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On June 25th, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), sent a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a temporary waiver of the Jones Act, a provision within the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.  The Jones Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried by U.S. flagged ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents. 

In the letter, Congressman Latta asks for the temporary waiver to allow foreign vessels to assist with the ongoing cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico due to the recent oil spill disaster.  Temporary waivers of the Jones Act have previously been granted to allow foreign vessels to assist with disasters off of United States coastlines.

During Hurricane Katrina, President Bush in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, temporarily waived the Jones Act for foreign vessels to move in U.S. waters and between ports for a period of twenty days because of the disruption in the production and transportation of petroleum and refined petroleum products in the region, and the impact it had on national security. 

“The tragedy in the Gulf is one that will never be forgotten and the parties who are responsible will be held fully accountable.  The United States needs to use every available resource at our disposal, domestic or foreign, in assisting in the clean up,” Latta states in the letter, which can be found here.