If the Jones act is repealed it would shut down every commercial shipbuilding yard in the US. We have few enough anyway, but it would also put all of our seaman out of a job..few of them anyway. Union or not. Every commercial fishing boat would be built overseas and manned by foreigners. It is a protectionest act, but it has been the only thing that has preserved the tattered remnants of our commercial shipping and fishing industry.
I spent part of my career as a supplier to the US and Foreign shipbuilding industry..so I know the issue and what has been done over the years to by pass it(like the big trawler processors “converted” in Europe).
In spite of being a freetrader..I would not vote to repeal the Jones Act, or vote for anyone who did.