Members of Congress are getting involved in a dispute between US agriculture exporters and container carriers over an alleged denial of service during the second half of last year, when a sudden and sustained surge in volumes sent spot trans-Pacific freight rates through the roof. US exporters, particularly those moving agricultural products, claim carriers have been systematically refusing bookings since last fall in an attempt to speed the return of empty containers to Asia, where they can be filled with higher-paying import cargo. The inability to access containers, along with widespread port congestion, vessel delays, equipment shortages, and other logistical breakdowns caused by near-record US import volumes, is resulting in significantly higher costs for exporters and even lost business overseas.