WASHINGTON – In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Matthew Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) today cited the proven track record of the men and women of the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry as he described the capability and capacity of the industry to build and maintain a 355-ship Navy as well as the future of the U.S. flagged maritime industry. 

"Building and sustaining the larger required Fleet is achievable and our industry stands ready to help achieve that important national security objective," said Paxton during testimony. 

Mr. Paxton also cited the 2015 Maritime Administration Economic Benefit study on the U.S. shipyard industry, highlighting the nearly "110,000 skilled men and women directly employed in the Nation’s private shipyards building, repairing and maintaining America's military and commercial fleets.”  The report found “the U.S. shipbuilding industry supports nearly 400,000 total direct and indirect jobs across the country and generates $25.1 billion in income and $37.3 billion worth of goods and services each year." 

The hearing, convened by the House Coast Guard and Maritime Subcommittee and chaired by Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Ranking Member John Garamendi (D-CA), discussed the state of the U.S. flag maritime industry.