Legal Action & Relevant Information
Public Law
92-296
A brief summary: This authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to purchase the SS United States, as is, where is, at the depreciated cost of the vessel to the owner.
History:
11/04/1971 - Introduced in the House
11/05/1971 - Reported to the House from the Committee on Merchant Marine Fisheries, H. Rept. 92-617.
12/01/1971 - Passed/Agreed to in the House
04/25/1972 - Reported to the Senate from the Committee on Commerce, S. Rept. 92-758.
05/02/1972 - Passed the Senate/Agreed to in the Senate
05/16/1972 - Became public law
The full law can be found within our Federal Complaint in Exhibit 5 by tapping here.
Public Law
94-536
A brief summary: This amends Public Law 92-296 to include an allowable use of acquiring the SS United States as a floating hotel (or other uses) in US Waters.
History:
04/13/1976 - Introduced in the House and Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
07/13/1976 - Reported to the House from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, H. Rept. 94-1339.
07/19/1976 - Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in the House. Measure was then considered in the House. The measure then passed the House, roll call #510 (370-6).
07/20/1976 - Referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce.
10/01/1976 - Committee on Commerce discharged in the Senate. Measure was then considered in the Senate. The measure then passed the Senate.
10/05/1976 - Measure enrolled in the House
10/06/1976 - Measure enrolled in the Senate and the measure was then presented to President Gerald Ford.
10/17/1976 - President Gerald Ford signed 94-536 into Public Law
The full law can be found within our Federal Complaint in Exhibit 5 by tapping here.
SHIPS Act & President Trump’s
American Shipbuilding Initiative
“[The SHIPS Act] represents a comprehensive approach to revitalizing the U.S. Merchant Marine by establishing national oversight and consistent funding for U.S. maritime policy, making U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in international commerce by cutting red tape, rebuilding the U.S. shipyard industrial base, and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment, training, and retention.”
The SS United States is the embodiment of US Shipbuilding.
The vessel was built in the US, with US materials, by US labor - in partnership with our military. She bears the name of our country, the colors of our flag, and still proudly holds the record for fastest ocean liner more than seven decades after taking it. The “Big U” has transported Presidents, Celebrities, and even the Mona Lisa - there is no ship which inspires the American public quite like this. Preserving this icon of US shipbuilding capabilities allows us to promote the might of our maritime engineering while educating the public on the history and future of US built vessels, acting as an inspiration for the next generation of our revitalized US shipbuilders.
“To boost our defense industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding.
And for that purpose, I am announcing tonight that we will create a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs.
We used to make so many ships. We don’t make them anymore very much, but we’re going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact.”- President Donald Trump, in his speech to Congress, on March 4, 2025
We’re asking President Trump to save the SS United States from being lost to history.
Join us by writing your own letter to the White House by tapping here.