Coast Guard Authorization Act Passes House

By a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives approved the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005 (H.R. 889). A variety of amendments were added, including an authorization for an additional $60 million for Hurricane Katrina relief operations; a requirement to notify the Coast Guard if an object that creates an unauthorized obstruction to navigation is released into the water; a phased increase in limits of liability from tank vessels for oil spills; a program to detect, monitor, and evaluate the effects of submerged oil; and establishment of a Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee. Passage of the legislation was accompanied by numerous speeches by members lauding the work of the Coast Guard in the Hurricane Katrina response effort. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration. Source: HK Law