PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Version 07 · Reported to House · Dec 12, 2025
Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes the Federal Maritime Commission through FY2029 and expands the commission’s authority to regulate anticompetitive practices within the international ocean transportation system.
Specifically, the bill expands the definition of controlled carrier (a category of carriers that are subject to additional regulatory oversight) to include carriers legally or financially related to a corporation based or headquartered in, or otherwise significantly linked to, a nonmarket economy country or a country subject to monitoring by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Additionally, the bill requires the commission to accept and investigate complaints concerning alleged anticompetitive practices by registered shipping exchanges. (A shipping exchange is a data platform that enables businesses shipping goods to connect with carriers to transport those goods.) The bill also requires the commission to report annually on anticompetitive and nonreciprocal trade practices by controlled carriers or marine terminal operators. Further, the bill establishes a National Port Advisory Committee and a National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee. The committees, together with the existing National Shipper Advisory Committee, are charged with advising the commission on policies relating to competitiveness, reliability, and efficiency in the international ocean freight delivery system.
Finally, the bill prohibits the commission from releasing information and documents developed pursuant to an enforcement investigation unless the commission determines that they are relevant to an administrative or judicial proceeding and agrees to release them by a majority vote.
People & committees
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] · R–SD
Legislative record
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5869-6871)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5869-6871)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4183.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5869-5872)
Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 349.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-401.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-401.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.4183 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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