S. 4630Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to prioritize the finalization of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 9, 2026 at 5:41 AM UTC

This bill aims to speed up the development of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force ships by directing the Navy and the Maritime Administration to prioritize the work. It also requires a detailed briefing to congressional defense committees within six months, covering design status, construction‑manager plans, funding needs, and how new builds will work alongside existing vessel purchases to maintain fleet readiness.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of the Navy and the Maritime Administrator must make finalizing design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels a top priority.
Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the Secretary of the Navy, working with the Maritime Administrator, must brief the congressional defense committees on: the status of the roll‑on/roll‑off vessel design; a plan and timeline for creating a vessel construction manager program for new RRF ships, including procurement strategy, manager selection, and shipyard criteria; the yearly funding needed for a 10‑ship new‑build program; and how the new‑build effort will coordinate with the existing used‑vessel procurement to keep the RRF ready during the transition.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 21, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 21, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 21, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 21, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4630

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 21, 2026

Mr. McCormick (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To prioritize the finalization of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels, and for other purposes.

Prioritization and briefing on Ready Reserve Force modernization

(a)

Prioritization of design requirements

The Secretary of the Navy and the Maritime Administrator shall prioritize the finalization of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels.

(b)

Briefing required

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the Maritime Administrator, shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the following:

(1)

The status of the roll-on, roll-off vessel design being developed pursuant to section 3546 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (46 U.S.C. 57100 note).

(2)

The plan and timeline for establishing a vessel construction manager program for Ready Reserve Force new construction, including—

(A)

the anticipated procurement strategy;

(B)

the vessel construction manager selection process; and

(C)

criteria for shipyard selection.

(3)

The funding profile required to execute the 10-ship newbuild program authorized under section 2218(f) of title 10, United States Code, phased by fiscal year.

(4)

The relationship between the newbuild program and the ongoing used vessel procurement program, including how those programs will be managed in parallel to maintain Ready Reserve Force readiness during the transition period.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Congressional defense committees

The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

Ready Reserve Force

The term Ready Reserve Force has the meaning given that term in chapter 571 of title 46, United States Code.