jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2014-05-22 00:00:00

Automaker Accountability Act of 2014 - Revises civil penalties for violation of federal motor vehicle safety requirements, and subjects to them also persons who cause such a violation.

Repeals current maximum penalties.

Increases civil penalties for violations: (1) from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation; (2) from $10,000 to $100,000, maximum, for the manufacture, sale, introduction into commerce, or importation of a school bus or school bus equipment that does not comply with federal motor vehicle requirements; and (3) from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation per day for a person who fails or refuses to perform an act pursuant to specified inspection, investigation, and record-keeping requirements pertaining to defective or noncompliant motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2014-08-01 00:00:00

Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2013 - Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity for recreational vessels, expressed in the number of passengers and in pounds; (2) require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display such maximum capacity in a legible manner that is clearly visible to passengers; and (3) require operators to post notice of the need to balance vessel weight to avoid capsizing.

Defines a "recreational vehicle" as any vessel that is manufactured or used primarily for pleasure, excluding any vessel that is subject to Coast Guard inspection and engaged in commercial use.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2014-11-13 00:00:00

Amends federal shipping law to extend through October 31, 2028, the exemption of certain vessels from the requirement that U.S. passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers be constructed of fire-retardant materials in order to be granted a certificate of inspection.

Continues to apply this exemption only to vessels in operation before January 1, 1968, which operate only within the Boundary Line (the dividing point between inland waters and high seas).

Requires the owner or managing operator of an exempt vessel to:

 notify crew members that the vessel does not comply with applicable fire safety standards due primarily to the wooden construction of passenger berthing areas, and make annual structural alterations to at least 10% of vessel areas that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials. Requires any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard (with which an exempt vessel is still required to comply) to be consistent with the preservation of a vessel's historic integrity in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2014-11-19 00:00:00

Extends the time period during which both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and any state with a state permit program are prohibited from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) for 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, or of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (2) that is incidental to the normal operation of those vessels. Ends the prohibition on December 18, 2015, instead of December 18, 2014.

(This prohibition does not apply with respect to garbage discharged overboard, other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation, ballast water [water held in ships to increase stability] discharges, 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: Environmental protection
Date: 2014-11-20 00:00:00

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

Makes permanent a provision which prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) for 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. (Currently, the prohibition is temporary and the time period in which the EPA is prohibited from requiring a NPDES permit ends on December 18, 2014. This prohibition does not apply with respect 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: Transportation and public works
Date: 2014-12-04 00:00:00

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

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to:

 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 enter into a contract with the Foundation for the Hall's operation.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-06 00:00:00

This bill amends the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1989 to expand the Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers Training Program Pilot Program by authorizing the Coast Guard to establish and maintain a junior reserve officers training program in cooperation with the Pinellas County School District of Pinellas County, Florida.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-13 00:00:00

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 2015

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: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-01-13 00:00:00

Maritime Lien Reform Act

This bill revises federal shipping laws governing maritime liability to prohibit: (1) maritime liens (liens on vessels) from being imposed on state or federal fishing permits, or (2) civil actions to enforce maritime liens on the permits. A fishing permit is not considered to be part of a vessel, so it does not pass with a vessel upon the vessel's sale or transfer.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2015-01-21 00:00:00

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Clarification Act of 2015

Amends the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to define "recreational vessel" as a vessel:

 being manufactured or operated primarily for pleasure; or leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's pleasure. Prescribes the following rules in applying the definition:

 a vessel being manufactured or built, or being repaired under warranty by its manufacturer or builder, is a recreational vessel if the vessel appears intended, based on its design and construction, to be for ultimate recreational uses. Requires the manufacturer or builder to bear the burden of establishing that a vessel is recreational under this standard; a vessel being repaired, dismantled for repair, or dismantled at the end of its life will be treated as recreational at the time of repair, dismantling for repair, or dismantling, provided that such vessel shares elements of design and construction of traditional recreational vessels and is not normally engaged in a military, commercial or traditionally commercial undertaking; and a vessel will be treated as a recreational vessel if it is a public vessel, such as a vessel owned or chartered and operated by the United States, or by a state or local government, at the time of repair, dismantling for repair, or dismantling, provided that such vessel shares elements of design and construction with traditional recreational vessels and is not normally engaged in a military, commercial, or traditionally commercial undertaking. Requires the Secretary of Labor to revise a certain federal regulation to replace its definition of "recreational vessel" with the definition specified in this Act.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-02-13 00:00:00

Vessel Incidental Discharge Act 

This bill requires the Coast Guard to establish and implement enforceable uniform national standards for the regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel into navigable waters. The Coast Guard's existing rule for ballast water discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel are adopted until those performance standards are revised or a more stringent state standard is adopted. Ballast water is water taken aboard a vessel to control stability or during the operation of a vessel's ballast water treatment technology.

Within two years, the Coast Guard must establish best management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel other than ballast water.

By January 1, 2020, the Coast Guard must complete a feasibility review to determine whether revising ballast water performance standards will result in a scientifically demonstrable and substantial reduction in the risk of introduction or establishment of aquatic nuisance species. The Coast Guard must establish a revised standard based on the ballast water treatment technology available. Further revisions to the performance standards are to be considered every 10 years.

This bill establishes a certification requirement for ballast water treatment technology. The Coast Guard may not approve a technology if it uses a biocide or generates a biocide that is a pesticide.

This bill establishes a petition process for a state seeking to enforce a state or local statute or regulation related to ballast water discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel that is more stringent than federal performance standards.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Amends federal shipping law to extend through October 31, 2028, the exemption of certain vessels from the requirement that U.S. passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers be constructed of fire-retardant materials in order to be granted a certificate of inspection.

Continues to apply this exemption only to vessels in operation before January 1, 1968, which operate only within the Boundary Line (the dividing point between inland waters and high seas).

Requires the owner or managing operator of an exempt vessel to:

 notify crew members that the vessel does not comply with applicable fire safety standards due primarily to the wooden construction of passenger berthing areas, and make annual structural alterations to at least 10% of vessel areas that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials. Requires any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard (with which an exempt vessel is still required to comply) to be consistent with the preservation of a vessel's historic integrity in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-04-27 00:00:00

This bill authorizes the Coast Guard (CG) to convey 3.25 acres of CG real property (including all improvements located on the property) in Tok, Alaska, upon payment to the United States of the fair market value of the property.

The Tanana Chief's Conference shall have the right of first refusal to purchase the property.

The property must be sold at fair market value.

The United States shall deposit the proceeds in the CG Housing Fund.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Scan Containers Absolutely Now Act or the SCAN Act

 Amends the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to:

 conduct a one-year pilot program at two domestic ports to evaluate the process of 100% scanning of cargo containers and its potential for use at all domestic ports, achieve a full-scale implementation of the program within one year after enactment of this Act, and evaluate and report on such program within one year after program completion. Requires the Secretary to:

 acquire the equipment necessary to conduct the pilot program, make information about the equipment available to domestic ports as part of the application process, and permit such equipment to remain with the selected ports upon completion of the program. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase or lease equipment for, as well as contract for performance of scanning of cargo under, the program.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-06-09 00:00:00

Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act or the BOATS Act

Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to:

 establish maximum passenger capacity and maximum weight capacity standards for recreational vessels; and require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display in a legible manner that is clearly visible, including on each flying bridge of the vessel, to vessel passengers such maximum capacity requirements and a notice of the need to balance vessel weight to avoid capsizing. Defines "flying bridge" to mean an open deck above the main navigating bridge of a recreational vessel.

Amends federal shipping law to revise state recreational boating safety program requirements.

Allows a state to contract with a local government or private entity to provide boating safety education services under a state recreational boating safety program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make amounts in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund available for expenditures to carry out the purposes of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (as in effect upon enactment of this Act).
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-06-11 00:00:00

Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act of 2015

 This bill reauthorizes the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 through FY2019.

 The Governmental Accountability Office must compare the unit costs of hydrographic surveys conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the unit costs of procuring the surveys.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-06-24 00:00:00

Ships to be Recycled in the States Act or the STORIS Act

This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with the Department of the Navy, to report to Congress on the program for disposal of government-owned merchant vessels as well as on any other disposal of obsolete government-owned vessels.

The Government Accountability Office shall audit all excess federal government vessel sales contracts, including resulting receivables and expenditures, entered into by the Maritime Administration during a specified period.

The bill repeals authority to scrap any vessel sold from the National Defense Reserve Fleet in an approved foreign market without obtaining additional separate DOT approval to transfer the vessel to a person not a U.S. citizen.

The Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 is amended to revise requirements for the selection of qualified scrapping facilities.

The Toxic Substances Control Act is amended to declare that nothing in the mandate for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) shall be construed to prohibit the dismantling of a vessel or marine structure in order to recycle recovered materials. If PCBs are found or suspected, the person dismantling the vessel or marine structure must comply with specified requirements for informing the EPA and disposing of the PCBs.

The bill repeals authorization for any foreign country to apply for an obsolete vessel to be used for an artificial reef.

The Maritime Administration shall make public on its website the full text of each memorandum of agreement and similar agreement between the Maritime Administration and any other agency, department, or person.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-07-21 00:00:00

Cruise Passenger Protection Act

 Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine whether any of the enumerated rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights (adopted by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association) is enforceable under federal law.

Applies this Act to passenger vessels that: (1) carry at least 250 passengers, (2) have sleeping facilities for each passenger, (3) are on a voyage that embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States, (4) are not engaged in coastwise trade, and (5) are not federal- or state-owned.

Revises passenger vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) log book entries and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, thefts, and other crimes; and (2) placement, access to records, and notice of video surveillance equipment to monitor crime.

Directs DOT to maintain on a website a statistical compilation of reported incidents of missing persons, crimes, and other information for vessel passengers.

Directs DOT, in coordination with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Department of Justice, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, to study the feasibility of having an individual on board each passenger vessel to provide victim support and related safety and security services.

Requires the Maritime Administration (who, currently, is merely authorized) to certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crewmembers, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of crimes in international waters.

Revises vessel design, equipment, construction, and retrofitting requirements.

Requires vessel owners to ensure that a vessel is staffed at all times with appropriate medical staff to treat passengers on board.

Requires the peep hole or other means of visual identification in the entry door of a passenger stateroom or crew cabin to provide an unobstructed view of the area outside the stateroom or crew cabin.

Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to withhold or revoke the clearance of, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to deny entry into the United States to, any vessel owner that: (1) commits an act or omission for which a penalty is imposed under this Act, or (2) fails to pay the penalty.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-07-27 00:00:00

National Icebreaker Fund Act of 2015

This bill establishes the National Icebreaker Fund, which shall be available for obligation and expenditure only for construction, alteration, renovation, and the lease or charter of icebreakers for the Coast Guard.

There shall be deposited into the Fund: (1) all funds appropriated to any federal agency for construction, alteration, renovation, or the lease or charter of icebreakers; and (2) all receipts from the disposition of icebreakers by the federal government.

Amounts in the Fund may not be used to: (1) lease, charter, construct, alter, renovate, or otherwise acquire any vessel built in a shipyard located in a foreign country, unless specifically authorized by law; or (2) construct, alter, or renovate a vessel in any shipyard other than a U.S. shipyard.

Amounts in the Fund may be expended for: (1) the lease, charter, construction, alteration, or renovation of icebreakers capable of search and rescue, saving of life at sea, maritime safety and security, drug and migrant interdiction, fisheries law enforcement, and environmental response in the Arctic; and (2) additional capabilities that are necessary to carry out national defense missions or for missions related to research and resupply in the Antarctic.

The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall enter into an agreement with nations that operate facilities in Antarctica to establish a mechanism to provide icebreaking services necessary to supply those facilities by constructing, leasing or chartering, renovating, operating, or maintaining an icebreaker.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act 

 Modifies the Coast Guard Academy cadet nomination process by requiring that half of each incoming class be composed of cadets nominated by: (1) the Vice President or, if there is no Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate; (2) a Senator; (3) a Member of the House of Representatives; and (4) the various delegates to Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. Entitles each Senator, House Member, Delegate, and Resident Commissioner to nominate three persons each year.

Requires nominees to be citizens or nationals of the United States and meet any minimum requirements established by the Secretary of the respective department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

Directs the Academy to furnish any Member of Congress, upon written request, the name of the nominating authority responsible for the nomination of any named or identified person for appointment to the Academy.

Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security, acting through the Chief Human Capital Officer, to issue a comprehensive strategy to improve outreach and recruitment to attract candidates to the Academy.
Topic: Transportation — Maritime
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the excise tax rate for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to equal 29 cents per gallon or the per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas, as defined by this Act.