[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2585 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2585

   To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to convey a National 
     Defense Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier Society, Inc., of 
                        Bridgeport, Connecticut.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 1999

  Mr. Shays introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to convey a National 
     Defense Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier Society, Inc., of 
                        Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET VESSEL, 
              GLACIER.

    (a) Authority To Convey.--Notwithstanding any other law, the 
Secretary of Transportation (in this section referred to as ``the 
Secretary'') may, subject to subsection (b), convey all right, title, 
and interest of the United States Government in and to the vessel in 
the National Defense Reserve Fleet that was formerly the U.S.S. GLACIER 
(United States official number AGB-4) to the Glacier Society, Inc., a 
corporation established under the laws of the State of Connecticut that 
is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut (in this section referred to as 
the ``recipient'').
    (b) Terms of Conveyance.--
            (1) Required conditions.--The Secretary may not convey a 
        vessel under this section unless the recipient--
                    (A) agrees to use the vessel for the purpose of a 
                monument to the accomplishments of members of the Armed 
                Forces of the United States, civilians, scientists, and 
                diplomats in exploration of the Arctic and the 
                Antarctic;
                    (B) agrees that the vessel will not be used for 
                commercial purposes;
                    (C) agrees to make the vessel available to the 
                Government if the Secretary requires use of the vessel 
                by the Government for war or national emergency;
                    (D) agrees to hold the Government harmless for any 
                claims arising from exposure to asbestos, 
                polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead paint after the 
                conveyance of the vessel, except for claims arising 
                from use of the vessel by the Government pursuant to 
                the agreement under subparagraph (C); and
                    (E) provides sufficient evidence to the Secretary 
                that it has available for use to restore the vessel, in 
                the form of cash, liquid assets, or a written loan 
                commitment, financial resources of at least $100,000.
            (2) Delivery of vessel.--If the Secretary conveys the 
        vessel under this section, the Secretary shall deliver the 
        vessel--
                    (A) at the place where the vessel is located on the 
                date of conveyance;
                    (B) in its condition on that date; and
                    (C) at no cost to the United States Government.
            (3) Additional terms.--The Secretary may require such 
        additional terms in connection with the conveyance authorized 
        by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (c) Other Unneeded Equipment.--If the Secretary conveys the vessel 
under this section, the Secretary may also convey to the recipient any 
unneeded equipment from other vessels in the National Defense Reserve 
Fleet or Government storage facilities for use to restore the vessel to 
museum quality or to its original configuration (or both).
    (d) Retention of Vessel in NDRF.--The Secretary shall retain in the 
National Defense Reserve Fleet the vessel authorized to be conveyed 
under this section until the earlier of--
            (1) 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (2) the date of the conveyance of the vessel under this 
        section.
    (e) Exemption From Passenger Ship Inspection Requirements.--Section 
3302(l)(1) of title 46, United States Code, shall apply with respect to 
the vessel upon conveyance of the vessel under this section.
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