Bill Text: NJ AR102 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes President to order blanket waiver of "Jones Act" provisions that impede foreign assistance with Gulf oil cleanup.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-07-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [AR102 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR102-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AMY H. HANDLIN
District 13 (Middlesex and Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes President to order blanket waiver of "Jones Act" provisions that impede foreign assistance with Gulf oil cleanup.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution memorializing the President of the United States to order a blanket waiver of any of the provisions of the "Jones Act" that impede foreign assistance with the Gulf oil cleanup.
Whereas, The citizens of New Jersey share in the nation's grave concern over the growing environmental and economic catastrophe that has been caused by the ongoing deepwater oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico; and
Whereas, All available resources, both domestic and foreign, should be devoted to mitigating the damages caused by the continuous spread of oil in the Gulf; and
Whereas, From the onset of this leak, many foreign nations have offered to contribute both their technical skill and sophisticated equipment to the cleanup process, including the use of ships designed for oil-skimming and dredging activities; and
Whereas, The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (commonly known as the "Jones Act"), prohibits certain use of vessels in the coastal waters of the United States if the vessels were not built in the United States, or if they operate under foreign ownership, foreign crew, or foreign flag; and
Whereas, Under the current circumstances, the President of the United States may order a blanket waiver of the "Jones Act" and such blanket waiver is not without precedent, as it has been exercised as recently as 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina; and
Whereas, There have been several reports of foreign assistance being impeded due to legal or bureaucratic obstacles in place under the "Jones Act"; and
Whereas, The continued enforcement of the "Jones Act" in the face of a crisis of the current magnitude sends the unfortunate message to the international community that their cleanup assistance is either unwarranted or unwelcomed; and
Whereas, Various public officials, including United States Senators and Congressmen, have recognized the dire need for a temporary blanket waiver of the "Jones Act" and have publicly called upon the President of the United States to order such action; and
Whereas, Given the enormous scale to which the Gulf oil leak has now reached, along with the threat of incalculable long-term destruction that it now poses, it is essential that the President of the United States order a blanket waiver of any provisions of the "Jones Act" that may in any way limit the acceptance of foreign assistance in cleanup operations; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey.
1. The President of the United States is respectfully memorialized to immediately order a blanket waiver of those provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (the "Jones Act") that may in any way impede foreign assistance in oil cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this Assembly resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution would memorialize the President of the United States to order a blanket waiver of those provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (commonly known as the "Jones Act") that may be limiting foreign assistance in oil cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The "Jones Act" prohibits certain use of vessels in the coastal waters of the United States if the vessels were not built in the United States, or if they operate under foreign ownership, foreign crew, or foreign flag. Recent reports from local officials and members of Congress have suggested that the "Jones Act" is impeding American acceptance of foreign assistance in the cleanup process. This resolution urges the President to order a waiver for the purpose of eliminating any such impediments.
