[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3387 Introduced in House (IH)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 3387

To update and improve the codification of title 46, United States Code.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 3, 2007

    Mr. Conyers (for himself and Mr. Smith of Texas) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To update and improve the codification of title 46, United States Code.

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

SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purpose.
Sec. 3. Personal injury to or death of seamen.
Sec. 4. Amendments to chapter 537 based on Public Law 109-163.
Sec. 5. Additional amendments based on Public Law 109-163.
Sec. 6. Amendments based on Public Law 109-171.
Sec. 7. Amendments based on Public Law 109-241.
Sec. 8. Amendments based on Public Law 109-364.
Sec. 9. Miscellaneous amendments.
Sec. 10. Application of sunset provision to codified provision.
Sec. 11. Technical corrections.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    (a) In General.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) update certain provisions codified in title 46, United 
        States Code, by Public Law 109-304, to reflect amendments 
        enacted after the cutoff date specified in section 18(a) of 
        that law, which amendments were to provisions restated and 
        repealed by that law;
            (2) improve certain provisions codified by that law to 
        reflect public comments submitted too late to be reflected in 
        that law; and
            (3) correct technical errors in that law.
    (b) No Substantive Change.--This Act is not intended to make any 
substantive change.

SEC. 3. PERSONAL INJURY TO OR DEATH OF SEAMEN.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(a) Cause of Action.--A seaman injured in the course of 
employment or, if the seaman dies from the injury, the personal 
representative of the seaman may bring an action against the employer. 
In such an action, the laws of the United States regulating recovery 
for personal injury to, or death of, a railway employee shall apply. 
Such an action may be maintained in admiralty or, at the plaintiff's 
election, as an action at law, with the right of trial by jury.
    ``(b) Venue.--When the plaintiff elects to maintain an action at 
law, venue shall be in the judicial district in which the employer 
resides or the employer's principal office is located.''.
    (b) Intent.--The amendment made by subsection (a) is intended to 
ensure that the codification of section 20(a) of the Act of March 4, 
1915, as amended, in section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, 
does not result in any substantive change. Section 30104 is intended to 
be given the same interpretation as was given to such section 20(a).
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be 
effective as if included in the enactment of Public Law 109-304.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 537 BASED ON PUBLIC LAW 109-163.

    (a) Amendments.--Title 46, United States Code, is amended as 
follows:
            (1) Section 53701 is amended by--
                    (A) redesignating paragraphs (2)-(13) as paragraphs 
                (3)-(14), respectively;
                    (B) inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
        Administrator of the Maritime Administration.''; and
                    (C) amending paragraph (13) (as redesignated) to 
                read as follows:
            ``(13) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce with respect to fishing vessels and fishery 
        facilities.''.
            (2) Section 53706(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Priorities for Certain Vessels.--
            ``(1) Vessels.--In guaranteeing or making a commitment to 
        guarantee an obligation under this chapter, the Administrator 
        shall give priority to--
                    ``(A) a vessel that is otherwise eligible for a 
                guarantee and is constructed with assistance under 
                subtitle D of the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (46 
                U.S.C. 53101 note); and
                    ``(B) after applying subparagraph (A), a vessel 
                that is otherwise eligible for a guarantee and that the 
                Secretary of Defense determines--
                            ``(i) is suitable for service as a naval 
                        auxiliary in time of war or national emergency; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) meets a shortfall in sealift 
                        capacity or capability.
            ``(2) Time for determination.--The Secretary of Defense 
        shall determine whether a vessel satisfies paragraph (1)(B) not 
        later than 30 days after receipt of a request from the 
        Administrator for such a determination.''.
            (3) Section 53707 is amended in--
                    (A) subsections (a) and (d), by inserting ``or 
                Administrator'' after ``Secretary'' each place it 
                appears;
                    (B) subsection (b), by striking ``Secretary of 
                Transportation'' and inserting ``Administrator'';
                    (C) subsection (c), by striking ``of Commerce''; 
                and
                    (D) subsection (d)(2), by--
                            (i) inserting ``if the Secretary or 
                        Administrator considers necessary,'' before 
                        ``the waiver''; and
                            (ii) striking ``the increased'' and 
                        inserting ``any significant increase in''.
            (4) Section 53708 is amended in--
                    (A) subsection (a), by striking ``Secretary'' and 
                ``Secretary of Transportation'' each place they appear 
                in the heading and in text and inserting 
                ``Administrator'';
                    (B) subsections (b) and (c), by striking ``of 
                Commerce'' each place it appears in a heading and in 
                text;
                    (C) subsection (d), by--
                            (i) inserting ``or Administrator'' after 
                        ``Secretary'' the first place it appears; and
                            (ii) striking ``financial structures, or 
                        other risk factors identified by the Secretary. 
                        Any independent analysis conducted under this 
                        subsection shall be performed by a party chosen 
                        by the Secretary.'' and inserting ``or 
                        financial structures. A third party independent 
                        analysis conducted under this subsection shall 
                        be performed by a private sector expert in 
                        assessing such risk factors who is selected by 
                        the Secretary or Administrator.''; and
                    (D) subsection (e), by--
                            (i) inserting ``or Administrator'' after 
                        ``Secretary'' the first place it appears; and
                            (ii) striking ``financial structures, or 
                        other risk factors identified by the 
                        Secretary'' and inserting ``or financial 
                        structures''.
            (5) Section 53710(b)(1) is amended by striking 
        ``Secretary's'' and inserting ``Administrator's''.
            (6) Section 53712(b) is amended by striking the last 
        sentence and inserting ``If the Secretary or Administrator has 
        waived a requirement under section 53707(d) of this title, the 
        loan agreement shall include requirements for additional 
        payments, collateral, or equity contributions to meet the 
        waived requirement upon the occurrence of verifiable conditions 
        indicating that the obligor's financial condition enables the 
        obligor to meet the waived requirement.''.
            (7) Subsections (c) and (d) of section 53717 are amended by 
        striking ``of Commerce'' each place it appears in a heading and 
        in text.
            (8) Section 53732(e)(2) is amended by inserting ``of 
        Defense'' after ``Secretary'' the second place it appears.
            (9) The following provisions are amended by striking 
        ``Secretary'' and ``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting 
        ``Administrator'':
                    (A) Section 53710(b)(2)(A)(i).
                    (B) Section 53717(b) each place it appears in a 
                heading and in text.
                    (C) Section 53718.
                    (D) Section 53731 each place it appears, except 
                where ``Secretary'' is followed by ``of Energy''.
                    (E) Section 53732 (as amended by paragraph (8)) 
                each place it appears, except where ``Secretary'' is 
                followed by ``of the Treasury'', ``of State'', or ``of 
                Defense''.
                    (F) Section 53733 each place it appears.
            (10) The following provisions are amended by inserting ``or 
        Administrator'' after ``Secretary'' each place it appears in 
        headings and text, except where ``Secretary'' is followed by 
        ``of Transportation'' or ``of the Treasury'':
                    (A) The items relating to sections 53722 and 53723 
                in the analysis of chapter 537.
                    (B) Sections 53701(1), (4), and (9) (as 
                redesignated by paragraph (1)(A)), 53702(a), 53703, 
                53704, 53706(a)(3)(B)(iii), 53709(a)(1), (b)(1) and 
                (2)(A), and (d), 53710(a) and (c), 53711, 53712 (except 
                in the last sentence of subsection (b) as amended by 
                paragraph (6)), 53713 to 53716, 53721 to 53725, and 
                53734.
            (11) Sections 53715(d)(1), 53716(d)(3), 53721(c), 
        53722(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), and 53724(b) are amended by 
        inserting ``or Administrator's'' after ``Secretary's''.
    (b) Repeal of Superseded Amendments.--Section 3507 (except 
subsection (c)(4)) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163) is repealed.

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC LAW 109-163.

    (a) Amendments.--Title 46, United States Code, is amended as 
follows:
            (1) Chapters 513 and 515 are amended by striking ``Naval 
        Reserve'' each place it appears in analyses, headings, and text 
        and inserting ``Navy Reserve''.
            (2) Section 51504(f) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Fuel Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretary shall pay to each State maritime 
        academy the costs of fuel used by a vessel provided under this 
        section while used for training.
            ``(2) Maximum amounts.--The amount of the payment to a 
        State maritime academy under paragraph (1) may not exceed--
                    ``(A) $100,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    ``(B) $200,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    ``(C) $300,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal 
                year thereafter.''.
            (3) Section 51505(b)(2)(B) is amended by striking 
        ``$200,000'' and inserting ``$300,000 for fiscal year 2006, 
        $400,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $500,000 for fiscal year 
        2008 and each fiscal year thereafter''.
            (4) Section 51701(a) is amended by inserting before the 
        period at the end ``and to perform functions to assist the 
        United States merchant marine, as determined necessary by the 
        Secretary''.
            (5)(A) Section 51907 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 51907. Provision of decorations, medals, and replacements
    ``The Secretary of Transportation may provide--
            ``(1) the decorations and medals authorized by this chapter 
        and replacements for those decorations and medals; and
            ``(2) replacements for decorations and medals issued under 
        a prior law.''.
            (B) In the analysis of chapter 519, the item relating to 
        section 51907 is amended to read as follows:

``51907.  Provision of decorations, medals, and replacements.''.
            (6)(A) The following new chapter is inserted after chapter 
        539:

                      ``CHAPTER 541--MISCELLANEOUS

``Sec.
``54101.  Assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities.''.
            (B) Section 3506 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 2006 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) is transferred to 
        and redesignated as section 54101 of title 46, United States 
        Code, to appear at the end of chapter 541 of title 46, as 
        enacted by subparagraph (A).
            (C) The heading of section 54101 is amended to read as 
        follows:
``Sec. 54101. Assistance for small shipyards and maritime 
              communities''.
            (D) The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle V is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 539 the 
        following new item:

Miscellaneous...................................................54101''.
    (b) Repeal of Superseded Amendments.--Sections 515(g)(2), 3502, 
3509, and 3510 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163) are repealed.

SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC LAW 109-171.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 60301 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended in--
            (1) subsection (a), by striking ``2 cents per ton (but not 
        more than a total of 10 cents per ton per year)'' and inserting 
        ``4.5 cents per ton, not to exceed a total of 22.5 cents per 
        ton per year, for fiscal years 2006 through 2010, and 2 cents 
        per ton, not to exceed a total of 10 cents per ton per year, 
        for each fiscal year thereafter,''; and
            (2) subsection (b), by striking ``6 cents per ton (but not 
        more than a total of 30 cents per ton per year)'' and inserting 
        ``13.5 cents per ton, not to exceed a total of 67.5 cents per 
        ton per year, for fiscal years 2006 through 2010, and 6 cents 
        per ton, not to exceed a total of 30 cents per ton per year, 
        for each fiscal year thereafter,''.
    (b) Repeal of Superseded Amendments.--Section 4001 of the Deficit 
Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) is repealed.

SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC LAW 109-241.

    (a) Amendments.--Title 46, United States Code, is amended as 
follows:
            (1) Section 12111 is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(d) Activities Involving Mobile Offshore Drilling Units.--
            ``(1) In general.--Only a vessel for which a certificate of 
        documentation with a registry endorsement is issued may engage 
        in--
                    ``(A) the setting, relocation, or recovery of the 
                anchors or other mooring equipment of a mobile offshore 
                drilling unit that is located over the outer 
                Continental Shelf (as defined in section 2(a) of the 
                Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(a))); 
                or
                    ``(B) the transportation of merchandise or 
                personnel to or from a point in the United States from 
                or to a mobile offshore drilling unit located over the 
                outer Continental Shelf that is not attached to the 
                seabed.
            ``(2) Coastwise trade not authorized.--Nothing in paragraph 
        (1) authorizes the employment in the coastwise trade of a 
        vessel that does not meet the requirements of section 12112 of 
        this title.''.
            (2) Section 12139(a) is amended by striking ``and 
        charterers'' and inserting ``charterers, and mortgagees''.
            (3) Section 51307 is amended by--
                    (A) striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
                    (B) striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) on any other vessel considered by the Secretary to be 
        necessary or appropriate or in the national interest.''.
            (4) Section 55105(b)(3) is amended by striking ``Secretary 
        of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating'' and 
        inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security''.
            (5) Section 70306(a) is amended by striking ``Not later 
        than February 28 of each year, the Secretary shall submit a 
        report'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall submit an annual 
        report''.
            (6) Section 70502(d)(2) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Response to claim of registry.--The response of a 
        foreign nation to a claim of registry under paragraph (1)(A) or 
        (C) may be made by radio, telephone, or similar oral or 
        electronic means, and is proved conclusively by certification 
        of the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee.''.
    (b) Repeal of Superseded Amendments.--Sections 303, 307, 308, 310, 
901(q), and 902(o) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2006 (Public Law 109-241) are repealed.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC LAW 109-364.

    (a) Updating of Cross References.--Section 1017(b)(2) of the John 
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public 
Law 109-364, 10 U.S.C. 2631 note) is amended by striking ``section 27 
of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 U.S.C. 883), section 12106 of 
title 46, United States Code, and section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 
(46 U.S.C. App. 802)'' and inserting ``sections 12112, 50501, and 55102 
of title 46, United States Code''.
    (b) Section 51306(e).--
            (1) In general.--Section 51306 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Alternate Service.--
            ``(1) Service as commissioned officer.--An individual who, 
        for the 5-year period following graduation from the Academy, 
        serves as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed 
        force of the United States or as a commissioned officer of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public 
        Health Service shall be excused from the requirements of 
        subsection (a)(3)-(5).
            ``(2) Modification or waiver.--The Secretary may modify or 
        waive any of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection 
        (a) through the imposition of alternative service 
        requirements.''.
            (2) Application.--Section 51306(e) of title 46, United 
        States Code, as added by this subsection, applies only to an 
        individual who enrolls as a cadet at the United States Merchant 
        Marine Academy, and signs an agreement under section 51306(a) 
        of title 46, after October 17, 2006.
    (c) Section 51306(f).--
            (1) In general.--Section 51306 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Service Obligation Performance Reporting Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to any otherwise applicable 
        restrictions on disclosure in section 552a of title 5, the 
        Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which 
        the Coast Guard is operating, the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Surgeon General 
        of the Public Health Service--
                    ``(A) shall report the status of obligated service 
                of an individual graduate of the Academy upon request 
                of the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) may, in their discretion, notify the 
                Secretary of any failure of the graduate to perform the 
                graduate's duties, either on active duty or in the 
                Ready Reserve component of their respective service, or 
                as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health 
                Service, respectively.
            ``(2) Information to be provided.--A report or notice under 
        subparagraph (A) shall identify any graduate determined to have 
        failed to comply with service obligation requirements and 
        provide all required information as to why such graduate failed 
        to comply.
            ``(3) Considered as in default.--Upon receipt of such a 
        report or notice, such graduate may be considered to be in 
        default of the graduate's service obligations by the Secretary, 
        and subject to all remedies the Secretary may have with respect 
        to such a default.''.
            (2) Application.--Section 51306(f) of title 46, United 
        States Code, as added by this subsection, does not apply with 
        respect to an agreement entered into under section 51306(a) of 
        title 46 before October 17, 2006.
    (d) Section 51509(c).--Section 51509(c) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by--
            (1) striking ``Midshipman and'' in the subsection heading 
        and ``midshipman and'' in the text; and
            (2) inserting ``or the Coast Guard Reserve'' after 
        ``Reserve)''.
    (e) Section 51908(a).--Section 51908(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``under this chapter'' and inserting ``by 
this chapter or the Secretary of Transportation''.
    (f) Section 53105(e)(2).--Section 53105(e)(2) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``section 2 of the Shipping Act, 
1916 (46 U.S.C. App. 802),'' and inserting ``section 50501 of this 
title''.
    (g) Repeal of Superseded Amendments.--Sections 3505, 3506, 3508, 
and 3510(a) and (b) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364) are repealed.

SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Deletion of Obsolete Reference to Canton Island.--Section 
55101(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by--
            (1) inserting ``or'' after the semicolon at the end of 
        paragraph (2);
            (2) striking paragraph (3); and
            (3) redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).
    (b) Improvement of Heading.--Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended as follows:
            (1) The heading of section 55110 is amended by inserting 
        ``valueless material or'' before ``dredged material''.
            (2) The item for section 55110 in the analysis of chapter 
        551 is amended by inserting ``valueless material or'' before 
        ``dredged material''.

SEC. 10. APPLICATION OF SUNSET PROVISION TO CODIFIED PROVISION.

    For purposes of section 303 of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief 
Reconciliation Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-27, 26 U.S.C. 1 note), the 
amendment made by section 301(a)(2)(E) of that Act shall be deemed to 
have been made to section 53511(f)(2) of title 46, United States Code.

SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Amendments to Title 46.--Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended as follows:
            (1) The analysis of chapter 21 is amended by striking the 
        item for section 2108.
            (2) Section 12113(g) is amended by inserting ``and'' after 
        ``Conservation''.
            (3) Section 12131 is amended by striking ``commmand'' and 
        inserting ``command''.
    (b) Amendments to Public Law 109-304.--
            (1) Amendments.--Public Law 109-304 is amended as follows:
                    (A) Section 15(10) is amended by striking ``46 App. 
                U.S.C.'' and inserting ``46 U.S.C. App.''.
                    (B) Section 15(30) is amended by striking 
                ``Shipping Act, 1936'' and inserting ``Shipping Act, 
                1916''.
                    (C) The schedule of Statutes at Large repealed in 
                section 19, as it relates to the Act of June 29, 1936, 
                is amended by--
                            (i) striking the second section ``1111'' 
                        (relating to 46 App. U.S.C. 1279f) and 
                        inserting section ``1113''; and
                            (ii) striking the second section ``1112'' 
                        (relating to 46 App. U.S.C. 1279g) and 
                        inserting section ``1114''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall be effective as if included in the enactment of Public 
        Law 109-304.
    (c) Repeal of Duplicative or Unexecutable Amendments.--
            (1) Repeal.--Sections 9(a), 15(21) and (33)(A)-(D)(i), and 
        16(c)(2) of Public Law 109-304 are repealed.
            (2) Intended Effect.--The provisions repealed by paragraph 
        (1) shall be treated as if never enacted.
                                 <all>