Dusty Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to engage in a brief colloquy with my majority colleague to ensure that we agree on section 7(b)(1) of S. 3580. I would ask Chairman DeFazio: Section 7(b)(1) of the bill requires the FMC to initiate a rulemaking ``further'' defining prohibited practices by common carriers, marine terminal operators, and ocean transportation intermediaries under section 41102(c) of title 46, United States Code. Section 7(b)(2) states that the contents of the additional rule required under paragraph 1, ``shall only seek to further clarify reasonable rules and practices related to the assessment of detention and demurrage charges to address the issues identified in the final rule published''--by the FMC--``on May 18, 2020, entitled, `Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention Under the Shipping Act.''' So, Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that any rule prepared under paragraph 1 of section 7(b) is subject to the limitation set in paragraph 2, and such rule shall only clarify the May 18, 2020 rule. I also understand that any rule prepared under section 7 shall be in addition to, not in place of, the May 2020 rule and that that May 18 rule shall remain in place during the preparation of the additional rule after the promulgation of such an additional rule unless the FMC chooses, unrelated to the requirements of section 7, to undertake any amendment to the May 18, 2020 rule. Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that, though characterized as an ``interpretive rule,'' this final rule was promulgated through notice and comment and is changing ocean carrier behavior with respect to these fees and has already led to enforcement cases by the Commission to address unreasonable detention and demurrage charges. Does the Chair share my understandings with respect to section 7? Of course, I yield time for the gentleman to respond.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one of my favorite movies is the 1993 comedy starring Bill Murray, ``Groundhog Day.'' In that movie, every day when Bill Murray wakes up, he goes through the same set of activities and processes. I can't help but feel a little bit like Bill Murray, given that this is the fourth time this body is taking up the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, but I think we are going to get it done this time. We first passed it in December as a standalone bill with strong bipartisan vote totals. Then, in January, it was attached to a larger bill. A few weeks later, it was attached to yet another larger package of legislation. Now, we have before us the Senate bill, and I do think that we are well positioned to get this across the finish line. I thank the chairman for his kind words earlier. He mentioned the word ``tireless.'' When it comes to talking about Mr. Garamendi, I would also use the word ``tenacious.'' He was a wonderful partner to try to actually get something done. There are so many Members of Congress that are more interested in complaining about problems or about having the hot tweet of the day. But in John Garamendi, there is a Member who actually wants to get things done. What a delightful characteristic to have in a Member of Congress. Our version of H.R. 4996, of course, I thought it was the perfect piece of legislation. But the Senate is entitled to their own opinions, so we will bring up their version. I think it is worth us reminding ourselves, how did we get here? We talk about a supply chain crunch. We talk about a supply chain crisis. How did we get here, and will this bill actually help? The influx of Federal dollars injected into the economy and the way in which the pandemic shifted consumer spending has forced U.S. ports to face unprecedented volumes of cargo, just stuff incoming, nonstop, at a level at which this country has not seen. This pressure on our ports has trickled down to other parts of the supply chain that has led to delays in product arrivals. It has led to product shortages, just as all the capacity in our system has been overwhelmed. Those soaring freight rates and capacity shortages have made it difficult not only to receive imports but also to get our American agriculture and manufactured goods exported for timely delivery abroad. U.S. importers and exporters, U.S. consumers, have been hit on both fronts. Some might be wondering why a Congressman from South Dakota cares so much about maritime law. The reality is that 60 percent of South Dakota's soybeans are exported, as are a tremendous amount of dairy, beef, and corn. This is not just a coastal issue. This impacts lives from the farm gate to Main Street. Whether people realize it or not, this supply chain crunch is impacting them. I got most involved in this issue when I heard from South Dakota businesses like Strider Bikes, out of Rapid City, or Valley Queen Cheese, out of Milbank, about how their ability to do business was seriously impacted by the crunch at the ports. Valley Queen Cheese had 2 million pounds of lactose. It already had a buyer in Asia. They couldn't get it on a container. At a time when 60 percent of containers going back to Asia were going back empty, they couldn't get space on a container headed back to their customers. Strider couldn't get the parts they needed so that they would be able to sell finished products to American consumers and consumers elsewhere. These are real impacts that take millions and billions of dollars out of the American economy. The American Farm Bureau estimates that more than $25 billion of ag sales have been forgone because of this problem at the ports. One industry, the U.S. dairy industry, in just 6 months last year, experienced a $1.6 billion hit. So, Mr. Speaker, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act addresses these problems in a few ways. It addresses the supply chain bottlenecks, it promotes American competitiveness, and it holds foreign-flagged ocean carriers accountable for any unfair practices that they engage in. I just said that this bill is about U.S. competitiveness, and that is exactly right. My sense is that if you are a foreign-flagged ocean carrier, and you are using U.S. ports, you need to submit yourself to some basic rules of the road. This legislation provides the appropriate authority to the Federal Maritime Commission so that they can better protect U.S. shippers who import and export items. They should be able to do that free from unreasonable anticompetitive actions. So this bill does a lot, Mr. Speaker, but I want to hit just on three that I think are most noteworthy. First off, under this legislation, the FMC will be able to set minimum contract standards for ocean shipping service contracts. That is critically important. Again, those are the basic rules of the road we need to make sure are in place. Secondly, it increases protections for U.S. shippers from retaliation if the shippers file a complaint with the FMC. There has been a fair amount of discussion in committee about how loath shippers are to file complaints against carriers because of concerns about retaliation. Third, this bill sets standards for detention and demurrage charges levied by foreign ocean carriers. These are perfectly reasonable requirements. This bill says that the charges must be accurate, and of course, they should be, and the bill sets penalties for false or inaccurate fees. The House-passed bill placed even more weapons in the FMC's arsenal. Again, the Senate version is not quite that robust, but Mr. Speaker, I see no value in us having perfect be the enemy of the good. This does move us in the right direction, so I would ask my colleagues to vote for S. 3580, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. A ``yes'' vote is a vote to put U.S. shippers, farmers, manufacturers, truckers, retailers, and consumers first. I support this crucial legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. I appreciate the gentleman's comments, our agreement as well as your engagement. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I don't have any other speakers, so I would view this as my closing. When you see a small community get hit by disaster, it just breaks your heart. I remember, as chief of staff to Governor Daugaard, being on the ground in Wessington Springs just hours after a tornado ripped up that town. I was struck by this young mayor, Melissa Mebius, a part- time mayor, as small-town mayors are. She was not an expert in disaster recovery. She didn't know how to navigate the FEMA process. I was reminded of her strength and her persistence just a couple of weeks ago when I was in Castlewood and was able to meet with that mayor, Brian Ries, and get his sense of how their town had been devastated by a tornado. Mr. Speaker, these are not big towns. To be specific, Castlewood is 627 people, and Wessington Springs has 956. These are good mayors. These are good public works directors. These are good city councilors. These are able leaders, but this is not an area of their expertise. The gentleman from New York says it right when he says that this is about fairness. H.R. 7211 makes sure that FEMA will have an advocate who will help these small communities better collect and present the information that is vital to a disaster declaration. We all get it. If the information that is filed with FEMA is deficient, if it does not prove a certain amount of damage, then you are not going to get the declaration that is needed by these communities so that they can move forward with the recovery that these small and rural communities need every bit as the larger, more sophisticated communities do. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York for his leadership on this issue, and I ask my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. It is said so often because it is true, and certainly, it is true in public affairs. This is a commonsense accountability measure introduced by my Republican colleague from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), and I applaud her for this. It is going to increase transparency for post-disaster Federal assistance. It makes sure for citizens who are curious--exactly as the chairman said--who want this information about what the Federal Government has done to help communities in need without their having to go on some massive research project. This gives them an opportunity in a clear and concise way to get a sense of what their Federal Government has done to respond to these disasters. This increased transparency is going to allow the American taxpayers to see where their hard-earned dollars are going. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from California just did a wonderful job rattling off a number of key questions that policymakers have to settle on before we can make sure that AAM is safely integrated into our existing airports and airspace. This bill will do much to make sure that we have the coordination that will be necessary to answer those questions. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, to maintain safe airspace, we know we have to have coordination. Think about all of the moving parts that are required to keep people safe in that shared resource. That kind of coordination is also important at the Federal level if we want to keep everybody safe, and if we want to make sure AAM keeps moving in the right direction. That is what S. 516 does, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act. It makes sure that we are able to continue moving forward and that AAM has the Federal support it needs from a variety of agencies to be successful. As the chairman mentioned, we had a similar bill, H.R. 1339, which passed the House overwhelmingly, 383 yeas to 41 nays. I think we all realize that that kind of strong bipartisan support is not always as typical around here as we would like. Of course, this has got a Senate number so, of course, we have strong bicameral support as well. Indeed, the text that is before us today has been amended, and so it reflects language that has been negotiated and agreed upon, Mr. Speaker, by both Chambers. This sort of bipartisan, bicameral agreement ensures that industry and government can start to hash out these questions on the tough and sometimes thorny issues that have to be addressed so that we make sure that innovative new entrants are able to operate safely within our transportation system. We know that it is not always easy to deal with the Senate--our colleagues on the other side of the Capitol--but my hope is that once we pass this legislation, they will quickly take up the amended bill and send it to the President's desk for speedy signing into law. Mr. Speaker, I commend Congresswoman Sharice Davids, as well as Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves, whom I am normally loath to say anything good about, but in this instance, I will. I thank them both for their leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 6270 takes an important step in giving our State and local transportation planning experts the tools they need to continue the introduction of advanced air mobility aircraft. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let's start with the basics. What is advanced air mobility, AAM? This bill and the next one deal a fair amount with the concept. It is just making sure that we have got in place a system so the remotely piloted or autonomous or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are able to integrate into our existing air infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, it is incredibly important to do that in a way that is effective and that is safe. As the chairman said, Mr. Speaker, that is where H.R. 6270 comes in, the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act. It does establish a pilot program which would provide targeted grants related to the planning and construction of this AAM. We all know that the United States has a robust network of general aviation airports and heliports. Their impact on most every community in America is probably not fully grasped. They are a critically important part of our Nation's infrastructure. We want to make sure that those facilities have the necessary infrastructure in place for innovative new entrants so we can make sure our Nation's airports and airspace system are used by these innovative new entrants in a way that is safe and safely integrated with the existing traffic. Of course, as is the case with most transportation planning, it is State and local experts that are best suited to help plan for the integration of AAM into our national system. Mr. Speaker, that is the approach that this bill takes. It doesn't give all the money to USDOT. It makes sure that these grants are targeted at the State and local level so we can get the best bang for our buck. Making certain that AAM works for all of our constituent communities is the goal. It is the goal of this bill. I look forward to seeing how different communities embrace advanced air mobility operations. Mr. Speaker, I thank Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen and Ranking Member Garret Graves for their work and leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2022 Truman Scholars. These 58 individuals were chosen from an applicant pool of 705. These students were nominated based on their records of leadership, public service, and academic achievement. They are: Haleemat Y. Adekoya, Cameron H. Adkins, Julian R. Applebaum, Lorena Bonet Velazquez, Jilkiah L. Bryant, Fatimata D. Cham, Ji Hye Choi, Mariah Choiniere, Alton Coston, Gabriel Echarte, James H. Elliott II, Adam H. Elzarka, Tal Feldman, Rosalie Fish, Andy A. Flores, Beatrix A. Frissell, Robyn L. Griffitts-Harper, Christine J. Groves, Avi Gupta, Beyonce Hammond, Abril N. Hunter, Bhav Jain, Alixandria James, Jack Jowers, Sawa Kamara, Amisha A. Kambath, Hana Kamran, Eshika Kaul, Liana S. Keesing, Liberty R. Ladd, Jamie Landy, Jessica S. Lau, Allen Li, John C. Lin, Erin Lowe, Madison I. Marsh, Kelsey E. Matthews, Ranen Miao, Armando A. Montero, Abrianna E. Morales, Owen Mortner, Mariama L. Mwilambwe, Xalma M. Palomino, Veronica Bonifacio Penales, Emily Quan, Natalia V. Rios Martinez, Dawry Ruiz, Oksanna Samey, Maddi S. Schink, Katie Sleichter, Cooper E. Smith, Irene Soteriou, Rachel Stewart, Emma Story, Loyal D. Terry, Cassandra J. Thompson, Rebecca Townley, and Sydney J. Walker. The Truman Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 to honor President Harry S. Truman's legacy of extraordinary public service. The Truman Scholarship serves as a living monument to that legacy. As a former Truman scholar myself, I look forward to seeing how this class continues that legacy.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and include in the Record the words of Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, honoring the life and legacy of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Remarks by Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz: Today we recognize the life and leadership of the global spiritual leader Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, known universally as ``the Rebbe'' and head of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Rabbi Schneerson arrived with his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, to our shores in 1941 from the Nazi inferno, just as our nation was celebrating our independence on July 4--a bearded, Yiddish-speaking, childless and penniless Soviet emigre. Yet, without the benefit of material resources or political power, only the force of his convictions, a selfless dedication to the Supreme Being and to every human being, the Rebbe resuscitated and guided a demoralized and depleted world Jewry to rebuild and even to flourish after the Holocaust. Though he came to this country with nothing, through his work the Rebbe became the most influential rabbi in modern history. One result of his leadership is the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which, by following his teachings and example, became the world's largest Jewish educational organization. Today there are more than 3,500 permanent Chabad-Lubavitch centers providing educational, religious, and humanitarian programming, serving people in all 50 States, including in my home state of South Dakota, and in over 100 countries around the world. The Rebbe's message to all peoples everywhere in the world community calls for focusing serious concern on the values of education and acts of charity, to provide an education which is imbued with ethical, moral and spiritual values. The recognition that there is ``an Eye that Sees and an Ear that Hears,''--that all humankind is accountable to the Creator who provided us with the only true guide for life. The Rebbe teaches that these moral and ethical values, as enshrined in the Seven Laws given to Noah, must be an integral part of any educational system if humankind is to live in harmony with a fellow human and if humanity is to realize G-ds expectation of her or him. When does this education begin? The moment life starts. When does education end? It never does. The Rebbe always extolled America's unique role and mission on the world stage and had meaningful relationships with several of our nation's leaders who saw him as the moral guide to so many. For the Rebbe, America was a beacon of light with a historic prominence to be utilized in influencing the betterment of all humanity. The Rebbe called America ``a nation of kindness'' and pointed to the words ``In God We Trust'' enshrined on all American currency as a defining element of the great American story. It is to the eternal merit of our country and this august body that we honored the Rebbe's outstanding and enduring contributions toward world education, morality, and acts of charity, by awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously. His efforts for the betterment of education for all Americans are also recognized annually by the President of the United States, marking Education and Sharing Day USA each year on his birthday, calling on all Americans to reflect and act on the critical importance of moral and ethical education, especially for our youth. This year, our country will celebrate Education and Sharing Day on April 12, corresponding to the llth day of Nissan on the Jewish calendar. This year is a milestone year when we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Rebbe's birth. As our minds and hearts are never far from the people of Ukraine and the brutal war they are enduring, it is surely Providential to recognize and reflect on the life lessons of someone so exceptional, who was himself born and raised in Ukraine. The Rebbe was born in Nikolaev, Ukraine in 1902. to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson. His family moved to Yekatrinislav, now Dinepr, where his father served as Chief Rabbi. During the Bolshevik revolution the Rebbe's childhood home became the epicenter for the many refugees flocking through Dinepr. In an act of love and sacrifice, the Rebbe, though only a child, gave away his own bed and food to allow those he had never met before to have a more comfortable and dignified life. That was the example his parents set. This was the life he lived. His mother would recall that once, when the family was in hiding during a brutal pogrom, the Rebbe who was three years old at the time, walked around the cellar of a pharmacy, and consoled and calmed the other terrified children who were hiding there. Later when he was nine years old, the Rebbe dived into the Black Sea to save the life of a boy who had fallen from the deck of a moored ship. The adult onlookers didn't feel confident enough to jump in. Those who witnessed this heroic act recalled the sacrifice the Rebbe had made that day. He himself collapsed, almost lifeless, soon after bringing the young boy to shore. These stories are emblematic of the Rebbe's life; the sacrifice and deep sense of responsibility for all who cry out for help. The call of those drowning and no one hearing their cries. For people calling out for moral guidance in a world engulfed in darkness, the Rebbe rose to this historic calling offering guidance and leadership, The Rebbe grew up under the oppression of communism, his father stood firm, displaying courage and sacrifice, leading his family and community in the Jewish religious resistance across Ukraine. From his humble one room office in New York, the Rebbe built and maintained a clandestine network of operatives throughout the USSR. Young couples were inspired by his teachings, and he sent them to make what was then significant sacrifices for western raised kids, to devote themselves completely to the needs of others, in foreign lands. With the fall of communism, the Rebbe was able to ensure that those underground activities sprouted forth and quickly developed thriving Jewish communities, creating unprecedented Jewish infrastructure, serving hundreds of communities across the USSR, and resulting in the golden era of Ukrainian Jewry for the last 30 years. Right now, during the current Russia-Ukraine war, it is the hundreds of Chabad-Lubavitch representatives of the Rebbe, and their thousands of employees and volunteers, who are at the forefront of the humanitarian, social and religious efforts being provided for the refugees and their loved ones left behind. Overnight they have transformed their schools, synagogues, and orphanages into centers for humanitarian relief, shelters, and call centers. The Rebbe's message is clear and serves as an important calling for all of us. We must put ourselves aside and be ready to sacrifice for the needs of others. With this urgent sense of responsibility and love, we will make the world a better place. This is what the Rebbe's people are doing in Ukraine. This is the life he exemplified. This is what we can all do.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I oppose the previous question so that we can, instead, consider the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. In recent weeks, we have all seen Europe struggle to navigate its dependence on Russian energy. It is terrible to be beholden to, to be dependent on an adversary. And so, like so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I pushed to ban Russian energy imports into this country, and I am grateful that we have done that. But rather than look to other countries to fill that gap, we should be looking here at home. The resources that we need for energy security are already located right here. Now, yes, of course, renewables will play an important role, but so will North American oil and gas. The President made a terrible decision on day one to cancel the Keystone XL project. But this bill will move us back in the right direction by, once again, allowing the permitting and the leasing of oil, gas, and mineral development on Federal lands and waters. Developing a plan for that energy security, which this bill would also do, to better utilize North American oil and gas, it would reduce prices; it would increase energy security; and it would increase national security as a result. Now, of course my colleague on the other side of the aisle is right. Passing this bill would not reduce energy prices overnight. But the reality is, the second best time to plant a tree is today. The second best time to make this kind of an investment in energy security would be right now. We did miss too much time. We lost too much time during the first year of the Biden administration, but we can get it right now. And doing that doesn't just bear security benefits, it is also cleaner. Giving the world an opportunity to displace dirty Russian oil with 23 percent cleaner North American oil would save the equivalent of 100 million cars' worth of emissions. We can do that. Our stuff is cleaner. And so, Madam Speaker, we know that we can build a cleaner, a better, a safer energy future, and we can do it by focusing right here at home, and that is what H.R. 6858 would do.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and include in the Record a proclamation from the County Commission of Fall River County, South Dakota, designating March 29, 2022, as ``Welcome Home Veterans Day.'' A Proclamation Designating March 29, 2022, as ``Welcome Home Veterans Day'' (By Fall River County Commission) Whereas, the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in conflict with the United States Armed Forces and South Vietnam; and Whereas, the United States became involved in Vietnam because policymakers in the United States believed that if South Vietnam fell to a Communist government then Communism would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; and Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role in the South Vietnamese in 1961; and Whereas, as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2, 1964, and August 4, 1964, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on August 7, 1964, which effectively handed over war-making powers to President Johnson until such time as ``peace and security'' had returned to Vietnam; and Whereas, in 1965, United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam; and Whereas, by the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969 a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached; and Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which required the release of all United States prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam; and Whereas, on March 29, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam; and Whereas, more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 members of the Armed Forces were wounded; and Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces, who served bravely and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War, were caught upon their return home in the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War; and Whereas, it was also the first time in history America failed to welcome its veterans back as heroes; and Whereas, the establishment of a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' would be an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and Whereas, Hot Springs, SD, in Fall River County is known as the Veterans Town; and Now, therefore be it resolved that the Fall River County Commissioners do hereby recognize March 29, 2022, as ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.'' The Fall River County Commissioners further honors and recognizes the contributions of veterans of the Armed Forces who served in Vietnam.''

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Josiah Wallace of Rapid City, South Dakota who passed away on November 18, at the age of 97. Following high school, Josiah received an appointment to West Point. He served in the military for 30 years, completing tours in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Josiah was a well-decorated veteran, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with valor, two Legion of Merits, and two Purple Hearts. After retiring from the military, Josiah spent his time volunteering in the Rapid City community. He organized ``Operation Evergreen,'' which planted thousands of trees in Rapid City and created the tree canopy that Rapid City enjoys as a Tree City USA. He also gave back to the community by being an active member of the Catholic Church. Josiah spent time volunteering his knowledge and efforts to help educate the next generation on the topic of leadership in the workplace by volunteering as an Adjunct Professor at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. In 1946, Josiah married his high school sweetheart, Beulah ``Vicki'' Mae Housiaux, whom he was married to for 72 years. Together, they had six children, 12 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Josiah's impact on lives and his dedication to serve and mentor others is evident throughout his life. I would like to thank Josiah and his family on behalf of South Dakota for his service to our Nation. He will be deeply missed by all.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, some have suggested that the supply chain crisis has eased. Now, to be sure, important progress has been made, but serious problems still exist, and now is not the time for us to take our foot off the gas. Notably, although this body has passed the Garamendi-Johnson Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the Senate has not yet acted. Let's be clear: Action is needed. Earlier this week, the dry peas and lentils producers told me that 30 to 40 percent of their shipments are still being canceled by the foreign-flagged ocean carriers. Now, remember, this is an environment where 60 percent of the containers that were hauled back to Asia last year went back empty. They were empty at a time when American agriculture products were aging and, in some cases, spoiling right there on the docks. Carriers are discriminating against American manufactured and agricultural goods. This is not a conceptual threat. These practices have already cost the American dairy industry more than $1.3 billion, and things could get a lot worse. Our producers have worked hard to build foreign markets in the commodities that Mr. Garamendi mentioned as well as beef, beans, corn, and dairy. If those producers cannot meet their obligations, then buyers will look elsewhere for food. This has already cost us an estimated 22 percent of market share for our ag producers. This is unacceptable. Now, Mr. Garamendi is right. A functional market has reciprocity. It also has basic rules of the road, and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act establishes those basic rules of the road. This amendment would add OSRA to the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment so that we can continue to build momentum. Now, in fact, our partners in the Senate, Amy Klobuchar and John Thune, are expected to introduce OSRA in their Chamber this week. Yet another House vote in support of OSRA will send a clear message to Leader Schumer that our bill should be put on the floor for a vote. Madam Speaker, we do need to better align the interests of the foreign-flagged ocean carriers with those of American manufacturers and American ag producers. That is what this amendment does.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is impossible for any American to ignore the supply chain crunch, a supply chain crunch that seemingly impacts most every part of the American economy. In that kind of an environment, I want to echo so much of what my friend from California said. I am indeed thrilled that the House is taking up this bill today. I am grateful for his leadership. I am grateful to be the lead Republican on this, and I am grateful that this bill has been endorsed by 360 national, State, and local groups. This is much-needed legislation. How did we get here? With a massive influx of Federal dollars into the economy and with COVID-19 changing how Americans purchase goods, for more than a year, United States ports have faced unprecedented volumes of cargo. Some estimates say that American demand for consumer electronics has gone up 40 percent compared to prepandemic. This pressure on our ports has trickled down to every other part of the supply chain, leading to what Americans have seen: delays and product shortages. Now, those constraints and the resulting extremely high shipping rates have made it more difficult not just for our country to receive imports but also for us to ship our manufactured goods and agricultural goods out to the rest of the world. We have seen unprecedented rejection of American container loads by the large ocean carriers. They are in contravention of their contractual obligations, just refusing to haul that cargo, preferring instead to take the empty containers and get them back to Asia for a quick turn. That has caused serious problems, not just conceptual dollars, real dollars, real cents. The American dairy industry has seen $1 billion worth of losses just in the first 6 months of this year. Now, Mr. Speaker, I am a big fan of the free market, but the free market is many buyers and many sellers, and that is not in place today. Mr. Garamendi so rightfully talked about the consolidation we have seen in this industry. And indeed, 30 years ago the largest foreign-flagged ocean carriers controlled about 15 percent of this traffic. Today, they control about 75 percent. That is not quite the free market that we used to have. And so, H.R. 4996, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 helps to address these supply chain bottlenecks. It helps to promote American competitiveness. And it holds accountable these foreign-flagged ocean carriers, which I would note are increasingly dominated by Chinese state-backed firms. Now, let me be honest and let me be clear, this bill is no silver bullet, but shame on us if we fail to act. This supply chain crunch has laid bare the deficiencies in the marketplace, and we have an opportunity today to address many of those deficiencies. Probably the most common question, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues ask of me about this bill is why a Congressman from the plains of South Dakota would be so interested in maritime law. I would just remind them of the world's great hunger for American beef, American beans, American corn, and American dairy. Indeed, 60 percent of South Dakota's soybeans are exported abroad. In that environment this is not just a coastal issue, but it is an issue that impacts lives from the farm gate to every Main Street. And indeed, I have been hearing from South Dakota businesses like Strider Sports International in Rapid City to Valley Queen, a cheese processor in Milbank, and they are telling me about how these issues are having a real impact on dollars and cents. Valley Queen has two million pounds of lactose. This is a product that has already been sold to Asian markets, and it is just sitting there in their warehouses waiting for an opening at the ports. A recent container load of this lactose waited on the ports, Mr. Speaker, for 75 days. The lactose began to turn, and, of course, that meant a big deduction on the price that Valley Queen could get for that lactose. Just a destruction of American value. This bill is about American competitiveness. Broadly speaking, the legislation provides the Federal Maritime Commission--that is the cop on the beat--the tools they need to make sure that this system runs more efficiently and runs more fairly and makes sure that the interests of the foreign-flagged ocean carriers are better aligned with the interests of American shippers. So the bill does a number of things, but I will quickly hit on just five. First off, under this bill the FMC can set minimum standards for ocean shipping that makes sure that U.S. shippers are protected from the actions of others which leave export cargoes stranded at U.S. ports. Number two, it protects U.S. shippers from retaliation if they file a complaint with the FMC. Number three, this bill prohibits the foreign-flagged ocean carriers from unreasonably denying American export cargo on their vessels. Number four, it requires foreign ocean carriers to certify the accuracy of the detention and demurrage fees. These are fines they can hit shippers with; they have to certify that those fines are accurate. And number five, it would authorize the National Academy of Sciences to study how best to improve transparency in the supply chain. Now, I just don't know, Mr. Speaker, how any of my colleagues can allege any of these things are not reasonable. These are very basic guardrails. These are very basic rules of the road that people who are using American ports should be obligated to follow. And so the choice for my colleagues is simple, a vote for H.R. 4996 is a vote to put U.S. shippers, manufacturing, farmers, truckers, retailers, and consumers first. That is where they should be. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I would just note Mr. Costa's unyielding advocacy of this project, this issue and thank him for that support. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I would just echo the thoughts of Mr. Garamendi that there have been so many who have worked together, and really a broad national coalition, and he is exactly right to call attention to the people who do the work behind the scenes.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Carbajal for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Gibbs), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I want to take an opportunity to thank Chair DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for the various hearings they have had in talking with Chairman Maffei, Commissioner Dye, and others on the FMC about these issues. I thank Mr. Garamendi and others for bringing up this legislation in a number of hearings we have had on the supply chain crunch. I think it has helped to fill out the record on these incredibly important issues and the role that this legislation can play in advancing this cause. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale), another leader in this effort.