House Committee Advances Maritime Reform Bill Led by Rep. Dusty Johnson
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) aimed at strengthening oversight of international ocean shipping and protecting American economic interests.
Introduced in June, the legislation reauthorizes the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) through fiscal year 2029 and expands its authority to investigate unfair trade practices, particularly those linked to China’s state-controlled shipping entities. The FMC is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system.
“Ocean shipping transports American products around the world and brings in foreign products that help fuel our economy,” said Rep. Johnson. “This legislation will protect American businesses, producers, and consumers from China’s abuse of America’s ocean shipping laws.”
The bill includes provisions to:
Establish a formal process for reporting complaints against foreign shipping exchanges, such as the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.
Direct the FMC to investigate anticompetitive or nonreciprocal trade practices.
Codify the definition of “controlled carrier” to include state-owned enterprises from non-market economies like China.
Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) praised the bill’s passage, calling it a necessary step to “protect American shippers and carriers from unfair, anti-competitive practices of other nations.”
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), a co-lead on the legislation, emphasized its economic impact. “This bill builds on my Ocean Shipping Reform Act, strengthens the Commission’s independence, and gives U.S. businesses a fairer playing field in the global marketplace,” Garamendi said.
The legislation also includes measures to streamline government reporting requirements, expand FMC advisory committees, and reinforce the Commission’s independence by requiring a majority vote before disclosing investigation details to outside parties.
Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS), Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, described the bill as both an economic and national security priority. “It equips the Commission with the necessary tools and oversight to hold bad actors accountable and protect American shippers,” Ezell said.
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Ezell, Garamendi, and Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA). Full text of the legislation is available on Rep. Johnson’s official site
