Washington Waves: Oct. 31, 2025 Waterway News From D.C.
Members of a Senate panel hoping to help revive the U.S. maritime industry and at the same time challenge China’s adversarial record heard recommendations ranging from passing legislation tracking President Donald Trump’s action plan expected in November to supporting a highly skilled workforce and small shipyards.
The hearing, titled “Sea Change: Reviving Commercial Shipbuilding,” was held by the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime and Fisheries.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), the subcommittee’s chairman, described the challenge as real, urgent and daunting.
“The United States builds less than 1 percent of the world’s commercial ships,” Sullivan said. “Meanwhile, our adversary, China, alone accounts for nearly half of global production, backed by state planning, subsidies and, as always, coercive trade practices.”
Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), said after the hearing that key provisions of their proposed SHIPS for America Act would establish a maritime security adviser in the White House, create a Maritime Security Trust Fund to reinvest fees paid by the industry, set a goal of expanding the U.S.-flagged fleet by 250 ships in 10 years and require that a portion of goods imported from China move aboard U.S.-flagged ships starting in 2030.
Shutdown Continues
What looked like real frustration, even anger, finally has made it into the daily discourse over the weeks-long government shutdown. Remarks on the Senate floor by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) were described as an eruption toward Democrats.
Key takeaways include the following.
• An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that between $7 billion and $14 billion in lost gross domestic product will not be recovered after the shutdown ends.
• Food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) will begin running out of money as early as this weekend with the Trump administration warning last-minute funding will not be available for millions of Americans who receive the benefits.
• The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, broke with Democrats and called on Congress to pass a “clean continuing resolution” and to put “every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay.”
• Trump, who has been in Asia, returned to U.S. soil, which could change at least the news coverage of the shutdown.
Marine Debris
A Senate committee advanced bills to extend programs targeting marine debris, specifically plastics, in oceans and waterways, reducing diesel emissions and boosting Great Lakes fishery research and management.
Approved by a voice vote by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the bills now head to the Senate for a floor vote.
Introduced by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), S. 3022, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act, would continue programs under the Environment Protection Agency combatting marine debris.
Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), S. 2878, The Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act, would authorize funding for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center for another five years.
The center conducts surveys of both native and invasive fish populations and develops plans to reintroduce culturally and ecologically significant fish populations essential for long-term health of the Great Lakes.
Introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), S. 2235, The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 would reauthorize programs to cut diesel emissions by extending funding initiatives targeting emissions.
USTR Seeks Comments
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting comments to its initiation of a Section 301 investigation to determine whether the rights of the United States under the 2020 economic and trade agreement with China or China’s actions are inconsistent with the Phase One Agreement.
According to the USTR’s notice in the Federal Register on October 28, the Section 301 Committee has scheduled a meeting at 10 a.m. December 16 as part of the investigation. The meeting will be held at a location to be announced or virtually.
Written comments and requests to appear at the hearing, along with a summary of testimony, should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1 through the USTR portal at: https://comments.ustr.gov/s. For additional information, contact the USTR Section 301 support line at 202-395-5725.
Cybersecurity Training
The Coast Guard released Policy Letter 01-25 providing additional guidance on its requirement for cybersecurity training, which has a January 12 deadline for vessels and facilities that fall under the Maritime Transportation Act.
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) singled out several key points from the letter.
• Training can be documented without resubmitting vessel security plans.
• Personnel who have not received the training and require access to a vessel may be escorted either in person or virtually.
• Operators have the option to train contractors according to employee protocols based on their system access or to verify that contractor training is compliant with regulatory requirements.
AWO said it will reconvene the Cybersecurity Training Working Group to consider potential revisions to its recently issued outline and provide timely updates to ensure members have access to current guidance and resources.
Buoy Modernization
The U.S. Coast Guard announced it has suspended its Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal (CBMP) in the Northeast after receiving more than 3,200 public comments.
The service said it will conduct further analysis of the aids to navigation (ATON) system, adding that no changes will be made until that analysis has been completed.
“We are extremely appreciative of the public’s input on this important project, and our team’s hard work, analysis and conclusions were reinforced by the outstanding feedback we received from our maritime stakeholders,” said Rear Adm. Michael Platt, the Northeast Coast Guard District commander. “The Northeast Coast Guard District will continue to ensure a safe, secure and efficient maritime transportation system. We remain focused on shaping the future of our waterways, ensuring modern aids to navigation system and facilitating commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility.”
