Young, Kelly Introduce Legislation to Make American Ships Again

WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) re-introduced theShipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.
There are currently 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce while China has 5,500. TheSHIPS for America Actaims to close this gap and boost the U.S. Merchant Marine by establishing national oversight and consistent funding for U.S. maritime policy, making U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in international commerce by cutting red tape, rebuilding the U.S. shipyard industrial base, and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training, and retention.
Young and Kelly originally introduced theSHIPS for America Actin December 2024. Since the introduction, the urgency to boost American shipbuilding has emerged as a priority of bipartisan consensus this year, particularly after the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative revealed the findings of its investigation into China’s shipbuilding dominance and President Trump’s signing of ashipbuilding executive order.
“America has been a maritime nation since our founding, and seapower was a significant contributor to our rise to being the most powerful nation on earth. Unfortunately, the bottom line now is America needs more ships. Shipbuilding is a national security priority and a stopgap against foreign threats and coercion. Our bill will revitalize the U.S. maritime industry, grow our shipbuilding capacity, rebuild America’s shipyard industrial base, and support nationwide workforce development in this industry. This legislation is critical to our warfighting capabilities and keeping pace with China,”said Senator Young, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.
“After decades of dangerously neglecting our shipbuilding industry, we’re finally doing something about it. TheSHIPS for America Actis the most ambitious effort in a generation to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries and counter China’s dominance over the oceans,”said Senator Kelly, a U.S. Navy veteran and the first U.S Merchant Marine Academy graduate to serve in Congress.“Building and staffing more U.S.-flagged ships will create good-paying American jobs, make our supply chains more resilient, lower costs, and strengthen our ability to resupply our military at times of war. We’ll keep working with our colleagues in Congress, this administration, and our partners in the industry to make our country safer and competitive by passing the SHIPS for America Act.”
U.S. Representatives Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) and John Garamendi (D-CA-8) will introduce companion legislation in the House on Thursday.
More specifically, theSHIPS for America Actwould:
The legislation will be introduced in two pieces in the Senate, theSHIPS for America Actand theBuilding SHIPS in America Act.
A section by section of the bill can be foundhere.
The following organizations have endorsed theSHIPS for America Act:
Keystone Shipping Company, American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association, Navy League, General Dynamics-NASSCO, American Waterway Operators, American Maritime Partnership, San Jacinto College, Oceantic Network, California State University Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, Senesco Marine, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, American Maritime Officers, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development (MIRAID), International Propeller Club, Crowley, American Maritime Officers Service, The Pasha Group, Saltchuk, Tropical, Saltchuk Marine, Overseas Shipholding Group, Core Power, Govini, US Ocean, Small Shipyard Grant Coalition, The American Club, Transportation Institute, Blue Water Autonomy, American Bureau of Shipping, With Honor Action, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), American Iron and Steel Institute, Shipbuilders Council of America, Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ, United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Matson, American Legion, Inc., Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.), Ocean Shipholdings, Inc, Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA), Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Ports America, Seafarers International Union (SIU), U.S. Marine Management, AUVSI, Maritime Accelerator for Resilience, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Chamber of Shipping of America, National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE), Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), California Forever, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Alliance for American Manufacturing, Nucor, Steel Manufacturers Association, Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, Tote Inc., SSAB Americas, Consortium of State Maritime Academies, Fairwater Holdings LLC., Marine Machinery Association, SHIPPINGInsight, USA Maritime, New American Industrial Alliance, and Ship Operations and Marine Technical Support (SOMTS).
Read what maritime leaders and stakeholders are saying about theSHIPS for America Acthere.