WASHINGTON, DC- Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee which oversees the Department of Homeland Security and customs-related issues, announced this afternoon that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will allow J. Coburn Drisko to continue his business operations pending reconsideration of his case. Drisko is a Lincolnville lobsterman whose business has been threatened by a dispute regarding the Jones Act, a 70-year old law. Earlier today, Senator Collins'' office had a conference call with DHS officials to discuss the case. Senator Collins requested that Drisko''s case be reconsidered and that he be allowed to continue his business operations, pending the outcome of the review. As a result, the CBP has agreed that there will be "no enforcement action" pending the reconsideration of the ruling, thus allowing Drisko to continue working.
"CBP has made the correct decision in allowing Mr. Drisko and his employees to continue with their business, pending the outcome of this case. I am pleased by the swift decision made by the CBP and am confident they will fully consider additional arguments we put forth today, and that Mr. Drisko and his attorney may submit to the Department," said Senator Collins.
At issue is the Jones Act, a 70-year old federal law governing the transport of cargo. The law prohibits foreign built vessels to be used to transport cargo. While Drisko''s boats are Canadian built and registered in Maine, there is a dispute as to whether his use of the boats for is in compliance with the Jones Act.
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