Speakers hail Jones Act as ‘win’ after passage of Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025

Speaker 1, Questioner, said the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025 had just passed and called it “a great win” for American shipbuilding and the maritime industry. “You know, just as of yesterday, we passed the, Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025. You know, that's gonna be a great win,” Speaker 1 said.

Speaker 1 told the hearing the Jones Act had strong support during a confirmation hearing and cited economic figures, saying the law “supports 650,000 jobs, a $154,000,000,000 in, in economic output.” “You were very supportive of the Jones Act during your confirmation hearing, which I appreciate it,” Speaker 1 said.

Speaker 2, Respondent, agreed on the law’s role while saying the country should aim to be so competitive that the Jones Act would not be needed. “And by the way, wouldn't it be great if we didn't need the Jones Act? Because we're building so many ships and we're so competitive and we have so many Mariners,” Speaker 2 said. Speaker 2 added that they and others would present proposals, including an executive order and funding ideas, to strengthen U.S. shipbuilding and maritime competitiveness: “EO and I'll have some proposals for all of you on how we can fund it and get back in the game of, control and and owning our seas.”

The exchange in the transcript is discussion; no formal motions, votes or specific legislative actions are recorded in these remarks. The speakers framed the Coast Guard reauthorization and the Jones Act as central to sustaining American maritime jobs and shipbuilding capacity, and one speaker indicated forthcoming proposals to fund and advance that agenda.

The transcript does not identify the speakers by name, does not provide independent verification of the job and economic figures cited, and does not record any committee votes or formal directives in this excerpt.