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# Legislative Bulletin.................................................April 24, 2008

**Contents:**

**H.R. 2830---** Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007

H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act (sponsored by Rep.
Oberstar, D-MN), is scheduled to be considered on the House floor on
Wednesday, April 24, 2008, subject to a structured rule ([**H.Res.
1126**](http://www.rules.house.gov/SpecialRules_details.aspx?NewsID=3308)),
making in order the following 15 amendments.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill,
except those regarding PAYGO and earmarks, waives all points of order
against the bill itself---except the PAYGO rule---and allows the Chair
to postpone consideration of the legislation at any time during its
consideration. The rule allows one motion to recommit with or without
instructions.

[Note]{.underline}: The summaries below are based on RSC staff review of
*actual amendment text* and thus differ from what's on the Rules
Committee website. For a summary of the underlying bill, see a separate
RSC document released today.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Brad Watson;
<brad.watson@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9719

**AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE RULE**

**1. *Oberstar (D-MN). ***The amendment adds a new section to the bill
requiring the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy to "prescribe a
policy on sexual harassment and sexual violence applicable to the cadets
and other personnel of the academy." The policy is to include programs
to promote rape awareness, procedures that a cadet should follow in case
of an occurrence of sexual harassment, an annual assessment on the
effectiveness of the Academy's policies, and an annual report. The
amendment also allows the Secretary to issues regulations requiring
pilots to carry a portable electronic device that is "equipped for
navigational purposes and capable of being connected to the Automatic
Identification System." The amendment also requires the EPA to conduct a
study on an underground petroleum spill in New York.

**2. LaTourette (R-OH)/Boustany (R-LA).** The amendment amends section
720 of the bill to allow the Coast Guard, when making a determination of
whether the Coast Guard has the ability to secure an Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) site, to consider the state and local resources available to
assist in securing the site.

**3. *Matsui (D-CA)*/Poe (R-TX)/*Maloney (D-NY)*/Shays (R-CT)*.*** The
amendment requires the Secretary to make available on the internet the
accounting of missing persons and alleged crimes committed on cruise
ships required by section 711 of H.R. 2830.

**4. Poe (R-TX)*.*** The amendment would state the findings of Congress
that "operating or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible vessel
without nationality and on an international voyage is a serious
international problem... and presents a specific threat to the safety of
maritime navigation and the security of the United States." The
amendment makes it a federal crime (carrying a penalty of up to 20 years
in prison) to operate and embark in any submersible or semi-submersible
vessel that is without nationality.

**5. *McNerney (D-CA).*** The amendment states that the provisions in
H.R. 2830 governing the marine safety mission of the Coast Guard shall
not impair the legal authority of the Coast Guard to carry out its
homeland security missions.

**6. Bilirakis (R-FL).** The amendment amends section 708 of the bill on
Maritime Biometric Identification, to change the underlying bill's
provision granting the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to
establish a Maritime Biometric Identification program, to a requirement
that the program be established.

***7. Markey (D-MA).*** The amendment requires the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission to respond to the Secretary's determination that a
proposed waterside liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility is suitable or
unsuitable for the marine traffic associated with the LNG facility by
informing the Secretary within 90 days of what action the Commission has
taken regarding a proposal to construct and operate a waterside LNG
facility

**8. *Lofgren (D-CA). ***The amendment authorizes the Secretary of
Homeland Security to use a secondary authentication system for
individuals applying for transportation security cards when fingerprints
are not able to be taken or read to enhance transportation security.

**9. *Bishop (D-NY). ***The amendment requires the Secretary to issue a
report to Congress on "the extent to which state and local law
enforcement entities are augmenting of Coast Guard resources."

**10. Broun (R-GA)*. *** The amendment strikes titles X (appeals to
national transportation safety board) and XI (marine safety) from the
bill.

**11. *Cuellar (D-TX)*.** The amendment requires the Secretary to
conduct a mission requirement analysis for the navigable portions of the
Rio Grande River.

**12. Kirk (R-IL)*. ***According to the sponsor, the amendment would
include vessels that operate exclusively in the Great Lakes ecosystem
amongst vessels that would be required to have a ballast water treatment
system, at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture.

**13. Smith (R-TX).** The amendment adds a new title to the bill
increasing federal penalties for Alien Smuggling to up to 5 years in
prison.

**14. *Jackson-Lee (D-TX). ***The amendment would require the Secretary
of Homeland Security to prepare an assessment of the enrollment sites
for transportation security cards including the feasibility of keeping
the enrollment sites open 24 hours per day and seven days a week, and
the feasibility of keeping the enrollment sites open to September 25,
2008.

**15. *Stupak (D-MI). ***The amendment authorizes the Commandant of the
Coast Guard to convey to the city of Maquette, Michigan the "Coast Guard
Station Marquette and Lighthouse Point."