Congress blocks foreign state control of U.S. ports
H.R. 252 — Secure Our Ports Act of 2025 · Filed by Ken Calvert (R-CA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill prohibits U.S. port owners and operators from entering into contracts for port ownership, leasing, or operation with Chinese, Russian, North Korean, or Iranian state-owned enterprises, or with any foreign entity partially owned by those countries. The restriction applies to facilities required to have security plans under federal maritime law.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward prohibition on foreign state-owned enterprise involvement in U.S. port operations. It is a security-focused restriction on contracting authority, not a subsidy, deregulation, or commemorative measure.
What the text implies
- The prohibition may incentivize affected foreign entities to restructure ownership to obscure state control, creating enforcement and verification challenges for port authorities.
- Port operators may face reduced competition in certain markets if foreign entities are the only available contractors, potentially raising operational costs that could be passed to shippers and consumers.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill restricts foreign state control of critical U.S. port infrastructure, which protects national security and supply-chain resilience for ordinary citizens and businesses.