Top Biden administration officials said authorities are weighing whether to lift a union-backed century-old shipping rule to speed the transport of fuel to Puerto Rico, where devastation from Hurricane Fiona has led to major power outages.
President Joe Biden faces pressure to waive the Jones Act to allow a ship loaded with diesel fuel to access a port on the island, with his emergency administrator telling reporters Tuesday that officials “are actively working on that consideration or approval process right now.”
But there are obstacles, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said, including “a legal obligation to ensure that each waiver request meets the legal requirements of Congress.”
BIDEN ‘LASER-FOCUSED’ ON PROVIDING HURRICANE RELIEF TO PUERTO RICO
Asked whether the president backs the measure, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre demurred.
“This is a legal authority that we are following,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that the administration is “closely evaluating any waivers requests that come in.”
Puerto Rico’s governor and lawmakers have urged Biden to waive the rule to help bring fuel to the power-starved island, but the president has yet to move.
The split has drawn attention to Biden’s efforts to appeal to constituencies with competing demands, in this case, the labor unions that favor shipping rule protections, and the pressing humanitarian needs facing Puerto Rico’s residents.
The island is still recovering from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The Biden administration has lifted the Jones Act before, last year waiving the rule temporarily during a petroleum shortage.
On Tuesday, Biden’s officials stressed that Biden does not hold the legal authority to suspend the rule.
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A final decision would rest with Biden’s Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, Jean-Pierre and Criswell said.
“That is going to be made by the Homeland Security [secretary], and so we’ll leave that to up to them,” Criswell said.
