HR 2390: Maritime Supply Chain Security Act

HR 2390 in plain English: This bill authorizes the Maritime Administration to award competitive grants under the Port Infrastructure Development Program to upgrade or replace port cranes—including their hardware and software—that are maintained, installed, controlled, or sponsored by China or Chinese government entities.

Stated purpose

This bill clarifies that existing federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant funds can be used to upgrade or replace port cranes — including their hardware and software — that were installed, provided, maintained, controlled, or sponsored by China or its government entities.

Key points

• Allows federal grants to fund replacement or upgrades of Chinese-linked port cranes at U.S. ports
• Covers both hardware and software components of port cranes
• Grants fall under the existing Port Infrastructure Development Program, which aims to improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of U.S. port cargo movement

Arguments supporters make

• Chinese-made or controlled port cranes could pose cybersecurity or surveillance risks to U.S. supply chains, and this bill gives ports a funded path to remove that risk.
• Using an already-existing grant program keeps the process efficient and avoids creating new bureaucracy just to address this security concern.
• Reducing reliance on Chinese equipment at critical port infrastructure strengthens long-term U.S. economic and national security.

Arguments opponents make

• Replacing large numbers of port cranes is extremely expensive, and critics may argue the grant program was not designed or funded at a scale to cover this kind of equipment overhaul.
• The bill targets equipment by country of origin rather than proven specific vulnerabilities, which some argue is too broad and could waste resources on cranes that pose no demonstrated threat.
• Ports may face operational disruptions and delays during crane replacement projects, potentially slowing the movement of goods and raising costs for businesses and consumers.

Tradeoffs

Directing grant money toward replacing Chinese-linked crane equipment may improve security at U.S. ports, but those same dollars cannot then be spent on other port safety or efficiency projects the program was originally designed to fund.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.