H. R. 1585—581 
(4) accelerate efforts to remove as many radioisotope 
thermoelectric generators (RTGs) in the Russian Federation 
as practicable; 
(5) develop a long-term sustainability plan for security 
upgrades that includes, among other things, future resources 
required to implement such a plan; and 
(6) develop a long-term operational plan that ensures suffi-
cient funding for the IRTR program and ensures sufficient 
funding to identify, recover, and secure all vulnerable high- 
risk radiological sources worldwide as quickly and effectively 
as possible. 
SEC. 
3128. 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
ENERGY 
REPORT 
ON 
PLAN 
TO 
STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND MATERIALS PROTECTION, 
CONTROL, AND ACCOUNTING PROGRAM. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress a specific 
plan for strengthening and expanding the Department of Energy 
Materials Protection, Control, and Accounting (MPC&A) program. 
The plan shall address concerns raised and recommendations made 
by the Government Accountability Office in its report of February 
2007, titled ‘‘Progress Made in Improving Security at Russian 
Nuclear Sites, but the Long-Term Sustainability of U.S. Funded 
Security Upgrades is Uncertain’’, and shall specifically include 
actions to— 
(1) strengthen program management and the effectiveness 
of the Department’s efforts to improve security at weapons- 
usable nuclear material and warhead sites in the Russian Fed-
eration and other countries by— 
(A) revising the metrics used to measure MPC&A pro-
gram progress to better reflect the level of security upgrade 
completion at buildings reported as ‘‘secure’’; 
(B) actively working with other countries, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of State, to develop an appropriate 
access plan for each country; and 
(C) developing a management information system to 
track the Department’s progress in providing Russia with 
a sustainable MPC&A system by 2013; and 
(2) develop a long-term operational plan that ensures suffi-
cient funding for the MPC&A program, including for National 
Programs and Sustainability, and ensures sufficient funding 
to secure all weapons-usable nuclear material and warhead 
sites as quickly and effectively as possible. 
SEC. 3129. AGREEMENTS AND REPORTS ON NUCLEAR FORENSICS 
CAPABILITIES. 
(a) INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Title XLIII of the Atomic Energy Defense 
Act (50 U.S.C. 2561 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 4307. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
DATA. 
‘‘The Secretary of Energy may, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of State and in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National 
Intelligence, enter into agreements with countries or international 
organizations to conduct data collection and analysis to determine
H. R. 1585—582 
accurately and in a timely manner the source of any components 
of, or fissile material used or attempted to be used in, a nuclear 
device or weapon. 
‘‘SEC. 4308. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON INFORMATION ON 
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. 
‘‘The Secretary of Energy may, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of State and in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National 
Intelligence, enter into agreements with countries or international 
organizations— 
‘‘(1) to acquire for the materials information program of 
the Department of Energy validated information on the physical 
characteristics of radioactive material produced, used, or stored 
at various locations, in order to facilitate the ability to deter-
mine accurately and in a timely manner the source of any 
components of, or fissile material used or attempted to be 
used in, a nuclear device or weapon; and 
‘‘(2) to obtain access to information described in paragraph 
(1) in the event of— 
‘‘(A) a nuclear detonation; or 
‘‘(B) the interdiction or discovery of a nuclear device 
or weapon or nuclear material.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents at the 
beginning of such Act is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 4306A the following: 
‘‘Sec. 4307. International agreements on nuclear weapons data. 
‘‘Sec. 4308. International agreements on information on radioactive materials.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON AGREEMENTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy 
shall, in coordination with the Secretary of State, submit to Con-
gress a report identifying— 
(1) the countries or international organizations with which 
the Secretary has sought to make agreements pursuant to 
sections 4307 and 4308 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act, 
as added by subsection (a); 
(2) any countries or international organizations with which 
such agreements have been finalized and the measures included 
in such agreements; and 
(3) any major obstacles to completing such agreements 
with other countries and international organizations. 
(c) REPORT ON STANDARDS AND CAPABILITIES.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
shall submit to Congress a report— 
(1) setting forth standards and procedures to be used in 
determining accurately and in a timely manner any country 
or group that knowingly or negligently provides to another 
country or group— 
(A) a nuclear device or weapon; 
(B) a major component of a nuclear device or weapon; 
or 
(C) fissile material that could be used in a nuclear 
device or weapon; 
(2) assessing the capability of the United States to collect 
and analyze nuclear material or debris in a manner consistent 
with the standards and procedures described in paragraph (1); 
and
H. R. 1585—583 
(3) including a plan and proposed funding for rectifying 
any shortfalls in the nuclear forensics capabilities of the United 
States by September 30, 2010. 
SEC. 3130. REPORT ON STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 
INITIATIVES 
TO 
ACCELERATE 
THE 
REDUCTION 
OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS AND CHALLENGES POSED BY 
THE LEGACY OF THE COLD WAR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 2008, the Sec-
retary of Energy shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees and the Comptroller General of the United States a report 
on the status of the environmental management initiatives under-
taken to accelerate the reduction of the environmental risks and 
challenges that, as a result of the legacy of the Cold War, are 
faced by the Department of Energy, contractors of the Department, 
and applicable Federal and State agencies with regulatory jurisdic-
tion. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) A discussion and assessment of the progress made in 
reducing the environmental risks and challenges described in 
subsection (a) in each of the following areas: 
(A) Acquisition strategy and contract management. 
(B) Regulatory agreements. 
(C) Interim storage and final disposal of high-level 
waste, spent nuclear fuel, transuranic waste, and low-level 
waste. 
(D) Closure and transfer of environmental remediation 
sites. 
(E) Achievements in innovation by contractors of the 
Department with respect to accelerated risk reduction and 
cleanup. 
(F) Consolidation of special nuclear materials and 
improvements in safeguards and security. 
(2) An assessment of whether legislative changes or clari-
fications would improve or accelerate environmental manage-
ment activities. 
(3) A listing of the major mandatory milestones and 
commitments by site, by type of agreement, and by year to 
the extent that they are currently defined, together with a 
summary of the major mandatory milestones by site that are 
projected to be missed or are in jeopardy of being missed, 
with categories to explain the reason for non-compliance. 
(4) An estimate of the life cycle cost of the current scope 
of the environmental management program as of October 1, 
2007, by project baseline summary and summarized by site, 
including assumptions impacting cost projections and descrip-
tions of the work to be done at each site. 
(5) For environmental cleanup liabilities and excess facili-
ties projected to be transferred to the environmental manage-
ment program, a description of the process for nomination 
and acceptance of new work scope into the program, a listing 
of pending nominations, and life cycle cost estimates and sched-
ules to address them. 
(c) REVIEW BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later than March 
30, 2009, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional
H. R. 1585—584 
defense committees a report containing a review of the report 
required by subsection (a). 
Subtitle D—Nuclear Terrorism Prevention 
SEC. 3131. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) The term ‘‘Convention on the Physical Protection of 
Nuclear Material’’ means the Convention on the Physical 
Protection of Nuclear Material, signed at New York and Vienna 
March 3, 1980. 
(2) The term ‘‘formula quantities of strategic special nuclear 
material’’ means uranium–235 (contained in uranium enriched 
to 20 percent or more in the U–235 isotope), uranium–233, 
or plutonium in any combination in a total quantity of 5,000 
grams or more computed by the formula, grams = (grams 
contained U–235) + 2.5 (grams U–233 + grams plutonium), 
as set forth in the definitions of ‘‘formula quantity’’ and ‘‘stra-
tegic special nuclear material’’ in section 73.2 of title 10, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
(3) The term ‘‘Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’’ means 
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done 
at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968, and entered 
into force March 5, 1970 (21 UST 483). 
(4) The term ‘‘nuclear weapon’’ means any device utilizing 
atomic energy, exclusive of the means for transporting or 
propelling the device (where such means is a separable and 
divisible part of the device), the principal purpose of which 
is for use as, or for the development of, a weapon, a weapon 
prototype, or a weapon test device. 
SEC. 3132. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR 
TERRORISM. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the President should make the prevention of a nuclear 
terrorist attack on the United States a high priority; 
(2) the President should accelerate programs, requesting 
additional funding as appropriate, to prevent nuclear terrorism, 
including 
combating 
nuclear 
smuggling, 
securing 
and 
accounting for nuclear weapons, and eliminating, removing, 
or securing and accounting for formula quantities of strategic 
special nuclear material wherever such quantities may be; 
(3) the United States, together with the international 
community, should take a comprehensive approach to reducing 
the danger of nuclear terrorism, including by making additional 
efforts to identify and eliminate terrorist groups that aim to 
acquire nuclear weapons, to ensure that nuclear weapons world-
wide are secure and accounted for and that formula quantities 
of strategic special nuclear material worldwide are eliminated, 
removed, or secure and accounted for to a degree sufficient 
to defeat the threat that terrorists and criminals have shown 
they can pose, and to increase the ability to find and stop 
terrorist efforts to manufacture nuclear explosives or to trans-
port nuclear explosives and materials anywhere in the world; 
(4) within such a comprehensive approach, a high priority 
must be placed on ensuring that all nuclear weapons worldwide
H. R. 1585—585 
are secure and accounted for and that all formula quantities 
of strategic special nuclear material worldwide are eliminated, 
removed, or secure and accounted for; and 
(5) the International Atomic Energy Agency should be 
funded appropriately to fulfill its role in coordinating inter-
national efforts to protect nuclear material and to combat 
nuclear smuggling. 
SEC. 3133. MINIMUM SECURITY STANDARD FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
AND FORMULA QUANTITIES OF STRATEGIC SPECIAL 
NUCLEAR MATERIAL. 
(a) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to work 
with the international community to take all possible steps to 
ensure that all nuclear weapons around the world are secure and 
accounted for and that all formula quantities of strategic special 
nuclear material are eliminated, removed, or secure and accounted 
for to a level sufficient to defeat the threats posed by terrorists 
and criminals. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY STANDARD.—It is the 
sense of Congress that, in furtherance of the policy described in 
subsection (a), and consistent with the requirement for ‘‘appropriate 
effective’’ physical protection contained in United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 1540 (2004), as well as the Nuclear Non-Pro-
liferation Treaty and the Convention on the Physical Protection 
of Nuclear Material, the President, in consultation with relevant 
Federal departments and agencies, should seek the broadest pos-
sible international agreement on a global standard for nuclear 
security that— 
(1) ensures that nuclear weapons and formula quantities 
of strategic special nuclear material are secure and accounted 
for to a sufficient level to defeat the threats posed by terrorists 
and criminals; 
(2) takes into account the limitations of equipment and 
human performance; and 
(3) includes steps to provide confidence that the needed 
measures have in fact been implemented. 
(c) INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS.—It is the sense of Congress that, 
in furtherance of the policy described in subsection (a), the Presi-
dent, in consultation with relevant Federal departments and agen-
cies, should— 
(1) work with other countries and the International Atomic 
Energy Agency to assist as appropriate, and if necessary work 
to convince, the governments of any and all countries in posses-
sion of nuclear weapons or formula quantities of strategic spe-
cial nuclear material to ensure that security is upgraded to 
meet the standard described in subsection (b) as rapidly as 
possible and in a manner that— 
(A) accounts for the nature of the terrorist and criminal 
threat in each such country; and 
(B) ensures that any measures to which the United 
States and any such country agree are sustained after 
United States and other international assistance ends; 
(2) ensure that United States financial and technical assist-
ance is available, as appropriate, to countries for which the 
provision of such assistance would accelerate the implementa-
tion of, or improve the effectiveness of, such security upgrades; 
and
H. R. 1585—586 
(3) work with the governments of other countries to ensure 
that effective nuclear security rules, accompanied by effective 
regulation and enforcement, are put in place to govern all 
nuclear weapons and formula quantities of strategic special 
nuclear material around the world. 
SEC. 3134. ANNUAL REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 1 of each year 
through 2012, the President, in consultation with relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, shall submit to Congress a report on 
the security of nuclear weapons and related equipment and formula 
quantities of strategic special nuclear material outside of the United 
States. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) A section on the programs for the security and 
accounting of nuclear weapons and the elimination, removal, 
and security and accounting of formula quantities of strategic 
special nuclear material, established under section 3132(b) of 
the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2005 (50 U.S.C. 2569(b)), which shall include 
the following: 
(A) A survey of the facilities and sites worldwide that 
contain nuclear weapons or related equipment, or formula 
quantities of strategic special nuclear material. 
(B) A list of such facilities and sites determined to 
be of the highest priority for security and accounting of 
nuclear weapons and related equipment, or the elimination, 
removal, or security and accounting of formula quantities 
of strategic special nuclear material, taking into account 
risk of theft from such facilities and sites, and organized 
by level of priority. 
(C) A prioritized plan, including measurable mile-
stones, metrics, estimated timetables, and estimated costs 
of implementation, on the following: 
(i) The security and accounting of nuclear weapons 
and related equipment and the elimination, removal, 
or security and accounting of formula quantities of 
strategic special nuclear material at such facilities and 
sites worldwide. 
(ii) 
Ensuring 
that 
security 
upgrades 
and 
accounting reforms implemented at such facilities and 
sites worldwide, using the financial and technical 
assistance of the United States, are effectively sus-
tained after such assistance ends. 
(iii) The role that international agencies and the 
international community have committed to play, 
together with a plan for securing international con-
tributions. 
(D) An assessment of the progress made in imple-
menting the plan described in subparagraph (C), including 
a description of the efforts of foreign governments to secure 
and account for nuclear weapons and related equipment 
and to eliminate, remove, or secure and account for formula 
quantities of strategic special nuclear material.
H. R. 1585—587 
(2) A section on efforts to establish and implement the 
international nuclear security standard described in section 
3133(b) and related policies. 
(c) FORM.—The report may be submitted in classified form 
but shall include a detailed unclassified summary. 
TITLE XXXII—WAR-RELATED NATIONAL 
NUCLEAR 
SECURITY 
ADMINISTRA-
TION AUTHORIZATIONS 
Sec. 3201. Additional war-related authorization of appropriations for National Nu-
clear Security Administration. 
SEC. 3201. ADDITIONAL WAR-RELATED AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Funds are hereby authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2008 to the Department of Energy for the 
National Nuclear Security Administration for defense nuclear non-
proliferation in the amount of $50,000,000, of which $30,000,000 
is for the International Nuclear Materials Protection and Coopera-
tion program and $20,000,000 is for the Global Threat Reduction 
Initiative. 
(b) TREATMENT AS ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION.—The amounts 
authorized to be appropriated by this section are in addition to 
amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated by this Act. 
TITLE XXXIII—DEFENSE NUCLEAR 
FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD 
Sec. 3301. Authorization. 
SEC. 3301. AUTHORIZATION. 
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008, 
$22,499,000 for the operation of the Defense Nuclear Facilities 
Safety Board under chapter 21 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
(42 U.S.C. 2286 et seq.). 
TITLE XXXIV—NAVAL PETROLEUM 
RESERVES 
Sec. 3401. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 3402. Remedial action at Moab uranium milling site. 
SEC. 3401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AMOUNT.—There are hereby authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Energy $17,301,000 for fiscal year 2008 for 
the purpose of carrying out activities under chapter 641 of title 
10, United States Code, relating to the naval petroleum reserves. 
(b) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Funds appropriated pursuant to 
the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall remain 
available until expended.
H. R. 1585—588 
SEC. 3402. REMEDIAL ACTION AT MOAB URANIUM MILLING SITE. 
Section 3405(i) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 10 
U.S.C. 7420 note) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(6)(A) Not later than October 1, 2019, the Secretary of Energy 
shall complete remediation at the Moab site and removal of the 
tailings to the Crescent Junction site in Utah. 
‘‘(B) In the event the Secretary of Energy is unable to complete 
remediation at the Moab Site by October 1, 2019, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a plan setting forth the projected comple-
tion date and the estimated funding to meet the revised date.
The 
Secretary shall submit the plan, if required, to Congress not later 
than October 2, 2019.’’. 
TITLE XXXV—MARITIME 
ADMINISTRATION 
Subtitle A—Maritime Administration Reauthorization 
Sec. 3501. Authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2008. 
Sec. 3502. Temporary authority to transfer obsolete combatant vessels to Navy for 
disposal. 
Sec. 3503. Vessel disposal program. 
Subtitle B—Programs 
Sec. 3511. Commercial vessel chartering authority. 
Sec. 3512. Maritime Administration vessel chartering authority. 
Sec. 3513. Chartering to State and local governmental instrumentalities. 
Sec. 3514. Disposal of obsolete Government vessels. 
Sec. 3515. Vessel transfer authority. 
Sec. 3516. Sea trials for Ready Reserve Force. 
Sec. 3517. Review of applications for loans and guarantees. 
Subtitle C—Technical Corrections 
Sec. 3521. Personal injury to or death of seamen. 
Sec. 3522. Amendments to Chapter 537 based on Public Law 109–163. 
Sec. 3523. Additional amendments based on Public Law 109–163. 
Sec. 3524. Amendments based on Public Law 109–171. 
Sec. 3525. Amendments based on Public Law 109–241. 
Sec. 3526. Amendments based on Public Law 109–364. 
Sec. 3527. Miscellaneous amendments. 
Sec. 3528. Application of sunset provision to codified provision. 
Sec. 3529. Additional technical corrections. 
Subtitle A—Maritime Administration 
Reauthorization 
SEC. 3501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 
2008. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2008, to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided 
in appropriations Acts, for the use of the Department of Transpor-
tation for the Maritime Administration as follows: 
(1) For expenses necessary for operations and training 
activities, $124,303,000, of which— 
(A) $63,958,000 shall remain available until expended 
for expenses and capital improvements at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy; and
H. R. 1585—589 
(B) $11,500,000 which shall remain available until 
expended for maintenance and repair of school ships at 
the State Maritime Academies. 
(2) For expenses to maintain and preserve a United States- 
flag merchant fleet to serve the national security needs of 
the United States under chapter 531 of title 46, United States 
Code, $156,000,000. 
(3) For paying reimbursement under section 3517 of the 
Maritime Security Act of 2003 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note), 
$19,500,000. 
(4) For assistance to small shipyards and maritime commu-
nities under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, 
$25,000,000. 
(5) For expenses to dispose of obsolete vessels in the 
National Defense Reserve Fleet, including provision of assist-
ance under section 7 of Public Law 92–402, $20,000,000. 
(6) For the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal 
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C 661a(5)) of loan guarantees 
under the program authorized by chapter 537 of title 46, United 
States Code, $30,000,000. 
(7) For administrative expenses related to the implementa-
tion of the loan guarantee program under chapter 537 of title 
46, United States Code, administrative expenses related to 
implementation of the reimbursement program under section 
3517 of the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (46 U.S.C. 53101 
note), and administrative expenses related to the implementa-
tion of the small shipyards and maritime communities assist-
ance program under section 54101 of title 46, United States 
Code, $6,000,000. 
SEC. 
3502. 
TEMPORARY 
AUTHORITY 
TO 
TRANSFER 
OBSOLETE 
COMBATANT VESSELS TO NAVY FOR DISPOSAL. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall, subject to the availability 
of appropriations and consistent with section 1535 of title 31, United 
States Code, popularly known as the Economy Act, transfer to 
the Secretary of the Navy during fiscal year 2008 for disposal 
by the Navy, no fewer than 3 combatant vessels in the nonretention 
fleet of the Maritime Administration that are acceptable to the 
Secretary of the Navy. 
SEC. 3503. VESSEL DISPOSAL PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall convene 
a working group to review and make recommendations on best 
practices for the storage and disposal of obsolete vessels owned 
or operated by the Federal Government. The Secretary shall invite 
senior representatives from the Maritime Administration, the Coast 
Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Navy to 
participate in the working group. The Secretary may request the 
participation of senior representatives of any other Federal depart-
ment or agency, as appropriate, and may also request participation 
from concerned State environmental agencies. 
(b) SCOPE.—Among the vessels to be considered by the working 
group are Federally owned or operated vessels that are— 
(1) to be scrapped or recycled; 
(2) to be used as artificial reefs; or 
(3) to be used for the Navy’s SINKEX program.
H. R. 1585—590 
(c) PURPOSE.—The working group shall— 
(1) examine current storage and disposal policies, proce-
dures, and practices for obsolete vessels owned or operated 
by Federal agencies; 
(2) examine Federal and State laws and regulations gov-
erning such policies, procedures, and practices and any 
applicable environmental laws; and 
(3) within 90 days after the date of enactment of the 
Act, submit a plan to the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives to improve and harmonize practices for stor-
age and disposal of such vessels, including the interim transpor-
tation of such vessels. 
(d) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—The working group shall include in 
the plan submitted under subsection (c)(3)— 
(1) a description of existing measures for the storage, dis-
posal, and interim transportation of obsolete vessels owned 
or operated by Federal agencies in compliance with Federal 
and State environmental laws in a manner that protects the 
environment; 
(2) a description of Federal and State laws and regulations 
governing the current policies, procedures, and practices for 
the storage, disposal, and interim transportation of such ves-
sels; 
(3) recommendations for environmental best practices that 
meet or exceed, and harmonize, the requirements of Federal 
environmental laws and regulations applicable to the storage, 
disposal, and interim transportation of such vessels; 
(4) recommendations for environmental best practices that 
meet or exceed the requirements of State laws and regulations 
applicable to the storage, disposal, and interim transportation 
of such vessels; 
(5) procedures for the identification and remediation of 
any environmental impacts caused by the storage, disposal, 
and interim transportation of such vessels; and 
(6) recommendations for necessary steps, including regula-
tions if appropriate, to ensure that best environmental practices 
apply to all such vessels. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the date 
of enactment of the Act, the head of each Federal department 
or agency participating in the working group, in consultation 
with the other Federal departments and agencies participating 
in the working group, shall take such action as may be nec-
essary, including the promulgation of regulations, under 
existing authorities to ensure that the implementation of the 
plan provides for compliance with all Federal and State laws 
and for the protection of the environment in the storage, interim 
transportation, and disposal of obsolete vessels owned or oper-
ated by Federal agencies. 
(2) ARMED SERVICES VESSELS.—The Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Defense, in consultation with the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall each ensure that 
environmental best practices are observed with respect to the 
storage, disposal, and interim transportation of obsolete vessels 
owned or operated by the Department of Defense.
H. R. 1585—591 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to supersede, limit, modify, or otherwise affect any other 
provision of law, including environmental law. 
Subtitle B—Programs 
SEC. 3511. COMMERCIAL VESSEL CHARTERING AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 575 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 57533. Vessel chartering authority 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation may enter into contracts or 
other agreements on behalf of the United States to purchase, 
charter, operate, or otherwise acquire the use of any vessels docu-
mented under chapter 121 of this title and any other related real 
or personal property. The Secretary is authorized to use this 
authority as the Secretary deems appropriate.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis for 
chapter 575 of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘57533. Vessel chartering authority’’. 
SEC. 
3512. 
MARITIME 
ADMINISTRATION 
VESSEL 
CHARTERING 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 50303 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by— 
(1) inserting ‘‘vessels,’’ after ‘‘piers,’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘control;’’ in subsection (a)(1) and inserting 
‘‘control, except that the prior consent of the Secretary of 
Defense for such use shall be required with respect to any 
vessel in the Ready Reserve Force or in the National Defense 
Reserve Fleet which is maintained in a retention status for 
the Department of Defense;’’. 
SEC. 3513. CHARTERING TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL 
INSTRUMENTALITIES. 
Section 11(b) of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (50 
U.S.C. App. 1744(b)), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon in paragraph (3); 
(2) by striking ‘‘Defense.’’ in paragraph (4) and inserting 
‘‘Defense; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘(5) on a reimbursable basis, for charter to the government 
of any State, locality, or Territory of the United States, except 
that the prior consent of the Secretary of Defense for such 
use shall be required with respect to any vessel in the Ready 
Reserve Force or in the National Defense Reserve Fleet which 
is maintained in a retention status for the Department of 
Defense.’’. 
SEC. 3514. DISPOSAL OF OBSOLETE GOVERNMENT VESSELS. 
Section 6(c)(1) of the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 
(16 U.S.C. 5405(c)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(either by sale or purchase of disposal 
services)’’ after ‘‘shall dispose’’; and
H. R. 1585—592 
(2) by striking subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) in accordance with a priority system for disposing 
of vessels, as determined by the Secretary, which shall 
include provisions requiring the Maritime Administration 
to— 
‘‘(i) dispose of all deteriorated high priority ships 
that are available for disposal, within 12 months of 
their designation as such; and 
‘‘(ii) give priority to the disposition of those vessels 
that pose the most significant danger to the environ-
ment or cost the most to maintain;’’. 
SEC. 3515. VESSEL TRANSFER AUTHORITY. 
Section 50304 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘(d) VESSEL
CHARTERS
TO
OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.—On a 
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, as determined by the Sec-
retary of Transportation, the Secretary may charter or otherwise 
make available a vessel under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
to any other department, upon the request by the Secretary of 
the Department that receives the vessel. The prior consent of the 
Secretary of Defense for such use shall be required with respect 
to any vessel in the Ready Reserve Force or in the National Defense 
Reserve Fleet which is maintained in a retention status for the 
Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 3516. SEA TRIALS FOR READY RESERVE FORCE. 
Section 11(c)(1)(B) of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 
(50 U.S.C. App. 1744(c)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) activate and conduct sea trials on each vessel 
at least once every 30 months;’’. 
SEC. 3517. REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR LOANS AND GUARANTEES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The maritime loan guarantee program was established 
by the Congress through the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to 
encourage domestic shipbuilding by making available federally 
backed loan guarantees for new construction to ship owners 
and operators. 
(2) The maritime loan guarantee program has a long and 
successful history of ship construction with a low historical 
default rate. 
(3) The current process for review of applications for mari-
time loans in the Department of Transportation has effectively 
discontinued the program as envisioned by the Congress. 
(4) The President has requested no funding for the loan 
guarantee program despite the stated national policy to foster 
the development and encourage the maintenance of a merchant 
marine in section 50101 of title 46, United States Code. 
(5) United States commercial shipyards were placed at 
a competitive disadvantage in the world shipbuilding market 
by government subsidized foreign commercial shipyards. 
(6) The maritime loan guarantee program has the potential 
to modernize shipyards and the ships of the United States 
coastwise trade and restore a competitive position in the world 
shipbuilding market for United States shipyards.
H. R. 1585—593 
(7) The maritime loan guarantee program is a useful tool 
to encourage domestic shipbuilding, preserving a vital indus-
trial capacity critical to the security of the United States. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Within 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Maritime Administra-
tion shall develop and implement a comprehensive plan for 
the review of applications for loan guarantees under chapter 
537 of title 46, United States Code. 
(2) DEADLINE FOR ACTION ON APPLICATION.— 
(A) TRADITIONAL APPLICATIONS.—In the comprehensive 
plan the Administrator will ensure that within the 90- 
day period following receipt of all pertinent documentation 
required for review of a traditional loan application, the 
application shall be either accepted or rejected. 
(B) NONTRADITIONAL
APPLICATIONS.—In the com-
prehensive plan the Administrator will ensure that within 
the 180-day period following receipt of all pertinent docu-
mentation required for review of a nontraditional loan 
application, the application shall be either accepted or 
rejected. 
(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The Administrator shall submit 
a copy of the comprehensive plan to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives within 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) TRADITIONAL
APPLICATION.—The term ‘‘traditional 
application’’ means an application for a loan, guarantee, or 
commitment to guarantee submitted pursuant to chapter 537 
of title 46, United States Code, that involves a market, tech-
nology, and financial structure of a type that has proven 
successful in previous applications and does not present an 
unreasonable risk to the United States, as determined by the 
Administrator of the Maritime Administration. 
(2) NONTRADITIONAL
APPLICATION.—The term ‘‘nontradi-
tional application’’ means an application for a loan, guarantee, 
or commitment to guarantee submitted pursuant to chapter 
537 of title 46, United States Code, that is not a traditional 
application, as determined by the Administrator of the Mari-
time Administration. 
Subtitle C—Technical Corrections 
SEC. 3521. PERSONAL INJURY TO OR DEATH OF SEAMEN. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) CAUSE OF ACTION.—’’; and 
(2) by repealing subsection (b). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall be effective as if included in the enactment of Public Law 
109–304.