WH lifts Jones Act rules for PR

WASHINGTON, DC – T he White House has authorized a waiver to the Jones Act that will significantly loosen shipping rules to Puerto Rico in efforts to get supplies to the island following damages caused by Hurricane Maria. "At @ricardorossello request, @POTUS has authorized the Jones Act be waived for Puerto Rico. It will go into effect immediately," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Sept. 28. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló joined a growing list of officials who argue that lifting the Jones Act - a federal law designed to protect the financial interests of U.S. shipbuilders by limiting shipping by foreign vessels - would help expedite needed supplies to the island. The Jones Act has had an unintended consequence of making it twice as expensive to ship things from the mainland to Puerto Rico. (Source: CNN 09/28/17)