Protecting Access to American Products Act

Summary

Creates a temporary waiver process allowing agency heads to suspend U.S. coastwise endorsement requirements for product carriers when no qualified U.S.-compliant vessel is reasonably available and the requester has made a good-faith effort to find one. Waivers are short-term, can be extended in set increments if conditions haven't changed, require timely agency action, and trigger rapid notifications to Congress with written explanations when granted. Sets deadlines for agency decisions (approve/deny within 60 days), automatic short-term approval if no decision is made, required written findings for denials, and 48-hour congressional notice on requests received and waivers issued. Also defines "product carrier" and who counts as the "head of an agency."

• Creates a temporary waiver process for coastwise endorsement requirements when no compliant product carrier is reasonably available.
• Requesters must demonstrate lack of available qualified carriers and a good-faith search effort.
• Agencies must approve or deny requests within 60 days or the request is automatically deemed granted for 30 days.
• Each waiver must last at least 30 days; extensions of 15-day or longer increments must be granted if conditions remain unchanged.
• Denials require a written findings report to the requester within 14 days.
• Agencies must notify Congress within 48 hours of receiving requests and within 48 hours of issuing waivers, with detailed justifications for issued waivers.
• Defines key terms including "product carrier" and "head of an agency."
• Imposes procedural and reporting requirements on federal agencies but does not appropriate funds or create ongoing programs.