[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2125 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2125
To establish a National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2025
Mr. Green of Tennessee (for himself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, and Mr.
Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in
addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 establish a National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base, 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 ``Save Our Shipyards Act of 2025'' or
the ``SOS Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``National
Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base'' or the ``SOS Commission''
(in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS.
(a) Investigation and Study.--The Commission shall complete an
investigation and study the condition of the United States maritime
industry and any impediments to a strong and competitive United States
maritime industry, with a particular focus on the needs of the United
States military, including shipyards, shipbuilding and repairs,
harbors, and skilled workforce.
(b) Policy Recommendations.--Based on the results of the
investigation and study under subsection (a), the Commission shall
recommend to the President and Congress policies which should be
adopted to--
(1) achieve the national goal of a strong United States
maritime industry which will help to provide for the national
defense;
(2) revitalize the United States naval fleet and maintain
that fleet at a level sufficient to contribute to the national
defense;
(3) foster a viable United States shipbuilding industry to
provide an industrial base for meeting present and future
military and civilian shipbuilding needs; and
(4) reduce the loss of seafaring and shipbuilding jobs for
United States citizens so as to ensure the existence of a
reliable maritime labor force.
SEC. 4. SPECIFIC MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED.
In investigating and studying under section 3, the Commission shall
investigate and study the following:
(1) Current condition of united states maritime industry.--
The current condition of the United States maritime industry,
including how the condition of the industry is likely to change
over the next 10 years following the date of enactment of this
Act.
(2) National defense.--The adequacy of the United States
maritime industry to ensure the national defense.
(3) Maritime labor.--The adequacy of skilled mariners and
shipyard workers, and the level of training of United States
mariners at training facilities in the United States.
(4) Impediments to strong and competitive maritime
industry.--Whether the Federal Government should take any
legislative or administrative actions related to the United
States maritime industry to strengthen our national security,
including--
(A) the tax and regulatory burden on the US
maritime industry;
(B) incentives to encourage investment in United
States shipyards and shipbuilding;
(C) incentives for personnel to enter the skilled
labor workforce for shipbuilding;
(D) the effect of subsidies and other financial
assistance by foreign governments to their vessel
operators and shipbuilders;
(E) the effects of great power competition and a
potential war on United States naval and maritime
forces; and
(F) the prioritization of national security related
matters in regulatory review and approval processes.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP; ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.
(a) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 voting
commissioners and 7 non-voting members appointed in the following
manner:
(1) 5 voting commissioners appointed by the President.
(2) 7 non-voting members appointed by the President who
shall be chosen from the list described in subsection (c).
(3) 3 voting commissioners appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate.
(4) 3 voting commissioners appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(5) 2 voting commissioners appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
(6) 2 voting commissioners appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(b) Qualifications for Voting Commissioners.--Voting commissioners
appointed under subsection (a) shall be appointed from among United
States citizens who are experts in commercial shipping, international
trade, maritime industry policy and regulations, and related
disciplines and who can represent United States-flagged vessel
operators (including domestic passenger vessel operators), seafaring
and shipbuilding labor, shipbuilders, shippers, and the financial
community with expertise in maritime matters.
(c) Qualifications of Non-Voting Members.--One non-voting member
appointed under subsection (a) shall be appointed from each of the
following:
(1) The Navy.
(2) The Coast Guard.
(3) The United States Maritime Service.
(4) The Marine Corps.
(5) The United States Naval War College.
(6) The Maritime Administration.
(7) The United States Merchant Maritime Academy.
(d) Terms of Office.--Members and commissioners shall be appointed
for the duration of the Commission.
(e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 90 days after two-thirds of
the voting commissioners have been appointed under this section, the
Commission shall be considered active and the Commission shall hold a
first meeting.
(f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(g) Travel Expenses.--Members and commissioners shall serve without
pay but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.
(h) Chair.--The President, in consultation with the majority leader
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall
designate the Chair of the Commission from among its voting members.
(i) Quorum.--For the purposes of conducting meetings of the
Commission, a quorum of the Commission shall be considered the presence
of 10 voting commissioners.
(j) Commission Panels.--The Chair shall establish such panels
consisting of voting commissioners as the Chair determines appropriate
to carry out the functions of the Commission.
(k) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such
personnel as the Commission determines appropriate.
(l) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the
head of any department or agency of the United States may detail, on a
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency
to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this
title.
(m) Administrative Support Services.--Upon request of the
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties under
this title.
(n) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly
from any department or agency of the United States information (other
than information required by any statute of the United States to be
kept confidential by such department or agency) necessary for the
Commission to carry out its duties under this title. Upon request of
the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish
such nonconfidential information to the Commission.
(o) Security Clearances for Commissioners, Members, and Staff.--The
appropriate Federal departments or agencies shall cooperate with the
Commission in expeditiously providing to commissioners, members, and
staff appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pursuant
to existing procedures and requirements, except that no person may be
provided with access to classified information under this Act without
the appropriate security clearances.
SEC. 6. REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the
Commission holds the first meeting under section 5, the Commission
shall transmit to the President and Congress a report on the activities
of the Commission, including recommendations made by the Commission
under section 3(b) which shall be considered by the relevant
congressional committees for possible legislative action.
(b) Classification.--The report under subsection (a) shall be
transmitted in an unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after
the transmittal of the report under section 6.
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