The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) that would protect the nation’s ports by banning China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from owning or operating U.S. port facilities.
The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released a report last year that raised national security concerns over the influence of critical port infrastructure by Chinese-owned enterprises.
“America’s ports are essential gateways for trade and commerce. We cannot jeopardize America’s economic and national security by allowing foreign adversaries, like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, to own and operate port infrastructure,” Rep. Calvert said.
The congressman’s Secure Our Ports Act of 2025, H.R. 252, would specifically prohibit the ownership, leasing, or operation of port facilities by an entity that is a Chinese, Russian, North Korean, or Iranian state-owned enterprise, or a foreign entity for which any percentage is owned by one of those four countries.
“I want to thank my House colleagues for passing the Secure Our Ports Act and taking an important step in protecting our critically important port facilities,” added Rep. Calvert.
The bill next moves to the U.S. Senate, where it will be considered in the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.