[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 60 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4452-S4453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Hollings, and Mr. 
        Inouye):
  S. 920. A bill to authorize appropriations for the Federal Maritime 
Commission for fiscal years 2000 and 2001; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


         federal maritime commission authorization act of 1999

 Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, today I, with Senator McCain, 
Chairman of the Commerce Committee; Senator Hollings, the ranking 
member of the Commerce Committee; and Senator Inouye, ranking member of 
the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee are 
introducing a bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000 
and 2001 for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).
  The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent agency composed of 
five commissioners. The Commission's primary responsibility is 
administering the Shipping Act of 1984 and enforcing the Foreign 
Shipping Practices Act and Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act of 
1920. By doing so, the FMC protects shippers and carriers from 
restrictive or unfair practices of foreign-flag carriers. Currently, 
the Commission is engaged in the implementation of the Ocean Shipping 
Reform Act of 1998. The Act, which takes effect on May 1 of this year 
is the first major deregulation of international ocean shipping. This 
bill authorizes funding for the Commission to continue its important 
work.
  Specifically, the bill authorizes $15.6 million for the FMC for 
fiscal year 2000 and $16.3 million for fiscal year 2001. The fiscal 
year 2000 funding is $385,000 above the amount requested by the 
President in order to fund the appointment of the fifth commissioner 
and his or her staff.
  I look forward to working on this important legislation and hope my 
colleagues will join me and the other sponsors in expeditiously moving 
this authorization through the legislative process.
 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senator 
Hutchison, Chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine 
Subcommittee in introducing this bill.
  The Federal Maritime Commission has done a commendable job in its 
implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act that takes effect on 
May 1, 1999. This measure will insure that the Commission can complete 
their implementation efforts and continue their other duties, 
administering the Shipping Act of 1984 and enforcing the Foreign 
Shipping Practices Act and Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act of 
1920.
  I am pleased that the subcommittee is taking this action today and 
will join Senator Hutchison and the other sponsors in expeditiously 
moving this authorization through the legislative process.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Federal 
Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 1999, which would authorize 
appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for fiscal 
years 2000 and 2001. With the recent passage of the Ocean Shipping 
Reform Act of 1998 (``OSRA'') the Commission's role in overseeing the 
ocean transportation industry has changed dramatically and increased in 
importance. The Commission must have the necessary funding to ensure 
that Congress' intentions with OSRA are met, and that all segments of 
the industry are fully protected from potential abuses.
  I am particularly pleased with the effort made by the Commission to 
adopt regulations to implement OSRA. OSRA, which was signed into law on 
October 14, 1998, and will go into effect on May 1, 1999, significantly 
altered the Commission's primary underlying statute--the Shipping Act 
of 1984. Nevertheless, the Commission was only given

[[Page S4453]]

until March 1, 1999, to adopt final regulations to implement the 
changes made to the Act. The Commission met this deadline while fully 
complying with all notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act. The Commission solicited and received 
comment from the entire industry and, based on those comments, arrived 
at final rules that are fully consistent with the Congressional intent. 
The Commission should be applauded for accomplishing this difficult 
task in such a timely and responsive manner.
  I would also note that under OSRA the Commission will continue to 
exercise its vital role in addressing unfair foreign trade practices 
under section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 and the Foreign 
Shipping Practices Act of 1988. The Commission has proven time and 
again--most recently with the Japan port controversy and several 
restrictive practices in Brazil--that it can effectively address such 
practices and, if adequately funded, will be able to continue to do its 
fine job. I am a firm proponent of aggressive policies that promote 
fair and open trades, and I commend the FMC for their role in opening 
markets for our ocean carrier and ocean shipper communities.
  The amounts authorized for the FMC take into account the fact that 
the Commission will soon be fully staffed with five Commissioners. The 
President recently nominated a fifth Commissioner and his nomination is 
pending before the Commerce Committee. The Commission needs full 
funding to bring the agency up to its full complement of members and to 
meet its new responsibilities under OSRA.
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