S. 1100Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Small Shipyards and Maritime Communities Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:20 PM UTC

The Small Shipyards and Maritime Communities Act updates the federal program that helps small shipyards and maritime communities. It extends funding authority through fiscal year 2020, raises the amount of money that can be spent, and adds new rules for how grants are awarded and used. The changes affect shipyard owners, workers, and the communities that rely on maritime industry.

Key Provisions

Increases the authorized funding for the program from $5 million to $7.5 million and from $25 million to $27.5 million, and extends the authorization through FY 2020.
Requires the program administrator to consider a community’s economic conditions, projects that improve efficiency and quality, and projects that boost employee skills when awarding grants.
Sets a deadline that grants must be awarded within 120 days of the appropriations act, and allows unused grant money to be re‑allocated to other eligible projects.
Adds a “Buy America” rule that grant money can only be used for steel, iron, and manufactured goods made in the United States, with a waiver possible if allowed under existing law.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

May 11, 2017

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 11, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

May 11, 2017

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued May 11, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1100

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 11, 2017

Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To amend title 46, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the program to provide assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities through fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Shipyards and Maritime Communities Act.

Authorization of appropriations

Subsection (i) of section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2017 and inserting 2020;

(2)

in paragraph (1), by striking $5,000,000 and inserting $7,500,00; and

(3)

in paragraph (2), by striking $25,000,000 and inserting $27,500,000.

Award of grants

Subsection (b) of section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b)

Awards

(1)

In general

In providing assistance under the program, the Administrator shall take into account—

(A)

the economic circumstances and conditions of maritime communities;

(B)

projects that would be effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration; and

(C)

projects that would be effective in fostering employee skills and enhancing productivity.

(2)

Timing of award

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall make grants under this section within 120 days after the date of enactment of the appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned.

(B)

Reallocation of unused funds

If a grant is awarded under this section and, for any reason, the grant funds are not used by the grantee, the Administrator may use such unused funds to make another grant under this section.

Buy America

Subsection (c) of section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Buy America

(A)

Requirement

A grant provided under this section may be used for a project only if the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States.

(B)

Waiver

The Administrator may waive subparagraph (A) if the Administrator finds that the waiver would be permitted under paragraph (2) of section 5323(j) of title 49, United States Code.