Congress·In Committee·H.R. 3151

Congress Proposes Major Plan to Rebuild U.S. Shipping Fleet and Shipyards to Compete with China

SHIPS for America Act of 2025

11 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This plan aims to rebuild the American shipping industry by creating a "Strategic Commercial Fleet" of up to 250 privately owned U.S. ships. It provides financial help to shipbuilders and owners to make it cheaper to build and fix ships in the United States instead of overseas.
From policy text
“ensure that the total number of vessels included in the fleet shall be not more than 250 vessels at any point in time.”
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The policy helps American workers by offering student loan forgiveness and better education benefits for Merchant Marines. It also creates a career retention program to make sure the U.S. has enough trained sailors to run these ships during a national emergency or war.
From policy text
“expand and nurture a robust mariner workforce that enhances the national security and strategic sealift readiness of the United States by increasing the number of United States mariners and improving existing pathways and establishing new pathways for new, current, and former merchant mariners to go to sea;”
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Currently, less than 2% of U.S. international cargo is carried on American ships, leaving the country dependent on foreign nations. This bill requires that more government cargo, energy exports like oil and gas, and goods imported from China be carried on U.S.-built ships with American crews.
From policy text
“vessels of the United States carry less than 2 percent of United States international commercial cargoes by weight.”
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To pay for these changes, the bill sets up a Maritime Security Trust Fund. This fund will collect money from taxes on foreign ships using U.S. ports and penalties on companies that use shipyards in "countries of concern" like China.
The program would roll out over several years, starting with at least 10 new ships in the first year. While it aims to lower long-term costs by securing supply chains, it may lead to higher shipping prices in the short term as companies transition to using U.S.-built vessels.
From policy text
“select for inclusion in the Fleet not fewer than 10 vessels in the 12-month period that begins on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this section;”
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National Security Foreign PolicyEconomy FinanceTaxesLabor EmploymentInfrastructure Transportation

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions

May 1, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

May 1, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Education and Workforce, Financial Services, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, Science, Space, and Technology, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

May 1, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within months of enactment

Maritime Security Trust Fund begins collecting revenue from tonnage taxes, vessel penalties, and trade enforcement duties

The fund that pays for nearly all the bill's programs starts accumulating money from fees on foreign ships entering U.S. ports and penalties on companies using Chinese shipyards, with a $20 billion cap

1-2 years after enactment

Strategic Commercial Fleet begins accepting applications and selecting the first 10+ vessels

The new fleet of up to 250 privately owned U.S. ships starts taking shape, with billions in annual payments ramping up over 10 years to support vessel construction and operations, creating jobs in shipbuilding and maritime careers

Related News

7 articles

Politico·6 months ago

Labor unions pressure Congress to pass SHIPS Act

Five major U.S. labor unions, including the United Steelworkers and Seafarers International, are urging Congress to pass the SHIPS for America Act. They argue the bill is critical to countering China's maritime dominance and protecting national security interests through domestic shipbuilding.

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Politico·6 months ago

Sen. Young expects Trump's maritime plan to boost Ships Act

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) expressed optimism that the White House's upcoming maritime action plan will provide fresh momentum for the SHIPS for America Act. The bill aims to establish a national goal of 250 U.S.-built merchant ships and create tax credits for shipyard upgrades.

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Bloomberg·about 1 year ago

US Lawmakers Seek to Bolster Shipbuilding at Home: Supply Lines

Bipartisan lawmakers introduced the SHIPS for America Act to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry. The bill highlights the stark contrast between the 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce and China's 5,500, proposing a comprehensive strategy to close this gap.

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Related Bills

3 bills

S. 1541Related bill

SHIPS for America Act of 2025

Apr 30 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S. 1536Related bill

Building Ships in America Act of 2025

Apr 30 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

H.R. 2429Related bill

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and for other purposes.

Mar 27 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.