PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 4996: Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 4996: Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-08-10 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-08-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 406 (2021): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR4996 (2021-12-08), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

Plain summary

Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to ocean shipping policies and is designed to support the growth and development of U.S. exports and promote reciprocal trade in the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the United States. Among other provisions, the bill sets forth requirements for operating a shipping exchange involving ocean transportation in the foreign commerce of the United States; requires ocean common carriers to report to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) each calendar quarter on total import and export tonnage and the total loaded and empty 20-foot equivalent units per vessel that makes port in the United States; requires the FMC to publish and annually update all its findings of false certifications by ocean common carriers or marine terminal operators and all penalties assessed against such carriers or operators; revises annual reporting requirements for the FMC on foreign laws and practices to include practices by ocean common carriers; prohibits ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from retaliating or discriminating against shippers because such shippers have patronized another carrier, or filed a complaint; directs the FMC to establish rules prohibiting ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from adopting and applying unjust and unreasonable demurrage and detention fees; authorizes the FMC to initiate investigations of an ocean common carrier's fees or charges and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; directs the Department of Transportation to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study the U.S. supply chain industry, including data constraints that impede the flow of maritime cargo and add to supply chain inefficiencies; and provides authority for the FMC to issue an emergency order requiring ocean common carriers or marine terminal operators to share directly with relevant shippers, rail carriers, or motor carriers information relating to cargo throughput and availability.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] · 96 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), David G. Valadao (R-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), James R. Baird (R-IN), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Steve Womack (R-AR), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Young Kim (R-CA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), Mike Bost (R-IL), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Lisa C. McClain (R-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), John R. Moolenaar (R-MI), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Andy Barr (R-KY) and 36 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] reported raising $582,746 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4996 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117