The Heritage Foundation has expressed its views on the recently finalized 'Ships for America Act,' a bipartisan initiative introduced by Senators Mark Kelly and Todd Young. The legislation aims to enhance Navy shipbuilding through tax incentives, technological advancements, and workforce expansion.
Brent Sadler, Senior Research Fellow for Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology at The Heritage Foundation, commented on the bill's significance: “After decades assuming we’d always have access to overseas markets and a strong enough maritime industry, our nation today relies on non-friendly nations’ shipping and shipbuilding. This has made us too vulnerable - especially to Chinese coercion. Today, Congress, in a refreshing bi-partisan, bi-cameral way released the first comprehensive attempt to begin reversing this trend with the Ships for America Act.”
Sadler emphasized that only a competitive maritime industry can address these vulnerabilities sustainably. He noted that while the Jones Act aimed to support American competitiveness, it has not achieved its intended outcomes. “The goal of this bill must be a national maritime rejuvenation founded on nurturing a favorable business environment here at home,” he added.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director for Energy, Climate, and Environment at Heritage, highlighted issues related to domestic shipping: “It’s troubling that America can’t ship natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 and from the Lower 48 to Puerto Rico, as well as to New England. Real people face higher heating bills, and this problem needs to be addressed.”
Andrew Hale, Senior Policy Analyst in Trade Policy at Heritage, also criticized the effectiveness of current policies: “The Jones Act is not working and has never delivered a competitive edge. The United States has lost its global competitiveness in shipbuilding."
Overall, while acknowledging the 'Ships for America Act' as an initial step towards addressing strategic vulnerabilities in maritime industries, experts from The Heritage Foundation believe further efforts are necessary.
