# 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 119-s-1541, SHIPS for America Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-1541 - Congress: 119 - Title: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-04-30 - Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ) - Cosponsors: 28 - Policy area: Transportation and Public Works - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **Expand U.S. shipbuilding and maritime capacity for national and economic security.** The SHIPS for America Act of 2025 would create a broad statutory framework to grow U.S.-flag fleets, boost domestic shipbuilding and repair, modernize mariner credentials and training, and fund ports, cable repair, and maritime innovation. - Mariners and students would get credential modernization, new scholarships and loan-forgiveness eligibility, and major academy support including about $125.0 million per year for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy FY2026–FY2035. - U.S. shipyards and builders would gain new financing tools and incentives including a Title XI revolving loan start of $100.0 million and $100.0 million per year for small shipyard assistance FY2026–FY2035. - Commercial shipping, ports, and national security would be reshaped by stronger cargo-preference rules, tariff and tonnage-tax penalties for foreign-of-concern shipyards, and a Strategic Commercial Fleet with targets of at least 10 vessels in year three and 20 vessels per year thereafter. *If enacted, it would authorize a Maritime Security Trust Fund capped at $20.0 billion and multiple annual appropriations and program payments through FY2035, increasing federal spending obligations over the next decade.* ## Cosponsors (28) - Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA), 2025-07-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-07-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH] (R-OH), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2026-06-02T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-SC), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-07-15T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Big new funding for U.S. shipyards: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would boost shipyard and shipbuilding support. Small shipyard assistance would be $100 million per year for FY2026–FY2035. The bill would create shipbuilding incentives and expand Capital Construction and Construction Reserve Fund uses to cover equipment, repowering, and loan p… - Sealift Readiness and Port Priority: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would require annual strategic sealift planning to grow U.S. vessels that can move military and key cargo. Companies in emergency preparedness agreements would make ships available to the Defense Department in wartime or national emergencies and get redelivery or repair compens… - New Maritime Trust Fund and Oversight: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Maritime Security Trust Fund capped at $20 billion. The Fund would get certain tonnage taxes, duties, penalties, and seizure proceeds and pay for maritime programs through 2035. The President would name a Maritime Security Advisor and a Maritime Security Board to… - Strategic Commercial Fleet Program: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Strategic Commercial Fleet program for privately owned U.S. vessels useful to defense. MARAD must solicit applications within one year and start selecting vessels two years after enactment. The program targets at least 10 vessels in year 2 then 20 per year later,… - Mariner Jobs, Retention, and Support: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create a Merchant Marine Career Retention Program with an 8‑month shoreside / 3‑month sailing / 1‑month vacation option, employer return‑to‑job protections, and $2 million a year for FY2025–FY2034. It would let agencies hire certain qualified mariners noncompetitively, al… - Maritime Training, Academies, Scholarships: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would fund and improve maritime training and academy capacity. MARAD must start a 10‑year modernization plan for the Merchant Marine Academy within 180 days. The bill would fund State academy assistance, pay some training ship fuel and crew costs (fuel capped at $20 million per… - More training and loan help for mariners: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would fund maritime training centers with $25 million a year for FY2026–FY2035. It would let merchant mariners and shipyard workers count for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if mariners work at least 150 days on U.S. vessels. Long-serving mariners who served 10 years and earned… - Temporary duty-free rule for repairs: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would temporarily (through Dec 31, 2035) exempt certain foreign repairs, parts, and equipment from duties for vessels in specified U.S. security fleets or with approved preparedness agreements. To qualify, the Maritime Administrator must confirm fleet participation and the owne… - New national maritime strategy requirement: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Maritime Security Advisor would develop and submit a National Maritime Strategy and an implementation plan to Congress. The strategy must be updated at least every five years. Each plan and its implementation steps must be made public within six months of submission. The duty to act… - Grow U.S. Shipbuilding and Supply: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would push several steps to strengthen the U.S. shipyard industrial base. It would require an early survey of commercial construction plans and an annual assessment of shipyard capacity. The Maritime Security Advisor could list foreign shipyards of concern starting after Octobe… - Energy Department loan help for maritime projects: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would add "marine transportation systems" to the Energy Department's section 1703 loan guarantee program. That includes U.S. commercial vessels, shipyards, marine terminals, and port facilities. If projects meet the program's rules, they could get DOE-backed loans, which may lo… - Limits on automation and crane purchases: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would stop Capital Construction Fund withdrawals to buy fully automated cargo equipment if the Secretary finds it would cause net job losses at a terminal. It would also bar CCF purchases of cranes made in the People's Republic of China or by listed foreign entities. The law wo… - New U.S. vessel rules for exporters: cost, medium. If enacted, crude oil and natural gas exporters would need to transport rising percentages of yearly exports by qualifying U.S. vessels under multi-year schedules. Early years allow retrofit or U.S.-built tests; later years require U.S.-built vessels. The President or Commission may grant narrow wa… - Higher penalties and tariff cost rules: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would add per-ton penalty taxes on covered vessels (top rate $5.00 per ton, with other tiered rates), adjusted annually for inflation. It would raise the share of foreign repair or parts costs counted for duties from 50% to 70%, and to 200% for listed foreign countries of conce… - New caps on shipowner liability: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would cap an owner of a U.S. vessel's liability for listed claims at the value of the vessel plus pending freight. For foreign vessels, the cap would be five times that amount. Wage claims are excluded from those caps. For foreign vessels, some personal injury and wrongful deat… - New rules for Strategic Commercial Fleet: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Maritime Administrator must solicit SCF applications within one year and allow at least 30 days to apply. SCF operating agreements would require U.S. crewing, operation only in foreign commerce during the agreement, emergency readiness, and a required share of repairs at U.S. shipya… - Cargo Preference and Export Mandates: mixed, medium. If enacted, exporters would face new vessel rules and targets. Crude oil exports would require rising shares shipped on qualifying U.S. vessels (3% years 1–7; 6% years 8–10; 8% years 11–13; 10% year 14+). Importers of goods made in China would need a growing share on qualifying U.S. vessels (starti… - 100% cargo preference for federal shipments: mixed, medium. If enacted, covered federal agricultural export shipments would be required to use U.S.-flag vessels at 100 percent, starting 180 days after enactment. The law would also make some emergency food and foreign assistance programs follow U.S. cargo-preference rules. A new Ship America Office would hel… - Maritime advisory and permitting changes: mixed, low. If enacted, the Maritime Security Advisor and Board would take new appointment roles on the advisory committee and set term limits for private members. The bill would include shipyards and port projects in programmatic environmental reviews to speed permitting. It would also expand oversight to inc… ## Related bills - 119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan. - 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California. - 119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States Senator for the State of Idaho. - 119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. - 119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. ## Sources - [119-s-1541 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1541) ## Related - [119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2296) - [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755) - [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739) - [119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-723) - [119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Camp…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-585) - [119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United State…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-255) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541 (as of 2026-09-10).