Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

Summary

Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes the Federal Maritime Commission through FY2029 and expands the commission’s authority to regulate anticompetitive practices within the international ocean transportation system. Specifically, the bill expands the definition of controlled carrier (a category of carriers that are subject to additional regulatory oversight) to include carriers legally or financially related to a corporation based or headquartered in, or otherwise significantly linked to, a nonmarket economy country or a country subject to monitoring by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Additionally, the bill requires the commission to accept and investigate complaints concerning alleged anticompetitive practices by registered shipping exchanges. (A shipping exchange is a data platform that enables businesses shipping goods to connect with carriers to transport those goods.) The bill also requires the commission to report annually on anticompetitive and nonreciprocal trade practices by controlled carriers or marine terminal operators. Further, the bill establishes a National Port Advisory Committee and a National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee. The committees, together with the existing National Shipper Advisory Committee, are charged with advising the commission on policies relating to competitiveness, reliability, and efficiency in the international ocean freight delivery system. Finally, the bill prohibits the commission from releasing information and documents developed pursuant to an enforcement investigation unless the commission determines that they are relevant to an administrative or judicial proceeding and agrees to release them by a majority vote.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · U.S. House of Representatives

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Cosponsors

Full history

1. Dec 16, 2025

   In committee

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

   U.S. House

2. Dec 16, 2025

   Sent to the executive

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

   U.S. Senate

3. Dec 15, 2025

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H5869-5872)

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

4. Dec 15, 2025

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H5869-5872)

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

5. Dec 15, 2025

   Debate - the House Proceeded With Forty Minutes of Debate on H.R. 4183.

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

   U.S. House of Representatives

Read the record

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