seconds in the levels found on houseboats. In fact,
victims believe they are breathing clean air until
they slip into unconsciousness.
(2) Currently, there is no standard for report-
ing boating accidents and deaths. A death due to
carbon monoxide exposure often appears to be a
simple drowning, and witnesses to the drowning
often report that the early symptoms appear as alco-
hol intoxication. This makes the reporting of the in-
cident extremely difficult.
(3) There have been 45 deaths and 234 injuries
over the last two years associated with carbon mon-
oxide exposure and boating. However, these numbers
are incomplete because of the absence of a manda-
tory reporting requirement. The actual number is
likely to be much higher.
(4) The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee of the House of Rep-
resentatives held a hearing on recreational boating
safety on May 15, 2001, that covered carbon mon-
oxide poisoning on houseboats. Despite the testi-
mony heard on the dangers posed by carbon mon-
oxide, the Coast Guard failed to initiate a rule-
making rectifying the situation.
(5) There have been 2 deaths on Lake Powell
during the summer of 2001 alone due carbon mon-
oxide. There have been a larger than average num-
ber of carbon monoxide deaths and injuries on Lake
Powell, including 10 in the last 10 years, because of
its scenic location and high concentration of visitors
spending time on houseboats.
SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF MARINE INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINES AS CONSUMER PRODUCT.
Section 3(a)(1)(G) of the Consumer Product Safety
Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(1)(G)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ‘‘, except that the term ‘consumer
product’ includes a marine internal combustion engine,’’.
SEC. 3. RULES SETTING SAFETY STANDARDS FOR MARINE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Consumer Product Safety
Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘MARINE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
‘‘SEC. 38. (a) The Commission shall issue rules that
set safety standards for marine internal combustion en-
gines, including in regards to the emissions of toxic fumes.
‘‘(b) The Commission may recall any marine internal
combustion engine that poses a risk of death or serious
injury to consumers because of emissions of toxic fumes.
‘‘(c) In the instance of potentially toxic fumes from
a marine internal combustion engine, the Commission
shall require the display of a prominent and permanent
warning label in an area that is readily visible to con-
sumers utilizing that product.
‘‘(d) In the instance where a potential exists for toxic
fumes from a marine internal combustion engine to occur,
the Commission shall require the installation of an alarm
that gives an audible and visible warning. Such an alarm
shall be installed in a manner such that the internal com-
bustion engine will be disabled if the alarm is disconnected
or rendered inoperable.
‘‘(e) The Commission shall work with related agencies
to determine a proper way to eliminate or significantly re-
duce the danger of potentially toxic fumes due to the oper-
ation of marine internal combustion engines. The Commis-
sion may work with any agency that has expertise in this
issue.
‘‘(f) The Commission shall coordinate with related
agencies to prepare and submit to the Energy and Com-
merce Committee of the House of Representatives an an-
nual report on all incidents involving harm caused by toxic
fumes by marine internal combustion engines, by not later
than April 1 of each year.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents
in the first section of such Act is amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘Sec. 38. Marine internal combustion engines.’’.
SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS.
Section 30(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act
(15 U.S.C. 2079(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ‘‘The functions of the Coast Guard relating to
the regulation of marine internal combustion engines are
transferred to the Commission.’’.
SEC. 5. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.
The constitutional authority under which this Act is
enacted is the power of the Congress to regulate commerce
as enumerated in article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
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