hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Waives shipping rules when certain US ships are unavailable.
Rep. Cline (R-VA), House Transportation Committee
Introduced, awaiting committee action
This bill allows companies to request a temporary waiver from a law that normally requires goods shipped between US ports to be carried on US-built, US-flagged, and US-crewed vessels. If no such vessel is available for a specific product, the government must approve the waiver within 60 days, or it's automatically granted. The sponsor, Rep. Cline, sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Introduced Mar 12, 2026
This bill has been introduced in its chamber of Congress. It has been assigned a bill number and referred to a committee for review. Most bills never advance past this stage. The committee may hold hearings, gather expert testimony, and amend the bill before deciding whether to send it to the full chamber for a vote.
The bill allows temporary waivers from the Jones Act, which requires domestic shipping on US vessels. If no US vessel is available, foreign ships can step in. This could lower costs for imported goods like fuel or building materials, but may hurt US shipping jobs and companies. The waiver lasts 30 days and can be extended if conditions persist.
Supporters Say
Supporters say it lowers consumer prices and prevents shortages when US ships aren't available.
Critics Say
Critics argue it weakens the US shipping industry and national security by relying on foreign vessels.
Supporters, often businesses and consumer groups, point to the automatic approval deadline as reducing bureaucratic delays. Critics, including maritime unions and domestic shipbuilders, worry that even temporary waivers could become routine, undermining the US fleet. The bill does not change the underlying Jones Act but creates a clear waiver pathway.