Congressman Clay Higgins, along with Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, has urged the U.S. Department of War to consider Louisiana shipyards for upcoming shipbuilding contracts. In a letter addressed to Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers highlighted the importance of supporting small and mid-sized domestic shipyards in South Louisiana.
“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.
The letter emphasized that these Louisiana-based yards align with departmental goals by focusing on speed, innovation, and a commercial-first approach. “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.
Clay Higgins has represented Louisiana’s 3rd congressional district since 2017 after succeeding Charles Boustany. He was previously a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Born in New Orleans in 1961, Higgins currently resides in Lafayette.
