119-HR-4341 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A pollution-fee on big cargo ships to cut emissions and fund cleaner ships and ports, starting in 2027. [1]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — Text of the International Maritime Pollution Accounta…

What It Does

The bill creates an EPA-run fee on large, self‑propelled cargo vessels (5,000+ gross tons) tied to how much fuel they burn and its full lifecycle climate impact. For each covered voyage, operators would owe $150 per metric ton of CO2‑equivalent emissions (indexed annually by inflation plus 5%) and additional fees for nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter emitted in U.S. waters. The carbon fee is tripled for operations in polar regions; importers can be charged when cargo is offloaded abroad and later enters the U.S. The EPA would credit any comparable international or foreign fees, and the carbon fee sunsets if a global fee of equal or greater strength takes effect. [1]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — Text of the International Maritime Pollution Accounta…

Why it matters: Shipping drives roughly 3% of global CO2 emissions, and port pollution burdens nearby neighborhoods with harmful NOx, SO2, and PM2.5 linked to asthma, heart and lung disease. [2]International Maritime Organization — IMO: Fourth IMO GHG Study 2020 — shipping…[3]U.S. EPA — EPA Ports Initiative: National Port Strategy Assessment — health imp…

• Reporting begins in 2027; fees are assessed within 30 days of EPA receiving voyage data, with penalties for late payment. [1]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — Text of the International Maritime Pollution Accounta…
• Money raised (starting FY2029) is steered to: modernizing Jones Act vessels with zero/low‑emission tech; R&D for clean maritime fuels/technologies; workforce training; electrifying ferries/harbor craft; fenceline air monitoring; and existing clean ports/coasts programs. [1]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — Text of the International Maritime Pollution Accounta…

Who’s For It

• Sponsors: Rep. Doris Matsui (D‑CA) and Rep. Kevin Mullin (D‑CA); Senate partners Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D‑RI) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D‑CA). They argue the bill cuts pollution and invests in U.S. maritime jobs and technology. [4]U.S. House of Representatives — Rep. Kevin Mullin press release on reintroducin…[5]U.S. Senate — Sen. Alex Padilla press release: Bills to slash emissions from oc…
• Environmental and advocacy groups backing the bill include Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Sierra Club, and others. [6]Ocean Conservancy — Ocean Conservancy endorses the International Maritime Pollu…[7]Pacific Environment — Pacific Environment press release backing the bill

Who’s Against It

No formal opposition campaign is listed on Congress.gov as of December 2, 2025, but major business and shipping groups have opposed shipping‑emissions fee proposals more broadly, warning they would raise costs for shippers and consumers and disrupt trade. [8]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — All Actions (status and referrals)[9]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes proposed global shi…

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce (re global shipping fees): says carbon fees would add billions in compliance costs and ripple through prices. [9]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes proposed global shi…
• Global shipping interests have criticized fee regimes as harmful to trade; similar concerns have surfaced during international shipping‑fee debates. [10]Reuters — Reuters: U.S. rejects IMO’s Net‑Zero Framework on global shipping emi…

What’s Next

Status: Introduced July 10, 2025 and, on December 1, 2025, referred to the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Next steps could include hearings, markups, and floor votes before any Senate action. [8]Congress.gov — H.R.4341 — All Actions (status and referrals)

Tone

Neutral, plain‑language overview focused on what the bill would do, why supporters and critics say it matters, and where it stands now.