Bills · S 1577
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1577Transportation and Public Works
A bill to amend section 1151 of title 14, United States Code, to modify the restriction on construction of Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards.
INTRO MAY 1· LAST ACTION MAY 1
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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
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Passed House
Conference
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Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it touches on the balance between supporting American industries and ensuring the Coast Guard has the resources it needs efficiently. If this bill becomes law, it could mean the U.S. Coast Guard might acquire new ships faster and potentially at a lower cost, which could benefit taxpayers and improve the Coast Guard's ability to perform its missions, from national security to disaster response.
However, it also means a shift away from the current preference for domestic shipbuilding, which could impact jobs and the industrial capacity of American shipyards. The bill introduces a new layer of presidential discretion in defense procurement, tying it to specific national security and allied country criteria. If it doesn't pass, the current restriction on building Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards would largely remain in place, continuing to prioritize domestic construction even if it means higher costs or longer wait times.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Allows the President to authorize exceptions to the 'build domestically' rule for Coast Guard vessels if it's deemed in the national security interest.
This provides the President with new flexibility to bypass domestic shipbuilding requirements for strategic reasons, potentially speeding up vessel acquisition or reducing costs in critical situations.
PROVISION 02
Requires specific certifications to Congress for presidential exceptions, including that the foreign shipyard is in an allied nation, offers lower costs, and provides significantly faster delivery (at least 18 months sooner).
PROVISION 03
Allows the Secretary to acquire an already completed vessel from a foreign shipyard if it's in an allied country and the foreign government provides a warranty.
This creates a separate pathway for quickly obtaining available vessels from allied nations without a full construction contract, potentially for immediate needs.
PROVISION 04
Mandates a 30-day congressional notification period before any contract can be made under a presidential national security exception.
This ensures Congress has time to review and potentially question presidential decisions to use foreign shipyards for Coast Guard vessels.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
R· Alaska
YRS IN OFFICE
24
BILLS LED
61
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAY 1
Introduced in Senate
MAY 1
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 1577
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMay 1, 2025
Last actionMay 1, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAY 1, 2025
Senate BillS 1577Transportation and Public Works
A bill to 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· LAST ACTION MAY 1, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
