A bill to establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of Transportation.
PL 96-380 (H.R.6242), enacted 10/06/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-380—OCT. 6, 1980 
94 STAT. 1521 
Public Law 96-380 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of 
Transportation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That (a) there is 
established a Towing Safety Advisory Committee (hereinafter 
referred to £is the "Committee"). The Committee shall consist of 
sixteen members with particular expertise, knowledge, and experi-
ence regarding shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation 
and towing safety as follows: 
(1) seven members from the barge and towing industry, reflect-
ing a regional geographic balance; 
(2) one member from the offshore mineral and oil supply vessel 
industry; and 
(3) two members from each of the following— 
(A) port districts, authorities, or terminal operators; 
(B) maritime labor; 
(C) shippers (of whom at least one shall be engaged in the 
shipment of oil or hazardous materials by barge); and 
(D) the general public. 
(b) The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") shall appoint 
the members of the Committee. The Secretary shall designate one of 
the members of the Committee as the Chairman and one of the 
members as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairmem shall act as 
Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in the event of a vacancy 
in the office of, the Chairman. The Secretary may request the 
Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Commerce to each 
designate a representative to participate as an observer on the 
Committee. 
(c) The Committee shall advise, consult with, and make recommen-
dations to the Secretary on matters relating to shallow-<lraft inland 
and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. Any advice or 
recommendation made by the Committee to the Secretary shall 
reflect the independent judgment of the Committee on the matter 
concerned. The Secretary shall consult with the Committee before 
taking any significant action affecting shallow-draft inland and 
coast^ waterway navigation and towing safety. The Committee shall 
meet at the call of the Secretary, but in any event not less than once 
during each calendar year. All proceedings of the Committee shall be 
open to the public, and a record of the proceedings shall be made 
available for public inspection. 
Oct. 6, 1980 
[H.R. 6242] 
Towing Safety 
Advisory 
Committee, 
establishment. 
33 u s e 1231a. 
Membership. 
Appointments. 
Functions. 
Meetings. 
Public 
proceedings and 
record. 
94 STAT. 1522 
PUBLIC LAW 96-380—OCT. 6, 1980 
Administrative 
(J) The Secretary shall furnish to the Committee an executive 
services. 
secretary and such secretarial, clerical, and other services as are 
considered necessary for the conduct of its business. There are 
authorized to be api)ropriated such sums as may be necessary to 
implement the provisions of 
this subsection. 
Termination. 
(e) Unloss extended by subsequent Act of Congress, the Committee 
shall terminate five years from the date of enactment of this Act. 
Approved October 6, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
June 23, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 23, considered and passed Senate.