This bill allows the federal government to temporarily waive maritime shipping regulations for vessels delivering disaster relief supplies to U.S. territories and remote states during declared emergencies. When the President declares a major disaster or emergency in noncontiguous areas—including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, and Alaska—relevant federal agencies can suspend navigation and vessel-inspection laws that might otherwise delay critical shipments. Individual waivers last up to 10 days and can be extended for another 10 days with the affected governor's input, though all waivers for a single disaster cannot exceed 45 days total. Within 48 hours of issuing any waiver or extension, the agencies must notify Congress, ensuring legislative oversight of the temporary regulatory relief designed to expedite emergency aid to geographically isolated U.S. territories.
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