[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 517 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 517


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2003

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey 2 Coast Guard 
                                cutters.

    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 CUTTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall convey all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a vessel 
described in subsection (b) to the person designated in subsection (b) 
with respect to the vessel (in this section referred to as the 
``recipient''), without consideration, if the person complies with the 
conditions under subsection (c).
    (b) Vessels Described.--The vessels referred to in subsection (a) 
are the following:
            (1) The Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, to be conveyed to the 
        Port Huron Museum of Arts and History (a nonprofit corporation 
        under the laws of the State of Michigan), located in Port 
        Huron, Michigan.
            (2) The Coast Guard Cutter PLANETREE, to be conveyed to 
        Jewish Life (a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the 
        State of California), located in Sherman Oaks, California.
    (c) Conditions.--As a condition of any conveyance of a vessel under 
subsection (a), the Commandant shall require the recipient to--
            (1) agree--
                    (A) to use the vessel for purposes of education and 
                historical display;
                    (B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
                transportation purposes;
                    (C) to make the vessel available to the United 
                States Government if needed for use by the Commandant 
                in time 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 use of the vessel by the Government under 
                subparagraph (C);
            (2) have funds available that will be committed to operate 
        and maintain the vessel conveyed in good working condition--
                    (A) in the form of cash, liquid assets, or a 
                written loan commitment; and
                    (B) in an amount of at least $700,000; and
            (3) agree to any other conditions the Commandant considers 
        appropriate.
    (d)  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. The Commandant shall deliver a vessel 
conveyed under this section at the place where the vessel is located, 
in its present condition, and without cost to the Government. The 
conveyance of a 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)).
    (e) 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 an historical display.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 13, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.

                            By Martha C. Morrison,

                                                          Deputy Clerk.