Political Quotes

“I introduce today legislation to repeal the Jones Act waiver contained in last year's Coast Guard Authorization bill for the vessel Columbus. Mr. President, I had serious objections to a provision in last year's Coast Guard Authorization bill that was inserted in the House bill in a managers' amendment with no hearings or vote in the Senate. This provision granted a waiver of existing law for a single vessel operating on the Great Lakes and elsewhere against the wishes of both Michigan Senators and other Senators and in circumvention of a Customs Service ruling regarding the type of dredge work this vessel is allowed to perform. This waiver is a discriminatory provision which gives special treatment and a competitive advantage to one vessel at the expense of its competitors and it should be repealed. Mr. President, the granting of this waiver is detrimental to other dredgers on the Great Lakes and elsewhere who are abiding by U.S. law and U.S. Customs Service interpretations of the Jones Act.”