More Than 100 Lawmakers Push to Include SHIPS for America Act in Defense Bill

A bipartisan group of 119 lawmakers is urging congressional leaders to preserve and expand provisions of the SHIPS for America Act in the final fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), warning that rebuilding the U.S. maritime industry is essential to national and economic security.

In an October 29 letter to House and Senate leadership, the lawmakers called for retaining shipbuilding provisions already approved by the House while considering additional measures from the broader legislation that were left out.

The letter was led by Representatives Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA), along with Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), the bipartisan sponsors of the SHIPS for America Act.

“As negotiations proceed on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, we write to share our strong support for the inclusion of the bipartisan, bicameral Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security Act of 2025,” the lawmakers wrote.

The push comes as Congress works to finalize the annual defense policy bill, which has emerged as a potential vehicle for advancing long-sought reforms to the U.S. commercial maritime industry.

What’s in the SHIPS for America Act? Key Provisions to Restore U.S. Maritime Power

The House-passed NDAA, H.R. 8800, includes elements of the SHIPS for America Act under Title XXXVI. According to the letter, those provisions were agreed to unanimously in the House.

But the lawmakers argue that the measures represent only a starting point.

“The inclusion of these provisions is a necessary start for revitalizing the U.S. maritime industry,” they wrote, adding that Congress should give further consideration to provisions omitted from the House-passed bill.

The SHIPS for America Act is a sweeping proposal aimed at reversing decades of decline in American commercial shipbuilding and shipping. It seeks to establish long-term federal maritime policy and oversight, improve the competitiveness of U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce, rebuild domestic shipyards, and expand recruitment, training, and retention of American mariners and shipyard workers.

The lawmakers pointed to the enormous gap between U.S. shipbuilding capacity and that of its Asian competitors.

China, South Korea, and Japan collectively account for more than 90% of global shipbuilding by tonnage, while the United States builds less than 1%, according to figures cited in the letter.

The lawmakers also noted that fewer than 100 U.S.-flagged vessels participate in international commerce, compared with an estimated Chinese fleet of more than 5,500 ships.

That imbalance, they argued, poses risks that extend well beyond commercial competition.

“Especially should the United States enter a prolonged conflict, a robust Merchant Marine, outfitted with U.S. shipping vessels manned by American mariners, would be critical for addressing any potential logistical challenges associated with the transportation of supplies,” the letter states.

The legislation has attracted support from maritime unions, commercial carriers, shipbuilding interests, and industry associations. The lawmakers also pointed to the Trump administration’s stated commitment to restoring U.S. maritime dominance.

The latest letter demonstrates the breadth of congressional support for the initiative, with signatories spanning both parties and both chambers. Among those signing were Senators Susan Collins, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Katie Britt, and John Fetterman, along with Representatives Joe Courtney, Rob Wittman, Salud Carbajal, and John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China.

The letter was addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

While the House has already approved several SHIPS for America Act provisions, the final scope of maritime reforms included in the NDAA remains unresolved.

The lawmakers are now pressing congressional leadership to preserve those provisions and go further before the defense bill reaches the president’s desk.

“Now, we ask that these provisions be retained and strengthened in the final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027,” the letter concludes.

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