President Donald Trump on Thursday waived a federal law to allow relief shipments to reach Puerto Rico, as the island continues to struggle to provide life-sustaining services after Hurricane Maria.
Press secretary Sarah Sanders announced the waiver of the Jones Act, and said it will "go into effect immediately."
Trump granted the waiver after it was requested by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who thanked the president Thursday morning.
The Jones Act requires that ships traveling from one U.S. port to another must be American-flagged vessels with U.S. crews. Goods going from the mainland to Puerto Rico, for example, must be on U.S. ships -- even if faster or less expensive means are available.
TVNL Comment: The Jones Act was lifted for Texas and Florida within hours of their hurricane hits . More than a week later, with all the suffering, PR was still not exempt from the regulations that kept relief shipments from entering its ports. But Trump still boasted of his good ratings in this catastrophy. What a selfish, egotistical fool he is.