Share this article We’re hearing from maritime unions and other stakeholders regarding the Jones Act waiver that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has issued to help alleviate fuel supply issues along the eastern seaboard in wake of the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline. Speaking to the waiver, the DHS Secretary released a statement late Wednesday providing insight on his decision, describing the waiver as “temporary and targeted” to a single undisclosed individual company, Valero Energy. The Jones Act is the 1920 law requiring that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on ships that are not only U.S.-flagged, but aslo built, owned, and operated by United States citizens or permanent residents. It serves as the backbone of the nation’s domestic maritime industry and merchant marine.