MARITIME Act

Bill: 116-s-1452
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-05-14
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Higher education

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Marine and inland water transportation

Navigation, waterways, harbors

State and local government operations

Transportation employees

Transportation programs funding
Latest action: action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Maritime Academy Reinvestment And Training Improvements for Mariner Employment Act or the MARITIME Act </b></p> <p>This bill directs the U.S. Maritime Administration to provide assistance for the construction, installation, or maintenance of harbor projects that will support a federally owned vessel operated by a state maritime academy or a nonfederal oceanographic research facility.</p> <p>The bill designates state maritime academies as centers of excellence, making them eligible for maritime workforce training and education assistance.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1452 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2019 Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Warren , and Mr. Merkley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To establish a program to provide assistance for education and research harbors.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maritime Academy Reinvestment And Training Improvements for Mariner Employment Act or the MARITIME Act . 2. Education and research harbors (a) In general Chapter 541 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 54103. Education and research harbors (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Maritime Administration. (2) Eligible harbor The term eligible harbor means a harbor that supports or will support a federally owned vessel operated by— (A) a State maritime academy (as defined in section 51102 of this title); or (B) a non-Federal oceanographic research facility. (b) Establishment of program The Administrator shall establish a program to provide assistance to a non-Federal interest for a project relating to an eligible harbor. (c) Form of assistance A non-Federal interest may receive assistance for a project for— (1) the construction or maintenance dredging of an eligible harbor; (2) the construction, installation, or maintenance of infrastructure in an eligible harbor, including bulkheads, aprons, and piles; (3) the construction or maintenance dredging of a berth in an eligible harbor; or (4) the construction or maintenance dredging providing access from an eligible harbor to the nearest navigation channel or deep water. (d) Local cooperation agreement (1) In general Before providing assistance under this section, the Administrator shall enter into a local cooperation agreement (referred to in this subsection as an agreement ) with a non-Federal interest to provide for design or construction of the project to be carried out with the assistance. (2) Requirements An agreement entered into under this subsection shall provide for the following: (A) Plan Development by the Administrator, in consultation with appropriate Federal and State officials, of a facilities or resource protection and development plan, including appropriate engineering plans and specifications. (B) Legal and institutional structures Establishment of such legal and institutional structures as are necessary to ensure the effective long-term operation of the project by the non-Federal interest. (3) Cost sharing (A) In general Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Federal share of project costs for a project under this section— (i) shall not exceed 65 percent; and (ii) may be in the form of grants or reimbursements of project costs. (B) Credit for design work The non-Federal interest shall receive credit for the reasonable costs of design work completed by the non-Federal interest before entering into an agreement with the Administrator for a project. (C) Credit for interest In the case of a delay in the funding of the Federal share of the costs of a project under this section, the non-Federal interest shall receive credit for reasonable interest incurred in providing the Federal share of the project costs. (D) Land, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations The non-Federal interest shall receive credit for land, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations provided by the non-Federal interest toward the non-Federal share of project costs (including all reasonable costs associated with obtaining permits necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project on publicly owned or controlled land), but not to exceed 25 percent of the total project cost. (E) Operation and maintenance The non-Federal share of operation and maintenance costs for a project constructed under this section shall be 100 percent. (e) Applicability of other Federal and State laws Nothing in this section waives, limits, or otherwise affects the applicability of any provision of Federal or State law (including regulations) that would otherwise apply to a project under this section. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year an amount not greater than $15,000,000, to remain available until expended. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 54103. Education and research harbors. . 3. Centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education Section 54102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) State Maritime Academy The Secretary of Transportation shall designate each State Maritime Academy, as defined in section 51102(4) of this title, as a center of excellence under this section. .