McCain Introduces Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Bill

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.