[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7875-H7876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICA'S CUP ACT OF 2011

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3321) to facilitate the hosting in the 
United States of the 34th America's Cup by authorizing certain eligible 
vessels to participate in activities related to the competition, and 
for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the 
Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``America's Cup Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) 34th america's cup.--The term ``34th America's Cup''--
       (A) means the sailing competitions, commencing in 2011, to 
     be held in the United States in response to the challenge to 
     the defending team from the United States, in accordance with 
     the terms of the America's Cup governing Deed of Gift, dated 
     October 24, 1887; and
       (B) if a United States yacht club successfully defends the 
     America's Cup, includes additional sailing competitions 
     conducted by America's Cup Race Management during the 1-year 
     period beginning on the last date of such defense.
       (2) America's cup race management.--The term ``America's 
     Cup Race Management'' means the entity established to provide 
     for independent, professional, and neutral race management of 
     the America's Cup sailing competitions.
       (3) Eligibility certification.--The term ``Eligibility 
     Certification'' means a certification issued under section 4.
       (4) Eligible vessel.--The term ``eligible vessel'' means a 
     competing vessel or supporting vessel of any registry that--
       (A) is recognized by America's Cup Race Management as an 
     official competing vessel, or supporting vessel of, the 34th 
     America's Cup, as evidenced in writing to the Administrator 
     of the Maritime Administration of the Department of 
     Transportation;
       (B) transports not more than 25 individuals, in addition to 
     the crew;
       (C) is not a ferry (as defined under section 2101(10b) of 
     title 46, United States Code);
       (D) does not transport individuals in point-to-point 
     service for hire; and
       (E) does not transport merchandise between ports in the 
     United States.
       (5) Supporting vessel.--The term ``supporting vessel'' 
     means a vessel that is operating in support of the 34th 
     America's Cup by--
       (A) positioning a competing vessel on the race course;
       (B) transporting equipment and supplies utilized for the 
     staging, operations, or broadcast of the competition; or
       (C) transporting individuals who--
       (i) have not purchased tickets or directly paid for their 
     passage; and
       (ii) who are engaged in the staging, operations, or 
     broadcast of the competition, race team personnel, members of 
     the media, or event sponsors.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ELIGIBLE VESSELS.

       Notwithstanding sections 55102, 55103, and 55111 of title 
     46, United States Code, an eligible vessel, operating only in 
     preparation for, or in connection with, the 34th America's 
     Cup competition, may position competing vessels and may 
     transport individuals and equipment and supplies utilized for 
     the staging, operations, or broadcast of the competition from 
     and around the ports in the United States.

     SEC. 4. CERTIFICATION.

       (a) Requirement.--A vessel may not operate under section 3 
     unless the vessel has received an Eligibility Certification.
       (b) Issuance.--The Administrator of the Maritime 
     Administration of the Department of Transportation is 
     authorized to issue an Eligibility Certification with respect 
     to any vessel that the Administrator determines, in his or 
     her sole discretion, meets the requirements set forth in 
     section 2(4).

     SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.

       Notwithstanding sections 55102, 55103, and 55111 of title 
     46, United States Code, an Eligibility Certification shall be 
     conclusive evidence to the Secretary of the Department of 
     Homeland Security of the qualification of the vessel for 
     which it has been issued to participate in the 34th America's 
     Cup as a competing vessel or a supporting vessel.

     SEC. 6. PENALTY.

       Any vessel participating in the 34th America's Cup as a 
     competing vessel or supporting vessel that has not received 
     an Eligibility Certification or is not in compliance with 
     section 12112 of title 46, United States Code, shall be 
     subject to the applicable penalties provided in chapters 121 
     and 551 of title 46, United States Code.

[[Page H7876]]

     SEC. 7. WAIVERS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding sections 12112 and 12132 
     and chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, the 
     Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
     operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a 
     coastwise endorsement for each of the following vessels:
       (1) M/V GEYSIR (United States official number 622178).
       (2) OCEAN VERITAS (IMO number 7366805).
       (3) LUNA (United States official number 280133).
       (b) Documentation of LNG Tankers.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding sections 12112 and 12132 
     and chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, the 
     Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
     operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a 
     coastwise endorsement for each of the following vessels:
       (A) LNG GEMINI (United States official number 595752).
       (B) LNG LEO (United States official number 595753).
       (C) LNG VIRGO (United States official number 595755).
       (2) Limitation on operation.--Coastwise trade authorized 
     under paragraph (1) shall be limited to carriage of natural 
     gas, as that term is defined in section 3(13) of the 
     Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1502(13)).
       (3) Termination of effectiveness of endorsements.--The 
     coastwise endorsement issued under paragraph (1) for a vessel 
     shall expire on the date of the sale of the vessel by the 
     owner of the vessel on the date of enactment of this Act to a 
     person who is not related by ownership or control to such 
     owner.
       (c) Operation of a Dry Dock.--A vessel transported in Dry 
     Dock #2 (State of Alaska registration AIDEA FDD-2) is not 
     merchandise for purposes of section 55102 of title 46, United 
     States Code, if, during such transportation, Dry Dock #2 
     remains connected by a utility or other connecting line to 
     pierside moorage.

  Mr. LoBIONDO (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the reading is dispensed 
with.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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