WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act into law. Congressman David G. Valadao is a co-sponsor of the House version of this legislation and voted in support each time it passed the House of Representatives. The bill will implement new shipping regulations and reforms that will ensure fair trade and shipping practices between countries, as well as protect domestic exporters from punitive trade practices by global partners.

“Supply chain issues are a significant contributor to rising costs Central Valley families are experiencing, and I’m proud to see this vital legislation finally become law,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will help to ease supply chain bottlenecks and ensure that Valley farmers are able to send their goods around the world without being targeted by foreign trading partners.”

“For the last year, Congress has been dedicated to pushing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) across the finish line,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). “Our bill addresses longstanding issues with our supply chain and puts an end to the unreasonable actions of ocean carriers that continue to return to foreign ports empty while American exports are stranded at the dock. There’s much to be done about the supply chain and inflation, but OSRA will provide much needed relief. I’m grateful for the work of Congressman Valadao on this important legislation.”

Congressman Valadao has been a strong voice in supporting balanced legislation to alleviate these supply chain backlogs and protect Valley farmers in the process:

• Co-sponsored the TRANSPORT Act, which would temporarily waive operating standards should those standards be more stringent than the federal standard, allowing U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant trucks and drivers from other states to relieve ports and transport goods across the country.
• Demanded vessel operating common carriers be held accountable when their practices intentionally harm farmers from the Central Valley.
• Hosted a bipartisan roundtable with industry leaders on the ongoing supply chain crisis and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
• Visited the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and discussed lack of container access for agriculture exporters, significant backlogs and congestion, and burdensome trucking restrictions.
• Led a letter to President Biden alerting the administration to the severe impact supply chain backlogs were having on agriculture exporters and urging immediate action to address the supply chain.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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