Washington, DC—December 8, 2021....Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today announced the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, legislation he cosponsored, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with his support. The bill aids our supply chain, increases global market access for Arkansas and American-made products, and establishes reciprocal commerce opportunities to help address America’s longstanding trade imbalance with China and other countries.

Congressman Womack said, “Shipping bottlenecks and disruptions have grown to crisis levels. Americans shouldn’t pay the price of bad policy. Congress must actively advance reforms to strengthen our economy and movement of goods. This bipartisan legislation delivers increased global market access for Arkansas and American-made products and supports our supply chain and global competitiveness. This is one of many solutions I am working to implement.”

Bill provisions include:

• Establishing reciprocal trade to promote U.S. exports as part of the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) mission.
• Requiring ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that meet the public interest, reflecting best practices in the global shipping industry.
• Compelling ocean carriers or marine terminal operators to certify that any late fees —known in maritime parlance as “detention and demurrage” charges—comply with federal regulations or face penalties.
• Prohibiting ocean carriers from declining opportunities for U.S. exports unreasonably, as determined by the FMC in new required rulemaking.

Supporting this legislation is Womack’s latest step to solve supply chain challenges, bolster America’s economic competitiveness, and lower costs for U.S. consumers. He is a cosponsor of Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act, or SANTA 18 Act—which would eliminate unnecessary red tape and restrictions to allow more truckers and maximize the labor force to keep the supply chain flowing—the DRIVE Safe Act—which promotes job opportunities, enhances safety training for new members of the workforce, and addresses driver shortages in the trucking and logistics industry—and urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to immediately have the Department of Transportation (DOT) allow truck drivers under 21 to cross state lines. He has also consistently called on the Biden Administration to prioritize efficient movement of goods instead of pushing radical proposals that have unleashed decades-high inflation levels.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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