[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 159 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S15166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WARNER:
  S. 1319. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue 
a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for 
employment in the coastwise trade for the vessel Too Much Fun, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


                      JONES ACT WAVIER LEGISLATION

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am introducing a bill today to provide 
for a Jones Act wavier for a boat owned by a resident of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.
  The owner of the boat, Mr. Chip Frederick of Virginia, intends to use 
the boat to begin a boat charter business.
  In the 103d Congress, H.R. 3281, was introduced which provided for a 
Jones Act waiver for Mr. Frederick's boat. The bill was never 
considered by the Senate and thereafter died after the session ended.
  Mr. Frederick purchased his boat from a dealer he believed to be 
reputable. The dealer informed him that the boat could serve as an 
excellent charter boat and could be licensed for both commercial and 
charter uses. After Mr. Frederick purchased the boat, he discovered 
that additional upgrades were needed to prepare the boat for commercial 
use. When Mr. Frederick attempted to license the boat for commercial 
use, he was informed that the boat could not be licensed because it was 
built in Taiwan. Since that time, the dealer has closed his business 
and cannot be located. During the past few years, this potentially 
successful business has been placed on hold. In anticipation of 
beginning this new business, Mr. Frederick had hired a crew and support 
staff, but as time elapsed, he has been forced to lay off several 
employees.
  When you consider the facts of this case, Mr. Frederick has made a 
sizable investment in a boat he purchased with misleading information. 
A Jones Act waiver will allow for Mr. Frederick to begin his new 
business and create more jobs in his community.

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