Senate Appropriators Propose $5 Million Boost for FMC

The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act last week that would provide $45 million for the Federal Maritime Commission, $3.5 million below the Biden administration’s request but $5 million above the FY 2024 enacted level and $2 million above the House version of the bill (see 2406260007).

The bill document includes a report in which the committee urged the FMC to hire additional investigators “as soon as possible” to implement the new authorities and requirements of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (see 2403120033 and 2207290013). The FMC said in March that it expects to double its enforcement staff by FY 2025, compared with the start of FY 2023, which will “directly support audits, investigations and enforcement proceedings” (see 2403120033).