Sponsor
Tom McClintock
Representative · R-CA
Representative · R-CA
The bill speeds and broadens access to coastwise endorsements to boost domestic shipping capacity and provide quick regulatory clarity, but does so in a way that could introduce safety, compliance, and competitive risks and may produce rushed rules.
Passengers and crew on coastwise voyages (and transportation workers) will keep safety protections because the new regulations require coastwise vessels to meet appropriate safety and security requirements even as eligibility is expanded.
Owners and operators of coastwise-eligible U.S. vessels, including small-business owners and transportation workers, can more readily obtain coastwise endorsements, likely increasing domestic shipping capacity and competition.
Transportation workers and vessel operators will get regulatory clarity faster because the Commandant must issue implementing regulations within 90 days, enabling affected vessels to operate under amended rules more quickly.
Transportation workers, passengers, and small shipping businesses could face greater safety and compliance risks because broadening eligibility may let noncompliant or unsafe operators enter domestic trade, weakening protections against abuses of coastwise privileges.
Existing U.S.-built or U.S.-crewed operators—especially small domestic shipping businesses—may lose market share and face increased competitive pressure as the pool of coastwise-eligible vessels grows.
Local governments, transportation workers, and vessel operators may experience short-term regulatory uncertainty because the 90-day deadline could strain Coast Guard resources and produce rushed rules that require later corrections.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes a statutory limit on coastwise endorsements and allows any vessel that qualifies under U.S. law to receive a coastwise endorsement, with Coast Guard rules to be issued within 90 days.
Official title: To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 12, 2025 by Tom McClintock · Last progress June 12, 2025
Rewrites U.S. coastwise endorsement rules so any vessel that otherwise qualifies under U.S. law may be issued a coastwise endorsement and removes a statutory limit that previously restricted coastwise trade privileges. The Coast Guard Commandant must adopt implementing safety and security regulations within 90 days of enactment to govern vessels issued coastwise endorsements. The bill makes conforming amendments across Title 46, removing references to the repealed provision and updating related cross-references so coastwise-permitted vessels may operate subject to newly issued Coast Guard regulations rather than the prior statutory limit.