Garcia, Padilla reintroduce Clean Shipping Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, and Sen. Alex Padilla have reintroduced the Clean Shipping Act, legislation aimed at eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from large ships at U.S. ports — a move he says will protect the health of portside communities and fight the climate crisis.
Garcia, whose 42nd congressional district includes the Port of Long Beach, introduced the bill Thursday alongside Padilla, (D-Calif.). Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-San Pedro) is a co-lead in the House.
The bill sets a timeline for maritime emissions reductions: by 2035, ships must emit zero greenhouse gas emissions while docked at ports, and by 2050, all shipping-related greenhouse gas emissions must be eliminated.
“Our nation’s ports, particularly the Port of Long Beach, are crucial parts of the economy that drive our supply chain at home. However, they’re also among the largest sources of pollution in our coastal communities,” said Garcia. “Ship pollution is harmful for the health of people living near ports, and disproportionately affects low-income, working-class neighborhoods and communities of color. That’s why I’m proud to introduce a bill that addresses greenhouse gas pollution and creates a path to fully eliminate emissions. We must protect people’s health and stop our climate crisis, while ensuring good-paying jobs for the future.”
Garcia, who previously served as mayor of Long Beach, has prioritized environmental justice throughout his career. In Congress, he has helped secure more than $283 million in federal grants for the Port of Long Beach’s Pier B project, aimed at reducing truck traffic and harmful emissions. He also helped obtain nearly $44 million in infrastructure law grants to reduce port-related truck emissions.
Padilla echoed the urgency of addressing shipping pollution, especially for communities neighboring the ports.
“California’s ports are the powerhouse of our country’s economy, moving critical freight and providing good-paying jobs, all while leading the nation’s decarbonizing efforts. But neighboring communities have been forced to shoulder the brunt of global shipping pollution for too long,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Our legislation would strengthen the sustainability of our shipping industry by reducing emissions in maritime transportation while simultaneously protecting coastal communities. The health of our communities and our planet requires us to be forward-looking and ambitious — we owe future generations nothing less than bold, transformative action.”
Barragán emphasized the ongoing public health toll for communities living near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
“I’m proud to reintroduce the Clean Shipping Act because people deserve to breathe clean air, and this bill will help make that a reality. Communities near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—many of them communities of color—continue to suffer from toxic air pollution caused by ships. This bill sets a clear path to zero-emission shipping. It’s a critical step to clean up our air, protect public health, and take on the climate crisis. Port communities have waited long enough, we must act now,” said Congresswoman Nanette Barragán.
Environmental groups praised the reintroduction of the bill, including the Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, and the Sierra Club, among others. Experts say the global shipping industry accounts for nearly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions — a number expected to increase without significant intervention. Nearly 40% of Americans live near ports.
“In order to protect our ocean and stay competitive with the rest of the world, we need federal leadership to help modernize and clean up U.S. shipping. By driving the shipping sector to develop, scale and deploy zero-emission technologies, we can spur job creation, help tackle the climate crisis and help create cleaner air for the millions of Americans living near ports. We commend Representative Garcia and Senator Padilla for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working with members of Congress to make this bill a reality,” said Caroline Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s Shipping Emissions U.S. Policy Manager.
Garcia, who co-chairs the Congressional PORTS Caucus, first introduced the Clean Shipping Act in 2023.