Administrative waivers of coastwise laws

Can anyone elaborate on what is meant by “…the agency’s role in administrative waivers…”?
From Professional Mariner -
<strong>Bush signs bills funding MarAd programs, Corps civil works projects</strong>

President Bush has signed the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 and a resolution extending spending until March 2009. The measures included several provisions benefiting MarAd.

The bills grant additional cargo preference authority to MarAd and enhance the agency’s role in administrative waivers of coastwise laws. Furthermore, the new laws modify and re-authorize current programs such as the Small Shipyard Assistance program, the Maritime Security Fleet Maintenance and Repair Pilot Project, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and state maritime academy programs.

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