Textual note taken from Association for Materials Protection and Performance on Oct 31, 2025
Houston, Texas – (October 28, 2025) — The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the world’s leading authority on corrosion control, coatings, and materials performance, today voiced its strong support for continued bipartisan efforts to advance the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, a legislative initiative designed to rebuild the U.S. commercial shipbuilding and maritime industrial base.
The announcement follows today’s hearing, “Sea Change: Reviving Commercial Shipbuilding,” held by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) have long championed this hearing to highlight the urgent need for a stronger domestic maritime industry that supports national security, supply chain resilience, and economic growth.
AMPP submitted a statement for the Congressional record, entered by Senator Young, reaffirming the association’s commitment to the goals of the SHIPS for America Act and emphasizing the critical role of corrosion prevention, workforce development, and materials innovation in sustaining U.S. maritime competitiveness.
Rebuilding the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base will require broad-based support from across the maritime community. The SHIPS for America Act represents a pragmatic and forward-looking blueprint to strengthen domestic capacity, enhance fleet readiness, and create high-skilled American jobs. AMPP stands ready to contribute its technical expertise, training programs, and standards to ensure that corrosion prevention and materials performance remain at the heart of this national effort.
Kern Williams, AMPP Manager of Government Relations.
In its statement, AMPP outlined three core recommendations to advance the intent of the legislation:
- Sustain Workforce Investments – Expand and fund technical training, apprenticeships, and third-party certification in critical maritime trades such as coating application, inspection, and cathodic protection.
- Prioritize Maritime Materials Performance – Ensure the proposed Center for Maritime Innovation focuses on full lifecycle cost assessments that account for corrosion protection and materials reliability.
- Embed Corrosion Prevention Across Shipbuilding – Integrate corrosion management and materials performance requirements from design through sustainment to extend asset life, improve safety, and reduce total ownership cost.
AMPP’s members work every day to protect infrastructure, ensure asset integrity, and extend the life of materials critical to public safety and economic resilience. The SHIPS for America Act aligns directly with that work and represents a historic opportunity to restore U.S. leadership in shipbuilding.
Kern Williams, AMPP Manager of Government Relations.
For more information on AMPP’s legislative agenda, visit: Legislative Agenda – AMPP
ABOUT AMPP
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is a global leader dedicated to the protection of assets and the performance of industrial and natural materials. Established in 2021, AMPP brings together nearly 150 years of combined expertise from legacy organizations to advance solutions that enhance safety, security, and sustainability across industries. Serving more than 38,500 members in over 150 countries, AMPP is the largest organization of its kind, providing innovative standards, certifications, training, and resources. Headquartered in the United States with offices in Houston and Pittsburgh, AMPP also operates regional offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai (training center), Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom
Source: AMPP