Sponsor
Lisa Murkowski
Senator · R-AK
Senator · R-AK
The bill speeds and can lower the cost of acquiring Coast Guard and military vessels by allowing allied/foreign-built ships with brief congressional notice, trading faster, cheaper procurement against risks to domestic shipbuilding, supply-chain/security vulnerabilities, and potential diplomatic/warranty complications.
Military and Coast Guard personnel receive needed vessels faster because allied/foreign shipyards can deliver some ships about 18 months sooner, improving operational readiness and surge capacity.
Taxpayers and the U.S. Government may pay less for some vessels when a certified foreign builder's cost is lower than domestic alternatives, reducing procurement expenditures.
Military purchasers can buy fully built allied-country vessels covered by a foreign government warranty, enabling quicker replacement or surge capacity and shifting some procurement risk to an allied government.
U.S. shipbuilders and their workers (including small businesses and regional suppliers) risk losing contracts and jobs if lower-cost or faster foreign yards undercut domestic bids.
Military personnel and taxpayers face increased supply-chain and strategic vulnerabilities from relying on foreign shipyards for Coast Guard and military vessels, even from allied countries.
Taxpayers could incur warranty, diplomatic, or financial complications if foreign governments must guarantee delivered vessels, potentially requiring U.S. diplomatic or financial involvement to resolve issues.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows presidential national‑security waivers to build or acquire certain vessels from allied foreign shipyards when specific cost, schedule, alliance, and warranty conditions are met.
Official title: Amend section 1151 of title 14, United States Code, to modify the restriction on construction of Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards.
Introduced May 1, 2025 by Lisa Murkowski · Last progress May 1, 2025
Allows the President to waive the statutory requirement that certain vessels be constructed in U.S. shipyards when doing so is necessary for U.S. national security, subject to a 30‑day congressional notification and detailed certification requirements. Also authorizes the Secretary to acquire completed vessels built in certain allied foreign shipyards if the foreign government provides a warranty agreement with the United States.