State-Federal Relations & Veterans Affairs committee hears hours of testimony, advances measures on Jones Act, Smith-Mundt, Article V and climate

Lede — At a State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs committee hearing that ran through the morning and into an afternoon executive session, lawmakers heard hours of public and expert testimony on the Jones Act, the Smith–Mundt Modernization Act and other measures, and then voted to advance several of those measures to the full legislature.

Nut graf — The committee’s agenda paired a long-standing debate over the 1920 Merchant Marine Act (the “Jones Act”) with bills on federal information policy and several procedural measures asking Congress to call an Article V convention. Lawmakers said they sought input from a broad set of witnesses; witnesses included shipyard and mariner representatives, labor and industry trade groups, former federal maritime officials, a retired U.S. Navy captain, legal and public‑policy experts, and a set of citizens and academics focused on climate and public information policy.

Body — Jones Act debate: Representative Jason Moffett (prime sponsor) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 10 advocating reform of the Jones Act, and he walked the committee through economic and national‑security arguments for changing the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Moffett cited analysis saying U.S. ship construction costs far exceed foreign shipyards, argued limits on foreign ownership and foreign‑built ships reduce competition and raise fuel and shipping costs, and said New England’s winter fuel needs mean the state depends on maritime deliveries.

Testimony for preserving the Jones Act came from Brian Vahey, vice president for the Atlantic Region of American Waterways Operators (AWO).…