# 117-hr-4996: Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

117-hr-4996, Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA); status Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4996
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-4996
- Congress: 117
- Title: Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021
- Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced: 2021-08-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 96
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## 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 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; 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; requires the Federal Maritime Commission (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; requires ocean common carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that meet the public interest; 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; requires ocean common carriers to report to the 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; authorizes the FMC to initiate investigations of an ocean common carrier's fees or charges and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and revises annual reporting requirements for the FMC on foreign laws and practices to include practices by ocean common carriers.

## Cosponsors (96)

- Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] (R-SD), 2021-08-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2021-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA), 2021-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE), 2021-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] (R-CA), 2021-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2021-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2021-08-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2021-08-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2021-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2021-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keller, Fred [R-PA-12] (R-PA), 2021-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2021-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4] (R-IN), 2021-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2021-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] (R-PA), 2021-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] (R-AR), 2021-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Chris [R-NY-27] (R-NY), 2021-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Delgado, Antonio [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2] (R-IA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1] (D-AZ), 2021-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2021-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2021-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA), 2021-09-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2021-09-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2021-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23] (R-NY), 2021-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] (R-FL), 2021-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] (R-OH), 2021-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] (R-IA), 2021-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2021-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7] (R-MO), 2021-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40] (R-CA), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (D-PA), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] (R-MD), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] (R-NY), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (R-IL), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] (R-AR), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2] (R-NM), 2021-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2021-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] (R-OH), 2021-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6] (R-MI), 2021-10-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (R-NY), 2021-10-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meijer, Peter [R-MI-3] (R-MI), 2021-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2021-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2021-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9] (R-MI), 2021-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony [R-OH-16] (R-OH), 2021-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4] (R-CO), 2021-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4] (R-MI), 2021-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2] (R-MI), 2021-11-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2021-11-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (R-KY), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walorski, Jackie [R-IN-2] (R-IN), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] (R-OH), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (D-CO), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2021-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2021-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] (R-GA), 2021-11-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2021-11-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3] (D-IA), 2021-11-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] (R-OH), 2021-11-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH), 2021-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA), 2021-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2021-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2021-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2021-11-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2021-11-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2021-11-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1] (R-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11] (R-PA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-12-08T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed | 364 | 60 |

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## Sources
- [117-hr-4996 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4996)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4996 (as of 2025-11-18).