[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 118 (Thursday, September 28, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9551-S9552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 686, S. 2487.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2487) to authorize appropriations for Fiscal 
     Year 2001 for certain maritime programs of the Department of 
     Transportation.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert the part printed in italic.

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Maritime Administration 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001.

       Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated, as 
     Appropriations Acts may provide, for the use of the 
     Department of Transportation for the Maritime Administration 
     as follows:
       (1) For expenses necessary for operations and training 
     activities, not to exceed $80,240,000 for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2001.
       (2) For the costs, as defined in section 502 of the Federal 
     Credit Reform Act of 1990, of guaranteed loans authorized by 
     title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 
     1271 et seq.), $50,000,000, to be available until expended. 
     In addition, for administrative expenses related to loan 
     guarantee commitments under title XI of that Act, $4,179,000.

     SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE IX OF THE MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 
                   1936.

       (a) Title IX of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 
     App. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 910. DOCUMENTATION OF CERTAIN DRY CARGO VESSELS.

       ``(a) In General.--The restrictions of section 901(b)(1) of 
     this Act concerning a vessel built in a foreign country shall 
     not apply to a newly constructed drybulk or breakbulk vessel 
     over 7,500 deadweight tons that has been delivered from a 
     foreign shipyard or contracted for construction in a foreign 
     shipyard before the earlier of--
       ``(1) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment 
     of the Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2001; or
       ``(2) the effective date of the OECD Shipbuilding Trade 
     Agreement Act.
       ``(b) Compliance With Certain U.S.-Build Requirements.--A 
     vessel timely contracted for or delivered pursuant to this 
     section and documented under the laws of the United States 
     shall be deemed to have been United-States built for purposes 
     of sections 901(b) and 901b of this Act if--
       ``(1) following delivery by a foreign shipyard, the vessel 
     has any additional shipyard work necessary to receive its 
     initial Coast Guard certificate of inspection performed in a 
     United States shipyard;
       ``(2) the vessel is not documented in another country 
     before being documented under the laws of the United States;
       ``(3) the vessel complies with the same inspection 
     standards set forth for ocean common carriers in section 1137 
     of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (46 U.S.C. App. 
     1187 note); and
       ``(4) actual delivery of a vessel contracted for 
     construction takes place on or before the 3-year anniversary 
     of the date of the contract to construct the vessel.
       ``(c) Section 12106(e) of Title 46.--Section 12106(e) of 
     title 46, United States Code, shall not apply to a vessel 
     built pursuant to this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Calendar Year to Federal Fiscal Year for 
     Section 901b Purposes.--Section 901b(c)(2) of the Merchant 
     Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C App. 1241f(c)(2)) is amended by 
     striking ``1986.'' and inserting ``1986, the 18-month period 
     commencing April 1, 2000, and the 12-month period beginning 
     on the first day of October in the year 2001 and each year 
     thereafter.''.

     SEC. 4. SCRAPPING OF CERTAIN VESSELS.

       (a) International Environmental Scrapping Standard.--The 
     Secretary of State in coordination with the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall initiate discussions in all appropriate 
     international forums in order to establish an international 
     standard for the scrapping of vessels in a safe and 
     environmentally sound manner.
       (b) Scrapping of Obsolete National Defense Reserve Fleet 
     Vessels.--
       (1) Development of a ship scrapping program.--The Secretary 
     of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Navy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and 
     Health, and the Secretary of State, shall develop a program 
     within 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act for 
     the scrapping of obsolete National Defense Reserve Fleet 
     Vessels and report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives 
     Committee on Armed Services.
       (A) Content.--The report shall include information 
     concerning the initial determination of scrapping capacity, 
     both domestically and abroad, development of appropriate 
     regulations, funding and staffing requirements, milestone 
     dates for the disposal of each obsolete vessel, and long term 
     cost estimates for the ship scrapping program.
       (B) Alternatives.--In developing the program the Secretary 
     of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Navy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, and the Secretary of State shall consider all 
     alternatives and available information including--
       (i) alternative scrapping sites;
       (ii) vessel donations;
       (iii) sinking of vessels in deep water;

[[Page S9552]]

       (iv) sinking vessels for development of artificial reefs;
       (v) sales of vessels before they become obsolete;
       (vi) results from the Navy Pilot Scrapping Program under 
     section 8124 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 
     1999; and
       (vii) the Report of the Department of Defense's Interagency 
     Panel on Ship Scrapping issued in April, 1998.
       (2) Selection of scrapping facilities.--Notwithstanding the 
     provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 
     2605 et seq.), a ship scrapping program shall be accomplished 
     through qualified scrapping facilities whether located in the 
     United States or abroad. Scrapping facilities shall be 
     selected on a best value basis taking into consideration, 
     among other things, the facilities's ability to scrap 
     vessels--
       (A) economically;
       (B) in a safe and timely manner;
       (C) with minimal impact on the environment;
       (D) with proper respect for worker safety; and
       (E) by minimizing the geographic distance that a vessel 
     must be towed when such a vessel poses a serious threat to 
     the environment.
       (3) Amendment of national maritime heritage act.--Section 
     6(c)(1) of the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 (16 
     U.S.C. 5405(c)(1)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``2001'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting 
     ``2006''; and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(B) in the most cost effective manner to the United 
     States taking into account the need for disposal, the 
     environment, and safety concerns; and''.
       (4) Funding for scrapping.--Section 2218(c)(1)(E) of title 
     10, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``and 
     scrapping the vessels of'' after ``maintaining''.
       (c) Limitation on Scrapping Before Program.--Until the 
     report required by subsection (b)(1) is transmitted to the 
     Congress, the Secretary may not proceed with the scrapping of 
     any vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet except the 
     following:
       (1) EXPORT CHALLENGER.
       (2) EXPORT COMMERCE.
       (3) BUILDER.
       (4) ALBERT E. WATTS.
       (5) WAYNE VICTORY.
       (6) MORMACDAWN.
       (7) MORMACMOON.
       (8) SANTA ELENA.
       (9) SANTA ISABEL.
       (10) SANTA CRUZ.
       (11) PROTECTOR.
       (12) LAUDERDALE.
       (13) PVT. FRED C. MURPHY.
       (14) BEAUJOLAIS.
       (15) MEACHAM.
       (16) NEACO.
       (17) WABASH.
       (18) NEMASKET.
       (19) MIRFAK.
       (20) GEN. ALEX M. PATCH.
       (21) ARTHUR M. HUDDELL.
       (22) WASHINGTON.
       (23) SUFFOLK COUNTY.
       (24) CRANDALL.
       (25) CRILLEY.
       (26) RIGEL.
       (27) VEGA.
       (28) COMPASS ISLAND.
       (29) DONNER.
       (30) PRESERVER.
       (31) MARINE FIDDLER.
       (32) WOOD COUNTY.
       (33) CATAWBA VICTORY.
       (34) GEN. NELSON M. WALKER.
       (35) LORAIN COUNTY.
       (36) LYNCH.
       (37) MISSION SANTA YNEZ.
       (38) CALOOSAHATCHEE.
       (39) CANISTEO.
       (d) Biannual Report.--Beginning 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation in 
     coordination with the Secretary of the Navy shall report to 
     Congress biannually on the progress of the ship scrapping 
     program developed under subsection (b)(1) and on the progress 
     of any other scrapping of obsolete government-owned vessels.

     SEC. 5. REPORTING OF ADMINISTERED AND OVERSIGHT FUNDS.

       The Maritime Administration, in its annual report to the 
     Congress under section 208 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 
     (46 U.S.C. App. 1118), and in its annual budget estimate 
     submitted to the Congress, shall state separately the amount, 
     source, intended use, and nature of any funds (other than 
     funds appropriated to the Administration or to the Secretary 
     of Transportation for use by the Administration) 
     administered, or subject to oversight, by the Administration.

     SEC. 6. MARITIME INTERMODAL RESEARCH.

       Section 8 of Public Law 101-115 (46 U.S.C. App. 1121-2) is 
     amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
       ``(f) University Transportation Research Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may make a grant under 
     section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, to an institute 
     designated under subsection (a) for maritime and maritime 
     intermodal research under that section as if the institute 
     were a university transportation center.
       ``(2) Advice and consultation of marad.--In making a grant 
     under the authority of paragraph (1), the Secretary, through 
     the Research and Special Programs Administration, shall 
     advise the Maritime Administration concerning the 
     availability of funds for the grants, and consult with the 
     Administration on the making of the grants.''.

     SEC. 7. MARITIME RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
     conduct a study of maritime research and technology 
     development, and report its findings and conclusions, 
     together with any recommendations it finds appropriate, to 
     the Congress within 9 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.
       (b) Required Areas of Study.--The Secretary shall include 
     the following items in the report required by subsection (a):
       (1) The approximate dollar values appropriated by the 
     Congress for each of the 5 fiscal years ending before the 
     study is commenced for each of the following modes of 
     transportation:
       (A) Highway.
       (B) Rail.
       (C) Aviation.
       (D) Public transit.
       (E) Maritime.
       (2) A description of how Federal funds appropriated for 
     research in the different transportation modes are utilized.
       (3) A summary and description of current research and 
     technology development funds appropriated for each of those 
     fiscal years for maritime research initiatives, with separate 
     categories for funds provided to the Coast Guard for marine 
     safety research purposes.
       (4) A description of cooperative mechanisms that could be 
     used to attract and leverage non-federal investments in 
     United States maritime research and technology development 
     and application programs, including the potential for the 
     creation of maritime transportation research centers and the 
     benefits of cooperating with existing surface transportation 
     research centers.
       (5) Proposals for research and technology development 
     funding to facilitate the evolution of Maritime 
     Transportation System.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $100,000 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET 
                   VESSEL, GLACIER.

       (a) Authority to Convey.--Notwithstanding any other law, 
     the Secretary of Transportation may, subject to subsection 
     (b), convey all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States Government in and to the vessel in the National 
     Defense Reserve Fleet that was formerly the U.S.S. GLACIER 
     (United States official number AGB-4) to the Glacier Society, 
     Inc., a corporation established under the laws of the State 
     of Connecticut that is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
       (b) Terms of Conveyance.--
       (1) Required conditions.--The Secretary may not convey the 
     vessel under this section unless the corporation--
       (A) agrees to use the vessel for the purpose of a monument 
     to the accomplishments of members of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States, civilians, scientists, and diplomats in 
     exploration of the Arctic and the Antarctic;
       (B) agrees that the vessel will not be used for commercial 
     purposes;
       (C) agrees to make the vessel available to the Government 
     if the Secretary requires use of the vessel by the Government 
     for war or national emergency;
       (D) agrees to hold the Government harmless for any claims 
     arising from exposure to asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, 
     or lead paint after the conveyance of the vessel, except for 
     claims arising from use of the vessel by the Government 
     pursuant to the agreement under subparagraph (C); and
       (E) provides sufficient evidence to the Secretary that it 
     has available for use to restore the vessel, in the form of 
     cash, liquid assets, or a written loan commitment, financial 
     resources of at least $100,000.
       (2) Delivery of vessel.--If the Secretary conveys the 
     vessel under this section, the Secretary shall deliver the 
     vessel--
       (A) at the place where the vessel is located on the date of 
     conveyance;
       (B) in its condition on that date; and
       (C) at no cost to the United States Government.
       (3) Additional terms.--The Secretary may require such 
     additional terms in connection with the conveyance authorized 
     by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (c) Other Unneeded Equipment.--If the Secretary conveys the 
     vessel under this section, the Secretary may also convey to 
     the corporation any unneeded equipment from other vessels in 
     the National Defense Reserve Fleet or Government storage 
     facilities for use to restore the vessel to museum quality or 
     to its original configuration (or both).
       (d) Retention of Vessel in NDRF.--The Secretary shall 
     retain in the National Defense Reserve Fleet the vessel 
     authorized to be conveyed under this section until the 
     earlier of--
       (1) 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; or
       (2) the date of the conveyance of the vessel under this 
     section.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee 
substitute be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2487), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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