One day after NEFI and our coalition of 14 national trade associations transmitted our letter to Congressional leadership calling for Jones Act reform, the White House announced that President Trump has extended the existing Jones Act waiver by 90 days. The extension pushes the new expiration date from May 17 to mid-August, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to continue moving oil, fuel, and fertilizer between U.S. ports.

The administration pointed to new data compiled since the initial waiver was issued showing that significantly more supply was able to reach U.S. ports faster. The White House said the extension "provides both certainty and stability for the U.S. and global economies," and that it will "help ensure vital energy products, industrial materials, and agricultural necessities are maintained" as part of a broader set of actions to mitigate short-term disruptions to energy markets.

The fact that the administration has now extended this waiver well into the summer underscores what we have been saying all along: the underlying problem is structural, and temporary relief does not fix it. The cycle of waive-and-forget must end. You can find a copy of our letter here.

NEFI will continue pressing Congress to move beyond waivers and toward permanent reform. The extension buys time, but it does not change the fundamental ask we put before Congressional leadership yesterday. We will keep members informed as this effort advances. In the meantime, if you have not yet used our campaign to send a message directly to your lawmakers, we encourage you to do so today:
https://www.votervoice.net/NEFI/Campaigns/136713/Respond

For more information, contact NEFI Manager of Government Affairs, Liam Dotson, at liam.dotson@nefi.com.