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Bill Introduced News

06 Jul 2020

New Bill Aims to Secure Grant Funding for Maritime Training

© LaVonna/ Adobe Stock

A new bill introduced in the U.S. aims to make available $200 million in grant funding for community and technical colleges offering training programs for maritime industry professions. The legislation H.R. 7456 was introduced by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (Texas-29) alongside Rep. Don Young (Alaska-At-Large), Rep. Anthony G. Brown (Md.-04), Rep. Brian Babin (Texas-36), and Rep. Steven Palazzo (Miss.-04).“Maritime industry jobs are a critical part of our nation’s economy. Yet research has shown that there may soon be a shortage of maritime industry workers,” said Congresswoman Garcia.

30 Sep 2015

House Bill Introduced to Block Arctic Drilling

Jared Huffman (Official photo)

Rep. U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman (Dem.-Calif.) introduced a bill Monday called the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015, which would prohibit new or renewed oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Ocean Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. The Senate version of the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015 was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (Dem.-Ore.) on July 16, 2015. Following closely on the heels of Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to end drilling operations in the Arctic Ocean “for the foreseeable future…

29 Jun 2015

Multimodal Freight Bill Introduced in US Senate

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to establish a multimodal freight investment policy to keep America businesses, farmers and shippers competitive the 21st century global economy. The National Multimodal Freight Policy and Investment Act (S.1680) creates a comprehensive, strategic plan for multimodal freight investment and reduces freight bottlenecks and congestion by investing in the nation’s network of highways, railroads, ports and intermodal facilities. It would also reduce the impact of freight movement on communities and help ensure the vitality of important “last-mile” freight connections. The bill is based, in part, upon the recommendations of the nonpartisan U.S.

15 Dec 2014

Bill Introduced to Protect Great Lakes from Invasive Species

The Guarding Our Great Lakes Act, a bipartisan legislation designed to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive Asian carp, has been introduced by U.S. Congressman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). Additional cosponsors of the bill include Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and Congressman Gary Peters (D-Mich.). In 2012, Rep. Camp and Sen. Stabenow secured passage of the Stop Invasive Species Act, to expedite the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers, which was supposed to formulate a plan to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

10 Nov 2014

Senate Panel Ponders Expedited LNG Export Reviews

Senator John Hoeven

U.S. lawmakers on the Senate Energy Committee will vote on a bill this week aimed at speeding up the Department of Energy's review of liquefied natural gas export applications. The panel will weigh a bill introduced by Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, over the summer that would require the DOE to issue a decision on gas export projects within 45 days after companies have filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. While the bill may be able to pass the committee…

30 Jul 2014

Growing American Shipping Bill Introduced by Garamendi

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, informs ot the introduction of  H.R. 5270, the 'Growing American Shipping Act', to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry. The Subcommittee’s Chairman, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA-50), joined the legislation as an original cosponsor. Existing law, written before the natural gas boom when we thought America would be a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program to promote the transportation of imported LNG on U.S.-flag vessels.

30 Jun 2014

Bill Introduced to Assess Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and four colleagues introduced legislation requiring a federal assessment of Great Lakes waters with significant cultural, historic or archaeological value for possible preservation as federal marine sanctuaries. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to submit to Congress a report and recommendations on possible Great Lakes sanctuaries. Today, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Lake Huron near Alpena, Mich., which protects scores of historic shipwrecks, is the nation’s only freshwater federal sanctuary. Cosponsors are Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., a vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force; Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Sen.

02 May 2014

US Bill Introduced to Establish Arctic Ambassador

USCG photo

Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) introduced a bill to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish a United States Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs. Currently, 20 government agencies are handling Arctic policy. Under this legislation, an Ambassador would be charged with all coordination and serve as Chair of the Arctic Council when the U.S. assumes Chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2015-2017. Congressman Sensenbrenner said, “We need someone with ambassadorial rank to show that the U.S. is serious about being an Arctic nation.

06 Feb 2014

Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Bill Introduced

USCG photo

Committee leaders today introduced bipartisan legislation that authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to carry out its vital missions, improves USCG mission effectiveness, helps replace and modernize aging Coast Guard assets in a cost effective manner, enhances oversight, and reduces inefficiencies to save taxpayer dollars. Additionally, the bill strengthens U.S. maritime transportation, reduces regulatory burdens to create jobs and encourage economic growth and improves the Nation’s competitiveness. The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R.

15 Nov 2013

US Cruise Passenger Consumer Rights Bill Introduced to House

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, has introduced H.R. 3475, the Cruise Vessel Consumer Confidence Act of 2013, which authorizes the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to provide oversight and to investigate deceptive practices and unfair competition relating to cruise vessel passenger travel. The Bill also requires the cruise line industry to make disclosures, provide timely information to passengers, provide for the physical needs of passengers, and reimburse passengers that are delayed for more than 24 hours. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento, CA) is an original cosponsor of the bill.

14 Oct 2011

Bill Introduced To Protect American Maritime Jobs

Working to create and preserve American jobs, Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (D, MD-7) and Jeff Landry (R, LA-3) today introduced the American Mariners Job Protection Act (H.R. 3202), a bill with bipartisan support that will increase government transparency surrounding the issuance of waivers allowing non-Jones Act-qualified vessels to carry cargo between U.S. ports. Under current law, when the head of the agency responsible for the administration of the Jones Act believes it necessary to waive the Act’s requirements in the interest of national defense, the agency must request the Maritime Administration to assess whether Jones Act-qualified vessels are available to carry the cargo under consideration.

05 Apr 2011

House Bill Introduced, Evidence of WWII Merchant Marine Service

Representative Butterfield (D-NC) introduced a bill (H.R. 1288) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted.  (3/31/11)   (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

10 Jan 2011

Bill Introduced, Veterans Benefits for WWII Mariners

Representative Filner (D-CA) introduced the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011 (H.R. 23) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. (1/5/11). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

07 Aug 2009

Bill Introduced, HMT Exemptions

Representative Higgins (D-NY) introduced the Short Sea Shipping Act of 2009 (H.R. 3486) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain shipping from the harbor maintenance tax (HMT). If enacted into law, this bill would exempt from the HMT commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded at a US mainland port and unloaded at another US mainland port or a port in Canada in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System or loaded at a port in Canada in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System and unloaded at a port in the US mainland. (7/31/09). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

28 Jul 2009

Arctic Shipping Bill Introduced

Senator Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bill (S. 1514) to ensure safe, secure, and reliable marine shipping in the Arctic including the availability of aids to navigation, vessel escorts, spill response capability, and maritime search and rescue in the Arctic, and for other purposes. Official text of the legislation is not yet available. (7/24/09). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

06 Aug 2008

Bill Introduced re: TWIC

Senator Coleman (R-MN) introduced the Small Marine Business and Fishing Guide Relief Act of 2008 (S. 3377) to amend title 46, United States Code, to waive the biometric transportation security card requirement for certain small business merchant mariners, and for other purposes.  This bill, if enacted into law, would exempt from the requirement for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) merchant mariners serving on vessels the owner or operator of which is not required to submit a vessel security plan. (HK Law).

16 May 2008

Bill introduced to reauthorize MARAD

Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Maritime Administration Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (S. 2997) to reauthorize the Maritime Administration, and for other purposes.  The bill, if enacted into law, would, among other things, address assistance to small shipyards and extend the marine war risk insurance program through 2015. (HK Law)

03 Apr 2008

Bill Introduced to Enhance Safety of Ports of Entry

Representative Reyes (D-TX) introduced the Putting Our Resources Towards Security (PORTS) Act (H.R. 5662) to enhance the safety of ports of entry in the United States, and for other purposes.

14 Mar 2008

Bill Introduced to Evaluate Vessel Discharges

Representative Young (R-AK) introduced the Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act (H.R. 5594) to require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct an evaluation and review of certain vessel discharges.  This bill, if enacted into law, would provide for establishment of uniform, environmentally sound standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels.  It would also prohibit states from adopting their own standards for discharges regulated under the Act. Source: HK Law

12 Mar 2008

Bill Introduced on Double Hulls

Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2008 (S. 2699) to require new vessels carrying oil fuel to have double hulls, and for other purposes. This bill, if enacted into law, would require new vessels with an aggregate capacity to 600 cubic meters or more of oil fuel to comply with MARPOL requirements relating to protective location of the fuel tanks and would provide for establishment of a merchant marine medical program. Source:  HK Law

21 Feb 2008

Bill Introduced to Evaluate Certain Vessel Discharges

Senator Stevens (R-AK) introduced the Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act (S. 2645) to require the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to conduct an evaluation and review of certain vessel discharges. This bill, if enacted, would continue the exceptions currently allowed for discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels until the evaluation is completed. Once the evaluation is completed and vetted, the bill would direct the Coast Guard to establish uniform national discharge standards for most commercial vessels operating in US waters. Source: HK Law

31 Dec 2007

Homeland Security Bill Introduced

Representative Harman (D-CA) introduced the Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2007 (H.R. 4806) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to prevent the over-classification of homeland security and other information and to promote the sharing of unclassified homeland security and other information, and for other purposes. (HK Law)

16 Oct 2001

New White House Trade Authority Will Boost Houston Region Economy

business leaders. T. Edmonds. America to U.S. goods and services. Venezuela ($3.2 billion) and Brazil ($2.1 billion). Texas Farm Bureau President Steve Pringle. of American agriculture," he said.

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