H.R. 3151

SHIPS for America Act of 2025

Sponsor: Trent Kelly

145 cosponsors
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I Oversight and accountability

II Maritime Security Trust Fund

III Sealift capability

IV Vessels of the United States in international commerce

A Strategic sealift programs

B Cargo preference

C Regulatory reform

V Shipbuilding

A Shipbuilding financial incentives

B Department of Defense Programs

C Shipbuilding innovation and infrastructure

VI Workforce Development

A Workforce incentives

Sec. 602. Eligibility for educational assistance

(a) In General. Chapter 521 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

52102. Eligibility for educational assistance

(a) Eligibility. A covered individual shall be treated as an individual described in section 3311(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, for purposes of entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 33 of such title.

(b) Covered individual

(1) In General. In this section, the term covered individual means an individual who—

(A) served as a full-time, credentialed United States Merchant Mariner for not less than 10 years;

(B) as a result of such service received the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal or another award for service in a designated combat zone after the date of enactment of this section; and

(C) is not eligible under any other provision of law for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

(2) Full-time, credentialed United States Merchant Mariner. For purposes of paragraph (1), serving as a full-time, credentialed United States Merchant Mariner means possession of a Merchant Mariner Credential authorized by the Coast Guard and employment on board a vessel of the United States for not less than 150 days in a calendar year.

(c) Reimbursement. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section from the Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section 50301(b) of this title.

(b) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 521 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

52102. Eligibility for educational assistance.

B Workforce Pipeline

C United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies

D Maritime Credentialing Modernization

VII Amendments to the internal revenue code of 1986