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Proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund Amendment

Original title: Text of Senate Amendment 6383

Record date · June 24, 2026

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What This Bill Does

Senator Kelly has introduced an amendment to the 2027 defense authorization bill that would create a new 'Maritime Security Trust Fund.' This fund would be financed by specific maritime taxes, trade duties, and vessel-related penalties to support the U.S. merchant marine and maritime industrial base.

Why it matters

This amendment would establish a dedicated federal fund capped at $20 billion to finance U.S. maritime and merchant marine programs using revenue from specific shipping taxes and trade penalties.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

U.S. Merchant Marine

The fund is explicitly established to support programs and activities associated with this group.

Directly affected

Maritime Industrial Base

The fund is explicitly established to support activities associated with this sector.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Maritime Security Trust Fund?

The fund is intended to support programs and activities associated with the United States merchant marine and the maritime industrial base.

Where does the money for this fund come from?

The fund is financed by specific es, duties on vessel repairs, trade penalties related to maritime competition with China, discriminating duties on foreign vessel imports, and various vessel-related fines and forfeiture revenues.

Is there a limit on how much money can be in the fund?

Yes, the total balance of the Maritime Security Trust Fund is capped at $20,000,000,000.

What else do you want to know?

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Related Legislation

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Senate Scheduling Update for S. 4784

The Senate has agreed to delay the vote on a cloture motion for S. 4784 until after the confirmation vote for the Schwartz nomination. This procedural

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift90% confidence

Consolidation of Maritime Revenue

The amendment seeks to centralize various disparate maritime-related taxes, duties, and penalties into a single, dedicated trust fund, signaling a move toward more structured, self-sustaining funding for the merchant marine.

Maritime Security Trust Fund U.S. Merchant Marine

Connected Entities

Kelly, Mr., Mr. Young, United States Trade Representative and 1 more

PersonKelly, Mr.“U.S. Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →

PersonMr. Young“U.S. Senator who co-sponsored the amendment.”Map →

OrganizationUnited States Trade Representative“The agency responsible for imposing duties related to maritime trade disputes.”Map →

locationPeople's Republic of China“Cited in relation to trade duties imposed on the maritime and shipbuilding secto”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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