Bill Overview
Title: Puerto Rico Recovery Act
Description: This bill requires the U.S. Coast Guard to provide temporary exemptions from certain Jones Act restrictions to vessels providing relief to Puerto Rico for areas affected by Hurricane Fiona. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, be at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens , and be mostly crewed by U.S. C itizens. The exemptions are valid for one year or until the end of the major disaster declaration of September 22, 2022, for Puerto Rico, whichever comes first.
Sponsors: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals in Puerto Rico requiring Hurricane Fiona relief
Estimated Size: 3300000
- The primary individuals impacted by this bill are the residents of Puerto Rico who require relief and aid due to the effects of Hurricane Fiona.
- Hurricane Fiona caused significant damage to infrastructure and access to essential goods, which necessitates intervention through increased and efficient shipping resources.
- A temporary exemption from Jones Act restrictions allows foreign-built and foreign-crewed ships to transport goods, potentially increasing the speed and volume of relief reaching Puerto Rico.
- The relief efforts facilitated by this bill are targeted specifically at alleviating the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, which directly affects Puerto Rican citizens.
Reasoning
- The primary impact of the policy is on Puerto Rican citizens due to the shipping exemptions intended to facilitate relief after Hurricane Fiona.
- The budget allows for temporary logistics adjustments but does not extend to broader economic impacts or infrastructural changes beyond immediate relief.
- Limited mainland U.S. impact might occur via enhanced supply chain efficiencies or shipping availability.
- The structured interviews cover individuals directly impacted in Puerto Rico, those with indirect benefits from improved logistics, and people unaffected.
Simulated Interviews
Grocery store manager (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It has been really hard to keep the store stocked since the hurricane.
- The exemptions might help us get supplies faster and more reliably.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Fisherman (Ponce, Puerto Rico)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The hurricane has taken almost everything from us.
- I hope the exemptions will speed up the delivery of much-needed supplies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Logistics coordinator (New York, USA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think allowing more vessels could streamline shipments and open up new routes.
- Our work is not directly impacted but the industry might see some changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Small business owner (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.75 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can see this policy helping us get back on our feet faster.
- Relief coming in quicker will benefit businesses like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, Florida, USA)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will make it easier for my family to get supplies.
- Although I am not living there, I worry about my family's wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Shipping company owner (Houston, Texas, USA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about losing business to cheaper foreign vessels due to these exemptions.
- But I understand the necessity for fast relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
School teacher (Caguas, Puerto Rico)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster and more supplies mean a quicker recovery for our schools and students.
- These exemptions seem like a necessary step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Naval Officer (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important to support Puerto Rico but I'm wary of what these exemptions mean for future policies and national security.
- We need to balance immediate needs with long-term security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Supply chain analyst (Orlando, Florida, USA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The exemptions could reveal efficiencies in the system that weren't possible before.
- While it doesn't affect my personal wellbeing, professionally it's quite interesting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Healthcare worker (Bayamón, Puerto Rico)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need our medical supplies to arrive as soon as possible for our patients.
- These policy changes could make a huge difference in our day-to-day operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- There is a potential shift in shipping logistics and economics due to the temporary Jones Act exemptions, which could have broader implications beyond immediate relief efforts.
- The administrative requirements for overseeing the exemption compliance may introduce unanticipated costs or delays.
- The balance of costs against any possible long-term economic stimulation due to accelerated recovery should be assessed further.