washington u.s. department homeland security say wednesday consider request members congress waive federal restrictions ship puerto rico receive formal request shippers branch federal government waive law consider underlie issue evaluate whether waiver issue say senior homeland security official speak reporters ground anonymity jones act require goods ship u.s. port carry american owned-and-operated ship several u.s. lawmakers include representative nydia velazquez monday ask dhs waive jones act restrictions year help relief efforts puerto rico people suffer water food shortages wake hurricane maria request member congress usual pathway department get waiver request dhs official say puerto rico long rail jones act say raise cost import basic commodities food clothe fuel official say defense department fema indicate lack ship get food goods island official deny law add cost goods deliver island argument make longtime opponent jones act republican senator john mccain dhs official say jones act exemptions base solely interest national defense real challenge happen island official say add plenty u.s.-flagged barge tug available dhs ability initiate waiver ship law official say constrain national defense parameter right authority issue waiver simply make goods cost less say u.s. mull request lawmakers waive ship limit puerto rico