H.R. 3151

SHIPS for America Act of 2025

Sponsor: Trent Kelly

145 cosponsors
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I Oversight and accountability

Sec. 103. Direct hire authority; Authorization for administrative expenses

(a) Maritime Administration direct hire authority

(1) In general. The Maritime Administrator may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates to positions in the competitive service within the Maritime Administration for which—

(A) public notice has been given;

(B) the Administrator has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and

(C) the Administrator has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding—

(i) the positions for which the Administrator plans to recruit;

(ii) the quantity of candidates the Administrator is seeking; and

(iii) the assessment and selection policies the Administrator plans to utilize.

(2) Definition of critical hiring need. In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work.

(b) Coast Guard direct hire authority

(1) In general. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates to positions in the competitive service within offices under the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy of the Coast Guard, for which—

(A) public notice has been given;

(B) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and

(C) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding—

(i) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit;

(ii) the quantity of candidates the Secretary is seeking; and

(iii) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary plans to utilize.

(2) Definition of critical hiring need. In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work.

(c) Competitive service. In this section the term competitive service has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5, United States Code.

(d) Authorization of appropriations for administrative expenses. There is authorized to be appropriated from the Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section 50301(b) of title 46, United States Code—

(1) $30,000,000 to the Secretary of Transportation for administrative expenses of the Maritime Administration to administer subtitle V of title 46, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035;

(2) $30,000,000 to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for administrative expenses of the Coast Guard to administer subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035; and

(3) $2,000,000 to the Federal Maritime Commission for administrative expenses of the Federal Maritime Commission to administer subtitle IV of title 46, United States Code.

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

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