Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | www.sullivan.senate.gov
Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | www.sullivan.senate.gov
Sen. Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska, addressed concerns about the state of American shipbuilding in a series of posts on November 3, 2025. He highlighted the country's lagging production compared to China and outlined recent legislative efforts and international cooperation aimed at revitalizing the industry.
In his first post, Sullivan stated, "There’s a crisis in shipbuilding right now. While China accounts for half the world’s production of commercial ships, the US lags far behind with under 1%. This isn’t just an economic concern; it’s a national security imperative we’ve let slide for too long. [1/2]" (November 3, 2025).
He followed up by noting bipartisan efforts to address these challenges: "The good news is, there’s bipartisan support for rebuilding this critical industry. We secured $29B in the reconciliation bill for Navy shipbuilding—plus the largest Coast Guard investment in history, $25B. [2/2]" (November 3, 2025).
Later that day, Sullivan discussed international partnerships as part of broader efforts to strengthen U.S. shipbuilding: "We’re expanding America's shipbuilding through deals with our allies who have the technology and skills that are crucial to this industry. [1/3]" (November 3, 2025).
China's dominance in global commercial ship production has been well documented over recent years; as of early 2024, Chinese shipyards produced more than half of all new vessels worldwide—a trend that has raised concerns among U.S. policymakers regarding both economic competitiveness and national security interests.
Recent legislative actions referenced by Senator Sullivan include substantial federal investments directed toward bolstering naval capabilities and modernizing fleet infrastructure through bipartisan measures.
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