Set Sail Safely Act

To establish a Maritime Task Force and a private sector advisory committee to address the health, safety, security, and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel, including the resumption of cruise operations, in United States waters during the COVID–19 public health emergency. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Set Sail Safely Act 2. Maritime Task Force (a) Establishment Upon enactment of the Set Sail Safely Act (b) Membership (1) In general The Maritime Task Force shall consist of the following members, or their designees: (A) The Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall serve as the chair of the Task Force. (B) The Secretary of Commerce. (C) The Secretary of Transportation. (D) The Secretary of Health and Human Services. (E) The Commandant of the Coast Guard. (F) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (G) The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. (H) The Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (I) The Secretary of State. (J) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (K) The Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. (L) The Chair of the National Economic Council of the United States. (c) Duties (1) In General The Maritime Task Force shall meet in-person or virtually during the duration of the COVID–19 public health emergency to develop a plan containing information about the requirements and protocols that each Federal agency represented on the Maritime Task Force will implement to address the health, safety, security, and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel in United States waters during the COVID–19 public health emergency, and with respect to the resumption of cruise operations and increased passenger maritime travel after the COVID–19 public health emergency ends. (2) Private sector advisory committee recommendations Not more than— (A) 10 days after receiving the written recommendations from the private sector advisory committee under section 3(c), the Secretary shall call an in-person or virtual meeting between the private sector advisory committee and the Maritime Task Force; (B) 10 days after the meeting under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish the plan required under paragraph (1) in the Federal Register; and (C) 30 days after the publication of such plan in the Federal Register, each Federal agency represented on the Maritime Task Force shall begin implementing the plan developed under paragraph (1), including taking necessary administrative actions to implement the requirements and protocols of the plan. (d) COVID–19 public health emergency The term COVID–19 public health emergency 42 U.S.C. 247d 3. Private Sector Advisory Committee (a) In General Not later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall nominate representatives to a private sector advisory committee to work in consultation with the Maritime Task Force. (b) Composition The private sector advisory committee shall consist of the following members: (1) Two representatives from the passenger cruise line industry. (2) One representative from the harbor pilots industry. (3) Two representatives from longshoremen unions. (4) One representative from the travel agent industry. (5) One representative from a port council. (6) One representative from vessel and cargo operations. (7) One representative from commercial fishermen. (8) One representative from a small business whose primary income is derived from working with a port or cruise company. (9) One representative who is a nongovernmental medical health professional with expertise in infectious diseases. (c) Duties Not later than 15 days after the appointment of all members of the private sector advisory committee, the private sector advisory committee shall submit written recommendations to the Maritime Task Force established under section 2 on policies and procedures to be adopted for the safe resumption of the cruise line industry during and after the COVID–19 public health emergency, including providing recommendations about— (1) best scientific practices; (2) measures adopted in other travel industries that may be adapted for the cruise line industry; and (3) general matters affecting the safe and reasonable resumption of cruise line activity. (d) Administration (1) Employee status A member of the private sector advisory committee shall not be considered an employee of the Federal Government by reason of service on such committee, except for the purposes of the following: (A) Chapter 81 (B) Chapter 171 (2) Acceptance of volunteer services Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a member of the private sector advisory committee shall serve on such committee on a voluntary basis without pay. (3) Status of members With respect to a member of the committee whom the Secretary of Homeland Security appoints to represent an entity or group— (A) the member is authorized to represent the interests of the applicable entity or group; and (B) requirements under Federal law that would interfere with such representation and that apply to a special Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18), including requirements relating to employee conduct, political activities, ethics, conflicts of interest, and corruption, do not apply to the member. (4) Service on committee (A) Prohibition The Secretary of Homeland Security shall not seek, consider, or otherwise use information concerning the political affiliation of an appointee in making an appointment to the committee. (B) Service at pleasure of the Secretary Each member of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Homeland Security. (5) Security background examinations The Secretary of Homeland Security may require an individual to have passed an appropriate security background examination before appointment to the committee. (6) Prohibition A Federal employee may not be appointed as a member of the committee. (7) Staff services The Secretary of Homeland Security shall furnish to the committee any staff and services considered by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be necessary for the conduct of the committee’s functions. (8) Termination The Committee shall terminate upon conclusion of COVID–19 public health emergency, as defined in section 2(d). 4. No funding authorized The Secretary of Homeland Security shall carry out this Act using amounts appropriated or otherwise available to the Secretary.

Summary: Set Sail Safely Act This bill establishes a Maritime Task Force to address the health, safety, security, and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel, including the resumption of cruise operations, in United States waters during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. The task force must consist of members from several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Transportation. It must work together with input from private sector stakeholders to develop a plan about policies and procedures that need to be adopted for the safe resumption of the cruise line industry during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency.