Sec. 180015. NAS study on supply chain industry
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Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall conduct a study on the United States supply chain that examines data constraints that impede the flow of maritime cargo and add to supply chain inefficiencies and that identifies data sharing systems that can be employed to improve the functioning of the United States supply chain. The study required under subsection
(a)shall include— the identification of where bottlenecks or chokepoints are most prominent within the United States supply chain; the identification of what common shipping data is created with each hand-off of a container through the United States supply chain and how such data is stored and shared; the identification of critical data elements used by any entity covered by subsection (c), including the key elements used for various supply chain business processes; a review of the methodology used to store, access, and disseminate shipping data across the United States supply chain and evaluation of the inefficiencies in such methodology; an analysis of existing and potential impediments to the free flow of information among entities covered by subsection (c), including— identification of barriers that prevent carriers, terminals, and shippers from having access to commercial data; and any inconsistencies in— terminology used across data elements connected to the shipment, arrival, and unloading of a shipping container; and the classification systems used across the United States supply chain, including inconsistencies in the names of entities covered by subsection (c), geographical names, and terminology; the identification of information to be included in an improved data sharing system designed to plan, execute, and monitor the optimal loading and unloading of maritime cargo; and the identification of existing software and data sharing platforms available to facilitate propagation of information to all agents involved in the loading and unloading of maritime cargo and evaluate the effectiveness of such software and platforms if implemented. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall collect information from— vessel operating common carriers and non-vessel operating common carriers; marine terminal operators; commercial motor vehicle operators; railroad carriers; chassis providers; ocean transportation intermediaries; custom brokers; freight forwarders; shippers and cargo owners; the National Shipper Advisory Committee; relevant government agencies, such as the Federal Maritime Commission, the Surface Transportation Board, and the United States Customs and Border Protection; to the extent practicable, representatives of foreign countries and maritime jurisdictions outside of the United States; and any other entity involved in the transportation of ocean cargo and the unloading of cargo upon arrival at a port. In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences may solicit information from any relevant agency relating to the United States supply chain. Not later than 18 months after entering into an arrangement with the Secretary under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make available on a publicly accessible website, a report containing— the study required under subsection (a); the information collected under subsections
(b)and (c), excluding any personally identifiable information or sensitive business information; and any recommendations for— common data standards to be used in the United States supply chain; and policies and protocols that would streamline information sharing across the United States supply chain.