Gary Peters (D-MI)
Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 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, known as the "Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act," aims to change how projects are selected for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. It specifically seeks to ensure that projects are distributed more equitably across different regions of the United States. The legislation proposes amendments to title 46 of the United States Code. These changes apply to both the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program and the assistance provided to small inland river and coastal ports and terminals.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill's focus on geographic equity helps ensure more rural regions receive funding.
- Scored +3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill specifically targets assistance for small inland river and coastal ports.
- Scored +3
Does this invest in rural communities?
The focus on inland and coastal ports helps promote rural and regional development.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Equitable Regional Funding: By adding a requirement to ensure an equitable geographic distribution among regions, the bill aims to spread project selections more evenly across the country (Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)).
-
Support for Small Ports: The bill includes provisions to ensure that the goal of geographic equity applies to assistance provided to small inland river and coastal ports and terminals (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated 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? — The bill's focus on geographic equity helps ensure more rural regions receive funding. Would business owners be better off under this? — Infrastructure improvements generally benefit businesses operating within those regions. Would farmers be better off under this? — Increased investment in inland river and coastal ports can benefit agricultural supply chains. Would union members be better off under this? — Infrastructure projects often involve unionized labor. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Port investments can impact urban economies.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill specifically targets assistance for small inland river and coastal ports. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Ensuring equitable infrastructure investment supports more diverse regional economic growth. Is this likely to create jobs? — Improved port infrastructure can stimulate regional economic activity and job creation.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The focus on inland and coastal ports helps promote rural and regional development.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Provides a clear guideline for how project selection should be distributed. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Standardizing infrastructure investment across regions can aid interstate commerce. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates federal oversight of geographic distribution for project selection.
- 4/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/1/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana