Jones Act Strategic Petroleum Reserve Waiver Provision Advances

Last night, Congress released conference report language regarding H.R. 2112, the first of the FY12 appropriations "minibus" measures. H.R. 2112 provides that none of the appropriations may be made available to issue waivers of the U.S.-flag Jones Act cabotage requirement for shipments from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve unless, as part of that determination, the Secretary of Transportation–in consultation with representatives from the U.S.-flag maritime industry–provides the Secretary of Homeland Security a list of U.S.-flag vessels with single or collective capacity that may be capable of providing the requested transportation services and a written justification for not using such U.S.-flag vessels.