Merchant Marine Act of 1936 Law and Legal Definition
The Merchant Marine Act of 1936 (Act) is a U.S. federal legislation enacted to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate and well-balanced American merchant marine for the purpose of promoting the U.S. commerce, aiding national defense, repealing certain former legislation, and for other purposes.
The U.S. Maritime Commission was created pursuant to this Act. Further, the Act established federal subsidies for the construction and operation of merchant ships. U.S. Representative Schyler O. Bland of Virginia was known as the "father of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936."
