Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3395 Introduced in House (IH)] 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3395 To direct the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest United States container ports, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 17, 2023 Mr. Auchincloss (for himself and Mr. Webster of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest United States container ports, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY ON FOREIGN PORTS.

SECTION 1. STUDY ON FOREIGN PORTS. (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate how foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest United States container ports affects or could affect United States economic security. (b) Contents.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the center selected under such subsection shall-- (1) consider-- (A) changes in ownership of the 15 largest United States container ports over the past 10 years as well as announced ownership changes from 2023 and 2024; (B) instances of ownership in individual marine terminals and cumulative ownership by Chinese or Russian entities or nationals; (C) instances of ownership in individual marine terminals and cumulative ownership by any foreign entity; (D) the amount of-- (i) Port Infrastructure Development Grant funds since fiscal year 2018 that have gone to ports and marine terminals that are owned wholly or partially foreign owned; and (ii) Port Security Grant funds since fiscal year 2003 that have gone to ports and marine terminals that are owned wholly or partially foreign owned; and (E) where ownership exists, a detailed description of foreign operational control including both affirmative and negative control; and (2) offer recommendations on-- (A) policies by ports and marine terminal operators to prevent excessive foreign ownership that could threaten United States economic security; (B) whether ownership affords the foreign owner access to operational technology and information unique to the United States and otherwise unavailable; and (C) whether foreign ownership has or could affect the supply chain and policies related to the prioritization of certain cargoes. (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the initiation of the evaluation under subsection (a), the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the results of such evaluation.