What does Preamble of FLEETS Now Act do?

This bill aims to combat China's unfair trade practices The focus is on the shipbuilding industry The bill has other purposes beyond shipbuilding

What does FINDINGS. of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section outlines findings regarding the People's Republic of China's (PRC) practices in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. The PRC is alleged to utilize unfair and non-market-oriented practices to achieve a dominant position in the shipbuilding ecosystem. The PRC's Military-Civil Fusion strategy integrates commercial and military production, transferring resources to its defense industrial base. The PRC frames its shipbuilding and maritime sectors as strategic industries, displacing foreign firms and targeting new markets. The PRC's actions create dependencies on China, increasing risks and reducing supply chain resilience. The PRC's industrial plans involve various mechanisms to achieve market dominance, including government support and barriers to foreign firms. The PRC's intervention in the shipbuilding market has made ships built in the United States less competitive. In 2024, the PRC accounted for 53.3 percent of the global shipbuilding industry. The United States' shipbuilding capacity has weakened due to neglect, impacting the domestic maritime workforce and national security. Increasing domestic shipbuilding capacity is considered essential to restoring America's maritime strength and self-sufficiency. The United States lacks a single agency responsible for designing and implementing industrial shipbuilding policy.

What does DEFINITIONS. of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section defines key terms used in the Act. Definitions include terms like 'allied country', 'deck-plate professional', and 'foreign country of concern'. Terms are defined by reference to other statutes, such as title 10 of the United States Code.

What does STRATEGIC PORTS; UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT of FLEETS Now Act do?

The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 is amended. Section 1402(3) of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 is modified by striking subparagraph (A) and redesignating subsequent subparagraphs. Section 1412(f) of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 is amended to include harbors or ports as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934.

What does BRIEFING AND REPORT ON CHINA OCEAN SHIPPING COMPANY SHIPPING of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section requires a briefing on companies with financial relationships with China Ocean Shipping Company and China State Shipbuilding Corporation. A report must be submitted to congressional committees on subsidiaries, trading practices, and government involvement in these companies. The report also includes information on Chinese shipyards producing warships and dual-use ships.

What does STATEMENT OF POLICY TO COUNTER SHIPBUILDING PRACTICES OF THE of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section establishes a policy of the United States to develop domestic shipbuilding capacity for both commercial and military applications. The policy aims to reduce reliance on supply chains that include materials sourced from the People's Republic of China. The implementation of this policy involves knowledge transfer and skillset development for the U.S. shipbuilding labor force. It also includes securing direct investment in U.S. shipyards from allies and partners. A long-term strategy is to be developed to diversify shipbuilding supply chains and expand domestic capacity, involving relevant Federal agencies and departments.

What does INTERNATIONAL SHIPBUILDING COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITY. of FLEETS Now Act do?

The President must designate a point of contact for international shipbuilding within 90 days. This contact will attract international shipbuilding investment opportunities in the US. The contact will lead cooperation with foreign governments on shipbuilding supply chain diversification.

What does ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WATER, ENVIRONMENT, AND SPACE of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section amends Section 9 of the Department of State Appropriations Authorization Act of 1973 to establish an Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs within the Department of State. The Assistant Secretary is responsible for matters pertaining to space, oceans, environmental quality, freshwater, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and related duties. The Assistant Secretary's responsibilities include developing United States policy on global environmental security issues, representing the Department in negotiations involving the law of the sea, and leading engagement on Antarctica and international oceans agreements. The Assistant Secretary is tasked with coordinating policies and programs to conserve and manage ecosystems, addressing threats to natural resources, and developing foreign policy related to pollution. The Assistant Secretary will also coordinate with agencies like NASA and the Department of Commerce to support partnerships in outer space development. The Secretary is required to establish a Bureau of Water, Environment, and Space Affairs to perform related functions as prescribed by the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs.

What does EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY EXPERTS. of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section initiates an exchange visitor program for shipbuilding industry experts. The program aims to increase shipbuilding knowledge, training, and expertise in the American workforce. Amendments are made to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to include interchanges for shipbuilding experts.

What does MARITIME INVESTIGATORS. of FLEETS Now Act do?

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Federal Maritime Commission, to detail personnel to investigate unfair shipping practices. Investigations will focus on issues like price-fixing, market manipulation, denial of port entry to U.S.-flagged vessels, flags of convenience, and anticompetitive agreements. The investigations will target countries with significant ship registries and those with substantial activity in shipbuilding, merchant mariners, or commercially owned ships. Section 707(b) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 is amended to include information about unfair business practices in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors in Investment Climate Statements. Section 7031(b)(2) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 is amended to include disclosure of investments in maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors by countries receiving aid.

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FLEETS Now Act

Last updated: 4/30/2026 · Introduced: 4/30/2026

Author: Young Kim (R-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill aims to combat China's unfair trade practices in the shipbuilding industry by developing domestic shipbuilding capacity for both commercial and military applications.
It establishes a policy to reduce reliance on supply chains that include materials sourced from the People's Republic of China and to diversify shipbuilding supply chains.
The bill initiates an exchange visitor program for shipbuilding industry experts to increase shipbuilding knowledge, training, and expertise in the American workforce.
It directs the Secretary of State to investigate unfair shipping practices, including price-fixing and market manipulation, and to detail personnel to target countries with significant ship registries.
The President is required to engage allied countries to develop a shared framework for ship design, production, and maintenance, and to establish a Maritime Group of Nations to coordinate regulatory and commerce policies for commercial shipping.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, findings., and 1 more.

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TITLE I

-MATTERS RELATING TO SHIPBUILDING AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF

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TITLE II

-MATTERS RELATING TO SHIPBUILDING AND THE UNITED STATES, ITS

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