John McCain Is Pushing An Idea That Could Be A Huge Help To Puerto Rico

[riversedge]

Source: Huff post


HuffPost September 26, 2017

WASHINGTON ― Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is urging acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke to take an action that could significantly help Puerto Rico amid its unfolding humanitarian crisis: waive the Jones Act.

The law requires that all goods shipped between U.S. ports be carried by American-owned and operated ships. That means Puerto Rico pays double the shipping costs for goods from the U.S. mainland compared to neighboring islands. DHS has gotten emergency waivers to the Jones Act twice in the last months in response to recent hurricanes, and McCain says Duke should waive the law again to speed up relief efforts on the island decimated last week by Hurricane Maria.

“It is unacceptable to force the people of Puerto Rico to pay at least twice as much for food, clean drinking water, supplies and infrastructure due to Jones Act requirements as they work to recover from this disaster,” McCain said in a Tuesday letter to Duke. “We must treat this emergency relief with urgency ― every day that business owners are unable to recover their assets and account for lost business, the economy will retreat even further into devastation.”

Here’s the full letter:

DHS was not receptive to McCain’s request...............

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/sen-john-mccain-pushing-idea-012158744.html?utm_content=buffer12a2f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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Link to tweet

Xposted:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029643817

Timothy Castantine🔎? @Castantine 1h1 hour ago

Trump on why they won't lift the Jones Act.

"Cuz shipping industry threw a tantrum."

Absolutely unbelievable.

Link to tweet

John McCain?Verified account @SenJohnMcCain

Shipping industry supports #JonesAct b/c it's protectionist. #PuertoRico deserves better than policy decisions driven by special interests.
1:43 PM - 27 Sep 2017

Link to tweet