American delivery market execs remained in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to take part in a panel conversation throughout a House Transportation & & Infrastructure Committee Democrats hearing on the Jones Act and also its influence on typhoon alleviation initiatives in Puerto Rico.

The panel of market specialists consisted of Anthony Chiarello, President and also CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of TOTE, Michael Roberts, Senior Vice President, General Counsel of Crowley Maritime Corporation, John Graykowski, previous Acting UNITED STATE Maritime Administrator at MARAD, and also Brian Schoeneman, legal supervisor for the Seafarers International Union, that were seeking to resolve the reports in the media that the Jones Act has actually hindered the alleviation initiatives in the Puerto Rico.

The reality is rather the contrary, really.

According to Tote and also Crowley, which run 2 of the 3 getting terminals in San Juan where ships would certainly discharge, to the most effective of their expertise, not a solitary international vessel has actually made use of the waiver to supply freight from the united state toPuerto Rico That is, the U.S.-flag fleet has actually provided on every demand from FEMA or the united state federal government when it come to typhoon alleviation deliveries from the united state landmass toPuerto Rico

“Has there been any requirement for shipments from a U.S. port to Puerto Rico that has not been met by the Jones Act carriers?,” asked board participantRep Garamendi.

“Not to our knowledge,” reacted both Chiarello and also Roberts.

“You have received no requests from FEMA, from DHS, from the military to move equipment or goods from an American port to Puerto Rico, that has not been met?” Garamendi repeated.

“That is correct,” the panel claimed.

When asked byRep Larsen if there is an useful factor for the DHS to expand the waiver even more past its present expiry, TOTE’s chief executive officer Chiarello reacted:

“It didn’t make sense to us why the waiver was put in place in the first place, so an extension of the waiver would make even less sense. We have the capacity, we’re moving the freight. There isn’t a bottleneck of cargo to get to the island, the bottleneck is on the island.”

Adding to that factor, Crowley’ Michael Robert’s described:

“The problem with the 10-day waiver and any extension of it is that it is a blanket waiver. It applies to everyone [shipping cargo to Puerto Rico]. And let me emphasize that our top priority is to help the people of Puerto Rico get the supplies they need. If there was a particular movement that couldn’t be satisfied with a Jones Act vessel, we would not stand in the way of getting that done quickly. That’s just not the case now.”

The Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke authorized a 10-day waiver of the Jones Act in Puerto Rico on September 28.

The Jones Act calls for that items delivered in between united state ports be moved on American- developed ships that are possessed and also team by Americans.

To much better comprehend the discussion over the Jones Act in Puerto Rico, we motivate you to view the Jones Act wondering about throughout Tuesday’s hearing listed below.

Rep John Garamendi (CA-03) wondering about:

Rep Peter DeFazio (OR-04) examining:

Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) examining:

Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-07) examining:

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) examining: