I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 104 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 5, 2011 Mr. Boustany (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Paul, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Olson, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Capuano, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Sires, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Stark, and Ms. Lee of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for harbor maintenance.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Realize America’s Maritime Promise Act or the RAMP Act.

2.

Funding for harbor maintenance programs

(a)

Harbor maintenance trust fund guarantee

(1)

In general

The total budget resources made available from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund each fiscal year pursuant to section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund) shall be equal to the level of receipts plus interest credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for that fiscal year. Such amounts may be used only for harbor maintenance programs described in section 9505(c) of such Code. (2)

Guarantee

No funds may be appropriated for harbor maintenance programs described in such section unless the amount described in paragraph (1) has been provided. (b)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)

Total budget resources

The term total budget resources means the total amount made available by appropriations Acts from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for a fiscal year for making expenditures under section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2)

Level of receipts plus interest

The term level of receipts plus interest means the level of taxes and interest credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund under section 9505 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a fiscal year as set forth in the President’s budget baseline projection as defined in section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–177) for that fiscal year submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code. (c)

Enforcement of guarantees

It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause total budget resources in a fiscal year for harbor maintenance programs described in subsection (b)(1) for such fiscal year to be less than the amount required by subsection (a)(1) for such fiscal year.