The election last fall ushered in new Senators and Members of Congress, while also flipping the leadership of the US House of Representatives. Within weeks after the mid-term elections, the 118th Congress began selecting new leadership, both in committees and across the US House of Representatives.
The most important of these committee positions -- the chairman and ranking members -- will ultimately determine what is considered this Congress, including the Small Shipyard Grant Program.
Leadership for shipyards changes in the US House, but not the Senate
The flip in leadership in the House of Representatives resulted in wholesale changes to the leadership of Congress' committees and subcommittees. As the US Senate did not change leadership, their committee structure remains largely the same. The committees of that control funding for the Small Shipyard Grant program in the US House include:
House (and its Senate counterpart) Armed Services Committee -- which authorizes funding for the US Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program each year in both the House and Senate.
House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee -- which authorizes the US Department of Transportation, including MARAD in the House of Representatives specifically.
Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee -- which authorizes MARAD in the Senate.
House (and its Senate counterpart) Appropriations Committee -- which appropriates funding for the Small Shipyard Grant Program each year in both the House and Senate.
The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the committees of importance to the Small Shipyard Grant Program in the US House and Senate include:
House Appropriations Committee --
Full Committee
Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX-12)
Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK-04)
Ranking Member Mike Quigley (D-IL-05)
Senate Appropriations Committee --
Full Committee
Chair Patty Murray (D-WA)
Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Ranking Member Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
House T&I Committee --
Full Committee
Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-06)
Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-02)
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee
Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL-11)
Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24)
Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee --
Full Committee
Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports Subcommittee
Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI)
Ranking Member Todd Young (R-IN)
House Armed Services Committee --
Full Committee
Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL-03)
Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA-09)
Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee
Chairman Trent Kelly (R-MS-01)
Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-CT-02)
Senate Armed Services Committee --
Full Committee
Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI)
Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Seapower Subcommittee
Chairman Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Ranking Member Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Changes in House and Senate leadership remain good news for small shipyards
Despite the change in leadership of the House of Representatives, the Small Shipyard Grant Program still maintains support within both the House and Senate. Many of the longtime supporters of the program (like Sen.'s Cantwell, Murray, and Reed, among others) continue retained their leadership roles in the Senate. Whereas in the House, Small Shipyard Grant Program champions like Rep.'s Carbajal, Webster and Larsen have gained new committee leadership roles.
Again in 2023, supporters and champions will need to ask their Senators and Members of Congress to continue their support of this important program. The Small Shipyard Grant Coalition continues to be committed to gaining full funding for this important program.
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