No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a waiver process under 46 U.S.C. §12112 for the head of an agency (i.e., the head of an agency administering navigation or vessel inspection laws) to temporarily waive coastwise endorsement requirements—including U.S. build and ownership criteria—when no available product carrier (i.e., vessel constructed or adapted primarily to carry a specified good in bulk) exists for that good despite a good faith effort to locate one. (As background, coastwise endorsements authorize vessels to engage in the coastwise trade—transporting merchandise or passengers between U.S. ports—subject to cabotage laws such as the Jones Act that generally require U.S.-built and U.S.-owned vessels.) Waivers must (1) be time-limited to at least 30 days; (2) be extended without delay, upon request, in increments of at least 15 days if circumstances are substantially unchanged; (3) receive an agency response within 60 days (with denial findings reported within 14 days), or be deemed granted for 30 days on day 61; and (4) trigger agency notice to Congress within 48 hours of the request and, with explanation, of issuance.