H.R. 4996Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

1 recorded action234 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: John Garamendi [D-CA-03]
Cosponsors: 96 · 48 Republicans · 48 Democrats
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Latest action: Dec 9, 2021 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

IntroducedAug 10, 2021
Passed the HouseDec 8, 2021
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This bill revises provisions related to ocean shipping policies and is designed to support the growth and development of U.S. exports and promote reciprocal trade in the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the United States.

Among other provisions, the bill

sets forth requirements for operating a shipping exchange involving ocean transportation in the foreign commerce of the United States;
requires ocean common carriers to report to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) each calendar quarter on total import and export tonnage and the total loaded and empty 20-foot equivalent units per vessel that makes port in the United States;
requires the FMC to publish and annually update all its findings of false certifications by ocean common carriers or marine terminal operators and all penalties assessed against such carriers or operators;
revises annual reporting requirements for the FMC on foreign laws and practices to include practices by ocean common carriers;
prohibits ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from retaliating or discriminating against shippers because such shippers have patronized another carrier, or filed a complaint;
directs the FMC to establish rules prohibiting ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from adopting and applying unjust and unreasonable demurrage and detention fees;
authorizes the FMC to initiate investigations of an ocean common carrier's fees or charges and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate;
directs the Department of Transportation to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study the U.S. supply chain industry, including data constraints that impede the flow of maritime cargo and add to supply chain inefficiencies; and
provides authority for the FMC to issue an emergency order requiring ocean common carriers or marine terminal operators to share directly with relevant shippers, rail carriers, or motor carriers information relating to cargo throughput and availability.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 4996 as passed House on Dec 8, 2021. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 406

House Dec 8, 2021

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

Passed · Two-thirds required

364 Yea 60 Nay 9 not voting

Crossed both parties 60 of 424 voting members broke with their own party: 2 Democrats, 58 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members433 members

Democratic220 members

Republican213 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors96 · 48 Republicans · 48 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 4996 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 4996120 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 4996 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATERFRONT EMPLOYERSfiled by NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATERFRONT EMPLOYERS, BECKER & POLIAKOFF, P.A.

Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills)11 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATIONfiled by NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION, THE RUSSELL GROUP, INC.Its PAC: National Milk Producers Federation PAC

Agriculture · Animals · Budget/Appropriations · Clean Air and Water (quality) +9 more10 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

AGRI-MARK, INCfiled by OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLCIts PAC: Agri-Mark Inc PAC

Agriculture · Transportation7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

Health Issues7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

INTERNATIONAL PAPERIts PAC: International Paper PAC

Health Issues · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Energy/Nuclear +7 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

NEW YORK SHIPPING EXCHANGE, INC.filed by VENABLE LLP

Trade (domestic/foreign)7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

SSA MARINEfiled by CROSSROADS STRATEGIES, LLC, SSA MARINEIts PAC: SSA Marine Inc. Good Government Fund

Trade (domestic/foreign) · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries +1 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2022Filing

TOY ASSOCIATION INCfiled by THE TOY ASSOCIATION, INC.Its PAC: The TOY Association Inc PAC

Trade (domestic/foreign) · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products · Chemicals/Chemical Industry7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

UPSTATE NIAGARA COOPERATIVE, INC.filed by OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC

Agriculture · Transportation7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

USA RICE FEDERATIONfiled by USA RICE FEDERATION, COMBEST, SELL & ASSOCIATES, LLCIts PAC: USA Rice Federation PAC

Agriculture · Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Environment/Superfund +4 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2022Filing

451 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-04. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.