Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lee

The bill would repeal portions of the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906, removing FDAA constraints on dredging and dredged material in U.S. waters.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill: S. 4753 (119th Congress)

Purpose and overall aim

S. 4753 seeks to repeal the requirements of the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 (FDAA) as they apply to dredging and dredged material. The bill’s stated intent is to remove mandatory compliance with FDAA provisions for dredging activities and the handling of dredged material, potentially aligning U.S. dredging rules with other modern environmental, labor, and safety standards. The sponsor is listed as a co-sponsor of Senator Mike Lee.

Key provisions and changes (what the bill would do)

Repeal/modify FDAA requirements: The primary substantive action is to repeal the portions of the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 that pertain to dredging activities and the management of dredged material. This would reduce or remove restrictions tied to foreign-flag dredges and related regulatory constraints that have historically governed dredging operations in U.S. waters and the handling of material dredged from those activities.

Regulatory alignment: By repealing these FDAA requirements, dredging activities in U.S. waters could be governed by general domestic environmental, maritime, and labor laws rather than specific FDAA mandates. The bill does not, based on the available summary, specify alternative regulatory standards, but implicitly shifts regulatory emphasis away from FDAA constraints.

Who or what would be affected

Dredging operations: Entities engaged in dredging (public works, coastal restoration, harbor and channel maintenance, and related projects) would be affected by the removal of FDAA constraints, potentially changing which vessels or flag regimes can be used in U.S. waters.

Dredged material handling: Procedures and compliance requirements related to the disposal, transport, and processing of dredged material could be altered, as FDAA provisions governing dredged material would be repealed.

Federal regulatory framework: Agencies involved in maritime and environmental compliance for dredging projects (potentially including Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, environmental agencies) would shift away from FDAA-specific requirements toward other applicable laws and regulations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 11, 2026.

Action history: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the same date.

Status indication: As of the provided information, the bill is at the committee stage and has not been reported out or sent to the full Senate for a vote.

Additional notes

Sponsorship: The bill lists Mike Lee as a co-sponsor.

Context: The FDAA, enacted in 1906, historically restricts dredging activities to certain vessels and governs dredged material handling in ways tied to foreign dredges and related supply chains. This bill would remove those longstanding constraints, but it does not detail replacement standards within the provided material.

If you would like, I can expand this summary with potential policy implications, costs and benefits considerations, or analysis of how the removal of FDAA requirements could interact with environmental reviews, labor standards, and maritime safety regulations.