USA TODAY US Edition

Act is a lifeline for Puerto Rico

- Eduardo Pagan Eduardo Pagan is vice president and general manager of Caribbean services for TOTE Maritime, an American Maritime Partnershi­p member.

Hurricane Maria was devastatin­g and has dismantled much of Puerto Rico’s infrastruc­ture. But one thing is certain: The reliabilit­y of the American Jones Act fleet has been instrument­al in recovery efforts and is helping alleviate suffering on the island.

Waiving the Jones Act during recovery risks disrupting an indispensa­ble lifeline to the island at the worst possible time.

A lifetime resident of San Juan, I know firsthand the suffering of my fellow Puerto Ricans. And right now, we need fast, reliable support that can get us back on our feet.

The U.S. maritime fleet delivers the quickest and most dependable service between Puerto Rico and the mainland, transporti­ng goods in less than three days to ensure a consistent supply chain and allowing consumers to enjoy free shipping from online retailers.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, TOTE Maritime and other U.S. carriers provided more than 11,300 containers of relief supplies — and over 9,000 are on the way. Because American carriers regularly serve Puerto Rico, the infrastruc­ture, employees and vessels are already here.

The U.S. Government Accountabi­lity Office stated that the Jones Act “has helped to ensure reliable, regular service between the United States and Puerto Rico — service that is important to the Puerto Rican economy.” The effect of changing the law under normal circumstan­ces, much less in the middle of a recovery effort, is “highly uncertain.”

Changing the Jones Act would have serious implicatio­ns and could severely disrupt recovery efforts, which would be yet another devastatin­g blow to Puerto Rico.

The U.S. maritime industry was one of the first industries to respond to the needs of the people of Puerto Rico. The morning after Hurricane Maria, my colleagues and I were back in action preparing for the first cargo arrivals.

If the Jones Act were hurting Puerto Rico, I would be opposed to it. In fact, Jones Act providers are central to helping Puerto Rico rebuild, and they will continue to reliably deliver cargo long after TV cameras have departed.

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