# 119-s-1238: Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act

119-s-1238, Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1238
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1238
- Congress: 119
- Title: Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-01
- Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**This bill would add an explicit geographic equity requirement to how the Port Infrastructure Development Program chooses projects.** It amends parts of 46 U.S.C. 54301 to insert that mandate into the program's project selection rules. - Port authorities and local communities would see awards considered through a geographic equity lens, which could change which regions receive grants. - Project applicants would face selection criteria that explicitly include geographic distribution as a factor when proposals are evaluated. - The Port Infrastructure Development Program would follow the amended statutory text in 46 U.S.C. 54301 when choosing projects, reflecting the new geographic-equity direction.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH] (R-OH), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Require geographic balance for port grants: mixed, medium. This bill would require federal port grants to be spread more evenly across U.S. regions. It would apply to the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program and to assistance for small inland river and coastal ports and terminals. If enacted, this could shift which regions and port projects receive fede…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.

## Sources
- [119-s-1238 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1238)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2296)
- [119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4784)
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1238 (as of 2026-09-10).