Political Quotes

“I wish to talk about the oilspill that is absorbing so much of the time and attention of our country. There is a minor point, one that I think needs to be addressed right now, and that is the Jones Act. The Jones Act was put in place in 1920 to ensure that the United States was able to maintain a fleet of merchant ships. It was really for protection of U.S.-flagged carriers against competition from foreign carriers that might undercut our ability to have profitable merchant ships. The Jones Act is currently preventing resources, however, from being used in the massive cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. This legislation that has been on the books since 1920 is hindering foreign vessels from assisting gulf communities as they work to prevent oil from reaching their shores. Currently, foreign vessels need to obtain a Jones Act waiver from the Federal Government in order to help with the cleanup efforts. For many of the vessels wishing to respond, this request needs to be reviewed by three separate agencies--the Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, and Customs and Border Protection. That is three layers of bureaucracy when time is of the essence. During this crisis, we need to cut through the redtape. We must get all available assets on the scene as quickly as possible. I think everyone agrees. Other countries have offered their services. They have offered to help.”