[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S9600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, last Thursday, the Senate passed S. 2487, 
the Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. 
Passage of this measure will help to ensure our nation's maritime 
industry has the support and guidance it needs to continue to compete 
in the world market.
  The bill authorizes appropriations for the Maritime Administration 
[MarAd] for fiscal year 2001. It covers operations and training and the 
loan guarantee program authorized by title XI of the Merchant Marine 
Act 1936. The House Committee on Armed Services, which has jurisdiction 
of maritime matters in that body, has chosen to include provisions 
relating to these authorizations in the House-passed version of H.R. 
4205, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. 
Further, the House conferees on that measure have refused to fully 
accept S. 2487 as the Senate position as part of the on-going House-
Senate conference deliberations in part, due to the Senate's slow 
action on the measure. I hope by passing S. 2487 we will change that 
course.
  In addition to the authorizations for operations and training and the 
loan guarantee program, S. 2487 amends Title IX of the Merchant Marine 
Act of 1936 to provide a wavier to eliminate the three year period that 
bulk and breakbulk vessels newly registered under the U.S. flag must 
wait in order to carry government-impelled cargo. The bill also 
provides a one year window of opportunity for vessels newly registered 
under the U.S.-flag to enter into the cargo preference trade without 
waiting the traditional three year period.
  The bill also would amend the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 
and allow the Secretary to scrap obsolete vessels in both domestic and 
international market. It would further convey ownership of the National 
Defense Reserve Fleet Vessel, Glacier to the Glacier Society for use as 
museum and require the Maritime Administration to including the source 
and intended use of all funding in reports to Congress. Finally, it 
amends Public Law 101-115 to recognize National Maritime Enhancement 
Institutes as if they were University Transportation Centers for 
purposes of the award of research funds for maritime and intermodal 
research and requires the Secretary of Transportation to review the 
funding of maritime research in relation to other modes of 
transportation.
  I want to thank the cosponsors of this measure, Senator Hollings and 
Senator Inouye for the assistance in moving this measure forward. I 
hope my colleagues in the House will join us in supporting passage of 
this legislation so we can move it on to the President for his 
signature.

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