H.R. 4183House119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed House

Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated December 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM UTC

The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 authorizes funding for the FMC for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and updates the agency’s authority over ocean shipping. It expands definitions of carriers, creates new complaint and investigation procedures for shipping exchanges, and restructures advisory committees. The changes affect the FMC, ocean common carriers, shipping exchanges, and related industry stakeholders.

Key Provisions

Appropriates $49.2 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the FMC.
Changes the agency’s purpose language to focus on the common carriage of goods by water in foreign commerce and replaces "promote" with "support".
Adds a definition for carriers linked to non‑market‑economy countries or those on USTR watch lists.
Creates a formal process for filing, investigating, and reporting complaints about market manipulation by shipping exchanges, with results sent to Congress.
Shortens the shipping‑exchange registry compliance period to two years after enactment.
Repeals section 40706 and adds limits to duplicate data reporting across federal agencies.
Establishes nondisclosure rules for FMC‑generated information, requiring majority‑vote approval before release.
Renames and expands national advisory committees, adding a National Port Advisory Committee (13 members) and a National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee (9 members) with specific representation requirements.
Requires the FMC to publish an advance notice for containerized freight price indexes within one year and a final rule within three years.
Adds new reporting requirements on trade imbalances and results of the Vessel‑Operating Common Carrier Audit Program to the annual FMC report.

Legislative Activity

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15 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 16, 2025

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 26, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

June 26, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee

June 27, 2025

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 17, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 17, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 17, 2025

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-401.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

December 12, 2025

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 349.

December 12, 2025

HouseFloor

Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

December 15, 2025 • 3:35 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5869-5872)

December 15, 2025 • 3:35 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4183.

December 15, 2025 • 3:35 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5869-6871)

December 15, 2025 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5869-6871)

December 15, 2025 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 15, 2025 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

December 15, 2025 • 3:41 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 16, 2025

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 4183 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Dusty JohnsonR-SD · Dec 15, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4183) to authorize appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal years 2026 through 2029, and for other purposes, as…

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material into the Record on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party does not play fair. That is why this bill, the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, is so important.

I suspect we all know that ocean-linked supply chains are critical to the economic competitiveness of the United States. Think about all the important materials we import into this country, and then think about all the important materials we export. Even just for relatively small South Dakota, Mr. Speaker, we export $7 billion of manufactured goods and agricultural goods to the rest of the world every single year. That is almost $8,000 a year for every single South Dakotan. Clearly, this maritime trade is important.

Because the Chinese Communist Party doesn't play fair, we need a focused and effective cop on the beat. We need someone who will be focused on the anticompetitive behavior from the Chinese Communist Party and others.

The five largest ocean carriers and their coalitions, Mr. Speaker, control 80 or 85 percent of the ocean carrier business. We want to make sure that anticompetitive behavior does not take place. This legislation has at least a couple of major thrusts that are going to make that so.

First, it authorizes the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 appropriations for the FMC at the levels that are necessary to maintain the integrity of the marketplace through monitoring, enforcement, and proper adjudication.

Secondly, it also provides the new authorities and direction that the FMC needs to be a vigilant protector for our American shippers so they can be a more informed regulator and a more effective guardian against the abuses by the Chinese Communist Party and their partners.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, this all makes sense. It is very commonsensical. It is all very policy focused. That is why I am happy to report that it was a strongly bipartisan piece of legislation throughout its journey through the committee. This is exactly what our country should be doing at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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.

Rep. Shomari FiguresD-AL-2 · Dec 15, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 4183, the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, as amended. This bill updates…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

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. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued December 16, 2025

IIB

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4183

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 16, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

AN ACT

To authorize appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal years 2026 through 2027, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025.

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.

Sec. 2. Table of contents.

Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.

Sec. 4. Purposes.

Sec. 5. Definitions.

Sec. 6. Complaints against shipping exchanges.

Sec. 7. Repeal.

Sec. 8. Data collection.

Sec. 9. Investigations.

Sec. 10. National advisory committees.

Sec. 11. Annual report and public disclosures.

Sec. 12. Containerized freight indexes.

Sec. 13. Technical amendments.

Authorization of appropriations

Section 46108 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking $32,869,000 for fiscal year 2022, $38,260,000 for fiscal year 2023, $43,720,000 for fiscal year 2024, and $49,200,000 for fiscal year 2025 and inserting $49,200,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $49,200,000 for fiscal year 2027.

Purposes

Section 40101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2) by striking in the ocean commerce of the United States and inserting for the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the United States; and

(2)

in paragraph (4) by striking promote and inserting support.

Definitions

(a)

In general

Section 40102(9) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (B) by striking the period and inserting ; or;

(2)

by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and by adjusting the margins accordingly;

(3)

by striking means an ocean common carrier and inserting the following:

means—

(A)

an ocean common carrier

; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

such a carrier that is owned or controlled by, a subsidiary of, or otherwise related legally or financially (other than a minority relationship or investment) to a corporation based in, headquartered in, or otherwise significantly linked to a country—

(i)

identified as a nonmarket economy country (as defined in section 771(18) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1677(18))) as of the date of enactment of the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025;

(ii)

identified by the United States Trade Representative on the priority watch list included in the most recent report required by section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2242) as a priority foreign country under subsection (a)(2) of that section; or

(iii)

subject to monitoring by the United States Trade Representative under section 306 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2416).

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 46106(b)(7) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ocean common carriers, particularly such carriers that are controlled carriers and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting controlled carriers;.

Complaints against shipping exchanges

(a)

In general

Section 40504(c) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading by inserting and investigation after Exemption;

(2)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;

(3)

by striking may exempt and inserting the following:

may—

(1)

exempt

; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

investigate complaints submitted under section 40505.

(b)

Complaints against shipping exchanges

Chapter 405 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

40505.

Complaints against shipping exchanges

(a)

In general

A person may submit to the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Commission shall accept, information concerning alleged incidents of market manipulation or other anticompetitive practices by shipping exchanges registered under section 40504.

(b)

Investigation

Upon receipt of a submission of information under subsection (a), the Commission shall promptly investigate the accuracy of such information.

(c)

Report to Congress

The Commission shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the results of any investigation in which the Commission finds incidents of market manipulation or anticompetitive practices by shipping exchanges registered under section 40504.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 405 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

40505. Complaints against shipping exchanges.

Shipping exchange registry

Section 40504(d) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking 3 years after the date of enactment of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 and inserting 2 years after the date of enactment of the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025;

(2)

by striking set standards necessary to carry out and inserting ensure consistency with; and

(3)

by striking by and inserting via.

Repeal

(a)

In general

Section 40706 of title 46, United States Code, is repealed.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 407 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 40706.

Data collection

Section 41110 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking The Federal Maritime Commission and inserting the following:

(a)

Quarterly report

The Federal Maritime Commission

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(b)

Limitation on duplication

Unless the data described in paragraphs (1) and (2) is not available in a timely manner or in a form that allows the Commission to meet the requirements of subsection (a), data required to be reported under subsection (a) may not duplicate information submitted—

(1)

to the Corps of Engineers pursuant to section 11 of the Act entitled An Act authorizing the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes, approved September 22, 1922 (33 U.S.C. 555), by an ocean common carrier acting as a vessel operator;

(2)

pursuant to section 481 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1481) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection by merchandise importers; or

(3)

to the Department of Commerce pursuant to section 301 of title 13.

10.

Investigations

Section 41302 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Nondisclosure

Information and documents developed by the Federal Maritime Commission under this section shall not be disclosed unless the Commission determines by majority vote of the Commission that such information and documents are relevant to an administrative or judicial proceeding and agrees by a majority vote to disclose such information and documents.

11.

National advisory committees

(a)

National shipper advisory committee

Section 42502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a) by striking Committee. and inserting Committee (in this section referred to as the Shipper Committee).;

(2)

by striking subsection (b);

(3)

by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b); and

(4)

in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by striking Committee each place it appears and inserting Shipper Committee.

(b)

National port advisory committee

Chapter 425 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by redesignating section 42503 as section 42506; and

(2)

by inserting after section 42502 the following:

42503.

National port advisory committee

(a)

Establishment

There is established a National Port Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the Port Committee).

(b)

Membership

(1)

In general

The Port Committee shall consist of 13 members appointed by the Commission in accordance with this section.

(2)

Expertise

Each member of the Port Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Port Committee.

(3)

Representation

Members of the Port Committee shall be appointed as follows:

(A)

5 members shall represent marine terminal operators, as such term is defined in section 40102.

(B)

5 members shall represent port authorities.

(C)

3 members shall represent longshore and maritime labor.

42504.

National ocean carrier advisory committee

(a)

Establishment

There is established a National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the Carrier Committee).

(b)

Membership

(1)

In general

The Carrier Committee shall consist of 9 members appointed by the Commission in accordance with this section.

(2)

Expertise

Each member of the Carrier Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Committee.

(3)

Representation

Members of the Carrier Committee shall represent ocean carriers serving such seaports and terminals, of which at least 3 shall be ocean transportation intermediaries (as such term is defined in section 40102).

42505.

Function

The covered Committees shall advise the Federal Maritime Commission on policies relating to the competitiveness, reliability, and efficiency of the international ocean freight delivery system.

(c)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Definitions

Section 42501(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Covered committee

The term covered Committee means—

(A)

the National Shipper Advisory Committee established under section 42502;

(B)

the National Port Advisory Committee established under section 42503; and

(C)

the National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee established under section 52504.

(2)

Administration

Section 42506 of title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (b)(1), is amended—

(A)

by striking The Committee each place it appears except in subsection (k) and inserting Each covered Committee;

(B)

in subsection (a) by striking the Committee and inserting each such Committee;

(C)

in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (j) by striking the Committee each place it appears and inserting a covered Committee;

(D)

in subsection (f), by striking the Committee’s and inserting a covered Committee’s;

(E)

in subsection (h)—

(i)

in paragraph (1)—

(I)

by striking Chair of the Committee and inserting Chair of each covered Committee; and

(II)

by striking function of the Committee and inserting function of the applicable Committee; and

(ii)

in paragraph (2) by striking the Committee and inserting each covered Committee;

(F)

in subsection (i)—

(i)

in paragraph (1) by striking the Committee if the function of the Committee and inserting any relevant covered Committee if the function of such Committee;

(ii)

in paragraph (2) by striking the Committee and inserting each such Committee;

(iii)

in paragraph (3)—

(I)

by striking from the Committee and inserting from a covered Committee; and

(II)

in subparagraph (B) by striking to the Committee and inserting to the submitting Committee; and

(iv)

in paragraph (4) by striking from the Committee and inserting from a covered Committee; and

(G)

in subsection (k) by striking The Committee and inserting The covered Committees.

12.

Annual report and public disclosures

(a)

Report on foreign laws and practices

Section 46106(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (6)—

(A)

by striking and at the end; and

(B)

by striking under this part and inserting under chapter 403;

(2)

in paragraph (7), as amended by section 5(b) of this Act—

(A)

by inserting anticompetitive, nonreciprocal trade, or before otherwise concerning practices;

(B)

by inserting or marine terminal operators after controlled carriers; and

(C)

by inserting and after the semicolon at the end; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(8)

an analysis of any trade imbalance resulting from the business practices of ocean common carriers, including an analysis of the data collected under section 41110; and

(9)

the aggregated findings and results of the Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program established by the Commission on July 18, 2021, pursuant to the Commission rule interpreting section 41102(c).

(b)

Public disclosure

Section 46106(d)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting or marine terminal operator after common carrier.

13.

Containerized freight indexes

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Maritime Commission shall promulgate an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the manner in which data is acquired, used, and protected in developing price indexes for containerized ocean freight for shippers (as such term is defined in section 40102 of title 46, United States Code) in the United States published by a shipping exchange registered under section 40504 of title 46, United States Code.

(b)

Final rule

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish a final rule with respect to the advance notice of proposed rulemaking required under subsection (a).

14.

Technical amendments

(a)

National advisory committees

The analysis for subtitle IV of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to chapter 425 and inserting the following:

425. National Advisory Committees 42501

(b)

Analysis

The heading and analysis for chapter 425 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

425

NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Sec.

42501. Definitions.

42502. National Shipper Advisory Committee.

42503. National Port Advisory Committee.

42504. National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee.

42505. Function.

42506. Administration.

Passed the House of Representatives December 15, 2025.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.