[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8515 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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 consideration 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 Representatives 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:
(1) Strategic sealift, made up of civilian, Government, and
commercial vessels and mariners, is a critical capability for
executing our country's maritime 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 military, 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 respond
unilaterally to national security threats and understand and
plan for contingencies in which treaty allies of the United
States must support and augment 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 domestic and
international trade and civil fleets participating 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 maritime 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. Expanding and nurturing a robust maritime workforce
enhances 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 national 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, report, 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 committees 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 mechanism equipment to load missile
canisters into MK 41 vertical launch system cells on Navy
destroyers operating, including an identification of the
current and planned investments of the Navy in technology
development to achieve such capability, including the
anticipated cost and schedule for such investments.
(2) A plan for the key milestone events and associated
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 referred 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 determines
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 committees a written briefing on the development
of the strategy required under (a).
SEC. 6. VESSELS CONSTRUCTED WITH CONSTRUCTION-DIFFERENTIAL.
(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
``Sec.
``56701. Vessels constructed with construction-differential.
``Sec. 56701. Vessels constructed with construction-differential
``(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-differential 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 manager shall act as the agent for managing
construction 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 require that a
vessel construction manager described in paragraph (1) ensures
that vessels are built using commercial standards, are
militarily useful, and are 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 defense
makes it advisable.
``(2) Compensation.--During a period described in paragraph
(1), the owner of a vessel described 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 by inserting after the item
related to chapter 565 the following:
``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.--Section 50301(e)(3) of title
46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsidy''.
(d) Definition of New Vessel.--Section 53301(a)(2)(A)(i) of title
46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsidy''.
(e) Obligation of Deposits and Period for Construction of Certain
Vessels.--Section 53310(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``subsidy''.
(f) Definition of United States Foreign Trade.--Section 53501(8) of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsidy''.
(g) Eligible Purposes of Obligations.--Section 53706(a)(4) of title
46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsidy''.
(h) Amount of Obligations.--Section 53709(b)(2) of title 46, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``subsidy'' each place it appears.
(i) Compensation.--Section 56303(c) of title 46, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading by striking ``Subsidy''; and
(2) by striking ``subsidy'' each place it appears.
(j) Types of Adjustments and Arrangements.--Section 56503(a)(1) of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``operating-
differential or construction-differential subsidy'' and inserting
``operating-differential subsidy or construction-differential''.
(k) Acquisition of Vessels for Essential Services, Routes, or
Lines.--Section 57105(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``subsidy''.
(l) Construction, Reconditioning, and Remodeling 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 enactment of this Act, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the
Commander 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 report--
(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 Defense Reserve Fleet and to
improve national shipbuilding 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 natural gas
tankers, and commercial shipping vessels using small nuclear
reactors.
(b) Report on Incentives to Shipping Companies.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services, Energy and Commerce,
and Transportation of the House of Representatives and the Committees
on Armed Services and Commerce, 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.
(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
coordination 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 Republic 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 enactment of this Act, the heads of all
Federal agencies shall submit to Congress a report on ways and means
for restricting the flow of capital from the United States to Chinese
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 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 account for
inflation and global market conditions;
(4) waiving the ad valorum tax for international trade
ships repaired overseas;
(5) standardization of burden sharing agreements 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 related 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.
(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 implement 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 amended 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 Federal support to shipbuilding, shipping,
and maritime 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 inserting
``75'';
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Waivers.--Notwithstanding any other provision 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 section or section 55314, the President, the
Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Transportation, following a
determination 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 commercial vessels of the United States to
meet the requirements of this section or section 55314, may waive
compliance 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 requirements of this section or section
55314 shall be authorized.''.
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 coordination 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 exercise under
paragraph (1), the Commander shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a briefing on the results of the
exercise under paragraph (1).
(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, Energy, and
Transportation shall foster an innovation incubator program for
developing small nuclear reactor technology to extend the range and
endurance of maritime vessels.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretaries 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 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 report on the status and resources needed to
execute and complete the necessary port, shipyard, and other
infrastructure reports to support the attainment of finance
arrangements 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 shipbuilding, shipping, port
and shipyard infrastructure, and maritime workforce to meet a
minimum established level of capability and capacity to ensure
economic and national security interests of the United States;
and
(2) recommendations for how to employ maritime prosperity
zones, by facilitating the creation of Federal, State, or local
special economic zones or other capital funding package, to be
focused on distinct geographic regions that are undeveloped,
underdeveloped, or developing, including explaining the sort of
financial, regulation, taxation, or other incentives within
such zones that would accelerate workforce development,
streamline the development of new shipbuilding capacity, and
modernize a designated 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 implement the campaigns described in section 3.
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 available in the
maritime domain.
(3) Highlight the shortage of workers in the maritime
sector.
(4) Promote the excitement, benefits, and appeal 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 Secretary of
Labor; and
(E) shipbuilding industry training programs.
(6) Inform potential workers of sources of financial
assistance for training for individuals interested in joining
such industry.
(7) Attract workers to the United States merchant 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 marine and shipbuilding sectors,
the firm selected under section 14 shall target a diverse audience,
including--
(1) potential workers interested in maritime careers;
(2) educational institutions and the students of such
institutions considering vocational training in maritime
fields;
(3) military veterans and individuals seeking career
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 selected under section 4 shall submit to the
Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the relevant
congressional committees quarterly reports detailing the progress,
outreach, and impact of the campaigns, and their effectiveness 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.
``Sec. 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--
``(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 national
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).
``Sec. 90102. Procurement, maintenance, and operation
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation and the
Secretary of Defense shall build, acquire, maintain, 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 unilateral United
States strategic sealift in peace, crisis, and war.
``Sec. 90103. Sealift prioritization
``(a) In General.--In maintaining, coordinating, supporting, and
operating sealift capability under this subtitle, 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 operated 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 priority.
``Sec. 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 Maritime Security Program, Tanker Security
Program, Ready Reserve Fleet, and the fleet under this subtitle.
``Sec. 90105. International agreements
``(a) In General.--In maintaining, coordinating, supporting, and
operating sealift capability under this subtitle, the Department of
State shall lead an interagency effort to establish and update
agreements with treaty allies of the United States and partners to meet
wartime sealift requirements of such allies and partners and augment
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 updating such agreements to reflect the global
security environment.
``Sec. 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 subsection (a), the
Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Defense shall include an
assessment and recommendations for improving the critical shipbuilding
infrastructure, 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.
``Sec. 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 international
ocean-based trading market that will sustain and significantly grow the
United States-flagged fleet.
``(b) Contents.--In briefing Congress under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall provide recommendations for and potential incentives,
including a wide spectrum of tax and credit incentives, for civil,
commercial, and government entities, including allies and partners, to
ship goods on United States-flag fleet.
``Sec. 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 report including ways to ensure the sealift fleet under this
subtitle is privileged in regulation, taxation, fees, and policy
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 include 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 comprise
the sealift fleet under this subtitle.
``Sec. 90109. Report on requirements for sealift force deployment
``(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 Maritime 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 partnership that enables financing, building,
manning, operating, maintaining, and repairing the program vessels,
while guaranteeing assured effective control in times of crisis or war.
``Sec. 90110. Report on domestic build requirements
``Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation
shall submit to Congress a report that includes a plan to fund and
phase in a domestic build requirement for the Maritime Security
Program, Tanker Security 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.
``Sec. 90111. Assessment on marine infrastructure readiness
``(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, shipbuilding industry, and
United States-flagged, owned, and operated fleets to meet
strategic sealift requirements and operate in a contested
environment;
``(2) the vulnerability of the United States' economy to
coercion or control from our nation's strategic competitors
through the ocean-going trades; and
``(3) critical infrastructure vulnerabilities in America's
maritime transportation system, to include ports, shipyards,
repair yards, inland waterways, 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 section $20,000,000'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2025 to carry out this section $100,000,000''.
SEC. 20. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Transportation for fiscal years 2025 through 2035 the following
amounts:
(1) $10,000,000 for a targeted campaign promoting the
virtues of work in the United States Merchant Marine for the
purpose of sailing in international 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 promoting 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 MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Transportation for fiscal year 2024, for programs associated with
maintaining the United States Merchant Marine for expenses necessary
for the loan guarantee program 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 complete 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 committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
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