CAGW Urges Obama to Waive Jones Act to Aid Spill Effort

(Washington, D.C.) – The nation’s premier taxpayer watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), today urged President Obama to take a significant step toward resolving the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by waiving the Jones Act, which prohibits foreign ships from carrying cargo and passengers between U.S. ports.  European countries including the Netherlands have offered their help in cleaning up the oil spill, but the Jones Act prohibits using foreign ships in the effort. 

“Americans have waited long enough for the Obama administration to show leadership and use all of its resources to effectively manage the environmental disaster that continues to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.  “Unfortunately, taxpayers and local industries are bearing the brunt of the administration’s inaction.  Gulf businesses and livelihoods are being destroyed by spewing oil while the administration continues to restrict the resources that can be used.”

The offer of assistance by European dredging companies has not been accepted by the Obama administration due to the Jones Act.  In contrast, President Bush waived the Jones Act to allow assistance from foreign countries during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

“President Obama must take prudent and necessary action by issuing an emergency exemption of the Jones Act to allow foreign ships to aid in managing the oil spill,” continued Schatz. “The President’s persistent silence on the Jones Act and his unwillingness to waive it indicates that he is more concerned with protecting labor unions than he is in the lives of those living along the Gulf,” concluded Schatz. 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. 

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