Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in Congress aims to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.
The Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act would establish a position of Maritime Security Advisor within the White House to lead an interagency Maritime Security Board that would make strategic decisions for how to implement a National Maritime Strategy.
It would establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund that reinvests the duties and fees the maritime industry paid into maritime security programs and infrastructure supporting maritime commerce.
It would create the Strategic Commercial Fleet Program to expand the U.S.-flag international fleet by 250 ships in 10 years.
It would establish a 25 percent investment tax credit for shipyard investments.
It would establish the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation to accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation ship design, manufacturing processes, and ship energy systems, and would support regional hubs for maritime innovation nationwide through the new Maritime Prosperity Zone program.
The bill also will support a Maritime Workforce Promotion and Recruitment Campaign and would establish a Rulemaking Committee on Commercial Maritime Regulations and Standards.
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the bill in the Senate. A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.