WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) delivered a letter to U.S. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting full consideration for Louisiana shipyards when awarding shipbuilding contracts.
“We write to encourage the Department of War to give deliberate and sustained consideration to small and mid-sized domestic shipyards, including those in South Louisiana, when awarding shipbuilding, repair, modernization, and sustainment contracts, as the Department works to restore America’s shipbuilding capacity and strengthen the nation’s defense industrial base,” wrote the members.
“Louisiana’s small and mid-sized shipyards already operate in a manner consistent with the Department’s stated aim to prioritize speed, innovation, and a “commercial-first” mindset in defense acquisition. These yards compete daily in fastmoving commercial markets, where success depends on rapid execution, continuous innovation, and disciplined cost control. That operating model enables them to adapt quickly to evolving requirements, integrate new technologies, and deliver complex vessels at pace—capabilities that directly support the Department’s effort to modernize procurement and strengthen the defense industrial base,” continued the members.
Read the full letter here.
