[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Hollings, and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 1244. A bill to authorize appropriations for the Federal Maritime 
Commission for fiscal years 2004 and 2005; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator 
Hollings, the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee; and 
Senator Hutchison, the Chairman of the Surface Transportation and 
Merchant Marine Subcommittee, in introducing a bipartisan bill to 
reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission, FMC.
  The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent agency comprised of 
five commissioners. Its 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. The work carried out 
by the FMC is critical to protecting shippers and carriers from 
restrictive or unfair practices by foreign-flag carriers.
  This legislation would authorize funding for the Commission to 
continue its important work through fiscal year 2005. Specifically, the 
bill would authorize $18.5 million for fiscal year 2004, which is the 
level requested by the Administration, and $19.5 million for fiscal 
year 2005. The bill also would amend Section 102(b) of the 
Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1961 to require that the Commission's 
chairman be subject to Senate confirmation. Additionally, the bill 
would require the Commission to report to Congress on the status of any 
agreements or discussions with other Federal, State, or local 
governmental agencies concerning issues dealing with the sharing of 
ocean shipping information for the purpose of assisting law enforcement 
or anti-terrorism efforts. The Commission also would be directed to 
make recommendations on how the Commission's ocean shipping information 
could be better utilized to improve port security efforts.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in moving this bill 
through the legislative process in the weeks ahead.

                          ____________________