Feb. 21, 2020
“For nearly a year, the Power 4 Puerto Rico coalition, along with 60 local and national partners, has called on all presidential candidates, no matter the political party, to present a comprehensive action proposal that addresses the multiple crises the Island faces - crises that have emerged in large part out of decision-making in Washington without the interests of the Puerto Rican people at the front.
“Yesterday, presidential candidate Tom Steyer announced his full support of the policy prescriptions Power 4 Puerto Rico put forth. This includes backing an exemption of Puerto Rico from the unfair restrictions imposed via the Jones Act. Steyer’s support of this action makes him the first and only presidential candidate, so far, to commit to taking concrete action on the Jones Act.
“The comprehensive nature of Steyer’s policy proposals, ranging from tax incentives to job creation, self-determination, disaster relief, and other policy prescriptions, should serve as a model for other campaigns to follow.”
Background
Passed by Congress in 1920, the Jones Act requires that all interstate commerce within the US be conducted in US owned, crewed and manufactured ships. These are the most expensive in the world.
Puerto Rico is an archipelago that imports more than 80% of all the food it consumes. The Jones Act has been proven to essentially tax the Puerto Rican economy $1.5 billion a year that consumers in the Island would otherwise not have to pay.