American Shipyard Investment Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates a new 25 percent tax credit for money companies spend building or upgrading shipyard facilities in the United States.
• If the shipyard is located in a struggling area known as an Opportunity Zone, the credit rate jumps to 35 percent to encourage investment in those communities.
• The credit applies to facilities that build or repair both military and commercial ships, as well as facilities that make critical components or equipment for shipbuilding.
• The stated purpose is to boost national defense and the economy by rebuilding U.S. shipbuilding capacity instead of relying on foreign shipyards.
• Companies can choose to get the credit as a direct cash payment from the government or sell it to another business, making it easier to fund large projects up front.
• The tax credit program ends after 2033, meaning shipyard property placed in service after that date would no longer qualify.