[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 42 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT OF 1998

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am pleased that today the Senate is 
considering the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. This legislation provides a 
major step forward in reforming America's public policy on maritime 
issues.
  When the Senate adopts this legislation, it will make America's 
maritime container shipping industry more competitive in the global 
marketplace.
  The bill is a fair and responsible balance for all the parties 
affected by this policy change.
  This bill will increase competition in the ocean liner shipping 
industry and it will help American exporters, from every state in the 
nation. Every American exporter and the American maritime industry will 
have a better chance to compete in the world market.
  Just last night I was working with Senator Harkin to address his 
concern with the bill--Iowa farmers who export produce wanted to make 
sure we got the bill right. This is just another illustration that all 
states have a stake in making sure this maritime reform is completed.
  Maritime policy affects all Americans. If an American company 
exports, it is likely that its goods are sent overseas by container 
ships. That is why it is especially important that the United States 
have a shipping system that allows American carriers to compete on a 
level playing field.
  S. 414 provides America that system.
  This evolving legislative effort started back in the 104th Congress. 
While it has taken the Senate and all the stakeholders' time to develop 
an equitable solution, we have ultimately reached an historic balance 
between the needs of shippers, carriers, ports, and labor.
  My colleagues, who helped get to this point, will all tell you the 
ocean liner shipping world includes many different and difficult 
competing segments. But, every one of them genuinely wanted legislative 
reform.
  In the end it meant all sides had to accept compromise. And, they 
did.
  These stakeholders' rolled-up their sleeves and worked to reach a 
consensus.
  I am proud of their efforts to look beyond their own self-interests. 
I am also proud of the leadership and support provided by my colleagues 
in the Senate for working in a bipartisan way to reach a consensus on 
this important initiative.
  Again, I think it is important to recognize that affected 
stakeholders are solidly behind the changes in maritime policy called 
for by this Act.
  The list of stakeholders included the National Industrial 
Transportation League, Sea-Land Service, APL Limited, Crowley Maritime, 
the Council of European and Japanese National Shipowners' Association, 
the Association of American Port Authorities, the International 
Longshoreman's Association, the International Longshoreman's and 
Warehouseman's Union, the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-
CIO, among others.
  This is a divergent group that normally does not hang out together. 
Their interests often pit these groups at each other in adversarial 
relationships. But, they came to the table in the search of a much 
needed legislative solution. This is a signal of just how important 
Ocean Shipping Reform Act is to correcting America's maritime policy.

  Not only did the group find a solution; they strongly support this 
legislative conclusion. It demonstrates that when they work together, 
the maritime industry can accomplish meaningful reform. Reform that is 
good for America.
  I hope we can build on this effort and achieve additional reform.
  Before I go further, I want to pause and salute my friend and 
colleague Senator Gorton for his participation in this reform effort. 
Mr. Gorton is the author of the 1984 Act which this legislation is 
amending. He fully recognizes that maritime reform is an incremental 
process because of the complexity of the interacting segments. His 
guidance was essential.
  Senator Gorton has an amendment that affects the balance and the 
compromise achieved by the bill and its manager's amendment. I am 
opposed to this amendment. I feel it is in our best interest to proceed 
with Senator Hutchison's bill
  Senator Hutchison has done an excellent job of advancing this needed 
maritime reform. She is a sponsor of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, and 
its amendments. She will provide a response to why Senator Gorton's 
proposal should not be adopted.
  I want to end by congratulating all of my Senate colleagues, on both 
sides of the aisle, for their efforts to advance this real maritime 
reform. Their staff's also worked hard on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 
of 1998, and they too are a part of this successful effort.
  I want to specifically point out Mr. James Sartucci of the Senate's 
Commerce Committee for his professional diligence and honest brokerage 
respected by all sides of the debate. He has kept faith with all the 
groups over the past three years. He was instrumental in making sure 
the policy changes were coherent and fair to everyone. He worked in a 
truly bipartisan manner which is a hallmark of why the Commerce 
Committee consistently produces successful legislative solutions.
  Mr. President, I now call upon the House of Representatives to 
complete the legislative process on maritime reform this year so the 
nation's consumers, businesses, and shipping industry can reap the 
benefits of a reformed ocean liner system.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote in relation to 
the Gorton amendment No. 2287 occur at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 
with 20 minutes under the previous consent agreement commencing at 9:40 
a.m.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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