IRPT: Action Needed for H.R. 7416
Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminal Association backed bill, H.R. 7416 -- the “Coastal and Inland Ports and Terminals Commerce Improvements Act” and yesterday (June 29th), it was introduced. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) and Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA). Today, the real work starts and we are asking for your help.
Many of you are very familiar with legislative affairs and how bills traditionally move through the legislative process. Admittedly, this is my first attempt at this and I have learned a lot through this experience. For that, I wanted to share with you the path that the bill will take and what is needed for this to become law.
Once a bill is introduced, it is voted on in the committee tasked with oversight of that specific subject matter. In the case of H.R. 7416, movement of this bill will occur through both the Congressional Transportation Committees (House T&I and Senate Commerce) and the Congressional Armed Services Committees. In an unusual quirk, authorizations involving the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) programs are often are included in annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bills. This week, the House Armed Services Committee is considering the FY 2021 NDAA in committee.
I would encourage you to contact your individual Member of Congress (no matter their committee assignments) and encourage them to cosponsor H.R. 7416. You can access a .pdf document (to download) and share with your Members of Congress here. If they are a member of the House Armed Services Committee, please request that they support the bill if it is offered as an Amendment in committee markup.
You can review the House Armed Services Committee Members here: https://armedservices.house.gov/meet-our-members.
You can review the House T&I Committee Members are here: https://transportation.house.gov/about/membership.
You can review Senate Commerce Committee Members here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/members.
You can track the bill here: https://www.congress.gov/
