[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2322. Mrs. McCASKILL (for herself and Mr. Blunt) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5515, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1066. FIRE-RETARDANT MATERIALS.

       Section 3503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3503. Fire-retardant materials

       ``(a)(1) A passenger vessel of the United States having 
     berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers 
     shall be granted a certificate of inspection only if--
       ``(A) the vessel is constructed of fire-retardant 
     materials; and
       ``(B) the vessel--
       ``(i) is operating engines, boilers, main electrical 
     distribution panels, fuel tanks, oil tanks, and generators 
     that meet current Coast Guard regulations; and
       ``(ii) is operating boilers and main electrical generators 
     that are contained within noncombustible enclosures equipped 
     with fire suppression systems.
       ``(2) Before December 1, 2028, this subsection does not 
     apply to any vessel in operation before January 1, 1968, and 
     operating only within the Boundary Line.
       ``(b)(1) The owner or managing operator of an exempted 
     vessel described in subsection (a)(2) shall--
       ``(A) notify in writing prospective passengers, prior to 
     purchase, and each crew member that the vessel does not 
     comply with applicable fire safety standards due primarily to 
     the wooden construction of passenger berthing areas;
       ``(B) display in clearly legible font prominently 
     throughout the vessel, including in each state room the 
     following: `THIS VESSEL FAILS TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY RULES AND 
     REGULATIONS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD.';
       ``(C) acquire prior to the vessel entering service, and 
     maintain, liability insurance in an amount to be prescribed 
     by the Federal Maritime Commission;
       ``(D) make annual structural alteration to not less than 10 
     percent of the areas of the vessel that are not constructed 
     of fire retardant materials;
       ``(E) prioritize alterations in galleys, engineering areas 
     of the vessel, including all spaces and compartments 
     containing, or adjacent to spaces and compartments 
     containing, engines, boilers, main electrical distribution 
     panels, fuel tanks, oil tanks, and generators;
       ``(F) ensure, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that 
     the combustible fire-load has been reduced pursuant to 
     subparagraph (D) during each annual inspection for 
     certification;
       ``(G) ensure the vessel has multiple forms of egress off 
     the vessel's bow and stern;
       ``(H) provide advance notice to the Coast Guard regarding 
     the structural alterations made pursuant to subparagraph (D) 
     and comply with any noncombustible material requirements 
     prescribed by the Coast Guard;
       ``(I) annually notify all ports of call and State emergency 
     management offices of jurisdiction that the vessel does not 
     comply with the requirement under subsection (a)(1);
       ``(J) provide crewmembers manning such vessel shipboard 
     training that--
       ``(i) is specialized for exempted vessels;
       ``(ii) exceeds requirements related to standards for 
     firefighting training under chapter I of title 46, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, as in effect on October 1, 2017; and
       ``(iii) is approved by the Coast Guard; and
       ``(K) to the extent practicable, take all steps to retain 
     previously trained crew knowledgeable of such vessel or to 
     hire crew trained in operations aboard exempted vessels.
       ``(2) The owner or managing operator of an exempted vessel 
     described in subsection (a)(2) may not disclaim liability to 
     a passenger or crew member of such vessel for death, injury, 
     or any other loss caused by fire due to the negligence of the 
     owner or managing operator.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) conduct an annual audit and inspection of each 
     exempted vessel described in subsection (a)(2);
       ``(B) in implementing subparagraph (b)(1)(F), consider, to 
     the extent practicable, the goal of preservation of the 
     historic integrity of such vessel in areas carrying or 
     accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public; 
     and
       ``(C) prescribe regulations to carry out this section, 
     including to prescribe the manner in which prospective 
     passengers are to be notified under paragraph (1)(A).
       ``(4) The penalties provided in section 3504(c) of this 
     title shall apply to a violation of this subsection.
       ``(c) In addition to otherwise applicable penalties, the 
     Secretary may immediately withdraw a certificate of 
     inspection for an exempted vessel described in subsection 
     (a)(2) that does not comply with any requirement under 
     subsection (b).''.
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