HR 4813 United States House · 119th Congress

Noncontiguous Disaster Shipping Act

This bill creates a temporary waiver allowing vessels to bypass standard navigation and vessel-inspection laws when delivering disaster relief cargo to or from specific U.S. territories and states not connected to the mainland. It directly affects shipping companies transporting aid to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, or Alaska after a presidential disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. The waiver lasts up to 10 days initially, extendable by another 10 days (with a 45-day maximum total per disaster), and requires agencies to notify relevant congressional committees within 48 hours of issuing or extending a waiver. The law does not change existing disaster relief procedures but streamlines shipping logistics during emergencies in these noncontiguous areas.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jul 29, 2025 Last action Jul 30, 2025
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Jul 30, 2025
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Jul 30, 2025
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Jul 29, 2025
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jul 29, 2025
House · Introduced
Introduced in House
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors