David Joyce (R-OH)
Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act
A Republican bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act. It aims to make sure that projects chosen through the Port Infrastructure Development Program are spread out fairly across different regions of the United States. It does this by amending Section 54301 of title 46, United States Code.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Explicit focus on small inland river ports brings investment to rural areas.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to do business across state lines?
Improving port distribution enhances the movement of goods across different U.S. regions.
- Scored +4
Does this invest in rural communities?
Explicitly targets small inland river and coastal ports, supporting rural and less-developed port regions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Fair Distribution of Projects: The bill requires an equitable geographic distribution of selected projects across U.S. regions in both the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program (Section 2(a)) and the assistance for Small Inland River and Coastal Ports and Terminals (Section 2(b)). This ensures that more regions have a chance to receive port improvements.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Explicit focus on small inland river ports brings investment to rural areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — Port improvements benefit logistics and shipping businesses. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improved port distribution helps agricultural exports reach markets more efficiently. Would union members be better off under this? — Infrastructure growth typically increases demand for unionized port and construction labor. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban port cities benefit from continued infrastructure investment.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improving port infrastructure supports trade efficiency and regional economic development. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Assistance for small inland river and coastal ports benefits smaller local operators. Is this likely to create jobs? — Infrastructure investments in ports typically lead to increased construction and logistics employment.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Improving port distribution enhances the movement of goods across different U.S. regions. Does this give the federal government more power? — Adds a federal mandate for the distribution of grants.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Explicitly targets small inland river and coastal ports, supporting rural and less-developed port regions.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Enhanced port infrastructure directly facilitates more efficient international trade flows.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/2/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- 12/18/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
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Erin HouchinRepublican · Indiana
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
Frank MrvanDemocrat · Indiana
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas