This Act may be cited as the Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act.

(a) In general Section 12112(a)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in clause (ii), by striking; or and inserting a semicolon; (2) in clause (iii), by striking; and and inserting; or; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (iv) is a vessel that transports passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port; and. (b) Conforming amendment Section 12121 of title 46, United States Code, is repealed. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in the amendments made by this section shall be construed to exempt a vessel that transports passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, from any applicable law of the United States except as explicitly provided in such amendments.