LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers are seeking to exempt that state, along with Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, from a provision in a maritime law designed to protect the U.S. shipping industry that some blame for steep shipping costs.
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers are seeking to exempt that state, along with Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, from a provision in a maritime law designed to protect the U.S. shipping industry that some blame for steep shipping costs.
State Sen. Samuel Slom and Rep. Sam Kong have introduced resolutions asking Congress for the exemption.
Lawmakers want to waive a section of the 1920 law requiring that ships transporting cargo between two U.S. ports be built in the United States, and manned and primarily owned by U.S. citizens.
U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona earlier introduced legislation to repeal the domestic-building requirement. That rider was intended to be added to legislation vetoed by President Obama Tuesday that would have forced construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
