Floor SpeechNeutral2018-07-25

SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018

EnvironmentInfrastructure

Context

On 2018-07-25, Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) delivered a floor speech titled "SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered infrastructure. It referenced legislation including HR6026, HR6175, HR6206, among other bills.

Full Text

SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018

Congressional Record, Volume 164 Issue 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)] [House] [Pages H7640-H7645] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018 Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 756) to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 =========================== NOTE =========================== July 25, 2018, on page H7640, the following appeared: amended. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 The online version has been corrected to read: amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 ========================= END NOTE ========================= Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''. SEC. 102. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine debris; ``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, in consultation with the Department of State and other Federal agencies, promote international action, as appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine debris, including providing technical assistance to expand waste management systems internationally; and ``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe marine debris event under subsection (c)-- ``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by the severe marine debris event; or ``(B) conduct such other activity as the Administrator determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine debris event.''; (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: ``(c) Determination of Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine debris event.''; and (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated-- (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``may waive all or part of the matching requirement under subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``may reduce the non-Federal share of project costs under subparagraph (A) by up to 50 percent''; and (C) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the following: ``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under a determination made under subsection (c) shall be-- ``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person, including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine debris event; or ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any activity other than an activity funded as described in clause (i).''. SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO RESPOND TO MARINE DEBRIS. It is the sense of Congress that the President should-- (1) support research and development on systems and materials that reduce-- (A) derelict fishing gear; and (B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from land- based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the marine environment; (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to reduce such discharges; (3) carry out studies to determine-- (A) the primary means of discharges referred to in paragraph (2); (B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can be most effective in preventing such discharges; and (C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national economies of the countries with which work is undertaken under paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the impacts of reducing the discharge of such debris; (4) work with representatives of the countries with which work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new international agreements that include provisions-- (A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste into the marine environment; and (B) to provide technical assistance and investment in waste management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the President determines such assistance or investment is appropriate; and (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste from the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph (2) in relevant future trade agreements. SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING COMMITTEE. Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: ``(5) the Department of State; ``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''. SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs. ``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of title 14, United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.''. TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Maritime Safety Act of 2018''. SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the Commandant of the Coast Guard. (2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. SEC. 203. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE. (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code. (b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) shall-- (1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of inspected vessel; and (2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard- issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity that the recognized organization failed to identify in such inspection or survey. SEC. 204. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation and effectiveness of safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title 46, United States Code. (b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall include a representative sample of safety management plans, including such plans for-- (1) a range of vessel types and sizes; and (2) vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional operating areas. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and [[Page H7641]] Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and providing recommendations related to such results, including ways to streamline and focus such plans on ship safety. (2) Marine safety alert.--Not later than 60 days after the date the report is submitted under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of the completion of the report and including a link to the report on a publicly accessible website. SEC. 205. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and location technology for the higher of-- ``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or ``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and ``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured. ``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring companies to maintain records of all increme

Referenced legislation: S756, S756, HR6026, HR6175, HR6206

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SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018 Congressional Record, Volume 164 Issue 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)] [House] [Pages H7640-H7645] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018 Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 756) to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 =========================== NOTE =========================== July 25, 2018, on page H7640, the following appeared: amended. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 The online version has been corrected to read: amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 756 ========================= END NOTE ========================= Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''. SEC. 102. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine debris; ``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, in consultation with the Department of State and other Federal agencies, promote international action, as appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine debris, including providing technical assistance to expand waste management systems internationally; and ``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe marine debris event under subsection (c)-- ``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by the severe marine debris event; or ``(B) conduct such other activity as the Administrator determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine debris event.''; (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: ``(c) Determination of Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine debris event.''; and (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated-- (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``may waive all or part of the matching requirement under subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``may reduce the non-Federal share of project costs under subparagraph (A) by up to 50 percent''; and (C) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the following: ``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under a determination made under subsection (c) shall be-- ``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person, including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine debris event; or ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any activity other than an activity funded as described in clause (i).''. SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO RESPOND TO MARINE DEBRIS. It is the sense of Congress that the President should-- (1) support research and development on systems and materials that reduce-- (A) derelict fishing gear; and (B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from land- based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the marine environment; (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to reduce such discharges; (3) carry out studies to determine-- (A) the primary means of discharges referred to in paragraph (2); (B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can be most effective in preventing such discharges; and (C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national economies of the countries with which work is undertaken under paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the impacts of reducing the discharge of such debris; (4) work with representatives of the countries with which work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new international agreements that include provisions-- (A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste into the marine environment; and (B) to provide technical assistance and investment in waste management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the President determines such assistance or investment is appropriate; and (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste from the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph (2) in relevant future trade agreements. SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING COMMITTEE. Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: ``(5) the Department of State; ``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''. SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs. ``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of title 14, United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.''. TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Maritime Safety Act of 2018''. SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the Commandant of the Coast Guard. (2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. SEC. 203. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE. (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code. (b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) shall-- (1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of inspected vessel; and (2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard- issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity that the recognized organization failed to identify in such inspection or survey. SEC. 204. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation and effectiveness of safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title 46, United States Code. (b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall include a representative sample of safety management plans, including such plans for-- (1) a range of vessel types and sizes; and (2) vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional operating areas. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and [[Page H7641]] Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and providing recommendations related to such results, including ways to streamline and focus such plans on ship safety. (2) Marine safety alert.--Not later than 60 days after the date the report is submitted under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of the completion of the report and including a link to the report on a publicly accessible website. SEC. 205. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and location technology for the higher of-- ``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or ``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and ``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured. ``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring companies to maintain records of all increme Referenced legislation: S756, S756, HR6026, HR6175, HR6206