SHIPS for America Act of 2025

The "Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025," or SHIPS for America Act, seeks to revitalize the United States' maritime industry, shipbuilding capabilities, and workforce to enhance national defense and economic security. It establishes a new Maritime Security Advisor and a Maritime Security Board to coordinate national maritime affairs and implement a comprehensive National Maritime Strategy across federal agencies. A dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund is created, funded by various maritime taxes and penalties, to finance these extensive initiatives. The bill significantly strengthens U.S. sealift capability by prioritizing U.S. vessels for strategic needs and addressing foreign shipping practices. It mandates that 100% of U.S. Government-financed cargo be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels, clarifying waiver authorities and requiring new implementation regulations. A new Strategic Commercial Fleet program is established to incentivize the operation of commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce, with specific targets for fleet growth and requirements for U.S. construction or foreign-built vessels from non-concern countries. To boost domestic shipbuilding, the Act introduces substantial financial incentives , including a new program for U.S. vessel construction and qualified shipyard investments, with increased funding for small shipyards. It also expands the Federal Ship Financing (Title XI) Program with a revolving loan fund and broadens the eligible uses of Construction Reserve Funds and Capital Construction Funds to include cargo handling equipment and marine terminals. Assessments are mandated for commercial best practices in Navy shipbuilding and for the use of Defense Production Act authorities to bolster the industrial base. Workforce development is a major focus, with provisions for public service loan forgiveness for Merchant Mariners and expanded eligibility for educational assistance. The bill creates a Merchant Marine Career Retention Program to maintain a ready workforce and establishes a Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee . It also includes initiatives for military-to-mariner transitions, early maritime education, and international scholarship programs, alongside significant funding for the modernization of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and State Maritime Academies. Furthermore, the legislation introduces several tax incentives , such as a new U.S. Vessel Investment Credit for U.S.-built vessels and a Shipyard Investment Tax Credit for facility construction. It excludes certain maritime security payments and student incentive payments from gross income, adjusts maritime fuel taxes, and designates certain areas as Maritime Prosperity Zones for opportunity zone benefits. The bill also includes provisions to require a growing percentage of goods imported from China to be carried on U.S.-built, U.S.-crewed vessels, and allows priority for U.S. vessels at ports over those from foreign countries of concern.