WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an Executive Session at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022, to consider several presidential nominations. Immediately following the Executive Session, the Committee will hold a full committee hearing on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.

Details:

Commerce Committee Executive Session

10 a.m. ET

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

Nominations Agenda:

• Arun Venkataraman, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service
• Mohsin Raza Syed, to be Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs, DOT
• Gigi B. Sohn, to be a Commissioner of the FCC  
• Grant T. Harris, to be Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis, DOC 
• Jainey Kumar Bavishi, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
• Alvaro M. Bedoya, to be a Commissioner of the FTC  
• Mary T. Boyle, to be a Commissioner of the CPSC
• Christopher A. Coes, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation  
• Dr. Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology  
• Carol A. Petsonk, to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs

At the conclusion of the executive session, the Committee will go directly into the hearing.

Hearing On The Ocean Shipping Reform Act

The Covid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented volume of imports as consumers shifted their spending from services to goods. Ports, while operating at record volumes, could not offload ships fast enough to prevent queues offshore. Truck and warehouse capacity have been strained due to congestion. As goods became stalled in the supply chain, importers incurred increasing charges for the use of containers while exporters struggled to find containers available. These events have brought renewed attention to the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) authorizing statute. This hearing will examine opportunities to update the Federal Maritime Commission’s authority to increase oversight of international ocean carriers. 

The Klobuchar-Thune Ocean Shipping Reform Act would: provide the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) with greater authority to regulate harmful and discriminatory practices by international shipping companies; require carriers to certify that the fees they charge for delays are in compliance with federal regulations or face penalties; increase transparency on how many empty containers carriers are transporting; and prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining U.S. exports that have been stranded at the docks.  

Witnesses:

• Daniel B. Maffei, Chair, Federal Maritime Commission
• Rebecca F. Dye, Commissioner, Federal Maritime Commission

WATCH LIVE STREAM:  www.commerce.senate.gov

Due to current limited access to the Capitol complex, the general public is encouraged to view this hearing via the live stream. Social distancing is now lifted for vaccinated members of the press who wish to attend. The Office of the Attending Physician recommends that all individuals wear masks while in interior spaces and other individuals are present.

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News Release