United States Noncontiguous Shipping Open Market Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2845
Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-2]
Introduced: 2003-07-24 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alaska
Aliens
Coastwise shipping
Employee rights
Employers' liability
Environmental Protection
Fines (Penalties)
Flags of convenience
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Hawaii
Health
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Marine transportation
Merchant seamen
Merchant ships
Occupational health and safety
Puerto Rico
Standards
Taxation
Territories (U.S.)
Treaties
Workers' compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: 
United States Noncontiguous Shipping Open Market Act of 2003 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, to make the requirement that all cargo shipping between U.S. ports occur exclusively on U.S. flagged vessels inapplicable with respect to transportation in noncontiguous trade of merchandise on a foreign qualified freight vessel for which the Secretary of Transportation has issued a certificate of documentation.
 
Amends the Shipping Act, 1916, to repeal certain requirements regarding: (1) the percentage of ownership of a corporation operating in coastwise trade owned by U.S. citizens; and (2) seizure and forfeiture of documented vessels.
 
 Requires jurisdiction for an action brought for recovery for injury to or death of a seaman against a defendant employer that does not reside or maintain an office in the United States and that engages in any enterprise that makes use of one or more ports in the United States to be under the district court most proximate to the place of the occurrence of the personal injury or death that is the subject of the action. Authorizes the employer of a master or member of the crew of a vessel, at the employer's election, to participate in an authorized compensation plan under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
 
Subjects all vessels operating in the U.S. coastwise trade to minimum international labor and environmental standards. Sets requirements for non-citizens irregularly engaging in the U.S. domestic coastwise trade.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1593-1594)
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Introduced in House