b'LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE REPORTRestoring Maritime StrengthRICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORT herehasbeengrowingAmericas Maritime Dominance. TherequirespecificCongressionalautho-momentuminWashing- document directs the development ofrizationandfundingtobeachieved. ton,D.C.,aroundrestor- a National Maritime Strategy and out- Some of that legislative work is already ingAmericasmaritimelines a series of broad initiatives aimedunderway. For example, there is biparti-strength.FromCapitolHilltotheatreinvigoratingtheU.S.maritimesan support for a substantial increase in White House, recent events have sig- industry. The outline calls for grow- funding for the Small Shipyard Grant naled a renewed focus on rebuildingingtheU.S.-flaggedfleet,reducingProgram. The administrations FY 2026 theU.S.-flaggedfleet,investinginregulatoryburdens,expandingthebudget proposes increasing funding for domestic shipbuilding, and reshapingmaritime workforce, and strengthen- theprogramtomorethan$100mil-the U.S. Coast Guard. ing American shipbuilding capacity. liona substantial boost that reflects growing recognition of the importance InApril,PresidentTrumpsignedWhile the executive order sets the toneof domestic shipyards, including those ExecutiveOrder14269Restoringanddirection,manyofitsgoalswillthat build and repair passenger vessels. It will ultimately be up to Congress to make those funds available.SHIPS FOR AMERICA ACTAnothermuchdiscussedmaritime policyinitiativefromCongressis theSHIPSforAmericaAct.Intro-duced with bipartisan support in the House and Senate the SHIPS Act is a343-pagebehemoththataimsto revitalize Americas maritime heritage byincreasingtheinternationalU.S. -flagged fleet, strengthening domestic shipyardsthroughincreasedinvest-ment, boosting tax incentives for in-vestment, regulatory reform, creating dedicated R&D and innovation hubs, creatingamaritimesecuritytrust fundtofinancecriticalinfrastruc-ture, and establishing a White House maritime security advisor role and an interagency board to oversee a nation-almaritimestrategy.Additionally, theSHIPSforAmericaActrecog-nizes the critical role of the maritime workforce and incentivizes its growth through recruitment, educational op-FOGHORN 36'