Protecting Access to American Products Act

This bill creates a temporary waiver process for businesses that cannot find U.S. vessels meeting coastwise shipping requirements for specific goods. It allows the head of an agency to waive the rule requiring U.S.-built vessels for certain cargo if a business demonstrates no available U.S. vessel exists for that good and they made a good-faith effort to locate one. Waivers last up to 30 days and can be extended for 15-day increments if scarcity persists, with agencies required to respond to waiver requests within 60 days (or the request is automatically approved). The bill also mandates agencies notify Congress within 48 hours of any waiver request or approval, including a detailed explanation of why the waiver is necessary.