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

B Workforce Pipeline

C United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies

Sec. 625. Enforcement of service obligation requirements

(a) In general. The Maritime Administrator shall ensure that—

(1) each citizen who is appointed as a cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and signs a cadet commitment agreement under section 51306 of title 46, United States Code, meets the service obligation requirements of that agreement; and

(2) each individual that signs a student incentive payment agreement under section 51509 of title 46, United States Code, meets the service obligation requirements under that agreement.

(b) Reporting requirement. The Maritime Administrator shall establish an electronic system through which each individual with a service obligation under such section 51306 or 51509 (referred to in this section as a service-obligated mariner) shall annually demonstrate that they are meeting their service obligation or have a valid deferment consistent with section 51310 of title 46, United States Code, or section 51510 of title 46, United States Code, as applicable.

(c) Notification of violation. The Maritime Administrator shall transmit a written notice to each service-obligated mariner who fails to meet the reporting requirement of subsection (b), notifying such individual of the applicable penalties established under section 51306 of title 46, United States Code, or section 51509 of title 46, United States Code, for failure to carry out the applicable service requirements, including cost recovery.

(d) Report to Congress. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Maritime Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the status of all service-obligated mariners, which shall include—

(1) information about how each service-obligated mariner is meeting their service obligation requirement, which shall be based on the results of the data collected under subsection (b);

(2) the number of service-obligated mariners who have not met their service obligation and have not complied with the reporting requirement under subsection (b); and

(3) the number of actions taken by the Maritime Administrator under sections 51306(b), 51306(d), 51306(f), and 51509(g) to recover costs from service-obligated mariners who have not demonstrated that they have met their service obligation requirements.

D Maritime Credentialing Modernization

VII Amendments to the internal revenue code of 1986