46 U.S.C. § 54101 Assistance For Small Shipyards

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 46 U.S.C. § 54101

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.-Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall execute agreements with shipyards to provide assistance-

(1) in the form of grants, loans, and loan guarantees to small shipyards for capital improvements; and

(2) for maritime training programs to foster technical skills and operational productivity relating to shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.

(b) AWARDS.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-In providing assistance under the program, the Administrator shall consider projects that foster-

(A) efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration; and

(B) employee skills and enhanced productivity related to shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.

(2) TIMING OF GRANT NOTICE.-The Administrator shall post a Notice of Funding Opportunity regarding grants awarded under this section not more than 15 days after the date of enactment of the appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned.

(3) TIMING OF GRANTS.-The Administrator shall award grants under this section not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned.

(4) REUSE OF UNEXPENDED GRANT FUNDS.-Notwithstanding paragraph (3), amounts awarded as a grant under this section that are not expended by the grantee shall remain available to the Administrator for use for grants under this section.

(c) USE OF FUNDS.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-Assistance provided under this section may be used to-

(A) make capital and related improvements in small shipyards; and

(B) provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.

(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.-Not more than 2 percent of amounts made available to carry out the program may be used for the necessary costs of grant administration.

(d) PROHIBITED USES.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-Grants awarded under this section may not be used to construct buildings or other physical facilities or to acquire land.

(2) BUY AMERICA.-

(A) IN GENERAL.-Subject to subparagraph (B), no funds may be obligated by the Administrator of the Maritime Administration under this section, unless each product and material purchased with those funds (including products and materials purchased by a grantee), and including any commercially available off-the-shelf item, is-

(i) an unmanufactured article, material, or supply that has been mined or produced in the United States; or

(ii) a manufactured article, material, or supply that has been manufactured in the United States substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States.