HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	119
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING the united states congress TO enact legislation exempting from the jones act all marine cargo shipments to and from the state of hawaii.

WHEREAS, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act, requires among other things, that all goods that are shipped within the United States be transported by United States-flagged vessels that are primarily operated by United States citizens; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is an archipelago and thus much of Hawaii's inter- or intra-state cargo shipments require marine transportation and are therefore subject to the Jones Act; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the highest cost of living; and

WHEREAS, each year, the Jones Act costs the State an estimated $1,200,000,000, and Hawaii families an estimated $1,800; and

WHEREAS, exempting Hawaii from the Jones Act may significantly reduce the cost of living in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the United States Congress is urged to enact legislation exempting from the Jones Act all marine cargo shipments to and from the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

United States Congress; Jones Act; Exemption