To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.6974 | Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed (D-HI)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, to temporarily allow foreign vessels that are not Russian to transport oil, liquefied natural gas, and related products between a port in Hawaii and another U.S. port. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting cargo domestically must be U.S.-built and generally owned and crewed by U.S. citizens.
Foreign vessels may transport petroleum crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas between Hawaii and other U.S. ports while there is a ban on transporting such products from Russia. However, the bill does not apply to Russian-flagged vessels or vessels that are owned by a Russian national or the Russian government.

To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels 
 transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified 
  natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United 
 States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban 
   on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the 
              Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXCEPTION FOR TRANSPORTATION OF CRUDE OIL, PETROLEUM, 
              PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, AND LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS BETWEEN 
              HAWAII AND OTHER PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 55124. Exception for transportation of crude oil, petroleum, 
              petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between 
              Hawaii and other ports in the United States.
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
vessel may transport crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and 
liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the 
United States.
    ``(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply for the duration 
of any period in which there exists a ban on the transportation of 
crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas 
from the Russian Federation.
    ``(c) Certain Vessels Excluded.--Subsection (a) shall not apply 
to--
            ``(1) a vessel that is owned, in whole or in part, by--
                    ``(A) a Russian national; or
                    ``(B) the government of the Russian Federation; or
            ``(2) a Russian-flagged vessel.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 551 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``55124. Exception for transportation of crude oil, petroleum, 
                            petroleum products, and liquified natural 
                            gas between Hawaii and other ports in the 
                            United States.''.
                                 <all>