A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Building Ships in America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen national defense and economic security by updating tax policy. It establishes a new United States Vessel Investment credit to encourage the construction and repowering of cargo vessels in domestic shipyards. The bill also introduces a shipyard investment tax credit for qualified facilities located in the United States. Additionally, it provides incentives for merchant marine capital construction funds and treats maritime prosperity zones as opportunity zones. These measures are designed to support the domestic maritime workforce, ports, and shipyards.
Yes· 3 of 16
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill offers significant tax credits for vessel investment and shipyard facility construction to eligible business owners.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill incentivizes domestic shipbuilding and shipyard facility investments which are likely to create maritime industry jobs.
- Scored +4
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill's emphasis on domestic shipbuilding and restrictions on automated cargo equipment that reduces jobs aims to support the maritime workforce.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Investment in Shipyards: The bill provides a 25 percent credit for qualified investments in shipyard facilities used for constructing or repairing commercial or military oceangoing vessels (Section 7).
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Support for Vessel Construction: Taxpayers can receive a credit for the construction, repowering, or reconstruction of qualified vessels in United States shipyards (Section 2).
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Tax Benefits for Insurance and Design: Vessel owners may increase their investment credit by 5 percent for using approved U.S. insurance companies and by 2 percent for vessels designed according to specific U.S. standards (Section 2).
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Economic Development in Maritime Areas: "Maritime prosperity zones" can be treated as qualified opportunity zones to encourage business and investment in specific census tracts (Section 11).
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Tax-Free Income for Students: Student incentive payments made to individuals under specific maritime agreements are excluded from gross income (Section 9).
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Exclusion of Security Payments: Certain payments made for maritime security are excluded from gross income (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Penalties for Breaking Agreements: If a taxpayer fails to operate a qualified vessel according to its required agreement, they may face a tax increase of 100 percent of the aggregate decrease in previous credits (Section 2).
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Restrictions on Cargo Equipment: Withdrawals from capital construction funds may be prohibited for purchasing fully automated cargo handling equipment if it results in a net loss of jobs (Section 8).
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Import Restrictions on Equipment: The bill prohibits using capital construction funds to purchase cranes manufactured in the People's Republic of China (Section 8).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill offers significant tax credits for vessel investment and shipyard facility construction to eligible business owners. Would students be better off under this? — The bill excludes student incentive payments from gross income, providing a direct benefit to maritime students. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill's emphasis on domestic shipbuilding and restrictions on automated cargo equipment that reduces jobs aims to support the maritime workforce. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The maritime prosperity zone designations may provide economic revitalization to coastal and rural maritime communities. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The tax exclusion for student incentive payments provides a direct financial benefit to young adults entering the maritime workforce. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The expansion of maritime prosperity zones may lead to job creation and economic uplift in targeted census tracts.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill incentivizes domestic shipbuilding and shipyard facility investments which are likely to create maritime industry jobs. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill stimulates the maritime industry through targeted tax credits and the designation of maritime prosperity zones. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill's investment credits and opportunity zone treatments provide economic support for various business sectors within the maritime industry. Does this cut taxes for small businesses? — The bill provides investment tax credits for shipyard facilities and vessel construction which benefit maritime business entities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill supports the domestic capacity for United States foreign trade by incentivizing the construction of cargo vessels. Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill strengthens national defense through maritime capacity, which indirectly supports the broader security environment for veterans.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides incentives for the design and construction of qualified vessels, which supports maritime engineering and technology.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The designation of maritime prosperity zones as opportunity zones may stimulate local economic development and housing stability.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill supports maritime infrastructure by providing credits for shipyard facility construction.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires various regulatory compliance measures for those receiving tax credits.
- 4/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana