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119-s-4090119th CongressWALLET

Protecting Access to American Products Act

Sponsored By: Senator Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a temporary waiver process for coastwise endorsement rules when suitable product carriers are unavailable. The bill would let agency heads temporarily waive U.S. coastwise vessel requirements for specified bulk goods when no compliant product carrier is available and the requester has made a good-faith effort to locate one.

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  • Manufacturers, importers, and shippers could move specified bulk goods on non-coastwise vessels when they show no qualifying product carrier is available. Waivers must be limited in duration and expire on a date not less than 30 days after issuance.
  • Agency officials would face firm deadlines: respond to requests within 60 days, provide written findings within 14 days if denying, and allow a request to be deemed granted on day 61 if no decision is made. Agencies may grant extensions in 15-day increments if conditions persist.
  • Congress would get rapid notice and rationale for each request and waiver. Agencies must notify Congress within 48 hours after receiving a request and within 48 hours after issuing any waiver.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Temporary coastwise waivers for shippers

If enacted, businesses that move bulk goods by ship would be able to request a temporary waiver of coastwise endorsement rules when no compliant product carrier is available. A requester would have to show there is no product carrier available for the specified good and that they made a good faith effort to find one. The agency head would have to approve or deny the request within 60 days. If the agency does not act by day 60, the request would be deemed granted on day 61 and that waiver would last 30 days. Any granted waiver would be limited in time and must expire on a date at least 30 days after issuance, and the agency could grant extensions of not less than 15 days each if conditions have not substantially changed. The agency head would need to notify Congress within 48 hours of receiving any waiver request and within 48 hours of issuing any waiver, and issuance notices must explain why the waiver is necessary. The bill defines "product carrier" as a vessel built or adapted mainly to carry the specified good in bulk and defines who may act as the "head of an agency."

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lee, Mike [R-UT]

UT • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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