Protecting Access to American Products Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7900
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:08:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the Protecting Access to American Products Act, creates a process for temporarily waiving "coastwise endorsement requirements." These are rules under U.S. maritime law (often called the Jones Act) that require vessels carrying goods between U.S. ports to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and U.S.-crewed. Waivers would apply when there is a shortage of such qualifying U.S. vessels, called "product carriers" (vessels designed to carry specific goods in large bulk quantities).
Key Provisions
- Waiver Criteria: An agency head (typically the U.S. Coast Guard or a delegated official responsible for vessel rules) must grant a temporary waiver if the requester proves:
- No qualifying U.S. product carrier is available for the specific goods.
- A good faith (sincere) effort was made to find one.
- Duration and Extensions: Initial waivers last at least 30 days but expire by a set date. Extensions of at least 15 days each can be granted without delay if conditions haven't changed much.
- Response Deadlines:
- Agencies must approve or deny within 60 days.
- Denials require a report with reasons within 14 days.
- No response by day 61 means the waiver is automatically granted for 30 days.
- Congressional Notification: Agencies must notify Congress within 48 hours of receiving a waiver request and within 48 hours of issuing a waiver, including a detailed explanation of why it's needed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 12112 of Title 46, U.S. Code, by adding a new subsection (c).
- Introduces the first structured waiver process for coastwise rules specifically tied to product carrier shortages, including automatic approvals for delays, extensions, and mandatory reporting—none of which existed before.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for agencies like the Coast Guard to process requests quickly, provide reports, and notify Congress, potentially straining resources during shortages.
- Citizens and Businesses: Allows faster transport of essential goods (e.g., fuels or chemicals in bulk) using foreign vessels during U.S. ship shortages, reducing delays and costs for industries reliant on domestic shipping.
- Maritime Sector: Could temporarily boost efficiency in coastwise trade but might reduce demand for U.S. vessels.
- No direct impact on international relations, as waivers are limited to U.S. domestic trade.
Main Stakeholders
- Shipping Companies and Importers: Primary beneficiaries, as they can request waivers to avoid delays.
- U.S. Shipbuilders and Unions: Potentially harmed by reduced incentive to build/maintain U.S. product carriers.
- Federal Agencies: U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration handle implementation.
- Congress: Receives notifications and oversight role.
- Consumers: Indirectly affected through supply chain reliability for bulk goods like petroleum products.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Streamlines exceptions to longstanding Jones Act protections, balancing trade efficiency with national security interests in domestic shipping; includes safeguards like time limits and reporting to prevent abuse.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority over interstate/international trade.
- Political: Could spark debate between free-trade advocates (favoring flexibility) and protectionists (defending U.S. maritime jobs); notifications ensure congressional oversight, potentially leading to future adjustments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Access to American Products Act — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (4 pages)