Washington ferries: Jones Act is not the problem

Re: “Save our ferry system: A plea for help from an islander” [Nov. 29, Opinion]:

Op-Ed writer Paul Bunning suggests repealing the Jones Act as an answer to Washington State Ferries woes. He referred to as the Jones Act protectionist with out explaining what the Jones Act is.

The Jones Act, in any other case referred to as the Service provider Marine Act of 1920, is a regulation launched by U.S. Sen. Wesley Jones of Washington state as mandatory for nationwide protection to advertise a service provider marine. The act requires that waterborne commerce carried between two United States ports be carried on U.S.-owned, -crewed and -built ships. It requires homeowners to adjust to U.S. labor, environmental and tax legal guidelines.

Bunning glorifies China’s, Germany’s and Poland’s shipbuilding industries. The shipbuilding industries in these nations are backed not as a result of these nations are socialist however fairly as a result of they acknowledge shipbuilding as important to their nationwide protection. Our shipbuilding trade was gutted when President Ronald Reagan ended shipbuilding subsidies in 1981, placing the U.S. at a aggressive drawback. Speak about giving up the farm.

Present opponents of the Jones Act embrace international transport pursuits, the libertarian Cato institute, and election deniers like U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. Let’s strengthen our service provider marine, not intestine it.

William Williamson, Federal Manner