Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced legislation earlier this week to expand Buy America preferences for the federal government’s purchases of ships, a step toward rebuilding the country’s once mighty – and now nearly nonexistent – shipbuilding capabilities.
The Made in America Shipbuilding Act would require all federal agencies to follow Buy America when purchasing all classes of ships. Buy America also would apply to the materials used to build the ship, like steel, iron, and aluminum, and all of the onboard components, like engines, valves, air circuit breakers, hoists and winches.