[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4158 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 4158


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 20, 2004

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To provide for the conveyance to the Government of Mexico of a 
 decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, 
                        and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF NOAA VESSEL WHITING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall convey to the 
Government of Mexico, without consideration, all right, title, and 
interest of the United States in and to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration vessel WHITING--
            (1) for use as a hydrographic survey platform in support of 
        activities of the United States-Mexico Charting Advisors 
        Committee; and
            (2) to enhance coordination and cooperation between the 
        United States and Mexico regarding hydrographic surveying and 
        nautical charting activities in the border waters of both 
        countries in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific Ocean.
    (b) Operation and Maintenance.--The Government of the United States 
shall not be responsible or liable for any remediation, maintenance, or 
operation of a vessel conveyed under this section after the date of the 
delivery of the vessel to the Government of Mexico.
    (c) Deadline.--The Secretary shall seek to complete the conveyance 
by as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Delivery of Vessel.--The Secretary shall deliver the vessel 
WHITING pursuant to this section at the vessel's homeport location of 
Norfolk, Virginia, at no additional cost to the United States.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 19, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.