# Congress Weighs Two-Year Jones Act Suspension

A RealClearMarkets article advocates that Congress authorize a two-year suspension of the Jones Act, arguing that extending the current short-term waiver could give maritime businesses greater certainty to develop shipping routes, supply agreements, and distribution investments. The article says the existing waiver is scheduled to expire on November 15, 2026—six days from the current date. This is a policy proposal, not an enacted change or announced procurement opportunity.

- The waiver’s stated expiration date is **November 15, 2026**; maritime businesses and contractors with shipping-dependent supply chains can use that date when assessing near-term logistics plans.
- If Congress authorizes a longer suspension, companies serving Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico may find opportunities to evaluate new routes, shipping agreements, and distribution investments; these outcomes are prospective, not guaranteed.
- Procurement teams should distinguish the article’s proposed two-year suspension from current law and avoid basing sourcing or contract assumptions on a change that has not been enacted.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Transportation
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** November 08, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Congress (Congress)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury)

### Sources
- [A Case for Giving the Jones Act a Two-Year Time Out | RealClearMarkets](https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2026/11/09/a_case_for_giving_the_jones_act_a_two-year_time_out_1215687.html) - RealClearMarkets