Amid worsening supply chain logistics and pricing gouging for ocean transport of exports and imports, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate — setting the stage for the first major update of federal regulations for the global ocean shipping industry since 1998.
Sponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is the Senate’s response to similar House legislation passed by a wide bipartisan vote in December.
Michigan Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, along with ten other Senators have joined as original cosponsors of the bill.
Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski, a Tuscola County farmer, applauded Stabenow and Peters for supporting the bill, adding congressional attention to supply chain logistics is urgently needed.
According to Bednarski, port congestion is not only impeding commodity exports but imports of vital crop inputs, equipment and parts inventory as well, creating challenges for producers attempting to complete winter-time preventative maintenance.
“Getting the supply chain back on track is a critical step to helping farmers who are facing unprecedented challenges with crushing input costs and equipment shortages,” Bednarski said. “Seeing the bipartisan effort to put these common-sense reforms into place is welcomed news for Michigan farmers, and we urge Congress to pass this measure.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation also endorsed the legislation, noting ongoing congestion and related logistical obstacles threaten the ability of U.S. farmers to meet increased foreign demand for U.S. farm goods.
“Accessibility to export containers has been further limited by record shipping costs and harmful surcharges,” according to an AFBF statement. “This has resulted in a significant reduction in the ability of farmers to fulfill oversees contracts with some estimations exceeding $4.2 billion in lost agricultural exports.”
