H.R. 6974: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

H.R. 6974: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

117th Congress · introduced 2022-03-08 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2022-03-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, to temporarily allow foreign vessels that are not Russian to transport oil, liquefied natural gas, and related products between a port in Hawaii and another U.S. port. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting cargo domestically must be U.S.-built and generally owned and crewed by U.S. citizens. Foreign vessels may transport petroleum crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas between Hawaii and other U.S. ports while there is a ban on transporting such products from Russia. However, the bill does not apply to Russian-flagged vessels or vessels that are owned by a Russian national or the Russian government.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas between a port in Hawaii and another port in the United States from Jones Act vessel requirements for the duration of any ban on the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products from the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] reported raising $1.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr6974.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr6974 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117