H.R. 2125 — SOS Act of 2025

This section directs the Commission to (a) investigate and study the condition of the U.S. maritime industry, impediments to its competitiveness, and military needs including shipyards, shipbuilding and repairs, harbors, and skilled workforce; and (b) recommend policies to the President and Congress to (1) achieve a strong U.S. maritime industry for national defense, (2) revitalize and maintain the U.S. naval fleet for national defense, (3) foster a viable U.S. shipbuilding industry for military and civilian needs, and (4) reduce seafaring and shipbuilding job losses to ensure a reliable maritime labor force.

This section directs the Commission to investigate and study (1) the current condition of the U.S. maritime industry, including projected changes over the next 10 years after enactment; (2) the adequacy of the U.S. maritime industry for national defense; (3) the adequacy of skilled mariners and shipyard workers and the level of training for U.S. mariners at U.S. training facilities; and (4) whether the federal government should take legislative or administrative actions to strengthen national security, including the tax and regulatory burden on the U.S. maritime industry, incentives for investment in U.S. shipyards and shipbuilding and for skilled shipbuilding labor, effects of foreign government subsidies and financial assistance to their vessel operators and shipbuilders, effects of great power competition and potential war on U.S. naval and maritime forces, and prioritization of national security in regulatory review and approval processes.

This section establishes the membership of the Commission as 15 voting commissioners and 7 non-voting members, appointed as follows: (1) 5 voting commissioners by the President; (2) 7 non-voting members by the President from specified federal maritime entities (i.e., one each from the Navy, Coast Guard, United States Maritime Service, Marine Corps, United States Naval War College, Maritime Administration, and United States Merchant Marine Academy); (3) 3 voting commissioners by the Senate majority leader; (4) 3 voting commissioners by the House Speaker; (5) 2 voting commissioners by the Senate minority leader; and (6) 2 voting commissioners by the House minority leader. Voting commissioners must be U.S. citizens who are experts in commercial shipping, international trade, maritime policy, and related fields and who represent U.S.-flagged vessel operators (including domestic passenger vessel operators), seafaring and shipbuilding labor, shipbuilders, shippers, and maritime finance. All members serve for the Commission's duration, with vacancies filled by the original appointing authority; the Commission activates upon appointment of two-thirds (10) of voting commissioners and must hold its initial meeting within 90 days thereafter. The section further provides for (1) designation of the Chair by the President (in consultation with the Senate majority leader and House Speaker) from voting commissioners; (2) a quorum of 10 voting commissioners; (3) Chair-established panels of voting commissioners; (4) appointment and compensation of staff; (5) reimbursable detailing of federal agency personnel and administrative support from the General Services Administration; (6) access to nonconfidential federal data; (7) travel expenses (but no pay) per 5 U.S.C. ch. 57 subch. I; and (8) expedited security clearances for commissioners, members, and staff.

This section directs the Commission to transmit to the President and Congress, not later than one year after its first meeting under section 5, a report on its activities, including recommendations under section 3(b) for consideration by relevant congressional committees. The report must be unclassified but may include a classified annex.