Jones Act and Puerto Rico

[SilverFang01]

As you know Puerto Rico was struck by Hurricane María destroying infrastructure and creating a humanitarian crisis. Now, unlike with Harvey or Katrina, the US government is refusing to waive the Jones act for Puerto Rico-This means that any country that wants to help by sending much needed supplies cannot do so directly. They will have to bring it to the mainland, offload the ship, transfer the cargo to an american merchant marine vessel, and then that vessel can take the aid to Puerto Rico.

In these kind of emergencies, that type of delay will result in things getting worse.

So, I am asking that if you are willing, call your Senators and Representatives in Congress to waive the Jones Act during recovery efforts.

Puerto Rico needs as much help as possible.

References:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017...707448001/

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/...uerto-rico

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm...SKCN1C12UI

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pu...act-waiver

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wha...ng-n805101

[robkelk]

White House lifts shipping restrictions to hurricane-hit Puerto Rico - for ten days.

[SilverFang01]

At least is something.

[Dartz]

For all of ten days. Just long enough to say 'Hey, it's not working at all' and refuse to extend it.

[robkelk]

I'll just leave these here...

Severe shortages plunge Puerto Ricans into struggle for survival

Trump slams mayors of Puerto Rico for wanting 'everything done for them'

[robkelk]

Every time I think my opinion of Trump couldn't get any worse, he says something like this.

Trump said "every death is a horror, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was totally overpowering … you can be very proud of all of your people, all of our people working together."

From what he said, the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria wasn't "a real catastrophe" (his exact words).

[hazard]

Of course it wasn't. It's just Puerto Rico, and those people aren't allowed to vote in the elections that matter.

And even if they could vote in the elections that matter they're all latino, so not really people to him anyway.