The SOS Act of 2025 (Save Our Shipyards Act) would create the National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base, a temporary body charged with examining the United States maritime industry and its ability to support national defense. The Commission would study the current state of shipyards, shipbuilding and repairs, harbors, and the skilled maritime workforce, identify impediments to a strong, competitive domestic maritime sector, and issue policy recommendations to strengthen national defense, revitalizes the naval fleet, and preserve a reliable maritime labor force. A report with recommendations would be due within one year of the Commission’s first meeting, and the Commission would terminate shortly after delivering the report (30 days after transmittal). The bill outlines who would serve on the Commission, how they are appointed, how it would operate (including panels, data access, and security clearances), and how members are compensated (travel expenses only, no pay). It envisions cooperation with federal agencies and suggests the findings could lead to legislative action to improve the U.S. maritime industrial base.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose
- 2- Creates the National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base (the SOS Commission) to study the U.S. maritime industry and its military-related needs, with a focus on shipyards, shipbuilding/repair, harbors, and the skilled workforce.
- 3Policy remit
- 4- From the study, the Commission would recommend policies to (a) strengthen the U.S. maritime industry for national defense, (b) revitalize and maintain the U.S. naval fleet, (c) foster a viable U.S. shipbuilding industry, and (d) reduce loss of U.S. seafaring and shipbuilding jobs.
- 5Specific topics to address
- 6- Current and future condition of the industry; adequacy for national defense; labor and training; and impediments such as tax/regulatory burdens, investment incentives, foreign subsidies, great-power competition, and how regulatory reviews prioritize national security.
- 7Membership and governance
- 8- 15 voting commissioners and 7 non-voting members; appointments by the President, Senate majority and minority leaders, and House leadership; qualifications span shipping, trade, policy, and maritime labor, plus non-voting members from the Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and related institutions.
- 9- Quorum is 10 voting commissioners; the Chair is chosen by the President in consultation with congressional leaders; panels may be formed to carry out duties.
- 10Operations and timeline
- 11- Members serve for the Commission’s duration; first meeting within 90 days after two-thirds of voting commissioners are appointed; travel expenses reimbursed; no member pay.
- 12- The Commission can request data from any federal agency and may receive security clearances as needed.
- 13- Final product: an unclassified report within 1 year of the first meeting, with a possible classified annex; the Commission terminates 30 days after the report is transmitted.