Hearings to examine reviving commercial shipbuilding.

Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing

2025-10-28

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The meeting focused on the pressing need to modernize and accelerate U.S. commercial shipbuilding to bolster economic and national security.[ 00:25:30-00:25:48 ]

Speakers highlighted the dire state of America's shipbuilding industry, which constructs less than one percent of the world's commercial ships, contrasting sharply with China's near 50% global production.[ 00:26:08 ] The discussion emphasized that this decline is not merely an economic concern but a critical national security imperative.[ 00:25:48 ]

Tone of the Meeting The meeting conveyed a sense of urgency and seriousness regarding the critical state of U.S. shipbuilding and its implications for national security and economic resilience.[ 00:26:00 ]

There was a strong bipartisan consensus on the importance of addressing the issue, with senators from both parties expressing commitment to legislative solutions. While acknowledging the daunting challenges, speakers maintained an optimistic outlook, emphasizing that revitalization is achievable through concerted effort and past precedents.[ 00:28:39 ] A notable undercurrent of frustration was present among some members concerning the ongoing government shutdown, which was perceived as diverting attention from these crucial discussions.

Participants

Transcript

Maritime and fisheries will now come to order, and I want to thank our witnesses today as this subcommittee examines how to modernize, accelerate U.S. commercial shipbuilding, which of course will have an impact on our Navy shipbuilding, while strengthening America's broader maritime industrial base as a foundation for economic security and national security. This hearing could not be more timely The state of America's commercial shipbuilding industry is not just an economic concern, it is a national security imperative that we have let slide for way too long. The scale of the challenge we face today is real, it's urgent, and I would say it's daunting. The United States builds less than 1% of the world's commercial ships. Meanwhile, our adversary China alone accounts for nearly half of global production, backed by state planning, subsidies, and, as always, coercive trade practices. This is not just an economic statistic. It is a dire warning. Maritime power is directly tied to our ability to project influence, support our Navy, mobilize sea lift, sustain commerce, and ensure resilient supply chains in times of crisis. Nowhere is this more evident than in the great state of Alaska. Key economic pillars of my state, the U.S. military, mining, fisheries, oil and gas, tourism, are all dependent on maritime transportation. To move goods resources. Ammunition and people. Alaska's remoteness dependence on our sea trade and strategic position. Between the Pacific and Arctic theaters underscore the need to ensure stable American controlled supply routes.

Connecting the continental United States. With its territories and its non contiguous states. My colleague from Hawaii, I think would agree with that. and to avoid reliance on foreign vessels for domestic and territorial trade, especially given Alaska's proximity to major foreign powers across the North Pacific. We've seen what America can do when it chooses to lead. During World War II, as vividly captured in Arthur Herman's Freedom's Forge, we transformed from a nation unprepared for war, Into the world's industrial powerhouse. Outbuilding our adversaries. And our allies combined. We can do this. We've done it before. That shipbuilding surge didn't happen because we were forced into it. It happened because we chose to meet the moment. With purpose coordination in urgency. That's why the Trump administration's executive order on restoring America's maritime dominance is so important. It acknowledges that this is not a problem of isolated shipyards or fragmented markets. It is a national strategic challenge. I look forward to reviewing the forthcoming Maritime Action Plan from the administration, which is due next month. It will lay out the policies, investments, and reforms needed to restore U.S. shipbuilding, competitiveness, and secure our maritime future. Three things that I think are critical for success in this town. White House leadership, appropriated dollars, and legislative action that is bipartisan. I think that we have the beginnings of all three of these on shipbuilding. Certainly Congress has begun to act. The budget reconciliation bill, the one big beautiful bill, has made historic investments

in the Navy, in shipbuilding, over $25 billion, in the Coast Guard, over $25 billion, authorizing multiple destroyers, submarine, oilers, and nearly just $9 billion in new Arctic icebreakers. These investments are not only critical to national defense, they also provide steady demand signals to shipyards, suppliers, and workers across the country. We are also seeing important bipartisan momentum through legislation such as the Ships for America Act. And I don't know if Senator Kelly's still here. There he is. And Senator Young, I'm sure, will be here. The two lead co-sponsors of that. I am a co-sponsor of that, which recognizes the revitalization of U.S. commercial shipbuilding must be a whole-of-nation effort. This legislation aims to strengthen domestic production capacity, incentivize innovation, and ensure that our industrial base can compete globally while advancing national security goals.

Sign up for free to see the full transcript

Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.