CRISIS/DHS/PUERTO RICO/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Foreign-flagged ships will be allowed to deliver aid to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico after the Department of Homeland Security waived a law blocking non-U.S.-ships from transporting goods between U.S. ports.
On Thursday [9-28-17] morning, the Trump administration and DHS announced that a waiver to the Jones Act, which was blocking foreign-flagged vessels from shipping relief supplies to Puerto Rico, had been issued. The reason was ‘in the interest of the nation’s defense,’ according to DHS spokesman David Lapan. Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, ravaged the island last week, destroying its electrical grid and leaving it desperately short of food, clean water and fuel.
The Jones Act waiver, which is good for 10 days, will allow foreign-flagged ships, to bring aid to Puerto Rico from U.S. ports and from foreign ports. Lawmakers from Puerto Rico and the U.S. sought the request because aid can be delivered at a lower cost from other nations.”
-Natalie Andrews, “Homeland Security Grants Jones Act Waiver for Puerto Rico,” The Wall Street Journal online, Sept. 28, 2017 09:28am