Senator McCain Introduces New Bill to Repeal Jones Act

gCaptain ^ | July 18, 2017 | Mike Schuler

[Oatka]

(Note: On Wednesday, the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix released a statement saying that tissue pathology revealed that a primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer, was associated with Senator McCain’s blood clot. The statement added that the tissue of concern was completely resected during last Friday’s procedure, and the Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options, which may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. The statement went on to say that “the Senator’s doctors say he is recovering from his surgery ‘amazingly well’ and his underlying health is excellent.” It is unclear how the diagnosis will impact Senator McCain’s legislation. And, on a personal note, we wish Senator McCain a full and speedy recovery.)

With all eyes on health care in recent weeks, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has introduced his latest legislation seeking to repeal the Jones Act.

Senator McCain first introduced the legislation, known as the Open America’s Waters Act of 2017, last Thursday, one day before he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. The Senator has since been recovering at this home in Arizona and is said to be in good condition as doctors await tissue pathology reports.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, aka the Jones Act, requires that all goods shipped between ports in the United States be transported on American-built ships that are owned and operated by Americans.

Senator McCain, a U.S. Navy veteran and former POW, has been working for years to reform and repeal the Jones Act. He first introduced legislation to repeal the Jones Act in 2010 and, most recently, in January 2016, he introduced an amendment to an energy modernization bill that would have waived the U.S. build requirement for oil and gas tankers. A year earlier, Senator McCain tried to attach a similar amendment to a Keystone XL pipeline bill, again seeking to eliminate the U.S. build requirement of the Jones Act, but the bill passed without McCain’s amendment attached.

Despite tough opposition from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, McCain has vowed to eventually repeal of the full Jones Act, describing it as “antiquated law” that hinders free trade and raises prices for American consumers.

“I have long advocated the repeal of the Jones Act, an archaic and burdensome law that hinders free trade, stifles the economy, and ultimately harms consumers,” said Senator McCain in reference to his most recent legislation. “My legislation would eliminate this regulation, freeing American shippers from the requirement that they act against their own business interests. By allowing U.S. shippers to purchase affordable foreign-made carriers, this legislation would reduce shipping costs, make American farmers and businesses more competitive in the global marketplace, and bring down the cost of goods and services for American consumers.”

“The protectionist mentality embodied by the Jones Act directly contradicts the lessons we have learned about the benefits of a free and open market. Free trade expands economic growth, creates jobs, and lowers costs for consumers. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and finally repeal the outdated and protectionist Jones Act,” Senator McCain added.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

[Oatka]

Like many of the "savings" supposedly effected, the consumer rarely sees the benefit.

IMO, better to keep this restriction from the standpoint it suppoerts our shipbuilding infrastructure and attendant skills base. You never know when we will need it again.

[jpl]

Has Senator McCain stepped down yet, or is he so power mad that he’s going to stubbornly hold onto the job until the day he dies like Ted Kennedy did?

[TheTimeOfMan]

Former POW - and probable collaborator...

[DIRTYSECRET]

Deathbed confession?

[a fool in paradise]

Is the Mayo Clinic a VA hospital?

[jospehm20]

I predict option 2.

[BenLurkin]

Which foreign power is stuffing cash in his pockets to get this Bill passed?

[forgotten man]

NASSCO in San Diego is the last shipyard on the West Coast. There are a lot of blue collar jobs there building ships that travel from West Coast ports to Alaska. I guess McCain wants to kill those jobs before he goes.

[georgiarat]

Immediately there will be a sellout of US shipping companies to foreign companies..

[meyer]

Just as cancer is eating at McCain’s brain, he is part of the cancer that is eating away at our Constitutional Republic.

His hate for Trump, and the 63 million that voted for him, is so strong that he seeks to destroy the US to get “even”.

He will hide behind his illness to lash out, again and again, at all things American, thinking that people will not rebut him. WRONG!

[factoryrat]

No. McCain can go and tell the asian/muslims/communists who own him that they’re SOL.

Shipbuilding is a strategic asset.

If McCain and his bitch lindsey had it their way, china would be building all of our aircraft carriers and ships, along with our weapons and jets.

War hawk and free traitor/globalist is a deadly combination to our Republic.

[Eddie01]

Senator McCain?

What a joke.

[DesertRhino]

At what point does a brain disease disqualify one to be a senator?

[Alberta's Child]

I believe the Jones Act should be left in place, but should be amended. There's no reason to prohibit foreign vessels from operating between U.S. ocean ports where foreign vessels are already making port calls for international trips. For example, why prohibit a foreign-flagged freighter from operating between Los Angeles and Honolulu if the vessel is already permitted to sail from Singapore to Honolulu or from South Korea to Los Angeles?

The Jones Act should stay in place for all operations on inland waterways in the U.S.

[meyer]

I guess McCain wants to kill those jobs before he goes.

McCain's a globalist. He wants to kill off as much of the US as he can before he dies.

He will die a globalist, and hopefully a very lonely one.

[mass55th]

"and the Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options"

Like your friend Obama said: "Take the pain pill."

[Enlightened1]

McCain needs to step down and spend time with his family.

Yet McCain is still trying to SELL OUT the U.S.

Sorry McCain it will not happen.

[Lurkinanloomin]

McCain won’t resign and spend what time he has left with this family.
He is on a mission to destroy the USA.

[Oldexpat]

Shipbuilding and the steel industries receive large subsidies from foreign governments..so there is no real free trade in the maritime field. What is left of our shipbuilding industry will be gone if we eliminate the Jones act. Hawaii and Alaska do have high shipping costs, but it isn’t only because of the Jones act. They are both relatively small markets in the shipping business. The Jones act also effects fishing vessels operating in US waters.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Watch out for his next amnesty push.
He has one more shot at that plum.