Press Releases

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) applauded President Trump following his April 9^th executive order to strengthen the United States’ shipbuilding industry, enable the nation to be more competitive with China in maritime transportation, and bolster our national security.

“Over the last several decades, our domestic shipyards have struggled, the American flag fleet has dwindled, and the pool of American mariners has shrunk,” said Chairman Graves. “Our fleet once accounted for half of the world’s cargo shipping capacity, but it now accounts for less than one percent of tonnage, and capacity for building large oceangoing vessels is dwarfed by China’s. This executive order marks a welcome shift away from decades of decline in our country’s maritime sector and demonstrates President Trump’s commitment to reinvigorating our domestic maritime industrial base. I’m also excited about the establishment of maritime prosperity zones for investment in the U.S. maritime industries and communities beyond coastal shipbuilding and repair regions, including river regions.  As the Administration begins to implement the President’s executive order, I am committed to working with them to put America’s maritime capabilities first.”

“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I applaud President Trump’s vision to strengthen American shipbuilding, particularly through deregulatory initiatives,” said Chairman Ezell. “A strong domestic shipbuilding industry is essential to our national security, economic independence, and the future of our maritime workforce. This action takes a critical step toward reversing decades of decline, ensuring our shipyards can compete globally and meet the growing needs of both our military and commercial sectors. I look forward to helping implement President Trump’s EO by working with my colleagues in Congress, and leaders across the industry to build on this momentum, grow our shipbuilding capacity, and create better paying American jobs right here at home.”