National security and strengthening of America’s port infrastructure through a North Carolina congressman’s proposal has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Maritime Supply Chain Security Act, known also as House Resolution 2390, would resolve vulnerabilities at ports from Chinese-owned port infrastructure, says Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C. Advocating the proposal, Rouzer said it “allows funds awarded through the Port Infrastructure Development Program, a competitive grant program administered by the Maritime Administration, to be used to replace Chinese-manufactured crates and their associated software.”
On the floor of the House, Rouzer said, “Our country’s ports serve a critical role in our national supply chain, moving millions of tons of goods each year facilitating trade that supports American businesses and consumers across the country. Any disruption to these supply chains results in increased costs for American families and shortages of essential goods. For economic and national security reasons we must ensure our maritime infrastructure is not only state of the art and efficient but also secure from foreign threats.”
The resolution was agreed to on a voice vote and is in the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
During an earlier mark-up in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rouzer said, “Taking this step is not just about upgrading infrastructure, it is about protecting our economy, safeguarding national security, and ensuring American ports remain under American control.”
Rouzer added passage by both chambers of Congress “would be a win for both economic stability and national security, ensuring American ports are free from foreign threats that could jeopardize our economy or military readiness.”
The congressman from the 7th Congressional District in the southeastern part of the state said many ship-to-shore cranes are manufactured with Chinese ties, be it the companies or software, and those “can be exploited for espionage.” Disruption of trade is possible, Rouzer said, if that happens.
