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To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill repeals restrictions on coastwise trade that currently limit domestic maritime shipping to U.S.-built and U.S.-owned vessels. It amends title 46 of the United States Code to allow any vessel that meets U.S. qualifications to obtain a coastwise endorsement for domestic shipping. The Coast Guard would have 90 days to issue regulations ensuring all vessels engaged in coastwise trade meet applicable safety and security requirements. The bill makes conforming amendments to remove references to the old restrictions in provisions covering tank vessels, liquified gas tankers, passenger vessels, and other maritime regulations. The change would allow foreign-built and foreign-owned vessels to participate in domestic U.S. coastal trade while maintaining federal safety and security standards.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT)
Actions (2)
- Jun 12, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Jun 12, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 12, 2025
Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Open America’s Waters Act”.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON COASTWISE TRADE.
(a) In General.—Section 12112(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(a) In General.—A coastwise endorsement may be issued for a vessel that qualifies under the laws of the United States to engage in the coastwise trade.”.
(b) Regulations.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard shall issue regulations to implement the amendment made by subsection
(a) that require all vessels permitted to engage in the coastwise trade to meet all appropriate safety and security requirements.
(c) Conforming Amendments.—
(1) Tank vessel construction standards.—Section 3703a(c)(1)(C) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “and is qualified for documentation as a wrecked vessel under section 12112 of this title”.
(2) Liquified gas tankers.—Section 12120 of such title is amended by striking “, if the vessel—” and all that follows and inserting a period.
(3) Small passenger vessels.—Section 12121(b) of such title is amended—
(A) by striking “12112,”; and
(B) by striking “12132,”.
(4) Loss of coastwise trade privileges.—Section 12132 of such title is repealed.
(5) Oil spill response vessels.—Section 12117(b) of such title is amended by striking “sections 12103, 12132, and 50501” and inserting “sections 12103 and 50501”.
(6) Optional regulatory measurement.—Section 14305(a)(6) of such title is amended by striking “sections 12118 and 12132” and inserting “section 12118”.
(7) Court sales of undocumented vessels.—Section 31329(b) of such title is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “;” and inserting “; and”;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “; and” and inserting a period; and
(C) by striking paragraph (3).
(8) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections for chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 12132. <all>
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