ReMA Supports Senate Ocean Shipping Reform Act

Bipartisan Bill Levels Playing Field for American Exporters and Benefits the U.S. Recycling Industry

(February 25, 2021- Washington, D.C.) – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, announced support of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S.3560), introduced by U.S. Senators John Thune R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. ReMA submitted a letter of support for the bill. The association previously submitted a letter of support for the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 4996), which was jointly introduced to the House by Representatives John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., Aug. 11 and passed Dec. 8, 2021.

If passed, the bill would level the playing field for American exporters by making it more difficult for ocean carriers to unreasonably refuse goods ready for export. It also would give the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) general rulemaking authority to regulate carriers’ harmful practices.

“This bill is a great first step,” said Billy Johnson, ISRI's chief lobbyist. “It will give the FMC some teeth and set up process for the agency to write updated rules and give shippers more confidence that they can get their products on the ships and to their customers in a timely way.”

ISRI’s letter describes how the recycling industry is vital to the manufacturing supply chain and sustainability, and notes how beneficial the bill would be for the industry. ReMA has long advocated for relief of port congestion, shipping, and container issues faced by the industry.

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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the "Voice of the Recycling Industry™." ReMA represents 1,300 companies in the U.S. and more than 40 countries that process, broker, and consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics, and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides education, advocacy, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. Generating nearly $117 billion annually in U.S. economic activity, the scrap recycling industry provides more than 506,000 Americans with good jobs.

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