Protecting Access to American Products Act

Summary

Creates a temporary waiver process allowing heads of agencies that enforce navigation or vessel inspection laws to waive coastwise endorsement requirements when no compliant U.S. product carrier is available and the requester made a good-faith effort to find one. The law sets deadlines and minimum waiver lengths, requires quick written findings for denials, and mandates that agencies notify Congress within 48 hours of receiving and issuing waiver requests, with issuance notices explaining the necessity of the waiver.

• Authorizes temporary waivers of coastwise endorsement requirements when no compliant U.S. product carrier is available and the requester made a good-faith effort to find one.
• Requires agency heads to grant waivers, with initial waivers at least 30 days and extensions in minimum 15-day increments.
• Agencies must decide waiver requests within 60 days or the request is automatically deemed granted on day 61 (resulting in a 30-day deemed waiver).
• If a request is denied, agencies must provide written findings to the requester within 14 days of denial.
• Agencies must notify Congress within 48 hours of receiving any waiver request and within 48 hours of issuing a waiver; issuance notices must explain why the waiver is necessary.
• Defines key terms including 'product carrier' and clarifies who qualifies as the 'head of an agency' for waiver decisions.
• Creates a formal, expedited administrative process but does not appropriate new funds.
• Increases transparency and congressional oversight through rapid notification requirements.