Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced the American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative that he said would use a high-visibility dashboard to connect major hubs like the Port of Los Angeles directly to ocean carriers, trucking companies, railroads and retailers like Walmart.

Duffy used the announcement to call on Congress to pass the necessary legislation authorizing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create role-based access for specific data points and to give the agency the framework and flexibility required to securely streamline national logistics.

He wants the legislation included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.

“When it comes to our supply chains, time is money. Fewer delays mean lower costs throughout the entire supply chain,” Duffy said. “The American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative will prevent bottlenecks, move freight faster and deliver goods more affordably for the American people.”

According to the DOT, the initiative will build on the success of the agency’s Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program and the secretary’s new strategy to modernize the nation’s nearly seven-million-mile freight network.

In a later announcement, the DOT said it has awarded a contract to FreightWaves SONAR to provide high-frequency freight market data in support of federal transportation analysis and economic research.

The DOT said it will “unleash innovation across America’s supply chains.”

The agency said FreightWaves SONAR’s data will help monitor freight market health, inform regulatory enforcement and supply timely insights to the agency’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.

“As we continue to modernize our processes in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it is vital that the USDOT have access to the most robust and current data sources,” said Lee White, the DOT’s deputy assistant secretary for research and technology. ”Our agreement with SONAR is another step we are taking on our journey to modernize our systems here at the USDOT.”

Jones Act Waiver

A key House Democrat said he has been conducting oversight into foreign vessel operators benefiting from the Jones Act waiver.

Rep. Salud Carbajal of California, a vocal supporter of the Jones Act, announced he has been sending letters to vessel owners and operators seeking information about their use of the waiver, compliance with U.S. law and the impact on American maritime jobs and domestic shipping capacity.

Carbajal is the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

He cites Maritime Administration (MarAd) records that show several foreign operators provided either vague justification for the waiver or identified the national security rationale as “not applicable.”

In his letters, Carbajal said he explains that is not how Congress intended the waiver to be used.

“Even when operating under a Jones Act waiver, every vessel that operates in the domestic trades must comply with all other federal and state statutes,” Carbajal wrote.

Immigration, Border Security

Following a months-long partisan standoff, President Donald Trump signed a bill to provide nearly $70 billion to fund immigration enforcement and border security through fiscal year 2029.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, pointed out that S.2, the Secure America Act, fully funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the remainder of Trump’s “entire second term.”

Trump received the reconciliation bill after it was passed with only Republican support by votes of 52 to 47 in the Senate and 214 to 212 in the House.

Coast Guard In DHS Spending Bill

The House Appropriations Committee advanced its fiscal year 2027 spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. With a vote 34 to 27, the bill now goes to the full House for a floor vote.

Key takeaways for the Coast Guard:

•$148 million for Waterways Commerce Cutters, which will allow for the efficient flow of commerce through our nation’s waterways.

• $135 million for increased operations in the Indo-Pacific to counter China.

• $97 million for unmanned systems to improve maritime domain awareness.

• $48 million in additional funds for deferred shoreside maintenance.

• $30 million in a technology modernization program to enhance Coast Guard capability in autonomous surface and air assets, artificial intelligence and data analytics.

• $21 million in additional funds for addressing deferred cutter and boat maintenance.

Ballast Water Comments Requested

The Coast Guard is requesting comments on a report titled ‘‘Retrospective Analysis of USCG 2012 Ballast Water Discharge Standards.’’

That report revisits the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) conducted for a 2012 final rule titled ‘‘Standards for Living Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters’’ by utilizing new data sources and updated methods to assess the costs and benefits of the rule.

The Coast Guard specifically requested comments on the data, methodology and findings presented in the RIA.

Comments must be submitted to https:// www.regulations.gov by August 10 under Docket No. USCG-2026-0111.

For additional information, contact Chris Lauer at 206-827-4319 or Christopher.j.lauer@uscg.mil.

Arctic Security Cutters

The Coast Guard announced it would homeport its first three Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak and Seward, Alaska, advancing Arctic security by expanding U.S. capabilities and strengthening the nation’s icebreaker fleet.

“America’s future in the Arctic demands strength, capability and resolve,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

“These cutters will deliver the enduring operational capability our nation needs to defend our sovereignty, deter adversaries and safeguard vital resources for the American people.”

According to the Coast Guard, the Arctic Security Cutter program represents the most significant U.S. investment in icebreaker technology in decades and will revitalize American shipbuilding and reinforce the industrial base essential to national defense.