A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass legislation to exempt Puerto Rico and other noncontiguous states and territories from the Jones Act.

HR 42 is a resolution passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives urging Congress to exempt Puerto Rico and other noncontiguous territories (like Alaska and Hawaii) from the Jones Act. The Jones Act requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on vessels built, owned, and crewed by Americans. The resolution states this law imposes significant economic costs - $1.2 billion annually for Hawaii and $1.5 billion for Puerto Rico - by raising prices for goods and increasing the cost of living. It argues the current waiver process for emergencies, made more restrictive in 2023, hinders disaster response in these territories.