Adams and Reese and SCA Applaud Launch of White House Office of Shipbuilding

President Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday included a historic moment for the shipyard industry as he announced the creation of the White House Office of Shipbuilding. Trump said the new office will revitalize the industry, bolster American naval strength, boost our defense industrial base, and create tax incentives to grow commercial and military shipbuilding work.

Since 2015, Adams & Reese has represented the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national trade association that represents more than 140 member companies that build, repair, maintain, modernize, and supply ships for the U.S. military and other commercial vessels. The SCA has advocated for a strong U.S. maritime industry and American shipyard industrial base since its founding in 1920.

Adams & Reese DC Office Partner in Charge Matt Paxton currently serves as SCA President, and he has held that leadership role since 2007. Following President Trump’s announcement, Paxton released the following statement:

“Since the founding days of our nation, the U.S. shipyard industry and industrial base has played a central role in national and domestic security and remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining our nation’s security vessels while building the fleet of the future. We applaud the creation of the White House Office of Shipbuilding, and the entire shipyard industrial base not only stands ready to work with the new Office of U.S. Shipbuilding, but we are also ready to answer the call to design and build America’s commercial and military fleets. By fully utilizing the existing domestic shipyard capacity, the shipyard industrial base can meet the growing demands of national defense, restore American competitiveness, and create thousands of skilled jobs in communities across the nation. Strengthening the industry-government collaboration is the key to reaching any demand signal to ensure that America remains a global leader in maritime power for decades to come.” 

Paxton’s press statement was featured in national and maritime industry publications, including Navy Times, Maritime Executive, Maritime Magazine, Marine Log, TradeWinds, Yahoo, WorkBoat, among others. His statement was also tweeted by the White House Rapid Response Team. Paxton and Adams & Reese GR Advisor Paula Zorensky were interviewed by the Associated Press in a story that will be published soon. Zorensky serves as SCA Vice President, and Adams & Reese GR Advisor Davis Gaddy serves as SCA Director of Government Relations.

Through their work with the SCA, Paxton, Zorensky, and Gaddy facilitate discussions between Congress, the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps, the U.S. Coast Guard, and others on industry policies; assist companies with business operations; and represent members at the federal level. In fact, the week prior to Trump’s announcement, Paxton testified during the House Armed Services Committee hearing on “Strengthening the U.S. Industrial Base.”

Click here to view the SCA LinkedIn post on Paxton’s Congressional hearing