WATCH: At Capitol Hill Press Conference, Kelly Announces Bipartisan SHIPS for America Act to Boost American Shipbuilding, Strengthen US Economy and National Security

Today, during a Capitol Hill press conference, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), and industry leaders announced the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, landmark legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. 

“There are currently 80 U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce. […] China has 5,500. The United States commercial maritime industry cannot keep pace with China’s shipbuilding and maritime fleet, and it’s driving up costs and threatening our national security. It means that so many of the products that get shipped to American ports, put on trains or trucks, and sent to stores everywhere from Arizona to Indiana are on Chinese ships, built with subsidies from the Chinese government, and at a price set by Chinese companies.,” said Kelly. “So, that’s why today we’re reintroducing the SHIPS for America Act, which is without a doubt 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.” 

Kelly continued, “Tackling this challenge has been a top priority for me since becoming a senator because I’ve seen the decline of our maritime industry up close, and I know how China’s dominance over the oceans impacts my constituents in Arizona and our country. I’m glad that my colleagues in Congress—Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate—and the administration see this challenge too and are ready to do something about it.” 

In addition to the lawmakers, the press conference featured remarks from key supporters, including Matt Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders Council of America; Chief Mate Elizabeth Livi of the Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots; and Michael Fossum, Superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Speakers emphasized the urgent need to rebuild U.S. maritime capacity to compete with China’s state-backed fleet, strengthen supply chains, and protect national security. Kelly, a former Navy pilot and graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, warned that continued decline in U.S. shipping poses serious economic and strategic risks.  

Click here to watch and download a video of the full press conference. 

See a section by section of the bill here. See text of the bill here