Many reports refer to the Jones Act while referring to the BP Oil Spill. Though the oil spill off the Gulf Coast of Mexico is very recent and probably far too familiar for comfort to most people, it is an excellent example to use when discussing the Jones Act, which was introduced in 1920. Formerly known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act provides coverage for barge and ship workers who are killed or injured through negligence caused by their employers. All marine employees, from the captain and navigator to the cooks and ship hands are treated like equals through the Jones Act. . The Jones Act can be utilized to receive compensation to cover lost wages and medical expenses both past and future, vocational retraining, psychological damage, and pain and suffering. Nevertheless, many officials believe that the Jones Act is hindering the cleanup operation in the Gulf of Mexico because of the belief that the Act says ships operating in United States water must be owned and crewed by US citizens. Unfortunately, there are many people whom want the Jones Act to be waived. Though this will allow better-equipped foreign ships to assist with the cleanup operation, yet once the Act is severed, ship and barge workers will no longer be entitled to the benefits that they would have been in case their employer was negligent.

It is essentially a "catch-22" situation. If the Act is severed, more efficient assistance can be offered to help clean the oil spill- at the cost of ship workers' potential benefits in the instance of employer negligence. Yet if it is not severed, then more efficient foreign assistance cannot and will not be offered for the project. Despite the officials that want to have the Act waived, a decision has not yet been reached at this time. Only time will tell whether or not the Act will be waived; and the repercussions of doing so or leaving things the way they currently are will only be ascertained once a decision has been reached. Collectively, we can only hope that the correct choice is made.