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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Subsidies for Bulk Cargo Ships (1962)

Original title: Subsidies for bulk carriers: hearing before the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, Eighty-seventh Congress, second session, on S.J. Res. 160 and S.J. Res. 166, identical joint resolutions to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to contract pursuant to the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, for the construction of at least two ocean- going ore or coal carriers, March 8, 1962.

July 20, 2026

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing evaluates whether the federal government should provide financial subsidies to support the construction of specific types of bulk cargo vessels, which impacts federal maritime spending and the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Secretary of Commerce

The Secretary would be granted the authority to enter into contracts for ship construction if the resolutions pass.

Domestic shipbuilders

The construction of the proposed ore or coal carriers would involve contracts for the domestic shipbuilding industry.

What changed

Last recorded activity July 20, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 1962 Senate subcommittee hearing regarding two s, S.J. Res. 160 and S.J. Res. 166. The resolutions proposed authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to provide subsidies for the construction of at least two ocean-going ore or coal carriers under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936.

Key Facts

  • The hearing concerns S.J. Res. 160 and S.J. Res. 166, which are identical joint resolutions.
  • The resolutions propose authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to contract for the construction of at least two ocean-going ore or coal carriers.
  • The proposed contracts would be executed pursuant to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended.
  • The hearing was held by the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce.
  • The hearing took place on March 8, 1962, during the second session of the 87th Congress.

Why It Matters

The hearing evaluates whether the federal government should provide financial subsidies to support the construction of specific types of bulk cargo vessels, which impacts federal maritime spending and the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of the March 8, 1962 hearing?
The hearing was held to discuss proposed legislation (S.J. Res. 160 and 166) that would allow the Secretary of Commerce to subsidize the building of at least two large ore or coal cargo ships.
What law governs these proposed subsidies?
The subsidies would be contracted under the authority of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Historical Maritime Subsidy Expansion

The document highlights a specific 1962 effort to expand the scope of the 1936 Merchant Marine Act to include specific bulk carriers.

Connected Entities

otherMerchant Marine Act, 1936The existing law governing maritime subsidies.Map →
personSecretary of CommerceThe official authorized by the resolutions to contract for ship construction.Map →
organizationCommittee on CommerceThe parent committee of the subcommittee.Map →
organizationMerchant Marine and Fisheries SubcommitteeThe Senate subcommittee conducting the hearing.Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz5
    Current news / social attention level

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