[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 98 (Monday, June 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2548-H2549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARITIME SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY ACT
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2390) to amend title 46, United States Code, to clarify that port
infrastructure development program funds may be used to replace Chinese
port crane hardware or software, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2390
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Maritime Supply Chain
Security Act''.
[[Page H2549]]
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY THAT PORT INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED TO
REPLACE CHINESE PORT CRANE HARDWARE OR
SOFTWARE.
Section 54301(a)(3)(A)(ii)(III) of title 46, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``including projects to improve port
resilience;'' and inserting ``including--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(aa) projects to improve port resilience; and
``(bb) projects to upgrade or replace port cranes or parts
of port cranes (including hardware and software) that--
``(AA) were installed or provided by the People's Republic
of China or any department, ministry, center, agency, or
instrumentality of the Government of the People's Republic of
China; or
``(BB) are maintained, controlled, or sponsored by the
People's Republic of China or any department, ministry,
center, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of the
People's Republic of China;''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Carbajal) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.
General Leave
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material in the Record for H.R. 2390.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2390, the Maritime Supply
Chain Security Act. This bill strengthens the ability of ports to
confront threats by Chinese software and hardware.
H.R. 2390 clarifies that funds from maritime port infrastructure
development programs can be used for projects focused on upgrading or
replacing port cranes that were either installed or supplied by the
People's Republic of China or any of its related government entities.
I want to thank Representative Rouzer, leader on the T&I Committee,
for his work on this legislation that ensures Federal funds can be used
to counter threats posed by our Nation's adversaries.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I my consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2390, the Maritime Supply
Chain Security Act, legislation that clarifies that funding provided by
the port infrastructure development program can be used to replace or
upgrade Chinese-made cranes at ports.
In 2024, over 80 percent of ship-to-shore cranes at ports in the
United States were manufactured in China. There is currently no U.S.
domestic production of ship-to-shore cranes, leaving some of the most
valuable equipment at our ports vulnerable to cyberattacks and
dependent upon Chinese manufacturing.
This is just one example of the type of manufacturing that needs to
be brought back to the United States, not through the tariffs that pass
along costs to the consumer but rather by working with companies and
incentivizing change.
This bill serves as a prime example of the importance of the port
infrastructure development program, a bipartisan program that invests
in our ports and supply chain.
Since 90 percent of everything we wear, eat, and consume is carried
by water, ports are the bedrock of our supply chain. The bipartisan
infrastructure law provided $2.25 billion in advanced appropriations
for PIDP.
I welcome the increase to the program in the fiscal year 2026 budget
request and hope the appropriators follow suit.
H.R. 2390 continues the work of President Biden to replace Chinese
cranes and bolster the cybersecurity of U.S. ports. For that reason, I
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).
Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2390, the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act, takes
a critical step toward strengthening our port infrastructure and
national security by expanding the eligible use of the port
infrastructure development program to include the replacement of
Chinese port hardware and software, most notably Chinese cranes and the
software used to operate them.
As we all know, our country's ports serve an absolutely critical role
in our national supply chain, moving millions of tons of goods each
year, facilitating trade, which supports American businesses and
consumers across the country. Any disruption to these supply chains
results in increased costs for American families and shortages of
essential goods, just as we witnessed during and after the outbreak of
COVID.
For economic and national security reasons, we must ensure our
maritime infrastructure is not only state of the art and efficient but
also secure from foreign threats.
Unfortunately, too many of our Nation's largest ports rely on ship-
to-shore cranes manufactured by Chinese state-owned companies with
Chinese-owned software. Reports indicate the software used in these
cranes can be exploited for espionage, potentially transmitting
sensitive data such as the location and movement of cargo back to
Communist China. This information could easily be used to disrupt
trade, track shipments of military equipment, or gain intelligence on
U.S. supply chains, among many other concerns.
The port infrastructure development program, a competitive grant
program administered by the Maritime Administration, can help address
these concerns. Therefore, my bill, the Maritime Supply Chain Security
Act, provides a clear directive allowing funds from this competitive
grant program to be used to replace these Chinese-manufactured cranes
and their associated software.
Taking this step is not just about upgrading infrastructure, it is
about protecting our economy, safeguarding national security, and
ensuring American ports remain under American control.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very important
piece of legislation.
Mr. CARBAJAL. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2390, I urge my
colleagues to do the same, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and I yield myself the
balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2390. It is an important
next step in securing American ports and reducing the potential threat
from foreign equipment and software. We must continue to take action to
protect our transportation system from both physical and cyber threats.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2390.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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