Puerto Rico's Hurricane Maria Death Toll Rises to 43, Lawmakers Seek Longer Jones Act Waiver
Source: NBC - Washington
By Matthew Daly
The number of deaths in Puerto Rico associated with Hurricane Maria has increased to 43 from 39, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said Tuesday, as Republicans and Democrats in Congress push to exempt the island from a federal law that prohibits foreign-flagged ships from shuttling goods between U.S. ports.
President Donald Trump temporarily waived the Jones Act last month amid criticism that the once-obscure law hindered relief efforts to in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
The 10-day waiver expired on Sunday night and was not renewed. A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said an extension was not needed to support relief efforts on the island, adding that there's "an ample supply" of U.S.-flagged vessels to ensure cargo reaches Puerto Rico.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Monday that the expiration of the Jones Act waiver added renewed urgency to his push to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from what he called an "archaic and burdensome law."
Read more: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Puerto-Rico-Hurricane-Maria-Death-Toll-Lawmakers-Seek-Longer-Jones-Act-Waiver-450234693.html
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)Hospitals in working order.
There are reports of violent people stealing the supplies they want. Unsurprising when you're playing tropical Mad Max.
Every single death that can count maria as a contributing factor must be acknowledged.
This is like the huge heatwave that happened in Chicago where hundreds of elderly people cooked to death , which the coroner attributed to natural causes.
Utter bullshit and a complete disrespect for the people who are losing their lives in this horrific shit show.
Combination of anger and anguish is going to give me a stroke.
modrepub
(3,505 posts)since it contributes to inefficiency in the shipping system. If it's cheaper to use non-US flagged ships they why cant they be used for any transport between US ports? Yea you may loose jobs but paying more for this service isn't efficient (and where were these protectionists when my COBAL programing father was laid-off from his job more than two decades ago).
Pugster
(229 posts)Trump says.