Deluzio Announces ‘Shipbuilding Innovation Act’ to Boost Domestic Shipbuilding, Alternative Energy Development in the Maritime Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced his new bill, the Shipbuilding Innovation Act. This measure would help grow the shipbuilding industry in the United States, track the status of certain U.S. flagged vessels, and support the development and use of non-traditional power and propulsion systems.
Over the last 20 years, China’s aggressive shipbuilding subsidies and unfair trade practices—along with American inaction—have made it impossible for the United States to keep up. This has resulted in a massive difference in industrial capacity: China is now capable of producing over 1,000 ocean-going vessels a year, while the United States currently produces fewer than ten. Maritime power is critical to our prosperity and to global peace, which requires staying on the cutting edge of this sector—in both the defense and commercial maritime markets.
“I’m a proud Navy guy who believes we ought to make more stuff in America,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I believe we can build up our industrial might for the 21st century, and that means passing bills like my new Shipbuilding Innovation Act. Our government needs to do a better job at supporting and funding research and development of new technologies that will give us the competitive edge over countries like China—and exploring innovative energy sources like nuclear microreactors and new propulsion systems can help get us there.”
Specifically, this bill would:
- Authorize $250,000 for a market opportunity study for construction of specialty vessels to support energy transition initiatives.
- Create a new U.S. vessel construction program focused on innovative design, including development and use of new power and propulsion systems.
- Authorizes $100M yearly through 2029 for grants with an 80% maximum federal cost share to kickstart United States ship construction.
- Require yearly reporting on the status and outlook for U.S. flagged vessels capable of supporting energy transition initiatives.
The Shipbuilding Innovation Act is endorsed by the United Steelworkers (USW) and the Maritime Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA).
Congressman Deluzio is the co-author of the “Make Stuff Here” Agenda, which focuses on supercharging America’s domestic manufacturing, including ending lousy trade deals and boosting domestic manufacturing. He is also supportive of bills like the Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2023, which requires a certain percent of total American seaborne LNG and crude oil exports to be transported on vessels built in the United States.
The full text of the bill is available here.
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