# 119-s-2537: Open America's Ports Act

119-s-2537, Open America's 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-2537
- 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-2537
- Congress: 119
- Title: Open America's 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

**Repeals the Passenger Vessel Services Act's domestic requirement and creates a narrow carve-out in the Jones Act so certain passenger vessels can operate U.S. port-to-port routes even if they call at a foreign port.** This bill would change which ships qualify to carry passengers between U.S. ports and updates several related statutory provisions to reflect that change. - Passenger and cruise operators: Would exempt vessels that transport passengers between U.S. ports, even via a foreign port, from the PVSA domestic requirement in 46 U.S.C. 55103. That lets more non-U.S.-flagged passenger ships serve domestic itineraries under the terms the bill sets. - Coastwise and Jones Act rules: Would add a "nonapplicability" exception to 46 U.S.C. 12103 and revise 46 U.S.C. 12112(a) and 12121(b) to carve out certain passenger vessels from some coastwise constraints. - Statutory cleanup and limits: Repeals or removes several PVSA-related sections in Chapter 551 and 46 U.S.C. references, and adds an exemption in 46 U.S.C. 8103(k). The bill also says nothing in the amendments exempts vessels from other federal laws except as explicitly provided.

## Provisions PRIA read

- More coastwise freedom for ship owners: benefit, medium. This bill would repeal the Passenger Vessel Services Act's domestic passenger rule. It would create an exception letting passenger ships carry people between U.S. ports even if they stop at a foreign port. It would change related coastwise (Jones Act) rules so those vessels are not bound by certain…

## 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-2537 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2537)

## 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-2537 (as of 2026-09-10).