The closely divided 117th Congress has tended to
bunch its maritime policy changes into several large, consolidated
"must pass" legislative vehicles at the close of the
year. In late December 2022, Congress passed the James M. Inhofe
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2023,1 with the final, agreed version of the Coast Guard
Authorization Act previewed in last quarter's Window on
Washington appended to it, and a final, year-end omnibus
funding measure, the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2023.2 Both pieces of legislation include numerous
provisions of consequence to the maritime industry.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
The National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA")
includes a boost for shipbuilding. The measure authorizes $32.6
billion for Navy shipbuilding, an increase of $4.7 billion, for the
procurement of 11 battle force ships, three Arleigh
Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class
submarines, two expeditionary
