PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Aug 1, 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Ocean Shipping Reform Title II: Controlled Carriers Amendments Title III: Elimination of the Federal Maritime Commission Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Ocean Shipping Reform - Amends the Shipping Act of 1984 to include as one of its purposes the granting of authority to carriers and shippers to develop transportation arrangements to meet their specific needs. (Sec. 102) Redefines the term "conference," with respect to an association of ocean carriers permitted, pursuant to an approved agreement, to engage in concerted activity, to change "common tariff," which they all utilize, to "common schedule of transportation rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices." Defines ocean freight forwarder and shippers' association. (Sec. 103) Revises the scope of the Shipping Act of 1984, with respect to certain agreements by or among ocean common carriers, to: (1) substitute "ocean freight forwarders" for "non-vessel-operating common carriers" in exclusive, preferential, or cooperative working arrangements with ocean common carriers covered by the Act; and (2) cover agreements that discuss any matter related to ocean transportation contracts, and enter ocean transportation contracts and agreements related to those contracts. Repeals coverage of agreements to regulate or prohibit the use of service contracts. (Sec. 104) Revises provisions relating to independent actions on certain matters by members of a shipping conference agreement. (Sec. 106) Repeals the mandate for an automated tariff filing and information system. Revises provisions relating to: (1) schedules of transportation rates, terms, and conditions of common carriers and conferences for transportation services not governed by an ocean transportation contract; (2) ocean transportation contracts between one or more common carriers and a conference and one or more shippers; and (3) prohibited acts by persons or common carriers with respect to the provision of ocean transportation services. (Sec. 109) Amends the Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988 with respect to actions that the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) may take against foreign carriers whose practices in a foreign country result in conditions that adversely affect U.S. carriers in the oceanborne trade, and do not exist for foreign carriers of that country in the United States. (Sec. 110) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to request the Secretary of the Treasury to refuse or revoke any clearance required for a common carrier vessel if such carrier fails to supply certain information in a FMC investigation or adjudicatory proceeding. (Sec. 114) Revises certain license and bond requirements with respect to ocean freight forwarders. (Sec. 117) Requires marine terminal operators to make available to the public any schedules of rates, regulations, and practices, including limitations of liability, pertaining to receiving, delivering, handling, or storing property at its marine terminal. Title II: Controlled Carriers Amendments - Revises provisions concerning the unjustness and unreasonableness of controlled carrier rates. (Sec. 201) Declares that the rate standards, information submissions, remedies, reviews, and penalties under the Shipping Act of 1984 shall apply to ocean common carriers that are not controlled, but which have been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be structurally or financially affiliated with nontransportation entities or organizations (government or private) in such a way as to affect their pricing or marketplace behavior in an unfair, predatory, or anticompetitive way that disadvantages U.S. carriers. Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations that would govern how price and other information is to be submitted by controlled and non-controlled carriers when it would be needed to determine whether prices charged by them are unfair, predatory, or anticompetitive. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to develop, and submit to the Congress, a negotiation strategy to persuade foreign governments to divest themselves of ownership and control of ocean common carriers. Title III: Elimination of the Federal Maritime Commission - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit to the Congress a plan to eliminate the FMC no later than October 1, 1997.
People & committees
Rep. Shuster, Bud [R-PA-9] · R–PA
Legislative record
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Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 239 - 182 (Roll no. 144).
House roll call 144 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 239 - 182 (Roll no. 144).
House roll call 144 · Individual votesThe House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2149.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Shuster amendment.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Ralph Regula to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 419 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2149 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instruction is allowed. The rule provides for the consideration of a manager's amendment to be printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules to accompany the resolution, which is considered as read, may amend portions of the bill not yet read for amendment, is debatable for 10 minutes. If adopted, the amendment is considered as part of the base text for further amendment purposes. Additionally, the rule waives clause 7 of rule XVI (germaneness) against the manager's amendment printed in part 1 of the report. Measure will be read by title. Bill is open to amendments.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 419. (consideration: CR H4335-4355)
Rule H. Res. 419 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 419 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2149 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without installowed. The rule provides for the consideration of a manager's amendment to be printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules to accompany the resoulution, which is considered as read, may amend portions of the bill not yet read for amendment, is debatable for 10 minutes. If adopted, the amendment is considered as part of the base text for further amendment purposes. Additionally, the rule waives clause 7 of rule XVI (germaneness) against the manager's amendment printed in part 1 of the report. Measure will be read by title. Bill is open to amendments.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 156.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 104-303.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 104-303.
Mr. Coble asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation have until midnight on Oct. 6 to file a report on H.R. 2149. Agreed to without objection.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held and Forwarded to Full Committee an Original Measure by the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Prior to Introduction.
Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Prior to Introduction and Referral (Feb 2, 95).
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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