Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, Deanne Criswell commented on the calls for President Biden to grant a waiver that would bypass the Jones Act and allow a vessel carrying diesel to dock in Puerto Rico, bringing Puerto Ricans necessary fuel. The Jones Act is a law that states shipping between U.S. ports has to be facilitated by United States owned ships that are built in the United States with a United States based crew, and the ship in question is not a United States vessel.
REPORTER: “Has the administration or will the administration waive the Jones Act that would allow for a diesel carrying ship to dock there in Puerto Rico to help provide necessary provisions of diesel oil to those there?”
CRISWELL: “Yeah, we are committed to doing everything that we can within our legal authority to support the people of Puerto Rico and we know that the Jones Act waiver is one of those things. We have a legal obligation to ensure that each waiver request meets the legal requirements of Congress and so any final determination on that will be made by the Secretary of Homeland Security.”
REPORTER: “Given the pressure, we've heard from the Puerto Ricans and the governor in that, in that territory right now, what time frame should they anticipate that decision should be made given the urgent need for that oil?”
CRISWELL: “I know that they are actively working on that approval process for that consideration right now and so I don't have a timeframe for you right now.”
