Sponsors (5)
The bill increases coastwise tanker capacity and clarifies legal authority for crude/petroleum shipments while limiting access to vessels tied to adversary countries — but it exposes U.S. operators and shipbuilders to greater foreign competition and adds crewing and enforcement complexities.
U.S. importers and shippers (including small-business owners and transportation workers) can document more foreign-built or foreign-crewed tankers to move crude oil and petroleum coastwise, increasing available tanker capacity and reducing transport bottlenecks.
Taxpayers and the public benefit from reduced reliance on Russian- or Chinese-controlled vessels because the bill excludes vessels with those ownerships/flags/crews from eligibility, lowering certain national-security risks.
Small-business owners, transportation workers, and regulators gain clarity because the bill explicitly confirms that coastwise endorsements cover vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products, reducing legal ambiguity for industry and enforcement agencies.
U.S. vessel operators, shipbuilders, and transportation workers may face increased competition from eligible foreign-owned or -flagged tankers, likely lowering freight rates, reducing demand for U.S.-built tonnage, and putting pressure on domestic maritime jobs and investment.
Transportation companies and operators of eligible foreign vessels could see higher operating complexity and costs because excluding any vessel with Russian or Chinese crewmembers constrains crewing options and raises hiring/administrative burdens.
Taxpayers and federal agencies may incur higher regulatory and enforcement costs because broadened eligibility requires more vetting of ownership, flag, and crew nationality claims, increasing administrative complexity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a narrow change to U.S. maritime documentation rules so that vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products can receive coastwise documentation even if they would otherwise be ineligible, while explicitly barring documentation for vessels owned, flagged, or crewed by Russian or Chinese nationals or their governments. It also clarifies that a coastwise endorsement covers vessels that transport crude oil and petroleum products. No new funding or program authorizations are included.
Introduced March 19, 2026 by Scott Perry · Last progress March 19, 2026