Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens U.S. control over port operations to reduce foreign strategic influence and protect supply chains, but does so at the cost of limiting foreign investment and competition, which may raise costs, create compliance uncertainty, and risk diplomatic backlash.
Port owners/operators will face reduced exposure to control or influence by state-owned enterprises from China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran, lowering the risk of foreign strategic access to U.S. ports and improving national security.
Businesses and consumers will have more resilient and U.S.-aligned control of critical port operations, helping protect supply-chain continuity and cargo security for transportation workers, small businesses, and end consumers.
Local governments and port owners/operators gain clearer cross-referenced definitions for facility/owner/operator that simplify legal compliance for covered entities.
Port owners/operators and prospective investors will lose access to some foreign capital and partnership opportunities, potentially raising costs for port projects and increasing financing challenges for infrastructure upgrades.
Reduced foreign participation and competition in port operations could lead to higher fees, slower investment, or diminished efficiency that raises costs for taxpayers, shippers, small businesses, and consumers.
Port owners/operators and local governments may face compliance burdens and legal uncertainty because identifying which entities are covered (including partial ownership ties) could be ambiguous.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits owners or operators of maritime facilities that must have a facility security plan from entering into contracts to own, lease, or operate those facilities with state-owned enterprises of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran, or with any foreign entity that is owned at all by an entity or country on that list. Uses existing maritime definitions for terms like "facility," "owner," and "operator" and updates the title 46 table of contents to show the new provision.
Introduced January 9, 2025 by Ken Calvert · Last progress June 10, 2025