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HR 3966 115th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Caribbean area Congressional oversight Disaster relief and insurance Economic performance and conditions Food supply, safety, and labeling Government studies and investigations Inflation and prices Licensing and registrations Marine and inland water transportation Navigation, waterways, harbors Public utilities and utility rates Puerto Rico Transportation costs

Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act

Introduced: October 23, 2017 Introduced by: Palmer, Gary J. Republican · Alabama See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 6, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Oct 5, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 5, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act

This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens.

The bill exempts for five years vessels transporting merchandise between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports from Jones Act requirements.

The Government Accountability Office must report the economic impact of this bill on Puerto Rico.

What's happening now October 6, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3966: Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3966/
MLA
"H.R. 3966: Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3966/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3966, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3966/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3966: Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3966/)
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