A bill to establish a process for waiver of coastwise endorsement requirements.

Bill 118 s 3665, also known as the "Coastwise Endorsement Waiver Process Act," is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to create a formal process for waiving the coastwise endorsement requirements for certain vessels.

Currently, the coastwise endorsement requirement mandates that only vessels that are built in the United States and owned by US citizens are allowed to engage in coastwise trade. This requirement has been in place for many years to protect American shipbuilding and maritime industries.

However, there are situations where it may be necessary to waive this requirement in order to allow foreign-built vessels to engage in coastwise trade. This could be for reasons such as national security, emergency response, or economic necessity. The Coastwise Endorsement Waiver Process Act aims to establish a clear and transparent process for requesting and granting waivers to the coastwise endorsement requirements. This process would involve submitting an application to the Secretary of Transportation, who would then review the request and make a decision based on certain criteria outlined in the bill. Overall, this bill seeks to provide a more flexible and efficient way to address situations where waiving the coastwise endorsement requirements is necessary. It is important to note that this bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process and may undergo changes before potentially becoming law.