I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1964
To authorize appropriations for the Maritime Administration for fiscal year
1994, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 4, 1993
Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Mr. STUDDS, Mr. BATEMAN, Mr. FIELDS of Texas,
and Mr. TAUZIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the Maritime Administration
for fiscal year 1994, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maritime Administra-
tion Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994’’.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR MARITIME ADMINISTRA-
TION.
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.—In fiscal year 1994, the fol-
lowing amounts are authorized to be appropriated for the
Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation):
(1) Any amounts necessary to liquidate obliga-
tions under operating-differential subsidy contracts
for the fiscal year 1994 portion of the total contract
authority.
(2) $41,013,000 for expenses related to man-
power, education, and training, including—
(A) $28,877,000 for maritime training at
the United States Merchant Marine Academy at
Kings Point, New York;
(B) $10,344,000 for assistance to the
State maritime academies (including for reim-
bursement of fuel cost associated with the oper-
ation of training vessels), of which $1,200,000
may be used for training simulators for the
State maritime academies; and
(C) $1,792,000 for manpower and addi-
tional training.
(3) $30,713,000 for operating programs, in-
cluding—
(A) $19,989,000 for general administra-
tion;
(B) $8,983,000 for development and use of
water transportation systems; and
(C) $1,741,000 for research, technology,
and analysis.
(4) $254,355,000 for expenses related to na-
tional security support capabilities, including—
(A) $6,937,000 for the National Defense
Reserve Fleet;
(B) $1,418,000 for emergency planning
and operations; and
(C) $246,000,000 for the Ready Reserve
Force, including—
(i) $242,000,000 for maintenance and
operations programs in support of the
Ready Reserve Force; and
(ii) $4,000,000 for Ready Reserve
Force facilities.
(5) $4,000,000 to pay administrative costs re-
lated to new loan guarantee commitments under title
XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App.
U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), relating to Federal ship mort-
gage insurance.
(6) $50,000,000 for costs (as that term is de-
fined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform
Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) of new loan guarantee
commitments under title XI of the Merchant Marine
Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1271 et seq.).
(b) USE OF PROCEEDS OF SALES.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation may use proceeds derived from the sale or disposal
of National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels that are cur-
rently collected and retained by the Maritime Administra-
tion for facility and ship maintenance, modernization and
repair, acquisition of equipment, training simulators, and
fuel costs necessary to maintain training at the United
States Merchant Marine Academy and the State maritime
academies.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SHIPBUILDING ENHANCEMENT INSTI-
TUTES.
(a) DESIGNATION
BY SECRETARY
OF TRANSPOR-
TATION.—The Secretary of Transportation may designate
National Shipbuilding Enhancement Institutes.
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities undertaken by such an
Institute may include—
(1) vessel construction and repair technology
development with an emphasis on improving the pro-
ductivity of United States shipyards through innova-
tive design, engineering, or operations;
(2) enhancing the international competitiveness
of domestic shipyards in ship construction and re-
pair;
(3) documenting and forecasting international
and domestic trends in ship construction and repair;
(4) fostering innovations in the domestic ship-
building marketing system; and
(5) providing technical support on shipbuilding
practices.
(c) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS.—An institution
seeking designation as a National Shipbuilding Enhance-
ment Institute shall submit an application under regula-
tions prescribed by the Secretary.
(d) DESIGNATION CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall
designate an Institute under this section on the basis of
the following criteria:
(1) The research and extension resources avail-
able to the designee for carrying out the activities
specified in subsection (b).
(2) The existence of an established program of
the designee encompassing research, education, and
training directed to enhancing shipbuilding indus-
tries.
(3) The ability of the designee to assemble and
evaluate pertinent information from national and
international sources and to disseminate results of
shipbuilding industry research and educational pro-
grams.
(4) The qualification of the designee as a non-
profit institution of maritime or higher education.
(e) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make an award, on
a matching basis, to any institute designated under sub-
section (a), from amounts appropriated.
SEC. 4. REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN FEES BY STATE
MARITIME ACADEMIES.
(a) CONDITION OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 1304(d) of
the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C.
1295c(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an agreement
under this subsection shall require a State maritime acad-
emy to reimburse each qualified individual for any fee or
charge for which the individual is liable to the United
States for—
‘‘(i) the issuance of an entry level license under
chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code;
‘‘(ii) the first issuance of a merchant mariner’s
document under chapter 73 of that title;
‘‘(iii) an evaluation or examination for such a li-
cense or merchant mariner’s document conducted
before the end of the period described in subpara-
graph (D)(ii); or
‘‘(iv) an application for such a license, mer-
chant mariner’s document, evaluation, or examina-
tion.
‘‘(B) A State maritime academy shall reimburse
qualified individuals under subparagraph (A) to the extent
amounts are available under subparagraph (C).
‘‘(C) In addition to annual payments under para-
graph (1)(A) and subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Secretary shall annually pay to each State mari-
time academy that enters into an agreement under para-
graph (1) amounts to reimburse qualified individuals
under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(D) In this paragraph, the term ‘qualified individ-
ual’ means an individual who—
‘‘(i) is attending or is a graduate of a State
maritime academy;
‘‘(ii) fulfills the requirements for a license or
merchant mariner’s document described in subpara-
graph (A) not later than three months after the date
the individual graduates from a State maritime
academy; and
‘‘(iii) is liable for a fee or charge described in
subparagraph (A).’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) is effective October 1, 1993.
(c) AMENDMENT OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS.—As
soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall amend agree-
ments under section 1304(d) of the Merchant Marine Act,
1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1295c(d)) pursuant to the amend-
ment made by subsection (a).
(d) ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.—
In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated for
assistance to State maritime academies, there is author-
ized to be appropriated $300,000 for Fiscal Year 1994
to reimburse qualified individuals pursuant to the amend-
ment made by subsection (a).
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MARITIME ENHANCEMENT INSTITUTES.
Section 8(e) of the Act of October 13, 1989 (46 App.
U.S.C. 1121–2(e)), is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(e) The Secretary may make awards on an equal
or partial matching basis to an Institute designated under
subsection (a) from amounts appropriated.’’.
SEC. 6. REPEAL OF CONDITION FOR STATE MARITIME
ACADEMY ASSISTANCE.
Section 1304(f)(1) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936
(46 App. 1295c(f)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘; and’’
and inserting a period; and
(3) by repealing subparagraph (C).
SEC. 7. MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS FOR NATIONAL DE-
FENSE RESERVE FLEET VESSELS.
The Secretary of Transportation may enter into a
contract for the maintenance of the National Defense Re-
serve Fleet, including the Ready Reserve Force, only for—
(1) the repair, activation, operation, berthing,
towing, or lay-up of a vessel;
(2) a vessel used by a State maritime academy;
or
(3) obtaining maintenance technical services
when—
(A) the technical expertise required for
that service is beyond the capabilities of the
Fleet staff or when the Fleet has insufficient
personnel resources to adequately maintain the
Fleet; and
(B) the contract does not result in reduc-
ing employment at the Fleet site.
SEC. 8. MAINTENANCE OF READY RESERVE FORCE VES-
SELS IN REDUCED OPERATING STATUS.
The Secretary shall, during fiscal year 1994, main-
tain in a reduced operating status—
(1) at least 29 vessels in the Ready Reserve
Force component of the National Defense Reserve
Fleet, or