American Exporters Praise Ocean Shipping Reform Act

Washington, D.C. – Following the U.S. House passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S. 3580) introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), John Garamendi (D-CA), Senators John Thune (R-S.D) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), industry groups issued statements in the support of the legislation. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is the first major overhaul of federal regulations for the global shipping industry in nearly 30 years and passed the House 369-42.

“AFBF appreciates lawmakers for working together to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Record-high shipping costs and delayed access to containers have worsened supply chain issues and limited exports at a time when the world is calling on America’s farmers to meet growing demand. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure farmers and ranchers can continue to meet the needs of families in America and overseas.”

“We commend Congressmen Dusty Johnson and John Garamendi and Senators Amy Klobuchar and John Thune for their bipartisan leadership on this important legislation. Making OSRA federal law will help retailers and thousands of other businesses that depend on the global maritime transportation system to move goods through the supply chain every day. The system has been severely impacted by COVID-19, and these improvements come at a critical time to help lower inflation and ease the pressure on American businesses and consumers,” said National Retail Federation Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French said.

“As a coalition representing over 80 companies and trade associations that are critical to ensure a well-function supply chain, we commend Congressmen Johnson and Garamendi for their leadership on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act,” saidthe Shippers Coalition. “Their tireless efforts to help shippers move goods is a clear example of how bipartisanship should work in Congress.” 

“We applaud House approval of legislation that addresses the challenges agricultural exporters are facing at the ports and we appreciate Rep. Johnson’s steadfast leadership on this issue,” said Tyson’s Food Inc. “He worked tirelessly with House and Senate colleagues to secure reforms that, once implemented, will ensure U.S. exporters like our company can ship our products in a more fair and timely manner.”

“When Valley Queen Cheese came to Rep. Johnson with the issues we were facing with ocean carriers – he took us seriously and acted,” said Jason Mischel, Valley Queen Cheese VP of Sales and Milk Procurement. “Valley Queen exports more than $15 million dairy per year, the shipping delays risked South Dakota jobs and revenue our state can’t afford to lose. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act remedies this problem, and Valley Queen is grateful for Dusty’s leadership on this issue.”

“The efforts of importers and exporters, agriculture and retailers led the way to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022,” said Peter Friedmann, Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. “We are grateful to Representatives Garamendi, Johnson, Costa, Schrier and to Senators Klobuchar, Thune and Cantwell and to your well-informed and highly motivated professional staff. You have truly moved the ball forward, towards shipping practices that will help keep US agriculture viable in global markets and an industry that employs so many here in the US.”

“The problems at our ports include delays of shipments of American-made goods to overseas trading partners due to the unreasonable practices of foreign-owned ocean carriers,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. “These delays are a huge cost to meat and poultry companies as their perishable products await transport.”

“This day has been a long time coming,” saidATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This bill provides important tools to address unjustified and illegal fees collected from American truckers by the ocean shipping cartel – fees that have contributed to the shipping lines raking in $150 billion in profits just last year. Those fees hurt American motor carriers and consumers – helping to drive record inflation. We thank Congress for passing this bipartisan solution and urge President Biden to quickly sign it into law.”

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