46 U.S.C. § 53703 (SHIPPING)
§ 53703. Application procedures
(a) Time for Decision.—
(1) In general.—
The Secretary or Administrator shall approve or deny an application for a loan guarantee under this chapter within 270 days after the date on which the signed application is received by the Secretary or Administrator.
(2) Extension.—
On request by an applicant, the Secretary or Administrator may extend the 270-day period in paragraph (1) to a date not later than 2 years after the date on which the signed application was received by the Secretary or Administrator.
(b) Certification of Review.—
The Secretary or Administrator may not guarantee or make a commitment to guarantee an obligation under this chapter unless the Secretary or Administrator certifies that a full and fair consideration of all the regulatory requirements, including economic soundness and financial requirements applicable to the obligor and related parties, and a thorough assessment of the technical, economic, and financial aspects of the loan application, has been made.
(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1604; Pub. L. 109–163, div. C, title XXXV, § 3507(a)(1)(D), (2)(G), (b)(7), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3555, 3556; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3522(a)(10)(B), (b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 598.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Revised
Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
53703(a)
46 App.:1274(n).
June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XI, § 1104A(l), (n), as added Pub. L. 108–136, title XXXV, §§ 3523(b), 3525, Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1800, 1801.
53703(b)
46 App.:1274(l).
heading: Amendments
text: 2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(b), repealed Pub. L. 109–163, § 3507(a)(1)(D), (2)(G), (b)(7). See 2006 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(a)(10)(B), incorporated the substance of the amendment by Pub. L. 109–163, § 3507(a)(1)(D), (2)(G), (b)(7), into this section by inserting “or Administrator” after “Secretary” wherever appearing. See 2006 Amendment note below and section 18(a) of Pub. L. 109–304, set out as a Legislative Purpose and Construction note preceding section 101 of this title.
2006—Pub. L. 109–163, § 3507(a)(1)(D), (2)(G), (b)(7), which directed the amendment of section 1274(l), (n) of the former Appendix to this title from which this section was derived, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181, § 3522(b). See 2008 Amendment notes and Historical and Revision notes above.
heading: Review of Applications for Loans and Guarantees
text: Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3517, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 595, provided that:
“(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 [see Short Title of 1936 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title] 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 maritime 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.
“(7) The maritime loan guarantee program is a useful tool to encourage domestic shipbuilding, preserving a vital industrial capacity critical to the security of the United States.
“(b) Requirements.—
“(1) In general.—
Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Administrator of the Maritime Administration 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 comprehensive plan the Administrator will ensure that within the 180-day period following receipt of all pertinent documentation 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 [Jan. 28, 2008].
“(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, technology, 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 ‘nontraditional 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 Maritime Administration.”