A bipartisan bill offered on June 5 by U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) aims to address housing availability for the skilled civilian workforce that often cannot afford to live near their places of employment at America’s four public naval shipyards.
“The strength of our Navy depends on the strength of our shipbuilding workforce, and that includes making sure workers can afford to live near the yards where they serve our national security mission,” Rep. Kiggans said, noting that the bill will help “break down housing barriers and support the skilled men and women who keep our fleet ready.”
“Whether it’s in Norfolk or across the country, this bill will improve workforce stability, readiness, and retention,” added the congresswoman.
Rep. Kiggans sponsored the Defense Shipyard Workforce Housing Act of 2025, H.R. 3772, with four original cosponsors, including Rep. Bacon and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI), to require the U.S. Department of Defense to study the feasibility of providing apartment-style or dormitory housing for civilian defense workers at the four public naval shipyards.
“A civilian workforce is important to maintaining a strong naval fleet and currently our four public shipyards are facing recruitment and retention challenges because of the lack of affordable housing near these sites,” said Rep. Bacon. “This study will look at the feasibility, economic and workforce benefits, building and operational costs, as well as other issues to determine the impact on affordable housing for these employees.”
The study under H.R. 3772 would have to examine construction, leasing, or operation costs and explore paycheck-deducted rent models; identify legal barriers and develop legislative recommendations; include an assessment of workforce impacts such as morale, productivity, recruitment, and retention; and require at least two locations to be selected for in-depth case studies, among other provisions.
The bill has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.