Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 4183, the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, as amended. This bill updates and strengthens the authorities of the Federal Maritime Commission, or FMC, an agency that plays a critical role in ensuring an efficient, competitive, and economical maritime shipping system. As my colleague from South Dakota indicated, it ensures that we have the resources necessary to level the playing field.

The past several years have shown how essential it is to safeguard our shipping. Disruptions in global shipping, port congestion, and fluctuating freight rates have created serious challenges for American businesses and consumers alike.

This legislation authorizes funding for the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, ensuring that the agency has the consistent resources it needs over the next several years to continue its core oversight and enforcement work.

The bill strengthens the FMC's ability to address anticompetitive behavior, which is vitally necessary throughout the shipping industry. It will also authorize the FMC to investigate complaints against shipping exchanges concerning market manipulation and other anticompetitive practices.

The bill creates a National Port Advisory Committee and a National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee which will provide critical informed insight to ensure a more fair and efficient international ocean freight system.

I support this legislation, and I thank my colleague from South Dakota, Congressman Johnson, as well as the Democratic cosponsors of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation that will strengthen our Federal Maritime Commission and ensure that we have a competitive, effective, and efficient maritime transportation system.

I support H.R. 4183, as introduced by my colleague from South Dakota, as amended, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, whether they realize it or not, every single American benefits from having a competitive maritime marketplace. For that to be the case, you have to have a cop on the beat that understands the job, is focused on anticompetitive behavior, and is driven to make sure that the free market works in the maritime space.

Mr. Speaker, this bill pushes forward all of those goals. I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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