Washington • Sens. Mike Lee and John McCain introduced legislation Thursday that would permanently exempt Puerto Rico from a nearly century-old law that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports be carried by American-owned and operated vessels.
In the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the U.S. territory in the Caribbean, President Donald Trump waived the Jones Act for the island for 10 days, but Lee and McCain say the exemption should be made permanent so Puerto Rico can rebuild and flourish.
The 1920 law was intended to shore up the maritime industry at the time but has been criticized by Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska as driving up costs.