# 119-s-2535: Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act

119-s-2535, Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2535
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2535
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Broadens which passenger voyages qualify for coastwise endorsement** by treating trips that carry passengers between U.S. ports, even if they call at a foreign port, as eligible under the coastwise rule. The change rewrites part of 46 U.S.C. §12112(a)(2)(B) and repeals 46 U.S.C. §12121 while preserving other U.S. laws unless an exemption is explicitly stated. - Passenger vessel owners and operators: Would make more vessels eligible to seek a coastwise endorsement when they transport passengers between U.S. ports either directly or via a foreign port. This could broaden the pool of ships that can serve domestic passenger routes. - U.S. ports and passenger services: Could allow routes that stop abroad mid-journey to be counted as coastwise voyages, affecting which itineraries qualify under coastwise law. - Legal and regulatory effect: Repeals section 12121 and adds a rule of construction clarifying these edits do not create new exemptions from other federal laws unless spelled out.

## Provisions PRIA read

- More coastwise access for vessel owners: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would let more commercial passenger vessels qualify for a coastwise endorsement. A vessel would qualify when it carries passengers between U.S. ports, either directly or via a foreign port. The bill would also repeal 46 U.S.C. §12121, which could change rules for those now cov…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5653: Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-1801: International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025
- 119-s-1249: Drone Integration and Zoning Act
- 119-s-62: America First Act
- 119-s-4280: SAFE Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2535 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2535)

## Related
- [119-s-5653: Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5653)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-1801: International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1801)
- [119-s-1249: Drone Integration and Zoning Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1249)
- [119-s-62: America First Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-62)
- [119-s-4280: SAFE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4280)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2535 (as of 2026-09-10).