A new bill introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers would establish a national commission on the maritime industrial base, following previous congressional and executive moves to bolster national shipbuilding efforts.
The bill -- titled the “Save Our Shipyards Act of 2025” -- would create a commission to investigate the current condition of the U.S. maritime industry, focusing especially “on the needs of the United States military, including shipyards, shipbuilding and repairs, harbors and skilled workforce,” according to the bill’s text.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) -- joined by co-leaders Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Don Davis (D-NC) -- is behind the act, and said in a statement today the country has given up its leadership on shipbuilding, a crucial component of the defense industrial base.
“The SOS Act is a critical step towards restoring our maritime industrial base and bolstering our national security,” Green stated. “I am proud to lead this bill alongside Rep. Jen Kiggans and Rep. Don Davis. We may root against each other on the football field, but we are united in recognizing the strategic imperative of a robust maritime sector.”
The commission would be composed of 15 voting members -- five of whom would be selected by the president, with the others chosen by the Senate majority leader, the House speaker, Senate minority leader and House minority leader. Additionally, seven non-voting members would be chosen by the president.
Voting members would be well-versed in commercial shipping, international trade, industry policy and regulations, according to the bill, while non-voting members would be selected from the Navy, Marine Corps and other services.
Following the commission’s investigation of the industrial base, it will provide several recommendations to the president and Congress that will seek to revive the national naval fleet, maintain this fleet at a sufficient number, as well as “reduce the loss of seafaring and shipbuilding jobs for United States citizens so as to ensure the existence of a reliable maritime labor force,” according to the bill’s text.
The commission will study any existing “impediments” to a strong and competitive industry, including possible tax and regulatory burdens. Additionally, it will look at potential incentives to draw in investment in shipyards, incentives for workers entering shipbuilding as a profession, and “the effect of subsidies and other financial assistance by foreign governments to their vessel operators and shipbuilders,” among others.
The commission would be expected to submit a report on its findings to the president and Congress no later than one year after its first meeting, according to the bill.
The “SOS Act” follows the creation of a new shipbuilding office within the White House, announced by President Trump during last week’s address to Congress. According to their LinkedIn accounts, former staff lead for the Republican House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee Ian Bennitt will serve as the office's senior director and retired Navy Capt. Jerry Hendrix will be senior counselor.
There have been additional moves in Congress to boost shipbuilding, and in December lawmakers introduced a bipartisan and bicameral bill -- the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure Act -- that called for several initiatives to boost workforce and retention.
These potential solutions include public service loan forgiveness for mariners, educational assistance eligibility, Naval Postgraduate School eligibility as well as a public campaign to recruit workers.
House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee Chairman Trent Kelly (R-MS) said this week he is working to reintroduce the SHIPS Act in this congressional session.