The American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) has joined the USA Shipbuilding Coalition, expanding the coalition's membership as industry groups continue pushing for federal policies aimed at rebuilding the U.S. maritime industrial base.
The coalition, a labor-management partnership representing shipbuilders, manufacturers, suppliers and maritime organizations, has been advocating for measures including the SHIPS for America Act, the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the Trump administration's Maritime Action Plan. Supporters say the initiatives would increase domestic shipbuilding capacity, strengthen supply chains, expand the maritime workforce and improve U.S. economic and national security.
"ASSA's joining significantly strengthens the Coalition as well as our economy and national security," said Michael Wessel, president of the USA Shipbuilding Coalition. "Domestic suppliers are the backbone of the maritime sector and are key to revitalizing America's capabilities."
ASSA said its membership reflects the growing emphasis on strengthening the domestic industrial base beyond shipyards alone, noting that U.S. manufacturers supply the equipment, systems, materials and technology required for both commercial and naval vessel construction.
"America has an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen its maritime industrial base, and shipbuilding suppliers must be part of that conversation from the very beginning," said Roger Camp, president and CEO of ASSA. "Thousands of American manufacturers provide the systems, equipment, materials, and technology that are essential to every ship our shipyards build — suppliers are not just a link in the chain, we are the foundation of it."
Camp said the association's participation in the coalition will help ensure suppliers are represented as lawmakers and the administration develop long-term maritime policies.
The coalition has been actively supporting congressional action on the FY2027 NDAA and the administration's Maritime Action Plan, advocating for sustained investment, industrial growth and workforce development to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding.
ASSA said it will use its role in the coalition to advocate for policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing, encourage investment throughout the shipbuilding supply chain and reinforce the role suppliers play in supporting both commercial shipbuilding and national defense.
