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

D Maritime Credentialing Modernization

Sec. 635. Merchant seamen licenses, certificates, and documents; manning of vessels

(a) Citizenship or noncitizen nationality

(1) In general. Section 7102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in the section heading, by inserting or noncitizen nationality after Citizenship; and

(B) by inserting or noncitizen nationals (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) after citizens of the United States.

(2) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 7102 and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

7102. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality.

(b) Citizenship or noncitizen nationality notation on merchant mariners’ documents

(1) In general. Section 7304 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in the section heading, by inserting or noncitizen nationality after Citizenship; and

(B) by inserting or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) after citizen of the United States.

(2) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 7304 and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

7304. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality notation on merchant mariners’ documents.

(c) Citizenship or noncitizen nationality

(1) In general. Section 8103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in the section heading by inserting or noncitizen nationality after Citizenship;

(B) in subsection (a), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States;

(C) in subsection (b)—

(i) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States; and

(ii) in paragraph (3)—

(I) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or noncitizen nationality after citizenship; and

(II) in subparagraph (C), by inserting or noncitizen nationals after citizens of the United States;

(D) in subsection (c), by inserting or noncitizen nationals after citizens of the United States;

(E) in subsection (d)—

(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting or noncitizen nationals after citizens of the United States; and

(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States each place it appears;

(F) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States each place it appears;

(G) in subsection (i)(1)(A), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States;

(H) in subsection (k)(1)(A), by inserting or noncitizen national after citizen of the United States; and

(I) by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(l) Noncitizen national defined. In this section, the term noncitizen national means an individual described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408).

(2) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 8103 and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

8103. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality and Navy Reserve requirements.

(d) Command of documented vessels. Section 12131(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) after citizen of the United States.

(e) Invalidation of certificates of documentation. Section 12135(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)) after citizen of the United States.

VII Amendments to the internal revenue code of 1986