[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3924 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3924

  To authorize conveyance of 2 decommissioned Coast Guard vessels to 
  Canvasback Mission, Inc., for use for provision of medical services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 1998

  Mr. Riggs introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize conveyance of 2 decommissioned Coast Guard vessels to 
  Canvasback Mission, Inc., for use for provision of medical services.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST GUARD VESSELS.

    (a) In General.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall convey all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to each of 2 
decommissioned ``White Class'' 133-foot Coast Guard vessels to 
Canvasback Mission, Inc. (a nonprofit corporation established under the 
laws of the State of Oregon; in this section referred to as ``the 
recipient''), without consideration, if--
            (1) the recipient agrees, with respect to each vessel 
        conveyed--
                    (A) to use the vessel for the purposes of providing 
                medical services to Central and South Pacific island 
                nations;
                    (B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
                transportation purposes except those incident to the 
                provision of those medical services;
                    (C) to make the vessel available to the United 
                States Government if needed for use by the Commandant 
                in times of war or a national emergency; and
                    (D) to hold the Government harmless for any claims 
                arising from exposure to hazardous materials, including 
                asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), after 
                conveyance of the vessel, except for claims arising 
                from the use by the Government under paragraph (1)(C);
            (2) the recipient has funds available that will be 
        committed to operate and to maintain each vessel conveyed in 
        good working condition, in the form of cash, liquid assets, or 
        a written loan commitment, and in the amount of at least 
        $400,000 per vessel; and
            (3) the recipient agrees to any other conditions the 
        Commandant considers appropriate.
    (b) Maintenance and Delivery of Vessel.--Prior to conveyance of a 
vessel under this section, the Commandant shall, to the extent 
practical, and subject to other Coast Guard mission requirements, make 
every effort to maintain the integrity of the vessel and its equipment 
until the time of delivery of the vessel. If a conveyance is made under 
this section, the Commandant shall deliver the vessel at the place 
where the vessel is located, in its present condition, and without cost 
to the Government. The conveyance of the vessel under this section 
shall not be considered a distribution in commerce for purposes of 
section 6(e) of Public Law 94-469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)).
    (c) Other Excess Equipment.--The Commandant may convey to the 
recipient of a vessel under this section any excess equipment or parts 
from other decommissioned Coast Guard vessels for use to enhance the 
vessel's operability and function as a medical services vessel in 
Central and South Pacific islands.
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