This bill allows federal agencies to temporarily waive the requirement that goods transported along the U.S. coast must be carried on American-built and American-crewed vessels, a rule known as the coastwise endorsement requirement. The waiver can be granted when a company shows it cannot find an available American vessel to carry a specific product and has made a genuine effort to locate one. Waivers last a minimum of 30 days and can be extended for 15-day periods if circumstances remain unchanged. The legislation sets tight timelines, requiring federal agencies to respond to waiver requests within 60 days, or the request is automatically approved. If a waiver is denied, the agency must explain its reasoning within 14 days, and Congress must be notified of all waiver requests and approvals within 48 hours. The bill affects shipping companies and industries that transport goods domestically and aims to provide relief when American vessels are not available to meet transportation needs.
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