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H.R. 8515

BillFederalHouseIn Committee
To promote and recruit the United States maritime industry workforce, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 22, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congress
118th (2023–2025)
Introduced
May 22, 2024
Cosponsors (0)
None
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Summary

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# Summary The MARINERS Act aims to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry and national security by recruiting workers, building ships, and maintaining shipping capacity. The bill funds a multi-year marketing and recruiting campaign to attract workers to the merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors, with $10 million annually for merchant marine recruitment and $5 million annually for shipbuilding recruitment through fiscal year 2035. It establishes new protections and incentives for U.S.-flagged ships, including raising cargo preference requirements from 50 percent to 75 percent for government-financed cargo and creating rules for ships built with federal construction assistance. The legislation also increases payments for the Maritime Security Program to $8.5 million per vessel annually through 2035 and provides $100 million to help small shipyards upgrade facilities. Additionally, the bill creates a presidential advisor role for maritime affairs, requires the Navy to develop a strategy for rearming ships at sea within three years, and mandates various reports on shipbuilding capacity, supply chain vulnerabilities, tax incentives for maritime companies, and ways to reduce American dependence on Chinese maritime industries.

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