[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4519 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4519

 To authorize the President to consent to third party transfer of the 
        ex-USS Bowman County to the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 6, 1998

Mr. Hall of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on National Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the President to consent to third party transfer of the 
        ex-USS Bowman County to the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO CONSENT TO THIRD PARTY TRANSFER OF EX-USS 
              BOWMAN COUNTY TO USS LST SHIP MEMORIAL, INC.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) It is the long-standing policy of the United States 
        Government to deny requests for the retransfer of significant 
        military equipment that originated in the United States to 
        private entities.
            (2) In very exceptional circumstances, when the United 
        States public interest would be served by the proposed 
        retransfer and end-use, such requests may be favorably 
        considered.
            (3) Such retransfers to private entities have been 
        authorized in very exceptional circumstances following 
        appropriate demilitarization and receipt of assurances from the 
        private entity that the item to be transferred would be used 
        solely in furtherance of Federal Government contracts or for 
        static museum display.
            (4) Nothing in this section should be construed as a 
        revision of long-standing policy referred to in paragraph (1).
            (5) The Government of Greece has requested the consent of 
        the United States Government to the retransfer of HS Rodos (ex-
        USS Bowman County (LST 391)) to the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc.
    (b) Authority To Consent to Retransfer.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the President 
        may consent to the retransfer by the Government of Greece of HS 
        Rodos (ex-USS Bowman County (LST 391)) to the USS LST Ship 
        Memorial, Inc.
            (2) Conditions for consent.--The President should not 
        exercise the authority under paragraph (1) unless the USS LST 
        Memorial, Inc.--
                    (A) utilizes the vessel for public, nonprofit, 
                museum-related purposes; and
                    (B) complies with applicable law with respect to 
                the vessel, including those requirements related to 
                facilitating monitoring by the Federal Government of, 
                and mitigating potential environmental hazards 
                associated with, aging vessels, and has a demonstrated 
                financial capability to so comply.
                                 <all>