I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2984 
To amend title 46, United States Code, to assist in the defense of United 
States mariners and vessels against piracy, to ensure the traditional 
right of self-defense of those vessels against piracy, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 19, 2009 
Mr. LOBIONDO (for himself, Mr. MICA, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, and Mr. 
COBLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, 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 amend title 46, United States Code, to assist in the 
defense of United States mariners and vessels against 
piracy, to ensure the traditional right of self-defense 
of those vessels against piracy, 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 ‘‘United States Mariner 
and Vessel Protection Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of the Act is to assist in the defense 
of United States-flag vessels against piracy and to ensure 
the traditional right of self-defense of those vessels against 
piracy. 
SEC. 3. USE OF MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAMS 
TO DEFEND UNITED STATES-FLAG VESSELS 
IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. 
Section 70106 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to authorities 
provided under this section, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may deploy a maritime safety and se-
curity team on a temporary basis, not to exceed six 
months, to deter, protect against, and rapidly re-
spond to acts of piracy against vessels (as defined in 
section 70122) in international waters. 
‘‘(2) NOTIFICATION OF CONGRESS.—The Com-
mandant shall notify the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 10 
days after the deployment of a maritime safety and 
security team authorized under this subsection.’’. 
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with respect to an act or omission arising out of a 
use of force authorized under regulations under sub-
section (a), an individual shall be treated as an em-
ployee of the Federal Government under chapter 
171 of title 28, relating to tort claims procedure. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION.—The limi-
tations on liability described in paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3) apply only if the individual who uses force 
authorized under regulations under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(A) holds a license issued under section 
7101 or a merchant mariner document issued 
under section 7301; and 
‘‘(B) in a case in which the use of force in-
cluded the use of a firearm, has completed 
training certified by the Coast Guard for use of 
firearms aboard vessels. 
‘‘(c) VESSEL DEFINED.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘vessel’ means a vessel for which the Sec-
retary has issued a certificate of inspection under section 
3309 and that is operating in waters designated by the 
Secretary as high-risk waters.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item: 
‘‘70122. Authority to use force.’’. 
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(c) DEADLINES.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall— 
(1) no later than 3 months after the date of en-
actment of this Act, issue regulations under section 
70122(a) of title 46, United States Code, as amend-
ed by this section; and 
(2) in consultation with the Secretary of De-
fense and no later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, issue regulations to certify, 
for purposes of section 70122(b)(4)(B) of such title, 
courses to train on a recurrent basis individuals who 
hold a license issued under section 7101 or a mer-
chant mariner document issued under section 7301 
in the use of firearms aboard vessels. 
SEC. 5. AGREEMENTS. 
To carry out the purpose of this Act, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall work through the International Maritime Organiza-
tion to establish agreements to promote coordinated action 
among flag and port states to deter, protect against, and 
rapidly respond to acts of piracy against the vessels of, 
and in the waters under the jurisdiction of, those nations, 
and to ensure limitations on liability similar to those es-
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tablished by section 70122 of title 46, United States Code, 
as amended by this Act. 
Æ 
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