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SHIPS for America Act of 2025

H.R. 3151 Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) In committee
Bill text PDF
  1. Introduced May 1
  2. Committee May 1
  3. Passed House Next
  4. Passed Senate Not yet
  5. To President Not yet
  6. Law Not yet
Where it stands
In committee, May 1, 2025Next: House vote
545d ago May 1, 2025: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Final votes
No roll callsNo recorded vote on this bill yet
Lobbying
6companies, 20 filings
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Member trades
3trades in the last 90 days
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Companies lobbying on this bill

6 companies
Companies by sector
Energy 2Mining & Materials 2Industrials 1Other 1
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Summary

The SHIPS for America Act of 2025 aims to support U.S. national defense and economic security by strengthening U.S. vessels, ports, shipyards, and the maritime workforce. It establishes new oversight bodies, creates a trust fund, enhances sealift capability, promotes U.S.-flag vessels in international commerce, provides shipbuilding incentives, and develops the maritime workforce.

TITLE I, Oversight and Accountability: Creates a Maritime Security Advisor and Maritime Security Board, amends the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee, grants direct hire authority to the Maritime Administrator, requires an implementation plan within 60 days, and mandates an annual Federal Maritime Commission report on U.S. vessel competitiveness.

TITLE II, Maritime Security Trust Fund: Establishes a Maritime Security Trust Fund, updates regular tonnage taxes, and allows the President to suspend tonnage taxes and light money for foreign countries that do not impose similar taxes on U.S. vessels.

TITLE III, Sealift Capability: Adds a new part on strategic sealift to U.S. law, amends the National Freight Strategic Plan to include U.S. vessels, and expands foreign shipping practices rules to cover passengers and controlled carriers.

TITLE IV, Vessels of the United States in International Commerce: Creates a Strategic Commercial Fleet, requires fleet testing and undersea cable repair assessments, increases duties on foreign vessel repairs to 70%, strengthens cargo preference for U.S.-flag vessels, mandates a minimum percentage of Chinese imports on U.S. ships, establishes a Ship America Office, and reforms liability limits for vessel owners.

TITLE V, Shipbuilding: Establishes shipbuilding financial incentives, expands assistance for small shipyards, creates a revolving loan fund for the Federal Ship Financing Program, updates construction reserve and capital construction funds, requires a commercial vessel construction survey, streamlines environmental reviews, and mandates reports on the National Defense Reserve Fleet and export controls.

TITLE VI, Workforce Development: Extends public service loan forgiveness to merchant marines and shipyard workers, provides educational assistance, allows mariners to attend the Naval Postgraduate School, reimburses spouse relicensing costs, grants noncompetitive federal employment eligibility, and establishes a career retention program.

Summary of the bill text as introduced in House (May 1, 2025), generated by SecBot from the official bill text; the Library of Congress summary is not yet published.

Official record from Congress.gov, the House Clerk and the Senate; lobbying from Lobbying Disclosure Act filings. Updated Oct 27, 2026.