We are committed to securing passage of this legislation and to continuing the vital work of revitalizing our maritime sector
Secure passage of the SHIPS for America Act and continue efforts to revitalize the United States maritime sector.
Occurrences
We are committed to securing passage of this legislation and to continuing the vital work of revitalizing our maritime sector.
held a joint press conference in support of the SHIPS for America Act to revitalize the maritime industry
S.1541 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): SHIPS for America Act of 2025
I will continue the push to bring commonsense measures to Congress that invests in American maritime strength.
Evidence
Congressman John Garamendi said, “We are committed to securing passage of this legislation and to continuing the vital work of revitalizing our maritime sector,” and called the hearing “an encouraging sign of growing bipartisan momentum... advancing the SHIPS Act.”
Latest Action: Senate - 04/30/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Tracker: Tip This bill has the status Introduced.
The Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces will meet jointly with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to receive testimony on government and commercial shipbuilding programs as well as efforts to bolster the maritime industrial base and support commercial maritime interests.
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1] (Introduced 05/01/2025). Latest Action: House - 05/01/2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Tracker: Tip This bill has the status Introduced.
"We are committed to securing passage of this legislation and to continuing the vital work of revitalizing our maritime sector," said Congressman Garamendi. "Today’s hearing on shipbuilding is an encouraging sign of growing bipartisan momentum and interest in both revitalizing our nation’s shipbuilding industry and advancing the SHIPS Act."
At the June 3, 2026 House hearing, Chairman Mike Ezell said the Ships for America Act had strong bipartisan support, noted Garamendi was a co-sponsor, and framed it as part of ongoing work to rebuild the U.S. maritime industrial base.
In his June 5, 2026 NDAA statement, Garamendi said he was proud that key SHIPS Act provisions were included in the House-passed FY27 defense bill, but he did not claim the SHIPS for America Act itself had passed.
The bill's latest action is a Senate referral on 2025-04-30, and Congress.gov shows the tracker status as Introduced.
The House companion bill's latest action is referral to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on 2025-05-01, and Congress.gov lists the bill as Introduced.
At the June 3, 2026 hearing, the subcommittee chair said the Ships for America Act has strong support, identified Garamendi as a co-sponsor, and said he is prepared to support legislation that implements parts of the maritime action plan.
In his June 5, 2026 NDAA statement, Garamendi said he was proud key SHIPS Act provisions were included in the House-passed FY27 defense bill, but he did not say the SHIPS for America Act itself had passed.
Assessments
The promise has not been fully delivered because the SHIPS for America Act itself had not passed as of the latest evidence: both the Senate bill and House companion remained at introduced/referral status on Congress.gov. Garamendi does appear to have materially advanced the effort through co-sponsorship, public advocacy, and committee work, and some SHIPS-related provisions were reportedly folded into the House-passed FY27 NDAA, which shows meaningful movement on the broader maritime revitalization agenda. But that falls short of securing passage of the named act, and because he remains in federal office and was still actively pursuing it in April-June 2026, the proper judgment is unresolved rather than never.
Garamendi made sustained, public legislative efforts to advance the SHIPS for America Act, including co-sponsoring and pressing for passage in 2026, but the available official status still shows the bill as introduced and referred, not enacted. The related maritime provisions in the FY27 NDAA show partial agenda movement, but not passage of the promised act itself. Because the core promised outcome was not delivered, this is best scored as a failed but serious effort.
The promise was to secure passage of the SHIPS for America Act and continue maritime revitalization efforts. The evidence shows Garamendi was actively advocating for the bill in the same federal term, including public pressure and committee activity in April 2026, but both the Senate bill and House companion remained at introduced/referred status with no passage or enactment. Because the legislative outcome had not yet occurred but the term and effort were still ongoing, this is unresolved rather than delivered or never. The effort badge is warranted because he was materially pressing for passage and advancing the policy debate.