Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6295
Sponsor: Rep. Lungren, Daniel E. [R-CA-3]
Introduced: 2008-06-18 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil actions and liability
Conspiracy
District courts
Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Evidence (Law)
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Identification devices
Jurisdiction
Law
Marine transportation
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Ships
Smuggling
Submarines
Transportation and Public Works
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: 
Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 20 years for the intentional operation of, or for embarking in, any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality (as defined by federal law) and that is navigating or has navigated into, through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country.

action_date: 2008-07-29
text: 
Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating or embarking in any submersible or semisubmersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating in, or has navigated into, through, or from, waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to evade detection. Grants extraterritorial federal jurisdiction over violations of this Act.

Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this Act that a vessel operated at the time of a violation was: (1) a vessel of the Untied States or lawfully registered in a foreign nation; (2) classed by and designated in accordance with the rules of a classification society; (3) lawfully operated in a government-regulated or licensed activity; or (4) equipped with and using an operable automatic identification system, vessel monitoring system, or a long range identification and tracking system. Specifies the documents required to conclusively prove an affirmative defense. 

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend existing guidelines to provide adequate penalties for violations of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7237)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7237)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6295.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7237-7240)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Introduced in House