Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO WAIVE PROVISIONS OF THE "JONES ACT" THAT RESTRICT THE ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN-BUILT AND FOREIGN-CREWED VESSELS IN CONDUCTING OIL CLEANUP OPERATIONS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
Whereas, South Carolinians have looked on with dismay at the economic havoc being wreaked along the Gulf Coast of the United States by the oil from the leaking BP deep-water oil well located in the Gulf of Mexico; and
Whereas, to combat the flow of oil, foreign nations, since the earliest days of the catastrophe, have offered assistance in the cleanup, including the use of ships using the newest in sophisticated oil-skimming and dredging methods; and
Whereas, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the "Jones Act", prohibits certain operations of foreign-built and foreign-crewed vessels in the coastal waters of the United States, but the provisions of that act may be waived by the President, something recently done during the Bush Administration in response to Hurricane Katrina; and
Whereas, in the emergency created by this catastrophic oil spill, it is essential that the President order an immediate blanket waiver of "Jones Act" provisions that in any way may be limiting the use of foreign vessels in oil cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That by this resolution, the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, memorialize the President of the United States immediately to issue a blanket waiver of those provisions of the "Jones Act" that in any way may limit the use of foreign-built and foreign-crewed vessels in oil cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States.
This web page was last updated on June 16, 2010 at 11:14 AM