trump’s actions have permitted more than 200 voyages since March, allowing vessels to deliver goods Americans rely on, including gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, crude oil, and fertilizer. Allowing this beneficial waiver to end would not have been in the national interest. Although the extended waiver adds a new requirement for consultations between the Maritime Administration and the Pentagon, we applaud the Administration for not allowing it to expire.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
National Taxpayers Union
Pete Sepp
President
American Commitment
Phil Kerpen
President
Americans for Prosperity
Brent Gardner
Chief Government Affairs Officer
American Energy Alliance
Tom Pyle
President
Americans for Free Markets
David Ibsen
Executive Director
Bluegrass Institute
Caleb Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Center for a Free Economy
Ryan Ellis
President
Americans for Tax Reform
Grover Norquist
President
Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Daniel J. Mitchell
President
Consumer Choice Center
James Czerniawski
Head of Emerging Technology Policy
Independent Women
Gabriella Hoffman
Director Center for Energy and Conservation
R Street Institute
Nan Swift
Senior Fellow
Center for Transportation Advancement
David Ozgo
Executive Director
Exiled Policy
Jason Pye
Founder
Liberty Justice Center
Sara Albrecht
Chairman & CEO
Rio Grande Foundation
Paul Gessing
President
Citizen Outreach
Chuck Muth
President
Ginn Economic Consulting/Trump 45 White House OMB
Vance Ginn
Chief Economist
Market Institute
Charles Sauer
Founder & President
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Karen Kerrigan
President & CEO
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Ryan Young
Senior Economist
Independent Women
Patrice Lee Onwuka
Vice President of Economic Policy and Director of Center for Economic Opportunity
Pinpoint Policy Institute
Eric Ventimiglia
Executive Director
Young Voices
Casey Given
Chief Executive Officer