Sponsors (4)
Expands capital construction fund use to let U.S. marine terminal operators fund U.S.-made cargo handling equipment, bars funding for PRC-made cranes and certain automation causing net job loss, and requires an annual RFI on U.S. equipment availability.
The bill prioritizes U.S.-made port equipment and information/use of capital funds to protect domestic jobs and supply chains and encourage investment, but does so at the cost of higher procurement prices, added administrative and legal uncertainty, potential slower modernization, and uneven effects across larger versus smaller ports.
Ports, terminal operators, and fund holders can use capital construction funds and clearer guidance (plus new availability information) to plan and buy/replace cargo-handling equipment, improving terminal reliability and reducing downtime.
U.S. manufacturers and maritime workers benefit from a strong preference for domestically made cargo-handling equipment and restrictions on certain PRC-made cranes, supporting domestic jobs and supply-chain resilience.
Owners/lessees of eligible U.S. vessels retain financing flexibility (saving for U.S.-built vessel replacement or addition and using fund dollars for vessel acquisition/related debt), supporting U.S. shipbuilding employment and investment choices.
Marine terminal operators, port authorities, and the Department of Transportation face increased administrative, procurement, and legal burdens and uncertainty (assessing U.S. availability, Secretary discretion on 'net job loss', annual RFIs and related rulemaking).
Ports, shippers, and ultimately consumers may face higher procurement and operating costs because a preference for U.S.-made equipment and bans on certain PRC cranes reduce supplier choices and competition.
Restrictions on buying certain automation or lower-cost foreign equipment could slow port modernization and efficiency gains, reducing throughput improvements and competitiveness.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To amend title 46, United States Code, to include the replacement or purchase of additional cargo handling equipment as an eligible purpose for Capital Construction Funds, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 9, 2025 by Mike Ezell · Last progress June 9, 2025
Expands an existing federal capital construction fund program so U.S. marine terminal operators can save and use funds to buy or finance cargo handling equipment built in the United States, and adds rules to protect jobs and restrict certain foreign-made equipment. It also adds statutory definitions for "cargo handling equipment" and "marine terminal," bars use of fund withdrawals for fully automated equipment that would cause a net job loss or for cranes made in the People’s Republic of China, and requires an annual Federal Register request for information on availability of U.S.-manufactured cargo handling equipment.