Sen. Marshall’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act Signed into Law

(Washington, D.C., June 17, 2022) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. released the following statement after the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, legislation he helped introduce alongside a bipartisan group of senators, was signed into law by President Joe Biden:

“Bottlenecks at ports amid the supply chain crunch are making it difficult for Kansas’ farmers to reach vital international markets. Through this crisis we’ve learned that reform was needed to help provide our farmers, ranchers, and producers fair access to the global economy. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act ensures ocean carriers operate with good faith, under fair and transparent rules, while ending their unfair practices. I certainly believe this legislation will improve efficiency in broken supply chains, but let me make it clear that Joe Biden’s reckless spending and policies are why prices are increasing every day for Kansans. President Biden must completely abandon his failing agenda if our country is going to dig out of this economic disaster.”

Background on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act:

• The Ocean Shipping Reform Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN) and John Thune (SD). Senator Marshall was an original cosponsor of this legislation along with 11 of his colleagues.
• The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will:
  • Prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably refusing cargo space accommodations for U.S. exports and from discriminating against U.S. exporters;
  • Promote transparency by requiring ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and twenty-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States;
  • Authorize the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and
  • Establish new authority for the FMC to register shipping exchanges to improve the negotiation of service contracts.

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