Introduced in House — H.R. 3842

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3842

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 9, 2025

Mr. Ezell (for himself and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 46, United States Code, to include the replacement or purchase of additional cargo handling equipment as an eligible purpose for Capital Construction Funds, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Definitions of cargo handling equipment and marine terminal

Section 53501 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by redesignating—

(A)

subsections (2) and (3), as subsections (3) and (4), respectively; and

(B)

subsections (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9), as subsections (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11), respectively;

(2)

by inserting after subsection (1), the following:

(2) Cargo handling equipment
The term cargo handling equipment means any vehicle or land-based equipment, and the associated marine terminal or port landside infrastructure, used at a marine terminal to lift or move cargo—
(A)
manufactured in the United States; or
(B)
manufactured outside of the United States, if such equipment is not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality as determined by the marine terminal operator.; and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (4), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following:

(5) Marine terminal
The term marine terminal means wharves, bulkheads, quays, piers, docks and other berthing locations and adjacent storage or adjacent areas and structures associated with the primary movement of cargo or materials from vessel to shore, or from shore to vessel, including structures which are devoted to receiving, handling, holding, consolidating, loading, or delivery of waterborne shipments, including areas devoted to the maintenance of the terminal or equipment.

Sec. 2. Establishing a capital construction fund

Section 53503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a) In general
(1)
A citizen of the United States owning or leasing an eligible vessel may make an agreement with the Secretary under this chapter to establish a capital construction fund for the vessel.
(2)
An operator of a United States marine terminal may make an agreement with the Secretary under this chapter to establish a capital construction fund for the marine terminal.; and

(2)

by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b) Allowable purpose
The purpose of the agreement shall be to provide—
(1)
replacement vessels, additional vessels, or reconstructed vessels, built in the United States and documented under the laws of the United States, for operation in the foreign or domestic trade of the United States; or
(2)
replacement cargo handling equipment, additional cargo handling equipment, or reconstructed cargo handling equipment for operation at marine terminals in the United States.

Sec. 3. Deposits and withdrawals

Section 53504(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting or United States marine terminal after agreement vessel.

Sec. 4. Ceiling on deposits

Section 53505(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (1) by inserting , or the operation of a marine terminal in the United States after in the fisheries of the United States;

(2)

in subparagraph (2) by inserting or cargo handling equipment after agreement vessels; and

(3)

in subparagraph (3) by inserting or cargo handling equipment after both instances of agreement vessel.

Sec. 5. Qualified withdrawals

Section 53509 of the title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a) In general
Subject to subsections (b) and (c), a withdrawal from a capital construction fund is a qualified withdrawal if it is made under the terms of the agreement and is for—
(1)
the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of—
(A)
a qualified vessel or a barge or container that is part of the complement of a qualified vessel; or
(B)
cargo handling equipment; or
(2)
the payment of the principal on indebtedness incurred in the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of—
(A)
a qualified vessel or a barge or container that is part of the complement of a qualified vessel; or
(B)
cargo handling equipment.;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

(c) Fully automated cargo handling equipment
No withdrawals may be made from a capital construction fund to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary determines such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within a marine terminal.
(d) Prohibition on PRC cranes
No withdrawals may be made from a capital construction fund to purchase cranes manufactured in the People's Republic of China.

Sec. 6. Treatment of qualified withdrawals and basis of property

Section 53510 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b) by inserting cargo handling equipment, after both instances of barge,;

(2)

in subsection (c) by inserting cargo handling equipment, after both instances of barge,; and

(3)

in subsection (d) by inserting cargo handling equipment, after barges,.

Sec. 7. FIFO and LIFO withdrawals

Section 53512 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding cargo handling equipment, after advanced.

Sec. 8. Cargo handling equipment availability

The Secretary shall annually publish in the Federal Register a request for information regarding the availability of cargo handling equipment manufactured in the United States and shall share the results of such request for information with capital construction fund holders.