I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8515 
To promote and recruit the United States maritime industry workforce, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2024 
Mr. WALTZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, 
and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To promote and recruit the United States maritime industry 
workforce, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maritime Advantage 
Results In National Economic Resiliency and Security 
Act’’ or the ‘‘MARINERS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Strategic sealift, made up of civilian, Gov-
ernment, and commercial vessels and mariners, is a 
critical capability for executing our country’s mari-
time defense strategy and wartime and peacetime 
economy. 
(2) Ensuring a modern and ready capability 
will 
require 
significant 
investment, 
policy 
prioritization, and the innovation of the American 
people. 
(3) The United States Government must take 
all measures necessary to ensure that sufficient mili-
tary, civil, and commercial resources will be available 
with assured access to meet defense deployment and 
essential economic activities for our nation in times 
of crisis, war, or peace. 
(4) The United States must be prepared to re-
spond unilaterally to national security threats and 
understand and plan for contingencies in which trea-
ty allies of the United States must support and aug-
ment United States sealift. 
(5) Maintaining the capacity to conduct sealift 
is vital to national security and the American way of 
life. 
(6) A United States-flag commercial shipping 
fleet crewed with citizen mariners, competitive in do-
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mestic and international trade and civil fleets par-
ticipating in the United States peacetime economy 
underwrite American security and survival in times 
of crisis and war. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to— 
(1) address the shortage of workers in the mar-
itime sector and stimulate growth in the United 
States merchant marine and shipbuilding industries 
by providing funding for a comprehensive marketing, 
recruiting, and public relations campaign. Expand-
ing and nurturing a robust maritime workforce en-
hances United States national security and strategic 
sealift readiness; and 
(2) create a more favorable domestic and global 
maritime environment for United States-flagged 
shipping, shipbuilding, maritime logistics, maritime 
workforce, and naval power, contributing to assured 
access to the world’s oceans free from coercion from 
strategic competitors. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHING NATIONAL OVERSIGHT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint 
a Special Adviser to the President for coordinating na-
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tional maritime affairs and policy, including maintaining 
and updating the National Maritime Strategy. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Special Adviser appointed under 
subsection (a) shall serve as the Chairman of a National 
Maritime Council, that will be responsible to monitor, re-
port, and advocate for implementation of the National 
Maritime Strategy. 
SEC. 5. STRATEGY ON DEVELOPMENT OF NAVAL REARM AT 
SEA CAPABILITY. 
(a) STRATEGY REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Navy shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a strategy for delivering a rearm at sea capability to 
the surface fleet of the United States Navy. Such strategy 
shall include each of the following: 
(1) A plan to develop, by not later than three 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
capability to employ transportable rearming mecha-
nism equipment to load missile canisters into MK 41 
vertical launch system cells on Navy destroyers oper-
ating, including an identification of the current and 
planned investments of the Navy in technology de-
velopment to achieve such capability, including the 
anticipated cost and schedule for such investments. 
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(2) A plan for the key milestone events and as-
sociated dates in the development of such capability. 
(3) A plan to coordinate with allies of the 
United States that use variants of the United States 
manufactured MK 41 vertical launch system to 
jointly procure rearm at sea capabilities. 
(4) An identification of any courses of action 
the Secretary is considering other than the plans re-
ferred to in paragraphs (1) through (2) to address 
the gap between the rearm at sea capabilities of the 
United States and the capabilities of other countries, 
including the use of uncrewed technologies. 
(5) Such other matters as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(b) BRIEFING.— Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Navy shall provide to the congressional defense commit-
tees a written briefing on the development of the strategy 
required under (a). 
SEC. 6. VESSELS CONSTRUCTED WITH CONSTRUCTION-DIF-
FERENTIAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part E of subtitle V of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 567—USE OF CONSTRUCTION-DIFFERENTIAL VESSELS 
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‘‘Sec. 
‘‘56701. Vessels constructed with construction-differential. 
‘‘§ 56701. Vessels constructed with construction-dif-
ferential 
‘‘(a) READY RESERVE FORCE.—The Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Navy, shall assign any vessel that is constructed after the 
date of enactment of this section with a construction-dif-
ferential under title V of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 
(46 App. U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) to the Ready Reserve Force 
component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. 
‘‘(b) VESSEL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with a vessel construction 
manager under which the vessel construction man-
ager shall act as the agent for managing construc-
tion of the vessel that is the subject of a contract 
of sale between a purchaser and the Secretary of 
Transportation entered into under section 502(a) of 
the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 
1152(a)) after the date of enactment of this section. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall re-
quire that a vessel construction manager described 
in paragraph (1) ensures that vessels are built using 
commercial standards, are militarily useful, and are 
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built using mature, proven, and repeatable design 
concepts. 
‘‘(c) CONDITION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The owner of any vessel 
that is constructed after the date of enactment of 
this section with a construction differential under 
title V of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. 
U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) and that is assigned as a 
Ready Reserve Force vessel under subsection (a) 
shall agree to provide effective control of such vessel 
to the United States during— 
‘‘(A) a national emergency declared by 
Presidential proclamation; or 
‘‘(B) a period for which the President has 
proclaimed that the security of the national de-
fense makes it advisable. 
‘‘(2) COMPENSATION.—During a period de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the owner of a vessel de-
scribed in such paragraph shall be compensated for 
the use of the vessel by the United States at the rate 
the Secretary considers just compensation for the 
use of the vessel.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 
for subtitle V of title 46, United States Code is amended 
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by inserting after the item related to chapter 565 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘567. Use of Construction-Differential Vessels ....................................... 56701’’. 
SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) CONSTRUCTION-DIFFERENTIAL.—Title V of the 
Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in the heading for the title by striking 
‘‘SUBSIDY’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘subsidy’’ each place it appears; 
(3) in section 501(a) by striking ‘‘construction- 
differential subsidies’’ and inserting ‘‘construction- 
differentials’’ 
(b) FOREIGN COMMERCE OR TRADE.—Section 109 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading for subsection (b) by striking 
‘‘construction-differential subsidies’’ and 
inserting ‘‘construction-differentials’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘construction- 
differential subsidies’’ and inserting ‘‘construction- 
differentials’’. 
(c) VESSEL OPERATIONS REVOLVING FUND.—Sec-
tion 50301(e)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘subsidy’’. 
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construction-differential subsidy’’ and inserting ‘‘oper-
ating-differential subsidy or construction-differential’’. 
(k) ACQUISITION OF VESSELS FOR ESSENTIAL SERV-
ICES, ROUTES, OR LINES.—Section 57105(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subsidy’’. 
(l) CONSTRUCTION, RECONDITIONING, AND REMOD-
ELING OF VESSELS.—Section 57502(c) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended in the subsection heading by 
striking ‘‘SUBSIDY’’. 
SEC. 8. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORT
ON
NATIONAL
DEFENSE
RESERVE 
FLEET.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Sec-
retary of Transportation, in consultation with the Com-
mander of United States Transportation Command and 
the Secretary of the Navy, shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the subcommittees on Readiness and 
Seapower and Projection Forces of the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a re-
port— 
(1) outlining a plan for using the construction- 
differential authorized under title V of the Merchant 
Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) to 
supplement the size and readiness of the National 
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Defense Reserve Fleet and to improve national ship-
building and shipping infrastructure; and 
(2) describing ways in which an expanded and 
creative view of the make-up of the Ready Reserve 
Force component of the National Defense Reserve 
Fleet and the construction-differential authorized 
under title V of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 
App. U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) can be used to ensure 
Government access to other vessels that are critical 
to national security, such as icebreakers, oil and nat-
ural gas tankers, and commercial shipping vessels 
using small nuclear reactors. 
(b) REPORT ON INCENTIVES TO SHIPPING COMPA-
NIES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services, Energy and Com-
merce, and Transportation of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committees on Armed Services and Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
outlining how current provisions of law may be applied to 
incentivize shipping companies to contract with the owners 
of vessels described in section 56701 of title 46, United 
States Code (as added by this Act), for the shipment of 
goods. 
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(c) REPORT ON DE-RISKING MARITIME SECTOR.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in co-
ordination with the Secretaries of Treasury, Defense, and 
State and the United States Trade Representative and the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
outlining a comprehensive strategy for de-risking the 
United States maritime domain from the People’s Repub-
lic of China and other asymmetric or emerging maritime 
threats. 
(d) REPORT ON RESTRICTING FLOW OF CAPITAL TO 
CCP.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the heads of all Federal agencies shall 
submit to Congress a report on ways and means for re-
stricting the flow of capital from the United States to Chi-
nese Communist Party maritime industries, which shall 
include recommendations for promoting the flow of capital 
within and between the United States and treaty allies of 
the United States. 
(e) REPORT ON TAX BREAKS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Commerce shall submit to Congress, and publish in the 
Federal Register, a report describing, to incentivize the 
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use of United States-flagged ships and United States 
ports, any potential— 
(1) income tax breaks to merchant mariners 
and shipyard support workers; 
(2) corporate tax expense exemptions for 
United States companies who ship goods on United 
States-flagged vessels; 
(3) modifying import and export duties to ac-
count for inflation and global market conditions; 
(4) waiving the ad valorum tax for international 
trade ships repaired overseas; 
(5) standardization of burden sharing agree-
ments to mitigate the cost of merchant mariner pay; 
and 
(6) other rule change that enhances economic 
and national security. 
SEC. 9. PRIVILEGING UNITED STATES-FLAGGED FLEET. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the heads of each Federal 
agency with jurisdiction over maritime shipping and re-
lated shipyard workforces shall study privileging the 
United States-flagged fleet engaged in international trade 
and incentivizing United States entities to ship goods 
using a United States-flagged carrier and maintain and 
repair vessels in a United States or treaty allied shipyard. 
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(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—After a study is completed 
under subsection (a), the head of the respective Federal 
agency shall take such actions as are necessary to imple-
ment any recommendations under the study. 
(c) REPORT.—After implementing recommendations 
under subsection (b), the heads of each Federal agency 
shall submit to Congress a report— 
(1) describing any rules that have been amend-
ed to carry out this section; and 
(2) requesting additional authorities not already 
granted that are needed to carry out privileging the 
United States-flagged fleet described in subsection 
(a). 
(d) MARITIME TRUST FUND STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce 
and the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 
with the United States Trade Representative, shall 
study the creation of a Maritime Trust Fund and 
propose options for resourcing such Fund through 
new import and export fees that favor United 
States-flagged shipping. 
(2) CONTENT.—In carrying out the study 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Commerce 
and the Secretary of Transportation shall propose a 
structure for the Fund that is designated to fund 
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Federal support to shipbuilding, shipping, and mari-
time workforce programs authorized by Congress. 
SEC. 10. CARGO PREFERENCES. 
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘50’’ and in-
serting ‘‘75’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) WAIVERS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, when the President, the Secretary of Defense, 
or the Secretary of Transportation declares the existence 
of an emergency justifying a temporary waiver of this sec-
tion or section 55314, the President, the Secretary of De-
fense, or the Secretary of Transportation, following a de-
termination by the Maritime Administrator, acting in the 
Administrator’s capacity as Director, National Shipping 
Authority, of the non-availability of qualified United 
States flag capacity at fair and reasonable rates for com-
mercial vessels of the United States to meet the require-
ments of this section or section 55314, may waive compli-
ance with such section to the extent, in the manner, and 
on the terms the Maritime Administrator, acting in such 
capacity, prescribes, and no other waivers of the require-
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ments of this section or section 55314 shall be author-
ized.’’. 
SEC. 11. PAYMENTS FOR MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 53106 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by adding ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(2) by striking subparagraphs (C) through (F) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2035.’’. 
(b) MARITIME SECURITY FLEET.— 
(1) TEST.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commander of 
the United States Transportation Command, in co-
ordination with the Secretary of the Navy and the 
Administrator of the Maritime Administration, shall 
devise an exercise to test the effective control of the 
Maritime Security Fleet under chapter 531 of title 
46, United States Code, in case of crisis or war. 
(2) BRIEFING.—After completion of the exer-
cise under paragraph (1), the Commander shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
briefing on the results of the exercise under para-
graph (1). 
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(3) BI-ANNUAL TESTING.—Beginning not later 
than 1 year after the briefing is submitted under 
paragraph (2), the Commander shall— 
(A) biannually drill the Maritime Security 
Fleet under chapter 531 of title 46, United 
States Code, to test effective control of such 
Fleet; and 
(B) provide to Congress a briefing after 
each such drill on the results of such drill. 
SEC. 12. INNOVATION INCUBATOR PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries of Defense, En-
ergy, and Transportation shall foster an innovation incu-
bator program for developing small nuclear reactor tech-
nology to extend the range and endurance of maritime ves-
sels. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retaries shall provide an annual briefing to the appropriate 
committees of Congress on the progress of the program 
established under subsection (a). 
(c) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretaries shall seek funding for the program 
through the President’s Budget each year, as well as 
existing appropriations for renewable energy from 
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the Department of Energy and the Infrastructure 
Reduction Act. 
(2) PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.—To the 
extent possible, the Secretaries shall seek to create 
public-private partnerships for program investment 
burden sharing. 
SEC. 
13. 
ASSESSMENT 
ON 
MARINE 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
READINESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Maritime Administration shall submit to Congress a re-
port on the status and resources needed to execute and 
complete the necessary port, shipyard, and other infra-
structure reports to support the attainment of finance ar-
rangements for public and private improvement projects 
meeting the standard of the private and public financial 
sectors and banks and the Department of Commerce and 
the Treasury. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) policy, resource, rulemaking, and authority 
changes that will strengthen United States ship-
building, shipping, port and shipyard infrastructure, 
and maritime workforce to meet a minimum estab-
lished level of capability and capacity to ensure eco-
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nomic and national security interests of the United 
States; and 
(2) recommendations for how to employ mari-
time prosperity zones, by facilitating the creation of 
Federal, State, or local special economic zones or 
other capital funding package, to be focused on dis-
tinct geographic regions that are undeveloped, un-
derdeveloped, or developing, including explaining the 
sort of financial, regulation, taxation, or other incen-
tives within such zones that would accelerate work-
force development, streamline the development of 
new shipbuilding capacity, and modernize a des-
ignated shipyard, port, or other facility or locations 
in order to support the maritime workforce, United 
States-flagged international fleet, shipbuilding, and 
trade related maritime facilities, such as ports. 
SEC. 14. CONTRACTING. 
The Administrator of the Maritime Administration 
shall, through a competitive bidding process, contract with 
a reputable marketing, recruiting, and public relations 
firm to develop and deploy branding, content, advertising 
buys, and local and national engagement strategies to im-
plement the campaigns described in section 3. 
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SEC. 15. CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES. 
The campaigns described in section 3 shall focus on 
the following objectives: 
(1) Emphasize the importance of maritime work 
for national security. 
(2) Showcase the numerous opportunities avail-
able in the maritime domain. 
(3) Highlight the shortage of workers in the 
maritime sector. 
(4) Promote the excitement, benefits, and ap-
peal of a career in the maritime industry. 
(5) Inform potential workers of the points of 
entry available to join and receive training for such 
employment, including— 
(A) the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy; 
(B) State and regional maritime academies 
described in chapter 515 of title 46, United 
States Code; 
(C) merchant mariner and shipbuilding 
labor union training facilities; 
(D) merchant mariner and shipbuilding 
apprenticeship programs approved by the Sec-
retary of Labor; and 
(E) shipbuilding industry training pro-
grams. 
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(6) Inform potential workers of sources of fi-
nancial assistance for training for individuals inter-
ested in joining such industry. 
(7) Attract workers to the United States mer-
chant marine and shipbuilding sectors. 
SEC. 16. TARGET AUDIENCE. 
In carrying out the campaigns under this Act, to 
raise awareness about the importance of the merchant ma-
rine and shipbuilding sectors, the firm selected under sec-
tion 14 shall target a diverse audience, including— 
(1) potential workers interested in maritime ca-
reers; 
(2) educational institutions and the students of 
such institutions considering vocational training in 
maritime fields; 
(3) military veterans and individuals seeking ca-
reer transitions; and 
(4) the general public. 
SEC. 17. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) QUARTERLY REPORT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year during 
the campaigns carried out under this Act, the firm se-
lected under section 4 shall submit to the Administrator 
of the Maritime Administration and the relevant congres-
sional committees quarterly reports detailing the progress, 
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outreach, and impact of the campaigns, and their effec-
tiveness in increasing applications for employment in the 
United States merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the conclusion of the campaigns carried out under this 
Act, the firm selected under section 14 shall submit to 
the Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the 
relevant congressional committees a comprehensive final 
report. 
SEC. 18. SEALIFT CAPABILITY. 
(a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IX—STRATEGIC SEALIFT 
‘‘90101. Objectives and policy. 
‘‘90102. Procurement, maintenance, and operation. 
‘‘90103. Sealift prioritization. 
‘‘90104. Interaction with programs. 
‘‘90105. International agreements. 
‘‘90106. Briefing on shipbuilding capacity. 
‘‘90107. Briefing on privileging fleet. 
‘‘90108. Report on privilege. 
‘‘90109. Report on requirements for sealift force deployment. 
‘‘90110. Report on domestic build requirements. 
‘‘90111. Assessment on marine infrastructure readiness. 
‘‘§ 90101. Objectives and policy 
‘‘(a) OBJECTIVES.—It is necessary for the national 
defense and the development of the domestic and foreign 
commerce of the United States that the United States 
have a United States-flag strategic sealift— 
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‘‘(1) sufficient to meet defense deployment and 
essential economic activities for the United States in 
times of crisis or war; 
‘‘(2) sufficient to respond unilaterally to na-
tional security threats and ensure economic security 
resilience for the Nation’s trade; and 
‘‘(3) built, operated, and maintained during 
peace, crisis, and war primarily in the United States 
to protect and ensure national security resiliency 
and avoid foreign coercion of critical supply chains. 
‘‘(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States 
to encourage and aid the development and maintenance 
of a strategic sealift satisfying the objectives described in 
subsection (a). 
‘‘§ 90102. Procurement, maintenance, and operation 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
and the Secretary of Defense shall build, acquire, main-
tain, coordinate, support, and operate a sufficient and 
privileged civil, commercial, and military sealift capability. 
‘‘(b) SUPPLEMENTAL CAPABILITY.—In establishing 
sealift capability under this subtitle, the Secretary of 
Transportation and Secretary of Defense shall continue to 
operate a sufficient Maritime Security Program, Tanker 
Security Program, Military Sealift Command, and Ready 
Reserve Force to provide capacity and resiliency for uni-
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lateral United States strategic sealift in peace, crisis, and 
war. 
‘‘§ 90103. Sealift prioritization 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In maintaining, coordinating, 
supporting, and operating sealift capability under this sub-
title, prioritization for sealift capability under this subtitle 
during wartime and crisis shall be in the following order: 
‘‘(1) Commercial United States-flagged vessels. 
‘‘(2) United States Government owned and op-
erated sealift vessels. 
‘‘(3) Treaty allied flagged vessels. 
‘‘(4) Partner state flagged shipping vessels. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITIZATION.—In moving through the order 
of priority under this section, the Secretary of Defense 
shall determine the timing of moving through such pri-
ority. 
‘‘§ 90104. Interaction with programs 
‘‘The Secretaries of Transportation and Defense may 
acquire, maintain, and repair ships from treaty allies 
using best practices to be transportable between the Mari-
time Security Program, Tanker Security Program, Ready 
Reserve Fleet, and the fleet under this subtitle. 
‘‘§ 90105. International agreements 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In maintaining, coordinating, 
supporting, and operating sealift capability under this sub-
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title, the Department of State shall lead an interagency 
effort to establish and update agreements with treaty al-
lies of the United States and partners to meet wartime 
sealift requirements of such allies and partners and aug-
ment United States sealift requirements during crisis and 
war. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2025, the 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Defense, shall provide to Congress an evaluation of the 
status of treaty allies sealift assurances under subsection 
(a), including an assessment of international agreements 
described in such subsection and recommendations for up-
dating such agreements to reflect the global security envi-
ronment. 
‘‘§ 90106. Briefing on shipbuilding capacity 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, 
the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Defense 
shall brief Congress on the capacity of the United States 
shipbuilding industry to meet the requirements to build, 
maintain, and repair the strategic sealift fleet described 
under this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In briefing Congress under sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary 
of Defense shall include an assessment and recommenda-
tions for improving the critical shipbuilding infrastructure, 
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workforce recruitment, development and retention, and 
critical supply chains and critical repair parts of the 
United States, including ways in which allies and partners 
can contribute. 
‘‘§ 90107. Briefing on privileging fleet 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, 
the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the 
Secretaries of Homeland Security and Commerce and the 
Federal Maritime Commission, shall brief Congress on 
available options for establishing privileges for the United 
States-owned commercial fleet participating in the inter-
national ocean-based trading market that will sustain and 
significantly grow the United States-flagged fleet. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In briefing Congress under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall provide recommendations 
for and potential incentives, including a wide spectrum of 
tax and credit incentives, for civil, commercial, and gov-
ernment entities, including allies and partners, to ship 
goods on United States-flag fleet. 
‘‘§ 90108. Report on privilege 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, 
the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, shall submit to Congress a re-
port including ways to ensure the sealift fleet under this 
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subtitle is privileged in regulation, taxation, fees, and pol-
icy compared to foreign vessels conducting trade with a 
United States domiciled entity, while remaining consistent 
with the international obligations of the United States. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In submitting the report under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall in-
clude options for regulating foreign flagged shipping trade 
with the United States in order to sustain and grow the 
Maritime Security Program, Tanker Security Program, 
and other commercial United States-flag ships that com-
prise the sealift fleet under this subtitle. 
‘‘§ 90109. Report on requirements for sealift force de-
ployment 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report 
on requirements to maintain, improve, or grow the Mari-
time Security Program, Tanker Security Program, and 
Ready Reserve Force, the sealift fleet under this subtitle 
over the decade following the date of enactment of this 
section. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include a plan for making the Ready Reserve Force 
active in international trade through a public-private part-
nership that enables financing, building, manning, oper-
ating, maintaining, and repairing the program vessels, 
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while guaranteeing assured effective control in times of 
crisis or war. 
‘‘§ 90110. Report on domestic build requirements 
‘‘Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall submit to Congress a report that in-
cludes a plan to fund and phase in a domestic build re-
quirement for the Maritime Security Program, Tanker Se-
curity Program, Ready Reserve Fleet, and the sealift fleet 
under this section, considering the full range of domestic 
and treaty Ally civil, commercial, and government partner 
arrangements and resource sharing. 
‘‘§ 90111. Assessment on marine infrastructure readi-
ness 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2026, 
and every two years thereafter, the Secretaries of Defense, 
Homeland Security, Commerce, and Transportation shall 
provide Congress an assessment on— 
‘‘(1) the readiness and sufficiency of America’s 
marine infrastructure, shipping industry, ship-
building industry, and United States-flagged, owned, 
and operated fleets to meet strategic sealift require-
ments and operate in a contested environment; 
‘‘(2) the vulnerability of the United States’ 
economy to coercion or control from our nation’s 
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strategic 
competitors 
through 
the 
ocean-going 
trades; and 
‘‘(3) critical infrastructure vulnerabilities in 
America’s maritime transportation system, to in-
clude ports, shipyards, repair yards, inland water-
ways, and the domestic fleet, and foreign investment 
in maritime infrastructure, and how to de-risk the 
maritime sector for such vulnerabilities. 
‘‘(b) SECRETARY OF STATE.—Not later than March 
1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary of 
State shall provide Congress an assessment on— 
‘‘(1) the current arrangements and agreements 
with treaty allies for access to the global maritime 
transportation infrastructure such as ports, harbors, 
and waterways; and 
‘‘(2) the current assurances, arrangements, and 
agreements with Treaty allies to augment United 
States sealift capabilities in times of crisis and 
war.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for Title 
46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘IX. Strategic Sealift 90101’’. 
SEC. 19. ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL SHIPYARDS. 
Section 54101(i) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2021 to carry out this 
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section $20,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2025 to 
carry out this section $100,000,000’’. 
SEC. 20. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARI-
TIME ADMINISTRATION. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the De-
partment of Transportation for fiscal years 2025 through 
2035 the following amounts: 
(1) $10,000,000 for a targeted campaign pro-
moting the virtues of work in the United States 
Merchant Marine for the purpose of sailing in inter-
national trade, including Military Sealift Command 
mariner positions, highlighting the critical need for 
skilled workers in this sector, and to attract workers 
to this sector. 
(2) $5,000,000 for a targeted campaign pro-
moting the virtues of work in the United States 
shipbuilding industry, highlighting the critical need 
for skilled workers in this sector, and to attract 
workers to this sector. 
SEC. 21. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARI-
TIME ADMINISTRATION. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Transportation for fiscal year 2024, for programs 
associated with maintaining the United States Merchant 
Marine for expenses necessary for the loan guarantee pro-
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gram authorized under chapter 537 of title 46, United 
States Code, $103,020,000, of which— 
(1) $100,000,000 may be for the cost (as such 
term is defined in section 502(5) of the Federal 
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5)) of 
loan guarantees under the program; and 
(2) $3,020,000 may be used for administrative 
expenses relating to loan guarantee commitments 
under the program. 
SEC. 22. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
amounts authorized under this Act are appropriated, the 
Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall com-
plete the action described in section 14. 
SEC. 23. SUNSET CLAUSE. 
Any unobligated amount authorized under this Act 
shall expire 3 years after the date on which such amount 
is appropriated. 
SEC. 24. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘relevant congressional commit-
tees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives; and 
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