S. 1541 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 30, 2025
119th Congress
1st SessionS. 1541
1st SessionS. 1541
A BILL
SHIPS for America Act of 2025
In the SenateNo vote yet
Sponsor: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) · Introduced Apr 30, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 30, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
Sections
Sections · 4
Title I — Oversight and accountability · 5
- Sec. 101Maritime Security Advisor; Maritime Security BoardNo change
- Sec. 102Maritime Transportation System National Advisory CommitteeNo change
- Sec. 103Direct hire authority; Authorization for administrative expensesNo change
- Sec. 104Implementation planNo change
- Sec. 105Federal Maritime Commission report on vessels of the United StatesNo change
Title II — Maritime Security Trust Fund · 3
Title III — Sealift capability · 3
Title IV — Vessels of the United States in international commerce · Subtitle A — Strategic sealift programs · 4
Title IV — Vessels of the United States in international commerce · Subtitle B — Cargo preference · 12
- Sec. 411United States Government cargoNo change
- Sec. 412Cargo preference implementation regulationsNo change
- Sec. 413Cargo preference oversight and auditNo change
- Sec. 414Financing the transportation of agricultural products and other cargoNo change
- Sec. 415Importation from China on American shipsNo change
- Sec. 416Priority for vessels of the United StatesNo change
- Sec. 417Moving cargo on vessels of the United StatesNo change
- Sec. 418Transportation requirements for certain exports sponsored by the Secretary of AgricultureNo change
- Sec. 419Clarifying amendmentsNo change
- Sec. 420Energizing American shipbuildingNo change
- Sec. 421Goods imported on vessels of the United StatesNo change
- Sec. 422Ship America OfficeNo change
Title IV — Vessels of the United States in international commerce · Subtitle C — Regulatory reform · 3
Title V — Shipbuilding · Subtitle A — Shipbuilding financial incentives · 10
- Sec. 501Shipbuilding financial incentivesNo change
- Sec. 502Assistance for small shipyardsNo change
- Sec. 503Federal Ship Financing (title XI) ProgramNo change
- Sec. 504Construction Reserve FundNo change
- Sec. 505Capital Construction FundNo change
- Sec. 506Anticipated commercial vessel construction surveyNo change
- Sec. 507Streamlined environmental reviewNo change
- Sec. 508Eligibility for loan guaranteesNo change
- Sec. 509ReportsNo change
- Sec. 510Export control reportNo change
Title V — Shipbuilding · Subtitle B — Department of Defense Programs · 3
Title V — Shipbuilding · Subtitle C — Shipbuilding innovation and infrastructure · 3
Title VI — Workforce Development · Subtitle A — Workforce incentives · 6
- Sec. 601Public service loan forgiveness for Merchant MarinesNo change
- Sec. 602Eligibility for educational assistanceNo change
- Sec. 603Eligibility of mariners to attend Naval Postgraduate SchoolNo change
- Sec. 604Reimbursement of qualifying spouse relicensing costs and business costsNo change
- Sec. 605Noncompetitive eligibility for Federal employmentNo change
- Sec. 606United States Merchant Marine Career Retention ProgramNo change
Title VI — Workforce Development · Subtitle B — Workforce Pipeline · 8
- Sec. 611Maritime workforce promotion and recruitmentNo change
- Sec. 612Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and EducationNo change
- Sec. 613Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory CommitteeNo change
- Sec. 614Military candidates to Mariner Careers Recruitment ExchangeNo change
- Sec. 615Maritime worker data collectionNo change
- Sec. 616Military to maritime transitionNo change
- Sec. 617Early maritime education and youth involvementNo change
- Sec. 618International scholarship for mariner and naval architecture exchangesNo change
Title VI — Workforce Development · Subtitle C — United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies · 8
- Sec. 621Authorization of appropriations for United States Merchant Marine Academy infrastructure and facilities modernizationNo change
- Sec. 622United States Merchant Marine AcademyNo change
- Sec. 623Retirement service credit for service as a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine AcademyNo change
- Sec. 624State maritime academiesNo change
- Sec. 625Enforcement of service obligation requirementsNo change
- Sec. 626Fuel funding for training ships operated by State maritime academiesNo change
- Sec. 627State Maritime Academy Sea Term Scholarship ProgramsNo change
- Sec. 628Naval joint exercise involvement for training ships operated by State maritime academiesNo change
Title VI — Workforce Development · Subtitle D — Maritime Credentialing Modernization · 6
- Sec. 631Merchant mariner credentialing modernizationNo change
- Sec. 632Revising merchant mariner deck training requirementsNo change
- Sec. 633Inspections for transportation securityNo change
- Sec. 634Renewal of merchant mariner licenses and documentsNo change
- Sec. 635Merchant seamen licenses, certificates, and documents; manning of vesselsNo change
- Sec. 636Reactivation of expired licenseNo change