A bill to prioritize the finalization of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 4630
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T16:28:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation directs the Secretary of the Navy and the Maritime Administrator to prioritize completing design requirements for new vessels in the Ready Reserve Force, a component of the U.S. maritime reserve fleet used for military logistics. It also requires a detailed briefing to Congress on related modernization efforts.
Key Provisions
- Design Prioritization: Requires the Secretary of the Navy and Maritime Administrator to make finalizing design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels a top priority.
- Congressional Briefing: Mandates a briefing to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment, covering:
- Current status of a roll-on/roll-off vessel design referenced from the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
- Plans and timeline for a vessel construction manager program, including procurement strategy, manager selection process, and shipyard selection criteria.
- Funding details for a 10-ship new construction program under existing law (10 U.S.C. 2218(f)), broken down by fiscal year.
- Coordination between the new construction program and an ongoing used vessel procurement program to sustain fleet readiness during transition.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "congressional defense committees" and "Ready Reserve Force" by referencing existing statutes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no direct amendments to current statutes. Instead, it adds new administrative requirements for prioritization and reporting on vessel modernization, building on prior authorizations like the 10-ship program in 10 U.S.C. 2218(f) and design work from the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. It emphasizes timelines and coordination without altering funding or authorities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of the Navy and Maritime Administration in design finalization, program planning, and interagency coordination. May accelerate procurement processes for reserve vessels.
- Citizens and Industry: Could support U.S. shipyards through future construction contracts, potentially creating jobs, though no immediate effects on individuals.
- International Relations: No direct provisions, but improved Ready Reserve Force readiness could enhance U.S. military logistics capabilities in global operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of the Navy and Maritime Administration (primary implementers).
- Congressional defense committees (recipients of required briefings).
- U.S. shipbuilding industry (involved in potential vessel construction and selection processes).
- Ready Reserve Force operators and military logistics planners (beneficiaries of modernized vessels).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill reinforces congressional oversight by requiring specific briefings on defense-related programs, consistent with existing authorities under Title 10 and Title 46 of the U.S. Code. It raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it focuses on executive branch prioritization within established defense frameworks. Politically, it highlights bipartisan support for maritime reserve modernization without introducing new legal disputes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To prioritize the finalization of design requirements for new Ready Reserve Force vessels, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (3 pages)