Protecting Access to American Products Act

This bill would create a process for waiving the federal rule that ships carrying goods between U.S. ports must hold a coastwise endorsement, which generally requires U.S.-built and U.S.-owned vessels. The responsible agency head would have to grant a temporary waiver if a requester shows that no qualifying product carrier is available to carry a specific good and that the requester made a good faith effort to find one. Waivers would last at least 30 days, could be extended in periods of at least 15 days, and would be deemed granted for 30 days if the agency does not respond within 60 days. The agency would have to give reasons for any denial within 14 days and notify Congress of waiver requests and issued waivers within 48 hours.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Lee Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors