Strategic Ports Reporting Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-9235
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2024-07-30
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9235 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2024 Mr. Wittman (for himself, Mr. Gimenez , and Mr. Auchincloss ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on strategic ports, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strategic Ports Reporting Act of 2024 . 2. Department of Defense study and report on strategic ports (a) Study required The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of— (1) strategic ports; (2) the reasons such ports are of interest to the United States; (3) the activities and plans of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to expand its control over strategic ports outside of the People’s Republic of China; (4) the public and private actors, such as China Ocean Shipping Company, that are executing and supporting the activities and plans of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to expand its control over strategic ports outside of the People’s Republic of China; (5) the activities and plans of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to expand its control over maritime logistics by promoting products, such as LOGINK, and setting industry standards outside the People’s Republic of China; (6) how the control by the Government of the People’s Republic of China over strategic ports outside of the People’s Republic of China could harm the national security or economic interests of the United States and allies and partners of the United States; and (7) measures the United States Government could take to ensure open access and security for strategic ports. (b) Conduct of study The Secretary of Defense may enter into an arrangement with a federally funded research and development center under which the center shall conduct the study required under subsection (a). (c) Report (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a). (2) Elements The report required by paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a detailed list of all known strategic ports operated, controlled, or owned, directly or indirectly, by the People’s Republic of China and an assessment of the national security and economic interests relevant to each such port; (B) a detailed list of all known strategic ports operated, controlled, or owned, directly or indirectly, by the United States and an assessment of the national security and economic interests relevant to each such port; (C) an assessment of vulnerabilities of— (i) ports operated, controlled, or owned, directly or indirectly, by the United States; and (ii) strategic ports; (D) an analysis of the activities and actions of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to gain control or ownership over strategic ports, including promoting products, such as LOGINK, and setting industry standards; (E) an assessment of how the Government of the People’s Republic of China plans to expand its control over strategic ports outside of the People’s Republic of China; (F) a suggested strategy, developed in consultation with the heads of the relevant United States Government offices, that suggests courses of action to secure trusted investment and ownership of strategic ports and maritime infrastructure, to protect such ports and infrastructure from the control of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and to ensure open access and security for such ports, that includes— (i) a list of relevant existing authorities that can be used to carry out the strategy; (ii) a list of any additional authorities necessary to carry out the strategy; (iii) an assessment of products owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China or an entity affiliated with such government that are used in connection with strategic ports or maritime infrastructure; (iv) an assessment of costs to secure trusted investment and ownership of strategic ports and replace products owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China or an entity affiliated with such government that are used in connection with such ports; and (v) a list of funding sources to secure trusted investment and ownership of strategic ports, which shall include— (I) an identification of private funding sources; and (II) an identification of public funding sources, including loans, loan guarantees, and tax incentives; and (G) a suggested strategy for Federal agencies to maintain an up-to-date list of strategic ports. (3) Form of report The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (2) The term relevant United States Government offices means— (A) the Unified Combatant Commands; (B) the Office of the Secretary of Defense; (C) the United States International Development Finance Corporation; (D) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; (E) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and (F) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation. (3) The term strategic port means an international port or waterway that the heads of the relevant United States Government offices determine is critical to the national security or economic prosperity of the United States.