Sponsors (15)
Requires the Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of the Navy and the Director of the Office of Industrial Policy, to conduct a study on whether providing apartment-style or dormitory housing for civilian workers at certain naval shipyards is feasible, how much it would cost, and what benefits it could yield. The study must assess costs, benefits, operational impacts, payroll rent-deduction mechanics, comparisons with other housing programs, and include case studies, and the Department must report findings to Congress within 18 months of enactment.
The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy and the Director of the Office of Industrial Policy of the Department of Defense, must conduct a study on providing apartment-style or dormitory housing for civilian workers at covered naval shipyards.
Assess the estimated costs of constructing, maintaining, or leasing apartment-style housing units for shipyard workers.
Assess the potential economic and workforce benefits, including effects on recruitment and retention rates.
Assess the feasibility of implementing housing solutions at various public shipyard locations.
Assess the operational effects of providing housing, including impacts on worker availability, morale, and commuting burdens.
Who is affected and how:
Civilian shipyard workers: The study targets options that could directly affect their housing choices, commuting time, and cost of living if a housing program is later adopted. It also examines payroll rent-deduction mechanisms that could change pay administration.
Department of Defense and Navy: DoD and Navy staff must conduct and manage the study, coordinate with shipyards, and evaluate operational impacts. Findings could influence future personnel and facilities policy or budget requests.
Naval shipyards and local managers: Shipyard operations, security, and facility planning will be evaluated for feasibility and operational consequences; they may need to supply data and participate in case studies.
Local communities and housing markets: If later implemented, employer-provided housing could alter local rental demand, commuting patterns, and housing availability; the study will inform whether such effects are likely.
Federal budget/taxpayers: The study itself imposes an administrative cost on DoD. Any future construction, leasing, or operations would carry capital and operating costs that could affect future budgets and appropriations.
Payroll administrators and labor stakeholders: The study’s look at payroll rent deductions implicates payroll systems, withholding rules, and potentially collective bargaining or labor agreements that govern pay and benefits.
Overall effect: This legislation only requires analysis and reporting; it does not change current benefits, appropriate funds, or start housing construction. The primary near-term effect is information generation to guide future DoD and congressional decisions about workforce housing at naval shipyards.
Last progress June 5, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 5, 2025 by Jennifer Kiggans
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.