108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 517
AN ACT
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to
convey 2 Coast Guard cutters.
108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 517
AN ACT
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey
2 Coast Guard cutters.
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 CUTTERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall convey all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to a vessel described in subsection
(b) to the person designated in subsection (b) with respect
to the vessel (in this section referred to as the ‘‘recipi-
ent’’), without consideration, if the person complies with
the conditions under subsection (c).
(b) VESSELS DESCRIBED.—The vessels referred to in
subsection (a) are the following:
(1) The Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, to be
conveyed to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and
History (a nonprofit corporation under the laws of
the State of Michigan), located in Port Huron,
Michigan.
(2) The Coast Guard Cutter PLANETREE, to
be conveyed to Jewish Life (a nonprofit corporation
under the laws of the State of California), located in
Sherman Oaks, California.
(c) CONDITIONS.—As a condition of any conveyance
of a vessel under subsection (a), the Commandant shall
require the recipient to—
(1) agree—
(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 use
of the vessel by the Government under subpara-
graph (C);
(2) have funds available that will be committed
to operate and maintain the vessel conveyed in good
working condition—
(A) in the form of cash, liquid assets, or
a written loan commitment; and
(B) in an amount of at least $700,000;
and
(3) agree to any other conditions the Com-
mandant considers appropriate.
(d) MAINTENANCE AND DELIVERY OF VESSEL.—
Prior to conveyance of a 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. The Commandant shall
deliver a vessel conveyed under this section at the place
where the vessel is located, in its present condition, and
without cost to the Government. The conveyance of a ves-
sel under this section shall not be considered a distribution
in commerce for purposes of section 6(e) of Public Law
94–469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)).
(e) OTHER EXCESS EQUIPMENT.—The Commandant
may convey to the recipient of a vessel under this section
any excess equipment or parts from other decommissioned
Coast Guard vessels for use to enhance the vessel’s oper-
ability and function as an historical display.
Passed the House of Representatives May 13, 2003.
Attest:
Clerk.