I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 517
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey the Coast Guard 
Cutter BRAMBLE, upon its scheduled decommissioning, to the Port 
Huron Museum of Arts and History located in Port Huron, Michigan, 
for use for education and historical display. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 31, 2003
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey 
the Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, upon its scheduled 
decommissioning, to the Port Huron Museum of Arts 
and History located in Port Huron, Michigan, for use 
for education and historical display.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST 
GUARD CUTTER BRAMBLE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the scheduled decommis-
sioning of the Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall convey all right, title,
and interest of the United States in and to that vessel 
to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History (a non-
profit corporation under the laws of the State of Michigan; 
in this section referred to as the the ‘‘recipient’’), located 
in Port Huron, Michigan, without consideration, if—
(1) the recipient agrees—
(A) to use the vessel for purposes of edu-
cation and historical display; 
(B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
transportation purposes; 
(C) to make the vessel available to the 
United States Government if needed for use by 
the Commandant in time of war or a national 
emergency; and 
(D) to hold the Government harmless for 
any claims arising from exposure to hazardous 
materials, 
including 
asbestos 
and 
poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), after conveyance 
of the vessel, except for claims arising from the 
use by the Government under subparagraph 
(C); 
(2) the recipient has funds available that will be 
committed to operate and maintain the vessel con-
veyed in good working condition, in the form of
cash, liquid assets, or a written loan commitment, 
and in an amount of at least $700,000; and 
(3) the recipient agrees to any other conditions 
the Commandant considers appropriate. 
(b) MAINTENANCE AND DELIVERY OF VESSEL.—
Prior to conveyance of the vessel under this section, the 
Commandant shall, to the extent practical, and subject to 
other Coast Guard mission requirements, make every ef-
fort to maintain the integrity of the vessel and its equip-
ment until the time of delivery. If a conveyance is made 
under this section, the Commandant shall deliver the ves-
sel at the place where the vessel is located, in its present 
condition, and without cost to the Government. The con-
veyance of the vessel under this section shall not be consid-
ered a distribution in commerce for purposes of section 
6(e) of Public Law 94–469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)). 
(c) OTHER EXCESS EQUIPMENT.—The Commandant 
may convey to the recipient any excess equipment or parts 
from other decommissioned Coast Guard vessels for use 
to enhance the vessel’s operability and function as an his-
torical display.
Æ