Protecting Access to American Products Act

This bill changes federal shipping law that sets requirements for ships carrying goods between U.S. ports (coastwise trade). It would require the agency that runs navigation or vessel inspection laws to grant a temporary waiver of those requirements when a requester shows that no qualifying ship built to carry a specific good in bulk is available and that they made a good faith effort to find one. Waivers would last at least 30 days and could be extended in periods of at least 15 days if circumstances have not substantially changed. The agency would have 60 days to approve or deny a request, or the request would be treated as granted for 30 days, and the agency would have to notify Congress of requests and waivers within 48 hours.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ben Cline Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors