FMC Nominees Commit to Enforcing Ocean Shipping Reform Act
Laura DiBella and Robert Harvey, President Donald Trump’s nominees for the Federal Maritime Commission, told lawmakers Oct. 22 that if confirmed, they would vigorously enforce the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.
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DiBella and Harvey made their pledges at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, where Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., credited OSRA, which she helped enact, with addressing unfair trade practices, including by spurring foreign carriers to lower their shipping rates.
“I think important compliance functions, investigations and enforcement are critical, and that’s probably why they got the message, but the message has to continue to be sent,” Harvey testified.
DiBella said in her written testimony that she would "uphold the statutory directives" of OSRA "and ensure that the economic and homeland security needs of our country are always at the forefront of every discussion."
In response to questions from Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., DiBella said she would take a comprehensive look at the causes of inefficient cargo movement, while Harvey said he would ensure that FMC regulations encourage the use of "innovation" to improve port operations. "If we can create fair and competitive markets, private capital is going to flow and help to solve some of these problems," he testified.
Trump nominated DiBella and Harvey in early September. DiBella is a government relations adviser at Adams & Reese and a former Florida commerce secretary. Harvey, an attorney, heads a Florida venture capital fund.
The hearing on their nominations occurred as FMC operations remain suspended for more than three weeks as part of the federal government shutdown (see 2510020034). The FMC’s three sitting commissioners, Rebecca Dye, Daniel Maffei and Max Vekich, attended the hearing. Afterward, Dye confirmed that the three of them continue to do their jobs despite a mass staff furlough at the agency.