[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 98 (Monday, June 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2556-H2557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SECURE OUR PORTS ACT OF 2025
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 252) to amend title 46, United States Code, to prohibit certain
contracts for port operations and management, and for other purposes,
as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 252
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Our Ports Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN CONTRACTS FOR PORT OPERATION
AND MANAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 700 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Sec. 70015. Prohibition on certain contracts for port
operation and management
``(a) In General.--An owner or operator of a facility for
which a facility security plan is required under section
70103(c) of this title may not enter into a contract for the
ownership, leasing, or operation of such facility with an
entity that is--
``(1) a Chinese, Russian, North Korean, or Iranian state-
owned enterprise; or
``(2) a foreign entity for which any percentage is owned by
a country listed in paragraph (1).
``(b) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `facility',
and `owner or operator' have the meanings given such terms in
section 70101 of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 700 of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 70014 the following:
``70015. Prohibition on certain contracts for port operation and
management.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Carbajal) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.
General Leave
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 252, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 252 takes important steps to strengthen the
security of our supply chains by limiting the ability of the Chinese,
Russian, North Korean, or Iranian state-owned entities to own, lease,
or operate port terminals in this country.
This legislation will ensure that our ports remain safe from both
cyber and physical threats, which increases our national security
posture.
I commend my colleague from California (Mr. Calvert) for leading on
this issue and working to strengthen our Nation's posture against our
adversaries.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, if the port congestion and vessel backlogs associated
with the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it is the importance of
a resilient supply chain.
H.R. 252, the Secure Our Ports Act, works to minimize interference in
U.S. ports from foreign adversaries. In order to ensure the free flow
of cargo into and out of our country, we must ensure full control over
and investment in our ports.
[[Page H2557]]
I am proud to have voted in support of the bipartisan infrastructure
law, which provided $2.5 billion of investment in port infrastructure.
We all now understand the importance of a strong resilient supply
chain, and this bill is a step in the right direction.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure robust funding
for the maritime industry. For this reason, I will vote ``yes'' on H.R.
252.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
approve my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 252, the Secure Our Ports Act.
This bill is designed to strengthen our national security by
prohibiting foreign adversaries from owning and operating critical
infrastructure in the United States.
China's influence and access to critical infrastructure around the
world continues to grow. Some reports indicate China owns or operates
ports and terminals at nearly 100 locations in over 50 countries.
Last year, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued
a report highlighting its national security concerns over the influence
of critical port infrastructure by Chinese-owned enterprise.
More recently, the Defense Department included a number of Chinese
shipping firms to a list of companies it identifies as military in
nature.
America's ports are essential gateways for trade and commerce which
provide the foundation of our economy as well as our national security.
Allowing foreign adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran
to own and operate port infrastructure would threaten that very
foundation and creates a serious liability. Congress must take action
and protect this vital infrastructure by passing the Secure Our Ports
Act.
In closing, I thank my California colleague, John Garamendi, for
cosponsoring this bill and making the bipartisan effort as well as
Carlos Gimenez of Florida.
I also thank the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, my friend Sam Graves, for steering this bill through the
Committee.
America's ports are vital to our economic and national security, and
I urge all my colleagues to approve this bill.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, to close, I support H.R. 252 and urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill creates a vital safeguard for some of our
Nation's most critical infrastructure. H.R. 252 prevents certain
foreign entities from entering into contracts for the ownership,
leasing, or operation of port facilities that are subject to security
plans. This, in turn, reduces vulnerabilities at our ports and bolsters
national security.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 252, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________