Sec. 3532. National maritime transportation report and strategy
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Not later than October 31, 2023, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a national maritime transportation report. Such report shall include each of the following: An analysis of the causes for the decline in the number of vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code and operating in the international trade. An examination of the national security and economic requirements for the United States merchant marine during peacetime and during surge and sustained national defense sealift that addresses— whether existing United States-flag shipping, maritime labor, and shipbuilding and repair capacity is sufficient to fulfill such sealift requirements; and if such capacity is not sufficient, the capacity, including naval auxiliary ships, that would be needed during a major conflict by— the military for strategic sealift; and the private sector to sustain the economy.
An evaluation of the contracting procedures for United States Government cargo transport and a determination of whether such policies ensure sufficient access to vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code. A review of the objectives under section 50101(a) of title 46, United States Code, and a determination of the extent to which legislation, programs, policies, and regulations adopted since the adoption of such objectives in the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 have aligned with such objectives.
A comparison between the subsidy programs of other beneficial flag programs and the existing support programs in the United States. Not later than October 31, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a national maritime transportation strategy. Such strategy shall include each of the following: Recommendations to encourage the growth of shipping by United States-flag and United States-owned vessels and the growth of the United States shipbuilding industrial base that are— sufficient for national and economic security; consistent with the objectives and policy under section 50101 of title 46, United States Code; compatible with international treaties and agreements governing maritime safety, security, and environmental protection; and compatible with rapidly evolving maritime transportation technology.
Recommendations to increase the size of the United States-flagged fleet and increase the pool of United States mariners through— bolstering existing funding sources; new funding; or new programs. The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate non-Department of Defense entity that specializes in maritime research under which such entity shall prepare the report and strategy required under this section. In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Defense shall consult with— the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator; and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard operating, acting through the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of the Representatives; and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate.