Please find attached, at Annex A,  the monthly report for June prepared by the Chamber of Shipping America. 

1. 
   

    An overview of the legislative process in the US, where bills are introduced, referred to committees, voted upon, and sent to the other body for consideration. This overview is provided for readers to better understand the process and the chances of its success;

   
   


2. 
   

   Makes a note that the Clean Shipping Act (HR 4024), which aims to establish carbon intensity standards for marine fuels, has been introduced to Congress and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, but no further action has been taken yet;

   
   


3. 
   

   Outlines that the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act (S 1920), which proposes a "pollution fee" on carbon emissions, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter from vessels calling at US ports, bill has been introduced to Congress and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works but no further action has been taken yet;

   
   


4. 
   

   Notes that recommendations were made for NOAA to explore monitoring technologies for whale positions but the status of any potential changes to the proposal or its final rule form remains uncertain after discussions with NOAA;

   
   


5. 
   

   And the report provides that, as part of implementing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, the FMC issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that prohibits common carriers from unreasonably refusing available cargo space to shippers. The supplemental proposal introduces changes such as establishing elements for cargo space refusal claims, revising transportation factors for evaluating claims, and providing a general definition of "unreasonable" conduct. It also proposes mandatory export policy documentation requirements and removes the voluntary certification provision. The comment period for this proposal ends on July 31, 2023.

   
   

The ICS Secretariat will monitor closely the issues outlined in the report above, and members are kindly invited to direct any comment or question on the attached report to Meme Lamlum, Policy Officer ,at  (meme.lamlum@ics-shipping.org).