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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10174 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10174

  To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to 
  support the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of 
 zero-emission vessels and retrofit or replacement of existing vessels 
with zero-emission technologies and charging or fueling infrastructure, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2024

 Ms. Barragan (for herself, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Magaziner, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Bonamici, Mrs. Foushee, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, and Mr. Robert Garcia 
of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the 
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to 
  support the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of 
 zero-emission vessels and retrofit or replacement of existing vessels 
with zero-emission technologies and charging or fueling infrastructure, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ZERO-EMISSION VESSEL INNOVATION FUND.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a 
program to be known as the ``Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation Program'' 
(in this section referred to as the ``Program'') to support the 
research, design, development, demonstration, and deployment of zero-
emission vessels and retrofit or replacement of existing vessels with 
zero-emission technologies and charging or fueling infrastructure.
    (b) Mechanisms.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may 
provide eligible entities with finance mechanisms to support eligible 
projects, including grants, low-interest loans, and loan guarantees.
    (c) Prioritization.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
shall prioritize eligible projects that--
            (1) advance the efficiency and reliability, and reduce the 
        costs, of zero-emission vessel development;
            (2) improve the components, controls, manufacturing, 
        materials, and infrastructure that support zero-emission 
        vessels;
            (3) reduce underwater noise emissions from vessels;
            (4) emphasize technologies with environmental co-benefits 
        such as biofouling reduction;
            (5) advance synergies between offshore renewable energy 
        development and maritime decarbonization and ocean noise, such 
        as through the deployment of zero-emission and quiet offshore 
        wind support vessels;
            (6) utilizes a project labor agreement or community 
        benefits agreement;
            (7) advance environmental justice and engage communities 
        affected by maritime transport in all phases of the project 
        including the development, planning, and execution of the 
        project; and
            (8) support workforce training and development for the 
        research, development, demonstration, deployment, and 
        maintenance of zero-emission and clean alternative fuel vessels 
        and charging or fueling infrastructure.
    (d) Transparency.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall 
make publicly available each year on the website of the Department of 
Transportation applications submitted for funding mechanisms under this 
section, including applications selected and not selected for funding.
    (e) Coordination and Leveraging of Resources.--In carrying out the 
Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
            (1) coordinate with each relevant office in the Department 
        and any other Federal agency;
            (2) leverage existing resources and programs of the 
        Department and other relevant Federal agencies;
            (3) leverage public-private partnerships; and
            (4) engage and solicit input from environmental justice 
        communities and environmental organizations on project impacts 
        and benefits.
    (f) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary may use up to 10 percent 
of the amounts made available to carry out this section for 
administrative costs for carrying out the program under this section.
    (g) Wages.--All laborers and mechanics employed by a subgrantee of 
an eligible entity, and any subgrantee thereof at any tier, to perform 
construction, alteration, installation, or repair work that is 
assisted, in whole or in part, by funding awarded under this section 
shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar 
construction, alteration, installation, or repair work in the locality 
as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter 
IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.
    (h) Funding.--There is authorized to carry out the program under 
this section $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.
    (i) Prohibition.--No funds made available to carry out this section 
shall be spent for the study, design, implementation, or installation 
of automated vessels, automated vessel operating systems, automated 
cargo handling systems on a vessel, or automated cargo handling systems 
for loading or unloading vessels.
    (j) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Automated.--The term ``automated'' means any vessel or 
        cargo handling system that performs any or all core functions 
        without human operation.
            (2) Charging infrastructure.--The term ``charging 
        infrastructure''--
                    (A) means the physical systems, equipment, and 
                facilities necessary to supply electrical power to 
                vessels for the purpose of recharging the batteries or 
                energy storage systems of such vessels; and
                    (B) includes, with respect to zero emission vessel 
                technology, shore power facilities, onshore charging 
                stations, and any associated equipment required to 
                support the electrification of maritime transportation.
            (3) Community benefits agreement.--The term ``community 
        benefits agreement'' means an agreement signed by community 
        groups and an eligible entity, identifying the community or 
        labor benefits the entity agrees to deliver in return for 
        community support or workforce availability for a project.
            (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) an owner or operator of a United States-flagged 
                vessel;
                    (B) a United States based manufacturer of vessels;
                    (C) manufacturers of components, technologies, or 
                materials that support zero-emission and clean 
                alternative fuel vessels;
                    (D) a port authority;
                    (E) a terminal operator at a port; and
                    (F) academic institutions or nonprofit entities in 
                a joint application with an entity listed in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (E).
            (5) Eligible project.--The term ``eligible project'' means 
        a project to support the research, design, demonstration, 
        development, and deployment of--
                    (A) zero-emission vessels;
                    (B) clean alternative fuel vessels;
                    (C) vessel energy efficiency technology (such as 
                wind assistance and systems that minimize underwater 
                noise emissions);
                    (D) shore power and corresponding vessel 
                technology; and
                    (E) zero-emission and clean alternative fuel 
                infrastructure, including bunkering and storage, for 
                vessels.
            (6) Environmental co-benefits.--The term ``environmental 
        co-benefits'' means the additional positive environmental 
        impacts or advantages that arise as a result of implementing a 
        particular policy, technology, or initiative.
            (7) Fueling infrastructure.--The term ``fueling 
        infrastructure'' means the infrastructure and facilities 
        essential for supplying, storing, handling, and distributing 
        alternative fuels or energy sources used for powering vessels.
            (8) Maritime decarbonization.--The term ``maritime 
        decarbonization'' means the process of reducing or eliminating 
        carbon dioxide emissions associated with maritime 
        transportation activities and involves implementing a range of 
        strategies, technologies, and policies aimed at mitigating the 
        environmental impact of shipping operations, including the 
        adoption of alternative fuels, energy efficiency measures, 
        operational improvements, and regulatory measures designed to 
        promote the transition to zero emission vessel technologies.
            (9) Project labor agreement.--The ``project labor 
        agreement'' means a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement 
        with 1 or more labor organization that establishes the terms 
        and conditions of employment for a specific construction 
        project and is described in section 8(f) of the National Labor 
        Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158(f)).
            (10) Clean alternative fuel.--The term ``clean alternative 
        fuel'' means a fuel or energy source that results in at least 
        90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a baseline of 
        conventional marine fossil fuel on a life-cycle (``well-to-
        wake'') basis, measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent 
        emissions per unit of energy, that is proven to be safe for 
        people, communities, and the marine environment.
            (11) Zero-emission vessel.--The term ``zero-emission 
        vessel'' means a vessel that produces zero emissions of any 
        criteria pollutant, precursor pollutant, or greenhouse gas, 
        other than water vapor during its operation, typically by 
        utilizing renewable energy sources such as wind, clean 
        alternative fuels, and efficiency technologies.

SEC. 3. ZERO-EMISSION VESSEL INNOVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination 
with the Executive Director of the Maritime Administration, shall 
establish an advisory committee, to be known as the ``Zero-Emission 
Vessel Innovation Advisory Committee'' (in this section referred to as 
the ``Committee''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Committee shall be composed of not 
        fewer than 15 members, who shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
        in coordination with the Executive Director.
            (2) Representation.--Members appointed pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) not less than 1 representative of each relevant 
                Federal agency, as determined by the Secretary;
                    (B) not less than 2 representatives of labor 
                groups;
                    (C) not less than 3 representatives of the research 
                community, which shall include academia and National 
                Laboratories;
                    (D) not less than 2 representatives of 
                nongovernmental environmental justice organizations;
                    (E) not less than 2 representatives of 
                nongovernmental environmental organizations;
                    (F) not less than 2 representatives of the maritime 
                industry;
                    (G) not less than 2 representatives of the zero-
                emissions fuels industry;
                    (H) not less than 1 representative of a State 
                government;
                    (I) not less than 2 representatives from United 
                States ports; and
                    (J) any other individual whom the Secretary, in 
                coordination with the Director, determines to be 
                necessary to ensure that the Committee is composed of a 
                diverse group of representatives of industry, academia, 
                independent researchers, and public and private 
                entities.
            (3) Chair.--The Secretary shall designate a member of the 
        Committee to serve as Chair.
    (c) Duties.--The Committee shall advise the Secretary and the 
Executive Director with respect to the Zero-Emissions Vessel Innovation 
Fund by--
            (1) identifying and evaluating any zero-emission shipping 
        technologies being developed by the private sector or other 
        Federal agencies;
            (2) identifying technology gaps in the private sector in 
        zero-emissions shipping, and making recommendations to address 
        those gaps through the implementation of the Fund;
            (3) surveying and analyzing factors that prevent the 
        adoption of zero-emission emissions shipping technologies by 
        the private sector;
            (4) recommending technology screening criteria for 
        technology supported under the fund; and
            (5) specifying near-term and long-term qualitative and 
        quantitative objectives relating to the development of zero-
        emissions shipping technologies.
    (d) Meetings.--
            (1) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet not less 
        frequently than 2 times per year, at the call of the Chair.
            (2) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which the members are appointed under subsection (b), the 
        Committee shall hold a first meeting.
    (e) Committee Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 
        3 years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary 
        a report on the progress of achieving the purposes of the 
        program described in section 2(a).
            (2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) a description of any technology innovation 
                opportunities identified by the Committee;
                    (B) a description of any technology gaps identified 
                by the Committee;
                    (C) an evaluation of the progress of the program 
                and the research, development, and demonstration 
                activities funded;
                    (D) an assessment of the extent to which progress 
                has been made under the program in developing 
                commercial, cost-competitive zero-emission shipping 
                technologies; and
                    (E) an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
                program in coordinating efforts within the Department 
                and with other Federal agencies to achieve the purposes 
                of the program.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 60 days after receiving a 
report from the Committee under subsection (e), the Secretary shall 
submit a copy of such report to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
                                 <all>
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