Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1326
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2015-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Department of Transportation
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Student aid and college costs
Transportation employees
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: 

Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015

 
This bill revises:
 
 
the licensing and service requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet commitment agreements, and 
 
requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy student incentive payment agreements related to licensing, the service commitment, and the circumstances under which an individual may be ordered to active duty.
 
 
Payments to individuals may be modified if the total amount of payments to an individual does not exceed $32,000. 
 
The Internal Revenue Code is amended to reflect the transfer of the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. 
 
The definition of "short sea transportation" shall include carriage by a documented vessel of cargo that is: (1) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation; or (2) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats. 
 The national security aspects of the U.S. Merchant Marine are reauthorized through FY2017.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 

Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill revises:
 
 
the licensing and service requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet commitment agreements, and 
 
requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy student incentive payment agreements related to licensing, the service commitment, and the circumstances under which an individual may be ordered to active duty.
 
 
(Sec. 3) Payments to individuals may be modified if the total amount of payments to an individual does not exceed $32,000. 
 
(Sec. 4) The Internal Revenue Code is amended to reflect the transfer of the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. 
 
(Sec. 5) The definition of "short sea transportation" shall include carriage by a documented vessel of cargo that is: (1) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation; or (2) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats. 
 (Sec. 6) The national security aspects of the U.S. Merchant Marine are reauthorized through FY2017.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 280.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-158.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-158.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate