Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lee

The bill would ease dredging rules by loosening certificate/endorsement requirements and removing dredged material from certain transportation rules to speed port expansion.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill: Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act (S. 4758)

Purpose and Intent

The bill, introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Mike Lee, aims to incentivize the expansion of U.S. port infrastructure by modifying certain federal dredging and dredged material requirements.

Title: “Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act.”

Key Provisions and Changes

1) Dredging requirements (46 U.S.C. § 55109(a)(3))
- The bill amends the text to:
- Remove a clause that previously concluded with “, or is exempt,” and replace it with language indicating the entity “is exempt” or is “otherwise eligible for such a certificate and endorsement without regard to the requirement under section 12112(a)(2).”
- Practical effect: The amendment appears to broaden or clarify eligibility for a certificate and endorsement related to dredging activities, potentially reducing some procedural hurdles or fixed exemptions tied to dredging activities. The exact regulatory impact would depend on how “certificate and endorsement” and the referenced section 12112(a)(2) interact with existing permitting or exemption regimes.

2) Excluding dredged material from transportation requirements (46 U.S.C. § 55110)
- The section heading is amended by striking “or dredged material.”
- The body text of the section is amended by striking the phrase “or dredged material.”
- Practical effect: Dredged material would no longer be subject to the transportation requirements that previously applied to it under this statute. This could ease or remove regulatory burdens or compliance obligations for transporting dredged material, potentially facilitating dredging projects and the movement of dredged material.

Who Would Be Affected

Entities involved in dredging projects and port expansion, including:

Port authorities and harbor engineers.
Contractors and subcontractors handling dredging work.
Shipping and transportation companies involved in dredged material transport.

The changes primarily impact regulatory compliance related to dredging certificates, endorsements, and transportation requirements—potentially lowering permitting thresholds or administrative requirements for project proponents.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Introduced in the Senate on June 11, 2026; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Action History indicates no further actions listed yet (as of the provided text). Committee consideration and potential floor action would determine the bill’s progression.

Notable Details

Co-sponsor: Senator Mike Lee.

Short title: Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act.

The text provided includes specific amendments to two sections of Title 46, U.S.C., addressing dredging regulatory language and dredged material transportation requirements.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Aims to expedite or simplify regulatory processes associated with dredging, which could accelerate port expansion projects and related infrastructure development.

Benefits may include reduced administrative burden and faster project timelines for port authorities and developers.

Considerations for stakeholders include assessing environmental and safety implications of relaxed or altered dredging-related requirements, and how other statutes or regulatory programs (e.g., environmental reviews, navigation, and safety) interact with these changes.