Biden’s Transportation Sec’y Nominee Affirms Jones Act Support

by Michael Hansen, Hawaii Shippers Council, January 22, 2021

The maritime trade magazine Marine Log published on January 21, 2021, the news article, “Pete Buttigieg: ‘I support the Jones Act’,” reporting that President Joe Biden’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Transportation affirmed his support for the Jones Act during U.S. Senate confirmation hearings on Thursday.

Pete Buttigieg is a Democratic politician, was mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana (2012 – 2020) earning the nickname “Mayor Pete,” and a 2020 candidate for the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States. He dropped out of the primary race on March 1, 2020, and endorsed Joe Biden. Biden announced his nomination of Buttigieg for Secretary of Transportation in December 2020.

In response to a question from Maria Cantwell (D-WA) during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing regarding support for the Jones Act, Buttigieg replied, “Thank you. Yes, I share your support for the Jones Act. It is so important to a maritime industry that creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and the shipbuilding industry here in the United States.”

Indications are that Buttigieg will receive U.S. Senate confirmation to serve as Transportation Secretary.

This echoes President Biden’s support for the Jones Act, which he stated during the recent presidential campaign.

These statements strongly indicate the Biden Administration will not support any reform of the Jones Act over the next four years.

Marine Log: Pete Buttigieg: ‘I support the Jones Act’

Meanwhile: Ed Case Reintroduces Jones Act Reform Bills