[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3198 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  2d Session
                                S. 3198

 To amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation 
    of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 25, 2008

 Mr. Lautenberg (for himself, Mr. Smith, Ms. Cantwell, and Ms. Snowe) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation 
    of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality.

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

SECTION 1. OPERATION OF SUBMERSIBLE OR SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL WITHOUT 
              NATIONALITY.

    (a) Finding and declaration.--Section 70501 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``that''; and
            (2) by striking ``States.'' and inserting ``States and (2) 
        operating or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible 
        vessel without nationality and on an international voyage is a 
        serious international problem, facilitates transnational crime, 
        including drug trafficking, and terrorism, and presents a 
        specific threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the 
        security of the United States.''.
    (b) Submersible or Semi-submersible Vessel defined.--Section 70502 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following:
    ``(f) Submersible or Semi-submersible Vessel.--The term 
``submersible or semi-submersible vessel'' means--
            ``(1) a vessel that is capable of operating below the 
        surface of the water, including both manned and unmanned 
        watercraft; or
            ``(2) a watercraft constructed or adapted to be capable of 
        putting much of its bulk under the surface of the water.''.
    (c) Operation Prohibited.--
            (1) In general.--Section 70503(a) of title 46, United 
        States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--An individual may not knowingly or 
intentionally--
            ``(1) manufacture or distribute, or possess with intent to 
        manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance on board--
                    ``(A) a vessel of the United States or a vessel 
                subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or
                    ``(B) any vessel if the individual is a citizen of 
                the United States or a resident alien of the United 
                States; or
            ``(2) operate by any means or embark in any submersible or 
        semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is 
        navigating or has navigated into, through or from waters beyond 
        the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a 
        lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an 
        adjacent country.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) The heading for section 70503 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 70503. Offenses''.
                    (B) The chapter analysis for chapter 705 of title 
                46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
                relating to section 70503 and inserting the following:

``70503. Offenses''.
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