Open America's Waters Act

This legislation, known as the "Open America's Waters Act," proposes to significantly alter domestic maritime commerce by repealing the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade . It specifically amends federal law to permit any vessel that qualifies under general U.S. laws to receive a coastwise endorsement and engage in trade between U.S. ports. To ensure continued safety, the bill mandates that the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard issue new regulations within 90 days of enactment. These regulations will require all vessels participating in coastwise trade to adhere to appropriate safety and security requirements . The legislation also includes several conforming amendments to other sections of title 46, United States Code, to align them with the repeal of these specific coastwise trade limitations.