[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11199-11201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST GUARD CUTTER

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 517) to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey 
the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, upon its scheduled decommissioning, to 
the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History located in Port Huron, 
Michigan, for use for education and historical display, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 517

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST GUARD CUTTERS.

       (a) In General.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
     convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
     and to a vessel described in subsection (b) to the person 
     designated in subsection (b) with respect to the vessel (in 
     this section referred to as the ``recipient''), without 
     consideration, if the person complies with the conditions 
     under subsection (c).
       (b) Vessels Described.--The vessels referred to in 
     subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) The Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, to be conveyed to the 
     Port Huron Museum of Arts and History (a nonprofit 
     corporation under the laws of the State of Michigan), located 
     in Port Huron, Michigan.
       (2) The Coast Guard Cutter PLANETREE, to be conveyed to 
     Jewish Life (a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the 
     State of California), located in Sherman Oaks, California.
       (c) Conditions.--As a condition of any conveyance of a 
     vessel under subsection (a), the Commandant shall require the 
     recipient to--
       (1) agree--
       (A) to use the vessel for purposes of education and 
     historical display;
       (B) not to use the vessel for commercial transportation 
     purposes;
       (C) to make the vessel available to the United States 
     Government if needed for use by the Commandant in time of war 
     or a national emergency; and
       (D) to hold the Government harmless for any claims arising 
     from exposure to hazardous materials, including asbestos and 
     polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), after conveyance of the 
     vessel, except for claims arising from use of the vessel by 
     the Government under subparagraph (C);
       (2) have funds available that will be committed to operate 
     and maintain the vessel conveyed in good working condition--
       (A) in the form of cash, liquid assets, or a written loan 
     commitment; and
       (B) in an amount of at least $700,000; and
       (3) agree to any other conditions the Commandant considers 
     appropriate.
       (d)  Maintenance and Delivery of Vessel.--Prior to 
     conveyance of a vessel under this section, the Commandant 
     shall, to the extent practical, and subject to other Coast 
     Guard mission requirements, make every effort to maintain the 
     integrity of the vessel and its equipment until the time of 
     delivery. The Commandant shall deliver a vessel conveyed 
     under this section at the place where the vessel is located, 
     in its present condition, and without cost to the Government. 
     The conveyance of a vessel under this section shall not be 
     considered a distribution in commerce for purposes of section 
     6(e) of Public Law 94-469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)).
       (e) Other Excess Equipment.--The Commandant may convey to 
     the recipient of a vessel under this section any excess 
     equipment or parts from other decommissioned Coast Guard 
     vessels for use to enhance the vessel's operability and 
     function as an historical display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 517 conveys the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble to the Port Huron 
Museum of Arts and History located in Port Huron, Michigan, for use for 
education and historical display. The amendment we are considering also 
conveys the Coast Guard Cutter Planetree to Jewish Life, a nonprofit 
corporation that promotes the understanding of Jewish culture and 
history. The Bramble is completing a nearly 60-year-long career, 
performing the same tasks of buoy tending, ice breaking, search and 
rescue and law enforcement for which she was commissioned in 1944.
  One of 39 original Iris Class 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built in 
Duluth, Minnesota, the Bramble has served admirably all over the United 
States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The Cutter Bramble 
has served on the Great Lakes since 1962 and has been homeported in 
Port Huron since 1975. With new technology evolving, the door has 
opened for a new class of buoy tenders to replace the 180-foot buoy 
tenders. The 225-foot Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock will replace the 
Bramble, which will be decommissioned on May 22, 2003. The Cutter 
Hollyhock will be homeported in Port Huron.
  Although the Bramble has reached the end of her service life to the 
Coast Guard, I can think of no better mission that she can continue to 
perform than public service. Serving as an educational and historical 
platform, she will remain a vital link to Port Huron's rich maritime 
heritage.
  The Cutter Planetree, a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender commissioned in 
1943, also has a long history of excellent service to the Coast Guard 
and to this Nation. She served in World War II and the Korean and 
Vietnam wars. In addition to operating from ports in Guam, the Great 
Lakes and throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Planetree made her 
Alaska debut in 1974 when she was transferred to Juneau. Decommissioned 
in 1999 in her homeport of Ketchikan, the Planetree currently is 
berthed in the San Francisco area where she was retired to a naval 
vessel graveyard. The Planetree was replaced by the new 175-foot buoy 
tender Anthony Petit. This legislation will make it possible for 
Planetree to resume her public service mission by serving as a symbolic 
ship honoring the original 66 exodus ships, their crew members, and the 
77,000 Holocaust survivors those vessels carried to Israel.
  This legislation dealing with the Bramble was introduced by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and, as it is being considered 
today, also includes the Planetree provision requested by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Berman). This bill allows the public to continue 
to receive benefits from these vessels after their services are no 
longer required by the Coast Guard.
  I urge all Members to vote for this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 517, a bill to authorize 
the conveyance of two Coast Guard cutters to nonprofit organizations so 
they can use them for education and historic displays.
  The 180-foot buoy tender Bramble was commissioned in 1944 and served 
our Nation until its decommissioning on May 22, 2002. The Bramble has 
sailed the waters from Alaska and Hawaii to Puerto Rico. Since 1962, 
she has served on the Great Lakes and has been homeported in Port 
Huron, Michigan, since 1975.

                              {time}  1415

  H.R. 517 will authorize the conveyance of Bramble to the Port Huron 
Museum of Arts and History where she will continue to be open to the 
public for educational and historical display purposes.
  H.R. 517 also provides for the conveyance of the 180-foot buoy tender 
Planetree to the Jewish Life Corporation. The Planetree was 
commissioned in 1943 and served our Nation until it

[[Page 11200]]

was decommissioned in 1999. During her service to our country, the 
Planetree served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. 
Since 1974, the Planetree has served in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Jewish 
Life Organization will use the Planetree to teach the public about the 
original 66 Exodus ships, their crewmembers and the 77,000 Holocaust 
survivors those vessels carried to Israel.
  These conveyances include the standard requirements that Congress has 
used in the past for similar vessel conveyance, including prohibition 
of the vessel from being used for commercial transportation purposes, 
agreeing to make the vessels available to the Federal Government in a 
time of war or national emergency, and a requirement that the 
organizations have the necessary funds to operate and maintain the 
vessels in good working condition. There must be a minimum amount of at 
least $700,000 in financial resources available.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage 
of H.R. 517.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to proudly support 
H.R. 517. This is a bill which would direct the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard to convey the Coast Guard cutter, the Bramble, to the Port Huron 
Museum of Arts and History in Port Huron, Michigan, upon its 
decommissioning on May 22, 2003.
  The Bramble is also known by its nickname, ``The Thorn of the Great 
Lakes.'' It is concluding 59 years of service to our Nation. This proud 
ship has a remarkable history which began in the Great Lakes, has ended 
in the Great Lakes, and so it is fitting that she remain there to 
memorialize its great maritime past.
  First commissioned in 1945 in Duluth, Minnesota, she departed the 
Great Lakes for California to perform navigational duties. She 
continued these duties in Alaska in the Aleutian Island chain. She 
participated in ``Operation Crossroads,'' the first test of atomic 
bombs' effects on surface ships at Bikini Island.
  In 1957, after being outfitted as an icebreaker, the Bramble traveled 
4,500 miles in 64 days, making her the first surface ship to 
circumnavigate the North American continent.
  In 1962, the Bramble returned to the Great Lakes, and today she 
resides in Port Huron, Michigan, also commonly known as the Blue Water 
Area. This is an area that is very rich with maritime heritage.
  Her duties include servicing hundreds of navigational buoys, weather 
buoys, fog signals, shore lights, and lighthouses as well. This good 
ship has received many awards during its tour of duty. Just to name a 
few: The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, the American 
Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Ribbon, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Arctic Service Medal, and the Special Ops Service 
Medal.
  One additional duty that the Bramble has performed for many years has 
actually affected me personally. I race every year in the longest 
freshwater sailboat regatta in the world. It is called the Port Huron 
to Mackinac Sailboat Race. This is an event that attracts literally 
hundreds of boats and thousands of sailors, and as the fleet progresses 
its way up Lake Huron, the Bramble has traditionally followed the 
fleet, always on call in case of some tragedy. This has been a huge 
comfort to the sailors that participate in this race, including myself. 
This year will be my 27th such race. And actually after 25 of these 
races they induct them into something called the ``Old Goat Society,'' 
or in my case an old nanny goat. I think I am the only nanny goat in 
the United States Congress.
  This year, though, the Bramble will not be following the fleet. A new 
cutter called the Hollyhock will do the honors, and I am certain that 
the Coast Guard will continue to demonstrate the skill and the bravery 
and the professionalism that it has always been known for.
  Nevertheless, the Bramble has become an integral member of the Port 
Huron community, and over these many years of service, the community 
has come to view this ship as belonging to the town and to its people 
because this ship is part of our past, so much so that a charitable 
nonprofit organization made up of members of the community called the 
Port Huron Museum of Arts and History has been formed to take 
possession of and to administer the Bramble as a tangible example of 
Michigan's maritime character.
  Upon receiving the Bramble, these groups intend to open it to the 
public, both in Port Huron and other locations around the Great Lakes, 
as it promotes an appreciation for maritime history and education, as 
it partners with our local community college, the local school 
district, and provides a training platform for training cadets of the 
Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
  Passage of H.R. 517 would ensure that the Bramble will continue to 
loyally serve the communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the distinguished gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation, for his assistance in this matter.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 517.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Miller).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
McCotter).
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 517 and thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) 
for introducing this bill.
  Since 1945, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble has protected 
passengers in ports in the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Arctic, 
before finally coming home to the Great Lakes in 1962. Here, for over 
40 years, with her crew of the Coast Guard's finest, the Bramble met 
every mission be it attending our waters, servicing navigation aids, 
guarding against ice, and most importantly protecting human life.
  Today the proud Bramble has reached the sunset of her sailing days, 
as the Coast Guard's ever-evolving mission requires newer vessels.
  Mr. Speaker, we can assign the Bramble one final mission: that of an 
educator and goodwill ambassador at the Port Huron Museum of Arts and 
History. There is no finer way to honor the Bramble and the brave men 
and women who boarded her.
  I respectfully ask the House to support this legislation.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the efforts of 
Ranking Member Oberstar, and those of Chairman LoBiondo and Ranking 
Member Filner of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, and also Congresswoman 
Miller and thank these Members for their support of H.R. 517.
  I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation, which 
would transfer the title of two decommissioned Coast Guard vessels to 
organizations that, I'm sure you would agree, plan to put them to good 
use.
  Let me speak in particular about the provision of the bill that would 
transfer the title to the Coast Guard Cutter Planetree to Jewish Life, 
a non-profit U.S. corporation based in California. Jewish Life plans to 
refurbish the Planetree to act as a floating exhibit to commemorate the 
66 Exodus ships that carried Holocaust survivors to Israel following 
World War II, and to educate Americans about their role in this 
critical event in Israel's history.
  The Planetree was decommissioned 3 years ago. The vessel is not 
seaworthy and has been in cold-water storage in San Francisco ever 
since, at some expense to U.S. taxpayers.
  While many are aware of the importance of the Exodus to the 
establishment of Israel, few are aware of the critical role that 
Americans played in it. Over 200 Americans manned the Exodus ships, 
which were responsible for carrying 70,000 Holocaust survivors to 
Israel.
  The vessel, re-christened the Exodus 2004, will tour ports in the 
U.S. and Europe, and participate in ceremonies at each stop 
commemorating the Exodus. The vessel will end its tour in Israel, where 
it will remain as a floating exhibit as part of a museum dedicated to 
the Exodus.

[[Page 11201]]

  I believe that this certainly is a worthwhile cause, and I encourage 
you to vote in support of the bill.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 517, introduced by Mrs. Miller 
of Michigan, would direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey 
the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, upon its scheduled decommissioning, to 
the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History located in Port Huron, 
Michigan for use for education and historical display.
  As amended, H.R. 517 would also direct the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard to convey the Coast Guard Cutter Planetree, decommissioned on 
March 19, 1999, to Jewish Life, a nonprofit corporation that promotes 
the understanding of Jewish history and culture. The vessel will serve 
as a symbolic ship honoring the original 66 Exodus ships, their 
crewmembers, and the 77,000 Holocaust survivors they brought to Israel.
  Before the vessels are conveyed, the recipients of the vessels must 
agree to (1) use the designated vessel for education and historical 
display; (2) not use the vessel for commercial transportation; (3) make 
the vessel available in time of war or national emergency; and (4) hold 
the government harmless for any claims arising from exposure to 
hazardous materials. The recipients must also show their financial 
viability.
  I urge the House to pass this legislation. Returning these 
decommissioned Coast Guard cutters to missions of public service 
benefits the public by providing important education and outreach 
activities.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 517, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey 2 Coast Guard cutters.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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