Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced the Smart Ship Repair Act (SSRA) of 2025, a follow-up to Rep. Peters’ SSRA of 2023 and SSRA of 2024, which have both become law. This iteration of the SSRA would increase the amount of time a ship is allowed to stay in its homeport for repairs before the Navy can move a ship and its crew to other locations for maintenance work. 

The SSRA of 2025 would require the Navy to change its current practice of soliciting ship repair contracts on a coast-wide basis for work periods longer than 12 months to only those that are projected to last more than 18 months. Currently, ships homeported in San Diego that need more than 12 months of maintenance could be moved to other facilities along the West Coast if the Navy receives a more cost -effective bid from other companies to perform the work.  This makes it difficult for San Diego’s ship repair industry to recruit and maintain its workforce and invest in its facilities. It also forces sailors to possibly spend their time ashore away from their families after long deployments at sea. 

“San Diego is home to a vibrant ship repair industry that employs nearly 8,000 workers and supports the Navy’s force posture in the Asia-Pacific,” said Rep. Peters. “This bill will help protect those jobs and support a high quality of life for sailors and their families while also ensuring the Navy can meet its ship repair needs as it prepares for the threats of the future.” 

“From 2014 to 2024, the Navy’s surface fleet in Hampton Roads decreased from 48 to 28 vessels, creating challenges for our ship repair industry and causing a 30% workforce reduction,” said Rep. Kiggans. “One of the best ways we can support our Navy and bolster our ship repair industry is to ensure our ships are repaired within their homeports. I am proud to introduce this important legislation that will support the highly skilled men and women who repair our ships, strengthen our maritime industrial base, and provide a better quality of life for our servicemembers.” 

“PSDSRA enthusiastically supports the proposed legislation to extend the coast wide bid threshold to 18 months,” said Gordon Rutherford, President, Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association. “This not only keeps work in San Diego that supports all of our businesses, it also provides stability and better quality of life for the crews of San Diego based ships who already spend enough time away from home in defense of our country.” 

“Austal USA appreciates Congressman Peters continued efforts to support and bring stability to the ship repair industry in San Diego,” said Larry Ryder, Vice President of Business Development & External Affairs at Austal USA. “The Smart Ship Repair Act of 2024 will help San Diego continue to provide world class ship repair services to the U.S. Navy and support jobs in San Diego.” 

“BAE Systems appreciates Congressman Peters’ and Congresswoman Kiggans’ continued leadership in support of U.S Navy ship maintenance,” said Paul Smith, Vice President and General Manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair. “We believe the Smart Ship Repair Act of 2025 further enhances predictability and stability for necessary naval repair work. This would allow sailors to remain close to home during repair periods up to 18 months, while preserving shipyard worker jobs in the Navy’s key homeports.” 

According to the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association, the San Diego shipbuilding and repair industry contributed more than $3.7 billion to the region’s economy in 2023. The nearly 8,000 jobs in the industry support an estimated additional 7,430 jobs in related industries and the local economy. Nearly $474.8 million in tax revenues were generated by shipbuilding and ship repair in 2023. Approximately $307.1 million went to the federal government and $167.7 million went to state and local governments.  

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