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H.R. 7900119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Mar 13, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Protecting Access to American Products Act
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 7900 lets bulk shippers request temporary Jones Act waivers when no qualifying U.S. vessel is available, with a 60-day government deadline.
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HR 7900 creates a formal waiver process for companies that ship bulk goods between U.S. ports and cannot find an American-built, American-owned, American-crewed vessel. If a company documents a genuine effort to find a qualifying ship and fails, a government agency has 60 days to approve or deny the request. Approved waivers last at least 30 days and can be extended in 15-day increments if the shortage continues.
Companies that move bulk goods such as fuel or grain between U.S. ports are the primary affected parties. American shipbuilders and maritime unions are also affected, as approved waivers would allow foreign vessels to operate on routes currently reserved for U.S. ships.
Businesses unable to find a qualifying American vessel would have a legal pathway to use a foreign ship temporarily rather than halt operations. At the same time, the waiver process introduces foreign competition into domestic shipping routes that the Jones Act currently protects.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.