WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Senate this afternoon passed its version of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, following approval by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last week.
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives again overwhelmingly passed its version of the bill as a part of a broader legislative package that authorizes Coast Guard programs, marking the third time the House has passed the legislation.
The House initially passed the bill last year as a stand-alone measure, and again as part of its version of a China competitiveness bill in February.
While overall granting the Federal Maritime Commission authority to regulate ocean carriers, the House and Senate bills have distinct differences that will have to be reconciled.
“U.S. rice exporters continue to deal with untenable ocean shipping costs, disruptions, and fees, all while fighting to keep markets around the world,” said Chris Crutchfield, USA Rice member and president and CEO of American Commodity Company who represents the rice industry on the Federal Maritime Commission’s National Shipper Advisory Committee (NSAC). “We are very pleased to see passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, and encourage a swift conference to work out the differences and for the bill to become law.”
Crutchfield was a guest on
The Rice Stuff podcast,
Episode 36, “Export Headaches: Shipping, Labor, a Rigged System, and More,” that dove into transportation issues.