# Plain Language Summary: H. CON. RES. 92

This bill declares an emergency due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and temporarily relaxes a shipping rule to get humanitarian aid to people in need more quickly and cheaply. Here's what that means in practical terms: The U.S. has a law requiring that a certain amount of cargo shipped for humanitarian food aid must travel on American-owned ships, even if foreign ships could do the job cheaper. This "cargo preference" rule was designed to support the American shipping industry, but it significantly increases the cost of getting food to hungry people around the world. The bill essentially says that because of the Ukraine crisis, this rule should be waived from May 2022 through February 2025.

Why does this matter? The Ukraine invasion is causing a global food crisis. Ukraine normally produces about 10 percent of the world's wheat, but the war has destroyed farms, blocked ports, and made it impossible for farmers to plant and harvest safely. The United Nations estimates that food prices could spike 8 to 22 percent higher because of the conflict, potentially pushing 40 million additional people into poverty and hunger. By removing the requirement to use American ships for humanitarian food aid during this emergency period, the government can stretch its aid dollars further—studies suggest this could free up $50 to $65 million annually that would otherwise go to shipping costs. That money can instead go directly toward buying and delivering more food to starving populations, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East where the crisis is hitting hardest.

The bill doesn't permanently change the shipping law—it's a temporary emergency measure. Once the emergency period ends in February 2025, the cargo preference rules go back into effect. The resolution simply acknowledges that in a global food emergency, getting more food to hungry people faster is more important than protecting the American shipping industry's market share during this specific crisis period.

Declaring a state of emergency due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in order to establish a waiver of the minimum tonnage requirements of section 55305 of title 46, United States Code.

Walorski, Jackie

 <p>This concurrent resolution declares that a state of emergency exists due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also states that such emergency justifies a waiver of the minimum tonnage requirements for the transport of equipment, materials, or commodities related to humanitarian operations resulting from the invasion. Such requirements apply to cargoes that are transported on ocean vessels and that are procured, furnished, or financed by the United States.</p>