A group of bipartisan veterans led by Representative Mark Green, R-TN, is set to introduce a new legislation aimed at revitalizing U.S. shipyards and shipbuilders.
Green, a former U.S. Army officer, said Thursday the Save Our Shipyards Act is co-sponsored by Navy veteran Jen Kiggans, R-VA, and Air Force veteran Don Davis, D-NC.
Save Our Shipyards Act
The SOS Act, endorsed by the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association and Heritage Action, is intended to address the decline of the shipbuilding industry. It proposes the creation of a National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base, which would be responsible for evaluating the current state of the U.S. maritime industry. The commission will determine the obstacles to its growth and develop recommendations to boost the maritime industrial base.
“The stark reality is that while the People’s Republic of China builds over 1,700 ships annually, the U.S. struggles to produce even a handful,” said Green, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “This decline jeopardizes our military readiness, depletes our skilled workforce and undermines our ability to project strength. The SOS Act is a critical step towards restoring our maritime industrial base and bolstering our national security.”
“This Commission is a critical step toward identifying the challenges facing our shipyards and strengthening our ability to build and sustain a world-class fleet,” added Kiggans. “I am proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to ensure America’s shipbuilding industry remains strong for generations to come.”
“We must collaborate to ensure that both the public and private sectors work together to find solutions that will strengthen our maritime industrial base. Shipbuilding is vital for our national security,” said Davis.
