This crucial domain has been overlooked for too long. Our members are clear in their belief that the US needs sustained investment in our national security to reduce the chances of armed conflict.

America’s maritime infrastructure is plagued by aging military and commercial vessels, dropping shipbuilding capacity, billions in maintenance backlogs for ports and waterways, a shortage of qualified mariners, and a plummeting sealift capacity. All of this while our competition with China reaches a fever pitch. 

By the Numbers:

• The United States has a merchant fleet of 185 ships. China has 7,838.
• In 2023, the US built 0.1% of the world’s ships. China built 50.7%.
• The US’s goal for sealift capacity is 85%. It is currently 59% and dropping.
• America’s sealift capacity was USTRANSCOM’s number 2 readiness concern in 2021. It is now the top concern.
• The US is now expected to lose 1-2 million square feet of sealift capacity every year.
• The US has a $163 billion- and $6.8 billion-dollar maintenance backlog for ports and inland waterways.
• As of 2023 the US had just 5 shipbuilding orders in shipyards. China had 1,700.

The American Legion has always advocated for a strong national defense. Our members served the nation in wartime and know the dangers of poor readiness. We cannot let the burden of these security failures fall on our service members. To prevent this from happening, Congress should pass the SHIPS for America Act now.