b'LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE REPORTMARAD Waiver Notice RICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORO nDec.28,2023,theU.S.notice in the Federal Register seekingdorsementeligibilitydeterminations MaritimeAdministrationcommentfrominterestedpartiesre- for six foreign-built vessels. (MARAD)publishedagarding the issuance of coastwise en-Thecoastwiselaws(suchasthe JonesActandthePassengerVessel ServicesAct)providethatavessel cannot transport passengers or goods betweentwoU.S.portsunlessitis U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged, andU.S.-crewed.Theseprotections aredesignedtosafeguarddomestic maritime interests from unfair foreign competition and keep the American maritime industry strong. Originally,theprimarywaytore-ceive a waiver from the requirements ofthesecoastwiselawswastoseek aspeciallegislativeexceptionfora specific vessel. In other words, an actof Congress. In1998Congressamendedthelaw and gave MARAD the administrative authoritytoconsiderwaiverrequests for small passenger vessels transporting 12 or fewer passengers for hire. This change in law was advocated by the late Senator John McCain who was tired of his Commerce Committee (which he chaired) having to review legislative re-quests for very small passenger vessels. As a result, MARAD publishes notices of these formal requests for waivers to the coastwise laws the Federal Register. The notices communicate the name of the vessel, the intended commercial use of the vessel, the geographic region and baseofoperations,andvessellength and type.FOGHORN 28'