Sec. 3536. Maritime Workforce Promotion and Recruitment Act
673 words·~3 min read·
/bill/118/hr/8070/eh/section-3536A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The purpose of this Act is to address the shortage of workers in the maritime sector and stimulate growth in the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding industries by providing funding for a comprehensive marketing, recruiting, and public relations campaign. Expanding and nurturing a robust maritime workforce enhances United States national security and strategic sealift readiness. The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating as a service in the Navy and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish— a targeted campaign promoting the virtues of work in the United States Merchant Marine for the purpose of sailing in international trade, including Military Sealift Command mariner positions, highlighting the critical need for skilled workers in this sector, and to attract workers to this sector; and a targeted campaign promoting the virtues of work in the United States shipbuilding industry, highlighting the critical need for skilled workers in this sector, and to attract workers to this sector.
The Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall, through a competitive bidding process, contract with a reputable marketing, recruiting, and public relations firm to develop and deploy branding, content, advertising buys, and local and national engagement strategies to implement the campaigns described in subsection (b). The campaigns described in subsection
(b)shall focus on the following objectives: Emphasize the importance of maritime work for national security. Showcase the numerous opportunities available in the maritime domain. Highlight the shortage of workers in the maritime sector. Promote the excitement, benefits, and appeal of a career in the maritime industry. Inform potential workers of the points of entry available to join and receive training for such employment, including— the United States Merchant Marine Academy; State and regional maritime academies described in chapter 515 of title 46, United States Code; merchant mariner and shipbuilding labor union training facilities; merchant mariner and shipbuilding apprenticeship programs approved by the Secretary of Labor; and shipbuilding industry training programs. Inform potential workers of sources of financial assistance for training for individuals interested in joining such industry. Attract workers to the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors. In carrying out the campaigns under this Act, to raise awareness about the importance of the merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors, the firm selected under subsection
(c)shall target a diverse audience, including— potential workers interested in maritime careers; educational institutions and the students of such institutions considering vocational training in maritime fields; military veterans and individuals seeking career transitions; and the general public. Not later than 30 days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year during the campaigns carried out under this Act, the firm selected under subsection
(c)shall submit to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the relevant congressional committees quarterly reports detailing the progress, outreach, and impact of the campaigns, and their effectiveness in increasing applications for employment in the United States merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors. Not later than 60 days after the conclusion of the campaigns carried out under this Act, the firm selected under subsection
(c)shall submit to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the relevant congressional committees a comprehensive final report. Any unobligated amount authorized under this section shall expire 3 years after the date on which such amount is appropriated. Not later than 1 year after the date on which amounts authorized under this section are appropriated, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall complete the action described in subsection (c). There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration for fiscal year 2025 the following amounts: $10,000,000 to carry out the program established under subsection (b)(1). $5,000,000 to carry out the program established under subsection (b)(2). In this section, the term relevant congressional committees means— the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.