An Act to authorize appropriations for the fiscal year 1976 for certain maritime programs of the Department of Commerce, and for other purposes.
PL 94-127 (S.1542), enacted 11/13/1975

89 STAT. 680 
PUBLIC LAW 94-127—NOV. 13, 1975 
Nov. 13. 1975 
[S. 1542] 
Maritime 
Appropriation 
Authorization Act 
of 1975. 
46 u s e 1101 
note. 
Additional 
appropriations. 
Ante, p. 16. 
Annual report to 
Congress. 
Public Law 94-127 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations for the fiscal year 1976 for certain maritime pro-
grams of the Department of Commerce, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Maritime Appropriation Authorization Act of 1975". 
SEC. 2. Funds are authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year 
limitation as the Appropriation Act may provide for the use of the 
Department of Commerce, for the fiscal year 1976, as follows: 
(1) For acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of vessels 
and for construction-differential subsidy and cost of national 
defense features incident to the construction, reconstruction, or 
reconditioning of ships, not to exceed $195,000,000. 
(2) For payment of obligations incurred for operating-differ-
ential subsidy, not to exceed $315,936,000. 
(3) For expenses necessary for research and development activi-
ties, not to exceed $12,232,000. 
(4) For reserve fleet expenses, not to exceed $4,242,000. 
(5) For maritime training at the Merchant Marine Academy 
at Kings Point, New York, not to exceed $11,500,000. 
(6) For financial assistance to State marine schools, not to 
exceed $4,708,000. 
SEC. 3. There are authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year 
1976, in addition to the amounts authorized by section 2 of this Act, 
such additional supplemental amounts, for the activities for which 
appropriations are authorized under section 2 of this Act, as may be 
necessary for increases in salary, pay, retirement, or other employee 
benefits authorized by law, and for increased costs for public utilities, 
food service, and other expenses of the Merchant Marine Academy at 
Kings Point, New York. 
SEC. 4. Section 809 (a) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended 
(46 IT.S.C. 1213(a)) is amended by inserting immediately after the 
first sentence thereof the following: "In order to assure equitable 
treatment for each range of ports referred to in the preceding sentence, 
not less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated for construction-
differential subsidy and operating-differential subsidy pursuant to this 
Act or any law authorizing funds for the purposes of this Act shall 
be allocated to each such port range: Provided^ however^ That such 
allocation shall apply to the extent that subsidy contracts are approved 
by the Secretary of Commerce. Not later than March 1, 1976, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a detailed 
report (1) describing the actions that have been taken pursuant to this 
Act to assure insofar as possible that direct and adequate service is 
provided by United States-flag commercial vessels to each range of 
ports referred to in this section; and (2) including any recommenda-
tions for additional legislation that may be necessary to achieve the 
purpose of this section.". 
PUBLIC LAW 94-127—NOV. 13, 1975 
89 STAT. 681 
SEC. 5. Section 1103(f) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as 
amended (46 U.S.C. 1273(f)) is amended by striking "$5,000,000,000", 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$7,000,000,000". 
Approved November 13, 1975. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-175 accompanying H.R. 3902 (Comm. on Merchant Marine 
and Fisheries) and No. 94-529 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-96 (Comm. on Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 121 (1975): 
Apr. 29, considered and passed Senate. 
May 12, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 3902. 
Oct. 9, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Oct. 20, House agreed to conference report.