jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2015-07-31 00:00:00

Protecting Orderly and Responsible Transit of Shipments Act of 2015 or the PORTS Act

This bill amends the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 to extend to labor slowdowns occurring at U.S. ports the President's authority to appoint a board of inquiry into the issues involved.

State and territorial governors shall have authority to request the President to appoint a board of inquiry if a slowdown, or a threatened or an actual strike or lock-out, occurring at one or more U.S. ports will, if continued, imperil national or state health or safety.

If the President does not appoint a board of inquiry within 10 days after receiving a request, the governor who made the request may appoint one to report on the dispute to the governor and the President, although without recommendations. Supplemental reports are also authorized. Boards of inquiry are limited to one that may appointed for each dispute during a 90-day period.

Governors may also petition for injunctions against such labor or management actions affecting ports in their states or territories.

The National Labor Relations Board, for each dispute, shall take not more than one secret ballot for the same employees in any 30-day period.

The Government Accountability Office shall study the West Coast ports slowdown to:

 study the economic impact of the slowdowns and congestion caused by the negotiations on the nation as a whole as well as each port, review steps taken by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to resolve the dispute, identify steps FMCS and the Administration could have taken sooner to facilitate an agreement, and determine what legislative changes could strengthen these tools and result in more timely intervention.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-09-22 00:00:00

Midshipmen Education Certainty Act 

 Makes appropriations available each fiscal year for operations of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for the Academy are not in effect.

Requires funds made available for a fiscal year under this Act to remain available until the enactment of: (1) an appropriation for such fiscal year (including a continuing appropriation) for such operations; or (2) an applicable regular appropriation for the Maritime Administration for such fiscal year, or continuing appropriations resolution for such fiscal year, without any appropriation for such operations.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-11-02 00:00:00

Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement, and evaluate at least every two years, a maritime cybersecurity risk assessment model to evaluate current and future cybersecurity risks. The model must be consistent with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity and any updates pursuant to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014.

DHS must also: (1) seek to ensure participation of at least one information sharing and analysis organization representing the maritime community in the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC); (2) establish guidelines for voluntary reporting of maritime-related cybersecurity risks and incidents to the NCCIC and other appropriate federal agencies; and (3) request the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee to report and make recommendations to DHS regarding the enhancement of cybersecurity information sharing between relevant federal agencies and state, local, and tribal governments, public safety and emergency response agencies, law enforcement and security organizations, the maritime industry, port owners and operators, and terminal owners and operators.

(Sec. 3) The Coast Guard must: (1) direct Area Maritime Security Advisory Committees to facilitate the sharing of cybersecurity risks and incidents to address port-specific cybersecurity risks, including, possibly, by establishing a working group of members of such committees to address port-specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities; and (2) require area maritime security plans and facility security plans to include a mitigation plan to prevent, manage, and respond to cybersecurity risks.

(Sec. 4) DHS's vulnerability assessments of facilities and vessels that may be involved in a transportation security incident must identify weaknesses in cybersecurity. Owners or operators of such vessels or facilities must include provisions regarding prevention, management, and response to cybersecurity risks in their security plans for deterring such incidents.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-03-03 00:00:00

Austin and Perry Safe Boating Incentive Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a new tax credit for 50% of the amount paid or accrued, up to $200 in a taxable year ($500 for all taxable years), for a qualified emergency position-indicating radio beacon and a qualified personal locator beacon.

A "qualified emergency position-indicating radio beacon" is a device installed on an eligible boat that: (1) transmits distress signals at a frequency between 406.0 and 406.1 MHz, (2) is manufactured by a company approved to manufacture beacons by the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme, and (3) is registered with the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A "qualified personal locator beacon" is a similarly-defined device designed to be carried by an individual and acquired for use in boating activities. An "eligible boat" is any recreational vessel, any small passenger vessel carrying not more than 250 passengers, and any uninspected passenger vessel as those terms are defined in provisions of the U.S. Code.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-03-23 00:00:00

This bill declares the following portions of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bounded by the former bulkhead and pierhead lines that were established by the Secretary of War and successors, to be nonnavigable waters of the United States unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finds that there are substantive objections:

 Piers 70 South through 38 South, encompassing an area bounded by the southern line of Moore Street extended to the northern line of Catherine Street extended; and Piers 24 North through 72 North, encompassing an area bounded by the southern line of Callowhill Street extended to the northern line of East Fletcher Street extended. The Army Corps of Engineers shall make such public interest determination separately for each proposed project to be undertaken within the boundaries described, using reasonable discretion, within 150 days of the date of submission of appropriate plans for such project.

This bill's declaration shall apply only to those parts of the areas described that are or will be bulkheaded and filled or otherwise occupied by permanent structures, including marina and recreation facilities.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-06-09 00:00:00

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make certain amounts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund available, without appropriation, for expenditures to pay:

 100% of the eligible operations and maintenance costs of specified portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway as well as those assigned to commercial navigation of all U.S. harbors and inland harbors; rebates of certain tolls or charges on the Seaway; and all expenses of administration relating to harbor maintenance tax incurred by the Department of the Treasury, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Commerce. The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 is amended to:

 require allocation to certain donor ports and energy transfer ports of at least 20% of amounts made available each fiscal year from the Trust Fund, and authorize the Department of the Army to make the allocations equally between these kinds of ports. A "donor port" is a port, subject to the harbor maintenance fee, located in a state in which more than 2 million cargo containers were unloaded from or loaded on to vessels in FY2012, whose total amount of collected harbor maintenance taxes comes to less than $15 million annually, and which received less than 25% of the total amount of harbor maintenance taxes collected at that port in the previous five fiscal years.

An "energy transfer port" is one, also subject to the harbor maintenance fee, through which more than 40 million tons of cargo were transported in FY2012, and at which energy commodities constituted more than 25% of all commercial activity by tonnage in that fiscal year.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-06-20 00:00:00

Miscellaneous Maritime Transportation Amendments Act of 2016

National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2016

This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to develop a land-based system to backup its Global Position System (GPS).

The bill revises the deadline for when certain fishing vessels must be in compliance with the alternate safety compliance program.

Additionally, the Coast Guard is authorized to reimburse private entities for costs incurred to construct and establish an aid to navigation.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Date: 2016-06-20 00:00:00

This bill directs the Coast Guard to issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel Apollonia (United States official number 1266527).
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-07 00:00:00

Stop Iran From Smuggling Weapons to Terrorists Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide training to: (1) the national military or other security forces of Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar that have among their functional responsibilities maritime security missions; and (2) ministry, agency, and headquarters level organizations for such forces.

Such assistance and training may be referred to as the Counter Iran Maritime Initiative.

Such training: (1) may include the provision of de minimis equipment, supplies, and small-scale military construction; and (2) shall include the promotion of human rights and respect for legitimate civilian authority.

It is the sense of Congress that DOD should seek payments from such countries to offset training costs. DOD shall negotiate a training cost-sharing agreement with a recipient country that covers at least 50% of related costs.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-09-09 00:00:00

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Amendments Act of 2016

TITLE I--COAST GUARD, NAVIGATION, AND SHIPPING

(Sec.101)This bill makes several changes to the U.S. Coast Guard major acquisition system.The changes are designed to establish a customer-oriented acquisition system.

The bill expands the acquisition responsibilities of the Coast Guard's Chief Acquisition Officer and Vice Commandant. Additionally, the bill limits the Coast Guard's authority to procure unmanned aerial systems (drones).

The Coast Guard may extend an acquisition contract without competition if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)approves.DHS must study the effects that multi-year contracting has on Coast Guard acquisition programs.

(Sec.102)The bill requires the Coast Guard to make payment based on a predetermined fixed amount to the Department of Defense (DOD)for medical treatment of current or former members of the Coast Guard and their dependents at DOD facilities.

(Sec. 103) The bill amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to repeal certain audit requirements for the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and to revise reporting requirements for the fund.

(Sec.104)The bill revises the deadline for compliance by certain fishing vessels with the alternative safety compliance program.

(Sec. 105) The Coast Guard must report on plans for berthing the USCGC Diligence in Wilmington, North Carolina while the Coast Guard pier is being repaired.

(Sec. 106) National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2016

The Coast Guard must develop a land-based system to backup its Global Positioning System.

(Sec.107) The Coast Guard may approve alternative planning criteria for the Arctic area.

TITLE II--OTHER MATTERS

(Sec.201)The Coast Guard must issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel Apollonia.

(Sec. 202) The Coast Guard may reimburse private entities for project costs incurred to construct and establish an aid to navigation.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Hudson River Protection Act

This bill amends the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1915 to prohibit the establishment of areas located within five miles of a nuclear power plant, a location on the national register of historic places, a superfund site, or critical habitat of an endangered species as anchorage grounds in U.S. navigable waters for vessels carrying hazardous or flammable material as cargo.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Coast Guard Academy Nominations Act of 2016

This bill amends the laws that govern the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Corps of Cadets.

The bill specifies the maximum number of cadets that can be enrolled in the academy in an academic program year. Additionally, the bill describes how individuals may be nominated for appointment in the Corps of Cadets and sets forth guidelines that the Coast Guard must follow when appointing cadets.

The bill also sets forth the conditions that cadets must agree with prior to enrollment in the academy, including an obligation to serve in the Coast Guard upon graduation from the academy.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Coast Guard Acquisition Improvement Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to enter into certain agreements for the acquisition of at least three heavy polar icebreakers, three medium polar icebreakers, four offshore patrol cutters, and five fast response cutters.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Energy
Date: 2016-12-07 00:00:00

Energizing American Shipbuilding and Maritime Act

This bill amends: (1) the Natural Gas Act to direct the Department of Energy to require specified percentages of liquefied natural gas exports to be transported on vessels built in the United States and documented under its laws, and (2) the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 to direct the President to require specified percentages of crude oil exports to be transported on vessels built in the United States and documented under its laws.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Energy
Date: 2016-12-07 00:00:00

Energizing American Maritime Act

This bill amends: (1) the Natural Gas Act to direct the Department of Energy to require specified percentages of liquefied natural gas exports to be transported on vessels documented under U.S. law, and (2) the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 to direct the President to require specified percentages of crude oil exports to be transported on vessels documented under U.S. law.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-09 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

United States Merchant Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to: (1)  accept a gift of money from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. in order to renovate Melville Hall on the campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and (2) enter into a contract with the Foundation for the Hall's operation.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-02-04 00:00:00

This bill makes permanent a temporary exemption from permit requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). The exemption applies to a vessel that is less than 79 feet in length or a fishing vessel for any discharge: (1) of effluent from properly functioning marine engines; (2) of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (3) that is incidental to the normal operation of those vessels. Under current law, the exemption is scheduled to end on December 18, 2017. This exemption does not apply to garbage discharged overboard, other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation, discharges of ballast water held in ships to increase stability, or any discharge that contributes to a violation of a water quality standard or poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Date: 2015-02-11 00:00:00

Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter into agreements with certain entities for the CBP to provide customs, agricultural processing, border security, or inspection-related immigration services at federal-owned land, or sea or air ports of entry, subject to payment of a fee to reimburse the CBP for providing such services. The bill prescribes requirements for the termination of CBP services and the imposition of a penalty after notice and demand for payment of fees not timely paid by an entity.

The CBP and the General Services Administration may enter into an agreement with an entity to accept donations of:

 personal property, money, or nonpersonal services for use in the purchase and installation of furniture and other equipment at new or existing sea or air ports of entry or new or existing federal-owned land ports of entry; or real property or money for use in the construction or maintenance of such facilities. The CBP shall establish, and make available to the public, criteria for evaluating a proposal to enter into agreements to accept donations.

CBP and the Government Accountability Office shall report annually to specified congressional committees on CBP fee agreements and donations.

(Sec. 3) Modifies CBP reporting requirements under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 to include reporting on reimbursable fee agreements with CBP.

(Sec. 4) The bill amends the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, to repeal:

 CBP authority to enter into reimbursable fee agreements for a period of up to five years, and the partnership pilot program allowing CBP to enter into partnerships with the private sector and government entities at ports of entry for certain CBP services and to accept certain donations. (Sec. 5) The bill amends the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010 to permit the CBP to waive certain polygraph examination requirements for certain qualifying applicants for law enforcement positions with CBP.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-23 00:00:00

Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act

(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through FY2023.

The bill revises the formula used to distribute funds from the trust fund. Amounts are set aside through FY2023 for Coast Guard recreational boating safety personnel and activities and the National Recreational Boating Survey.

(Sec. 4) The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend trust fund transfer restriction exceptions until October 1, 2023.

(Sec. 5) The bill revokes a limitation on the amount the Coast Guard is authorized to allocate for national boating safety activities of national nonprofit public service organizations.

(Sec. 7) The National Boating Safety Advisory Council is extended through FY2023.

(Sec. 8) The bill amends the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act to require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to report on the effectiveness of coastal wetlands restoration projects in improving the quality of fish and wildlife habitat conditions in Louisiana.

(Sec. 9) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must evaluate and report its administrative services for the trust fund each year.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-16 00:00:00

Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to specify the types of water bodies that are "navigable waters" and therefore fall under the scope of the Act. Groundwater is considered to be state water.

Activities carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may not impinge upon states' power over land and water use.

States or individual property owners may obtain judicial review of jurisdictional determinations by the EPA or the Army Corps that would affect their ability to plan the development and use of land and water resources within 30 days after a determination.

The EPA may not use a significant nexus test to determine federal jurisdiction over navigable waters and waters of the United States.

The following rules are nullified: (1) the Army Corps' rule entitled "Final Rule for Regulatory Programs of the Corps of Engineers," (2) the EPA's proposed rule entitled "Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Clean Water Act Regulatory Definition of 'Waters of the United States,'" (3) the guidance document entitled "Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Rapanos v. United States & Carabell v. United States" (relating to the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act), and (4) any subsequent regulation or guidance issued by federal agencies that defines or interprets the term "navigable waters."

The Army Corps and the EPA may not promulgate rules or issue guidance that expands or interprets the definition of navigable waters unless expressly authorized by Congress.

Federal agencies must obtain the consent of private property owners prior to entering their land to collect information about navigable waters. Federal agencies that issue regulations that relate to the definition of navigable waters or waters of the United States and diminish the fair market value or economic viability of a property must pay the affected property owner an amount equal to twice the value of the loss. Until the landowners have been compensated, such a regulation will have no force or effect.