Rep. Cleaver Votes to Strengthen Ocean Shipping Supply Chains, Crack Down on Price Gouging

June 13, 2022
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of S. 3580, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which was already passed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support and would help lower costs for American consumers by addressing supply chain challenges and cracking down on exorbitant fees by international ocean shipping companies. The bill would give the Federal Maritime Commission new tools that will give it a greater ability to police the market and ensure that American products and American farmers are not being overcharged or left on the dock.

"Outrageous and exorbitant fees charged by international ocean shipping companies have made critical goods more expensive than necessary for hardworking Missouri families. It's unacceptable, and it's about time that Congress came together to do something about it," said Congressman Cleaver. "The bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act will give the Federal Maritime Commission and the Biden Administration additional tools to ensure American consumers are not being price gouged at a time when families are struggling to get by. I am committed to working with President Biden and across the aisle to lower costs for the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is one important step toward that goal."

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act builds on the House of Representatives' ongoing work to strengthen supply chains and bring down costs for working families. Later this week, the House will vote on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to slash prices in the grocery store and at the gas pump by supporting America's farmers and ranchers. Previously, the House of Representatives passed the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act with Rep. Cleaver's support to combat Big Oil's excessive gas price hikes. Additionally, earlier this year, the House passed the America COMPETES Act to strengthen the United States' broken supply chains and prevent goods shortages. Lastly, the Cleaver-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivered $17 billion in funding for ports and waterways across the United States—the largest-ever federal investment in port infrastructure.

Specifically, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act would:

  • Stop international ocean carriers from unreasonably declining American cargo space, as determined by the Federal Maritime Commission;
  • Direct the Federal Maritime Commission to self-initiate investigations of ocean carriers' business practices and apply enforcement measures;
  • Shift the burden of proof regarding overcharging certain container fees, called "demurrage and detention" charges, from the complainant to the international ocean carriers to help level the playing field and improve the Federal Maritime Commission's enforcement capacity;
  • Improve transparency of movement of U.S. agricultural and other exports by requiring international ocean carriers to report to the Federal Maritime Commission regarding how many empty containers are being transported;
  • Stop retaliation by international shipping companies against exporters and importers;
  • Formally establish the Federal Maritime Commission Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services to improve the complaint and investigation process for American businesses seeking assistance from the Federal Maritime Commission; and
  • Authorize the Federal Maritime Commission for Fiscal Year 2022 through Fiscal Year 2025 and increasing the funding for the Federal Maritime Commission from $32 million in FY22 up to nearly $50 million in FY25, giving the Commission the funding it needs for an enhanced role.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is supported by a coalition of more than 94 key trade groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, American Association of Exporters and Importers, National Retail Federation, American Chemistry Council, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Association of Food Industries, Consumer Technology Association, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and more.

Official text of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.