PCC 2021 Mission to DC--A Virtual Success

Evey Hwang, CBFANC President

Tuesday May 25, 2021 – CBP, Agency and FMC meetings:
Once again, Dan Meylor (Carmichael) with LA Association lined up stellar key CBP personnel for our PCC Mission. CBP Office of Trade Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner John Leonard gave opening remarks on May 25^th morning for updates and discussions on:

21^st Century Customs Framework being reviewed by task force for all sections and PGA programing
Broker Regulations ongoing review including continuing Education credits proposed with triennials.
Status of ACE programs and proposed funding on ACE
eCommerce progress and impact on ACE with Type 86 “test” to be made permanent module. and Jim Swanson with CBP Office of Field Operations Director of Cargo and Security proposed US-CA-MX Truck Manifest
Acting Branch Chief Office of Trade Larry Magnum updated progress on Drawback
CEEs workload on PSCs and Protests with recognition on overcoming communication issues
Ongoing challenges at Southern Border and issues from port congestion as well as staffing for various cargo issues

The May 25^th afternoon were congruent sessions for PCC Missionaries to meet with FDA and USDA or to meet with Federal Maritime Commissioners. Sandy Coty with LA Association curated and lead discussions for FDA and USDA. FDA sessions were with Alison Nicoli – Acting Director, Division of Import Operations; Kathleen Turner, Program Division Director; Mark Flotte – FSVP; Anthony Nicoli – Medical Device Error Report. For USDA, Richard Leshin - APHIS Coordinator for ACE/ITDS Management and Program Analyst lead discussions on Quarantine Policy, Analysis, and Support (QPAS). In general, APHIS has received 1.2 million full message sets in the month of April. Read CBFANC Agency notes within newsletter and watch for further CBFANC Agency updates on ongoing APHIS Core programing.

Federal Maritime Commission meetings with current Chairman Dan Maffei and Commissioners Carl Bentzel, Michael Khouri and Rebecca Dye. Important discussion on persisting Port congestions and freight rate increases hurting commerce. Calls for accountability on ocean carriers’ business practice particularly enforcement on the Demurrage and Detention guidelines. Appreciation expressed to Commissioner Dye for pushing further investigation on violations, and Commissioner Khouri for Notice of Inquiry whether merchant clause in carrier contracts held up to Shipping Act.

Wednesday May 26, 2021 – Senate Finance, Senate Ways & Means, and Commerce meetings

Senate Finance Committee meeting with Majority Staff for Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) – discussion emphasized burdens on small businesses for recordkeeping; oversight on CBP and ACE funding; eCommerce impact and global trade issues.
House Ways and Means Committee meeting with Majority Staff of Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) – discussion centered on Southern Border issues; direction of CBP and oversight on ACE being single window; new CBP Commissioner being law enforcement background, to stay course on trade facilitation
Senate Commerce Committee meeting with Majority Staff of Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) – emphasis on supporting FMC’s fact-finding rules 28-29 investigations through FMC’s Demurrage and Detention; port congestion and ocean export crisis due to unfair carrier practices; impact on commerce especially agriculture exports; West Coast ports need infrastructure and safeguarding on loss to East Coast ports; impact on small businesses.

May 26, 2021 Legislative Meetings
On May 26, 2021, CBFANC Missionaries along with LA and San Diego associations met with staffers with offices of California Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein. Productive meetings with staffers for Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12, D) and House Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13, D); Jackie Speier (CA-14, D) and; John Garamendi (CA-3, D). We had yearly wonderful meeting with Jackie Speier where we expressed our appreciation once again for her assistance in restarting fumigation operations at our Port five years ago as well as her unwavering support for her constituents on trade and local concerns. Our last meeting of day with Congressman Garamendi staff proved to be our most substantive meeting of all. Presiding over Transportation and Infrastructure, Garamendi staff Iain Hart was both knowledgeable and capable on maritime issues and current infrastructure bill(s). Shared from Mr. Hart, there may be two “passage opportunities” on infrastructure in Congress: one possibility comprehensively done through reconciliation (funded but no policy changes); another pathway on affecting Shipping Act (hopefully through bi-partisan support) through re-authorization of the bi-annual Coast Guard and MARAD, Highway bill, and We are grateful for the very productive exchange which we intend to continue dialogue with Congressman Garamendi.


PCC 2021 Mission to DC--A Virtual Success Evey Hwang, CBFANC President Tuesday May 25, 2021 – CBP, Agency and FMC meetings: Once again, Dan Meylor (Carmichael) with LA Association lined up stellar key CBP personnel for our PCC Mission. CBP Office of Trade Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner John Leonard gave opening remarks on May 25^th morning for updates and discussions on: 21^st Century Customs Framework being reviewed by task force for all sections and PGA programing Broker Regulations ongoing review including continuing Education credits proposed with triennials. Status of ACE programs and proposed funding on ACE eCommerce progress and impact on ACE with Type 86 “test” to be made permanent module. and Jim Swanson with CBP Office of Field Operations Director of Cargo and Security proposed US-CA-MX Truck Manifest Acting Branch Chief Office of Trade Larry Magnum updated progress on Drawback CEEs workload on PSCs and Protests with recognition on overcoming communication issues Ongoing challenges at Southern Border and issues from port congestion as well as staffing for various cargo issues The May 25^th afternoon were congruent sessions for PCC Missionaries to meet with FDA and USDA or to meet with Federal Maritime Commissioners. Sandy Coty with LA Association curated and lead discussions for FDA and USDA. FDA sessions were with Alison Nicoli – Acting Director, Division of Import Operations; Kathleen Turner, Program Division Director; Mark Flotte – FSVP; Anthony Nicoli – Medical Device Error Report. For USDA, Richard Leshin - APHIS Coordinator for ACE/ITDS Management and Program Analyst lead discussions on Quarantine Policy, Analysis, and Support (QPAS). In general, APHIS has received 1.2 million full message sets in the month of April. Read CBFANC Agency notes within newsletter and watch for further CBFANC Agency updates on ongoing APHIS Core programing. Federal Maritime Commission meetings with current Chairman Dan Maffei and Commissioners Carl Bentzel, Michael Khouri and Rebecca Dye. Important discussion on persisting Port congestions and freight rate increases hurting commerce. Calls for accountability on ocean carriers’ business practice particularly enforcement on the Demurrage and Detention guidelines. Appreciation expressed to Commissioner Dye for pushing further investigation on violations, and Commissioner Khouri for Notice of Inquiry whether merchant clause in carrier contracts held up to Shipping Act. Wednesday May 26, 2021 – Senate Finance, Senate Ways & Means, and Commerce meetings Senate Finance Committee meeting with Majority Staff for Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) – discussion emphasized burdens on small businesses for recordkeeping; oversight on CBP and ACE funding; eCommerce impact and global trade issues. House Ways and Means Committee meeting with Majority Staff of Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) – discussion centered on Southern Border issues; direction of CBP and oversight on ACE being single window; new CBP Commissioner being law enforcement background, to stay course on trade facilitation Senate Commerce Committee meeting with Majority Staff of Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) – emphasis on supporting FMC’s fact-finding rules 28-29 investigations through FMC’s Demurrage and Detention; port congestion and ocean export crisis due to unfair carrier practices; impact on commerce especially agriculture exports; West Coast ports need infrastructure and safeguarding on loss to East Coast ports; impact on small businesses. May 26, 2021 Legislative Meetings On May 26, 2021, CBFANC Missionaries along with LA and San Diego associations met with staffers with offices of California Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein. Productive meetings with staffers for Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12, D) and House Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13, D); Jackie Speier (CA-14, D) and; John Garamendi (CA-3, D). We had yearly wonderful meeting with Jackie Speier where we expressed our appreciation once again for her assistance in restarting fumigation operations at our Port five years ago as well as her unwavering support for her constituents on trade and local concerns. Our last meeting of day with Congressman Garamendi staff proved to be our most substantive meeting of all. Presiding over Transportation and Infrastructure, Garamendi staff Iain Hart was both knowledgeable and capable on maritime issues and current infrastructure bill(s). Shared from Mr. Hart, there may be two “passage opportunities” on infrastructure in Congress: one possibility comprehensively done through reconciliation (funded but no policy changes); another pathway on affecting Shipping Act (hopefully through bi-partisan support) through re-authorization of the bi-annual Coast Guard and MARAD, Highway bill, and We are grateful for the very productive exchange which we intend to continue dialogue with Congressman Garamendi.
CBFANC Newsletter - May 2021 - Info Expeditor