[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4341 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4341
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
assess certain fees on shipping and other vessels, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2025
Ms. Matsui (for herself and Mr. Mullin) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in
addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, and Ways and Means,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
assess certain fees on shipping and other vessels, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``International Maritime Pollution
Accountability Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the greenhouse gas emissions from the marine shipping
industry--
(A) account for nearly 3 percent of total global
anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions; and
(B) are increasing rapidly; and
(2) ports are a large source of air pollution and
contribute to poor air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding
the ports, leading to worse health outcomes for those who live
in those neighborhoods.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Calendar quarter.--The term ``calendar quarter'' means
a period of 3 calendar months that ends on, as applicable,
March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 of the
applicable calendar year.
(3) Cargo or freight.--The term ``cargo or freight'' does
not include--
(A) passengers transported for compensation or
hire;
(B) fuel intended for use in propelling or powering
a vessel;
(C) ship's stores;
(D) sea stores; or
(E) the legitimate equipment necessary to the
operation of a vessel.
(4) Covered voyage.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered voyage'' means
a voyage--
(i) made using a self-propelled vessel of
5,000 gross tonnage or more, the primary
purpose of which is transporting cargo or
freight; and
(ii) that begins when the vessel leaves the
port of origin and terminates when the
offloading operations at the final port of call
are completed.
(B) Exceptions.--The term ``covered voyage'' does
not include a voyage--
(i) that has been included as an OCS source
(as defined in subsection (a)(4) of section 328
of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7627)) because
the voyage has the potential to emit any air
pollutant as described in subparagraph (C)(i)
of that subsection and is, as a result,
regulated pursuant to that section;
(ii) made for the purposes of transporting
military cargo, food aid, or supplies for
disaster or emergency relief; or
(iii) made using a Jones Act vessel.
(5) Criteria air pollutant.--The term ``criteria air
pollutant'' is within the meaning of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
(6) Exclusive economic zone.--The term ``exclusive economic
zone'' has the meaning given the term in section 107 of title
46, United States Code.
(7) Final port of call.--The term ``final port of call'',
with respect to a covered voyage, means, as applicable--
(A) the port in the United States where the vessel
making the covered voyage offloaded the last of the
cargo or freight of the vessel ultimately bound for the
United States that was onboard the vessel on departure
from the port of origin; or
(B) if the last of the cargo or freight of the
vessel ultimately bound for the United States that was
onboard the vessel on departure from the port of origin
is offloaded in a foreign port, the most recent port of
call in the United States prior to offloading the last
of the cargo or freight of the vessel that is
ultimately bound for the United States.
(8) Importer.--The term ``importer'' means 1 of the parties
that qualifies as an importer of record under section
484(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
1484(a)(2)(B)).
(9) Intermediate port.--The term ``intermediate port'',
with respect to a covered voyage, means each foreign port of
call of the vessel of the covered voyage between the port of
origin and the initial port of call of the vessel in the United
States.
(10) Internal waters.--The term ``internal waters'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2.24 of title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(11) Jones act vessel.--The term ``Jones Act vessel'' means
a documented vessel (as defined in section 106 of title 46,
United States Code) with a coastwise endorsement under section
12112 of that title.
(12) Port of origin.--
(A) In general.--The term ``port of origin'', with
respect to a covered voyage, means the first port of
the vessel making the covered voyage after departing
which a majority (by mass) of the cargo or freight of
the vessel is ultimately bound for the United States.
(B) Clarification.--In the case in which a vessel,
after departing a final port of call for a covered
voyage, is carrying cargo the majority (by mass) of
which is ultimately bound for the United States--
(i) the vessel shall be considered to be
making a new covered voyage; and
(ii) the term ``port of origin'' for the
new covered voyage shall be considered to be
the same as the final port of call for the
previous covered voyage.
(13) Territorial sea.--The term ``territorial sea'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2.22 of title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(14) Ultimately bound for the united states.--The term
``ultimately bound for the United States'', with respect to
cargo or freight, includes--
(A) all cargo or freight that is offloaded in the
United States by a vessel making a covered voyage; and
(B) all cargo or freight that is--
(i) initially offloaded at an intermediate
port; and
(ii) subsequently transported to the United
States by sea, land, or air.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Beginning on January 1, 2027, the operator of each
covered voyage shall submit to the Administrator the information
described in subsection (b).
(b) Information Described.--The information referred to in
subsection (a), with respect to a covered voyage, is--
(1) the port of origin;
(2) the total distance traveled from the port of origin to
the final port of call;
(3) the total time spent traveling between the port of
origin and the final port of call;
(4) the total mass of each type of fuel consumed between
the port of origin and the final port of call;
(5) the total mass of cargo or freight transported between
the port of origin and the final port of call;
(6) each port of call in the United States;
(7) each intermediate port;
(8) the final port of call;
(9) the mass of cargo or freight on board the applicable
vessel on leaving the port of origin;
(10) the percentage of cargo or freight (by mass) offloaded
or onloaded at any intermediate port, as compared to the
capacity of the applicable vessel and the load of the
applicable vessel;
(11) the ultimate destination (by country) of cargo or
freight offloaded at intermediate ports;
(12) the mass of cargo or freight on board the applicable
vessel on arrival at or departure from, as applicable, each
port of call in the United States;
(13) the total time spent in each port of call in the
United States;
(14) the total period of time that the applicable vessel is
connected to and reliant on the electrical grid while in port
at a port of call in the United States;
(15) the total mass of each type of fuel consumed--
(A) in any port of call in the United States; and
(B) within the exclusive economic zone, the
territorial sea, and the internal waters of the United
States;
(16) the total period of time spent--
(A) north of 60 degrees north latitude; or
(B) south of 60 degrees south latitude;
(17) for each period described in paragraph (16), the total
mass of each type of fuel consumed during that period; and
(18) any other information that the Administrator
determines is necessary to accurately determine the amount of
the fees assessed under sections 5 and 6.
(c) Deadline.--The operator of a covered voyage shall submit the
information required under subsection (a) for each covered voyage of
the operator that ended during a calendar quarter by not later than 30
days after the end of that calendar quarter.
SEC. 5. FEE ON LIFECYCLE CARBON DIOXIDE-EQUIVALENT EMISSIONS FROM CARGO
VESSELS.
(a) Lifecycle CO<INF>2</INF>-e Emissions Profile for Maritime
Fuels.--Not later than January 1, 2027, the Administrator shall develop
a lifecycle carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO<INF>2</INF>-e) emissions
profile for each fuel used in maritime shipping to express the
emissions from the combustion of that fuel in carbon dioxide-equivalent
per unit mass combusted.
(b) Assessment of Fee.--
(1) In general.--Beginning on January 1, 2027, not later
than 30 days after the date on which the Administrator receives
from the operator of a covered voyage the information required
to be submitted under section 4(a), the Administrator shall
assess on the operator a fee with respect to the covered voyage
in an amount determined in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Amount of fee.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B) and
subsection (d), the amount of a fee assessed under
paragraph (1) with respect to a covered voyage shall be
the total sum of, for each type of fuel consumed during
the covered voyage, the product obtained by
multiplying--
(i) the total mass of the fuel consumed
during the covered voyage;
(ii) the carbon dioxide-equivalent
emissions of the fuel, expressed in metric tons
per unit mass of fuel consumed, as determined
under subsection (a); and
(iii) $150.
(B) Adjustments.--
(i) Inflation.--Beginning in calendar year
2028, the Administrator shall annually increase
the amount described in subparagraph (A)(iii)
by the percentage that is equal to the sum
obtained by adding--
(I) the rate of inflation, as
determined by the Administrator using
the changes for the 12-month period
ending the preceding November 30 in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor; and
(II) 5 percentage points.
(ii) Voyages in polar regions.--For any
portion of a covered voyage that involves
travel north of 60 degrees north latitude or
south of 60 degrees south latitude, the amount
described in subparagraph (A)(iii) with respect
to fuel consumed during that portion of the
voyage, after adjustment under clause (i), if
applicable, shall be tripled.
(iii) Crediting amounts paid under global
economic measure.--
(I) Definitions.--In this clause:
(aa) Annex vi.--The term
``Annex VI'' means Annex VI of
the International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships, 1973 (if amended in
a substantially similar manner,
as determined by the
Administrator, to the draft
regulations described in
Circular Letter No. 5005 of the
International Maritime
Organization, dated April 11,
2025).
(bb) Remedial unit; surplus
unit.--The terms ``remedial
unit'' and ``surplus unit''
have the meanings given those
terms under section 3 of
Regulation 2 of Annex VI.
(II) Adjustment.--For any carbon
dioxide-equivalent emissions resulting
from a covered voyage for which the
operator owes a fee under Annex VI, or
would owe a fee under Annex VI but for
any surplus units obtained by the
operator for the covered voyage, the
amount described in subparagraph
(A)(iii), after adjustment under
clauses (i) and (ii), if applicable,
shall be reduced by the applicable Tier
1 or Tier 2 remedial unit cost owed by
the operator, or that would be owed by
the operator but for the surplus units,
for that portion of the covered voyage
under Annex VI.
(3) Deadline.--A fee assessed under paragraph (1) shall be
due and payable to the Administrator not later than the later
of--
(A) the date that is 30 days after the date on
which the fee is assessed; and
(B) the end of the calendar year in which the fee
is assessed.
(4) Penalty.--If an operator fails to pay a fee assessed
under paragraph (1) by the date described in paragraph (3)--
(A) the amount of the fee shall be increased by 20
percent; and
(B) for each consecutive 30-day period beginning
after the date described in paragraph (3), the amount
of the fee shall be increased by an additional 20
percent until the date on which the fee is paid to the
Administrator.
(c) Alternate Fee for Imported Cargo.--
(1) Definition of qualified importing voyage.--In this
subsection, the term ``qualified importing voyage'' means a
voyage made using a vessel--
(A) the primary purpose of which is transporting
cargo or freight; and
(B) that, at a foreign port of call, offloads cargo
or freight that is ultimately intended to be
transported to the United States by sea, land, or air.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Reporting.--
(i) In general.--Beginning on January 1,
2027, each importer for which a qualified
importing voyage has cargo or freight that is
bound for the United States shall submit to the
Administrator the information described in
subsection (b) of section 4 in accordance with
that section (except as otherwise provided in
clause (ii)).
(ii) Treatment.--For purposes of clause
(i), any reference contained in section 4(b)
to--
(I) the ``final port of call''
shall be considered to be a reference
to the foreign port of call within
which the cargo or freight of the
importer was offloaded from the vessel;