zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
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.

Date: 2015-07-27
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Taxation
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.

Date: 2015-07-31
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Labor and employment
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.

Date: 2015-09-22
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
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.

Date: 2015-11-02
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Taxation
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.

Date: 2016-03-23
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-06-09
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-06-20
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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).

Date: 2016-06-20
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
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.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: International affairs
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.

Date: 2016-09-09
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Energy
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.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Energy
(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.

Date: 2015-01-09
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-02-04
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Environmental protection
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.

Date: 2015-02-11
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
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.

Date: 2015-03-23
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Environmental protection
Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act

This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program through FY2020.

An "advanced technology vehicle" under the program shall include:

 a U.S.-manufactured, on-highway commercial truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that meets at least 125% of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes, and a U.S.-flagged vessel. The current Department of Transportation (DOT) facility funding awards to automobile manufacturers, among others, shall extend to U.S. commercial truck manufacturers and vessel manufacturers.

DOT, through its Loan Programs Office, shall:

 accelerate efforts to engage sufficient engineering expertise to verify that direct loan borrowers under the program are delivering projects in accordance with applicable loan agreements, and develop sufficient and quantifiable performance measures to achieve the intent of the direct loan program. All proceeds from the repayment of direct loans shall be used by the Treasury to pay down the national debt.

The direct loan program shall be repealed on January 1, 2020.

Date: 2015-05-04
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Port Performance Act

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to: (1) establish a port performance statistics program to provide nationally consistent measures of performance of the nation's top 25 ports by tonnage, by 20-foot equivalent unit, and by dry bulk; and (2) submit annual reports that include statistics on capacity and throughput at such ports.

The BTS shall collect monthly port performance measures for each of such ports that receives federal assistance or is subject to federal regulation to submit an annual report to the BTS that includes monthly statistics on capacity and throughput as applicable to the specific configuration of the port, including:

 the total capacity of inbound and outbound cargo; the total volume of inbound and outbound cargo; the average number of lifts per hour of containers by crane; the average vessel turn time by vessel type; the average cargo or container dwell time; port storage capacity and utilization; the average truck time and rail time at ports; and any additional metrics as determined by the BTS after receiving recommendations from a working group established by this Act. The BTS shall commission a working group, from which it shall obtain recommendations for:

 specifications and data measurements for such port performance measures; additionally needed data elements for measuring port performance; and a process for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect timely and consistent data, including identifying safeguards to protect proprietary information. The BTS shall ensure that the statistics compiled under this Act are readily accessible to the public, consistent with applicable security constraints and confidentiality interests.

The bill subjects such port performance measures to specified BTS disclosure restrictions.

(Sec. 4) DOT shall submit to Congress by one year before, and by three months before, the expiration of a maritime labor agreement and monthly thereafter until a new agreement is adopted, a report that includes port performance indicators at affected ports, including:

 the number and type of vessels awaiting berthing, including average wait time; the number of cancelled vessel calls; an estimate of the economic impact associated with any delays both at the port and across the national economy; an estimate of the amount of time required to clear any congestion; the average number of positions ordered and filled; and any other factors that might have created delays.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey the surface and subsurface estates of Tracts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as identified on the map titled "Point Spencer Land Retention and Conveyance Map," dated January 2015, to the Bering Straits Native Corporation and tract 6 surface and subsurface estates to Alaska in accordance with specified terms.

The Port Coordination Advisory Council for the Port of Point Spencer is established.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill revises:

 the licensing and service requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet commitment agreements, and requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy student incentive payment agreements related to licensing, the service commitment, and the circumstances under which an individual may be ordered to active duty. (Sec. 3) Payments to individuals may be modified if the total amount of payments to an individual does not exceed $32,000.

(Sec. 4) The Internal Revenue Code is amended to reflect the transfer of the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation.

(Sec. 5) The definition of "short sea transportation" shall include carriage by a documented vessel of cargo that is: (1) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation; or (2) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats.

(Sec. 6) The national security aspects of the U.S. Merchant Marine are reauthorized through FY2017.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Icebreaker Recapitalization Act

This bill directs the Department of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of up to six heavy duty polar icebreakers and any associated systems and equipment.

The Department may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in FY 2016, for advance procurement associated with such vessels, systems, and equipment.

The Department and the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall enter into a memorandum of agreement under which the Coast Guard shall:

 identify the vessel specifications, capabilities, systems, equipment, and other details required for the design of heavy polar icebreakers, with the Coast Guard retaining final decision authority; oversee the construction of authorized heavy polar icebreakers; and to the extent not adequately addressed in the 1965 Revised Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Treasury on the Operation of Icebreakers, transfer heavy polar icebreakers from the Navy to the Coast Guard to be maintained and operated by the Coast Guard.

Date: 2015-05-19
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2015

 Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to:

 establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity for recreational vessels, expressed in the number of passengers and in pounds; require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display such maximum capacity in a legible manner that is clearly visible to passengers; and 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.

Date: 2015-05-22
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill extends 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.

The bill 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).

An owner or managing operator of an exempt vessel shall:

 notify crew members (currently, only prospective passengers) 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 and provide advance notice to the Coast Guard of such alterations. Any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard (with which an exempt vessel is still required to comply) shall be consistent with the preservation of a vessel's historic integrity in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Department of Homeland Security Border Security Metrics Act of 2015

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and annually implement specified metrics to measure the effectiveness of: (1) security between ports of entry; (2) security at ports of entry; (3) security in the maritime environment; and (4) aviation assets and operations of the Office of Air and Marine of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including in detecting and apprehending subjects and in seizing illicit drugs. Such metrics shall be informed by situational awareness, which is defined as knowledge and unified understanding of current unlawful cross-border activity.

(Sec. 7) DHS shall: (1) make data related to apprehensions, inadmissible aliens, drug seizures, and other enforcement actions available to the public, academic research, and law enforcement communities in accordance with applicable privacy laws; (2) provide DHS's Office of Immigration Statistics with unfettered access to the data; (3) submit an annual report containing such metrics and the data and methodology used to develop such metrics to specified congressional committees and the Comptroller General; and (4) after submitting its final report, evaluate and update such metrics to ensure that they meet DHS's performance management needs and are suitable to measure the effectiveness of border security.

(Sec. 8) The Comptroller General shall submit a biennial report that analyzes the suitability and statistical validity of the data and methodology contained in such DHS reports and that includes recommendations on: (1) the feasibility of other suitable metrics for measuring the effectiveness of border security, and (2) improvements that need to be made to the metrics being used to measure such effectiveness.

After the end of each fiscal year through FY2025, DHS must submit a "State of the Border" reportthat includes: (1) trends for each metric under this Act for the last 10 years, and (2) selected analysis into related aspects of illegal flow rates.

Date: 2015-07-27
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Immigration
Caribbean Oil Spill Intervention, Prevention, and Preparedness Act

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to act, without liability for damage to any interested party, to prevent or respond to a grave and imminent threat of damage to U.S. waters, coastline, or related interests from pollution of the sea by crude oil whenever an incident, activity, or occurrence involving a vessel in waters beyond the U.S. territorial jurisdiction creates such a threat.

The Secretary must: (1) consult, through the Department of State, unless extreme urgency requires immediate action, with the flag country of any vessel involved and other affected countries; and (2) take other specified actions proportionate to the threat.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall develop and apply hydrodynamic modeling of the ocean currents and meteorological modeling of the Straits of Florida.

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act is amended to direct the State Department to negotiate with Mexico, Cuba, and the Bahamas for oil pollution prevention and response and protection of the marine resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is amended to prohibit the Department of the Interior from granting an oil or gas lease to a bidder conducting operations in the territorial sea, on the continental shelf, or within the exclusive economic zone of Cuba without submitting an oil spill response plan that includes one or more worst-case-scenario oil discharge plans as well as evidence that the bidder has sufficient financial and other resources necessary for response to a worst-case-scenario discharge.

The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 is amended to direct the Department of Commerce to carry out international conservation activities for coral reef ecosystems in waters beyond theU.S. territorial jurisdiction in the Straits of Florida.

The Secretary:

 shall carry out an oil spill risk analysis and planning process for the development and implementation of response plans for oil spills in the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico originating in waters beyond the U.S. territorial jurisdiction, and may conduct a verification process to ensure that any companies operating in the United States that conduct drilling operations off the coast of Cuba are subject to standards as stringent as those under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Environmental protection
Coast Guard Icebreaker Recapitalization Act

This bill authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to renovate and reactivate the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea, a heavy icebreaker, for an additional 7 to 10 years of service life.

The Coast Guard must submit a polar icebreaker recapitalization plan to Congress within 90 days. The plan must include:

 the number of heavy and medium polar icebreakers required in the polar regions, the vessel details required for the design of heavy polar icebreakers, the specific appropriations required for the acquisition of each icebreaker, and a description of any polar icebreaking capacity gaps that exist based on the current fleet and procurement outlook. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to submit to Congress, within six months, a report on the international funding models used to sustain the icebreaking fleets of foreign countries in the polar regions or other areas. The report must include:

 an analysis of icebreaking activity carried out by foreign countries, an overview of the fees used to compensate foreign countries for icebreaking escorts, the impact of escort fees in the polar regions on the shipping industry, the effectiveness of escort fees in funding foreign icebreaking vessels, and policy recommendations for funding U.S. polar icebreaking vessels.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2017

This bill reauthorizes the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY2017.

DOT must direct the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to prescribe a policy and develop a program to prevent and respond to the sexual harassment and sexual assault of Academy cadets and other Academy personnel.

The bill codifies the legal status of National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) vessels. MARAD training ships which are part of the NDRF are public vessels. NDRF vessels shall remain ''vessels'' until they are delivered to a dismantling facility.

 The Department of Defense (DOD), in conjunction with DOT, may extend the 20- and 25-year age restrictions for vessels in the maritime security fleet for up to 5 years, when the departments jointly determine that it would be in the national interest.

The bill increases from 40 to 50 the number of DOT non-competitive appointments of Merchant Marine Academy cadets with qualities of special value.

The Department of the Navy may use the services of an approved classification society to provide for the classification of certain high-speed vessels. (Currently, the American Bureau of Shipping a non-profit organization makes such classifications for government-owned vessels.)

DOT shall convene a working group to examine and assess the size of the pool of citizen mariners necessary to support the U.S. Flag Fleet in times of national emergency.

DOT shall establish a task force to analyze the impact of extreme weather events on the maritime environment.

MARAD shall review its workforce plans and policies.

The Department of Homeland Security shall make a prospective payment to DOD for medical treatment or care provided to members of the Coast Guard and their dependents at DOD facilities.

Polar Icebreaker Fleet Recapitalization Transparency Act

The bill directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to submit to Congress a detailed U.S. Federal polar icebreaker recapitalization plan to meet the 2013 Department of Homeland Security Mission Need Statement.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act

This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop policies on the prevention of and response to sexual harassment or assaults involving its employees, NOAA's commissioned officer corps, and individuals who work with or conduct business on behalf of NOAA. Those policies must include procedures for reporting incidents, including those occurring after-hours, at sea, or in remote locations.

The bill establishes protections for victims, including through a change of duty station of an alleged perpetrator.

The bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2020 the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998.

Date: 2016-04-20
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works