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II
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 694
To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 7, 2019
Mr. LEE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Open America’s
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Waters Act of 2019’’.
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SEC. 2. REPEAL OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON COASTWISE
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TRADE.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 12112(a) of title 46,
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United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
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•S 694 IS
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A coastwise endorsement may be
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issued for a vessel that qualifies under the laws of the
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United States to engage in the coastwise trade.’’.
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(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the
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date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of
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the United States Coast Guard shall issue regulations to
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implement the amendment made by subsection (a) that
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require all vessels permitted to engage in the coastwise
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trade to meet all appropriate safety and security require-
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ments.
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(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
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(1) TANK
VESSEL
CONSTRUCTION
STAND-
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ARDS.—Section 3703a(c)(1)(C) of title 46, United
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States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and is quali-
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fied for documentation as a wrecked vessel under
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section 12112 of this title’’.
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(2) LIQUIFIED GAS TANKERS.—Section 12120
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of such title is amended by striking ‘‘, if the
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vessel—’’ and all that follows and inserting a period.
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(3)
SMALL
PASSENGER
VESSELS.—Section
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12121(b) of such title is amended by striking
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‘‘12112,’’.
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(4) LOSS OF COASTWISE TRADE PRIVILEGES.—
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Section 12132 of such title is repealed.
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•S 694 IS
(5) OIL
SPILL
RESPONSE
VESSELS.—Section
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12117(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
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tions 12103, 12132, and 50501’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
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tions 12103 and 50501’’.
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(6) OPTIONAL REGULATORY MEASUREMENT.—
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Section 14305(a)(6) of such title is amended by
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striking ‘‘sections 12118 and 12132’’ and inserting
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‘‘section 12118’’.
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(7) COURT
SALES
OF
UNDOCUMENTED
VES-
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SELS.—Section 31329(b) of such title is amended—
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(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘;’’ and
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inserting ‘‘; and’’;
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; and’’
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and inserting a period; and
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(C) by striking paragraph (3).
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(8) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
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tions for chapter 121 of title 46, United States
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Code, is amended by striking the item relating to
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section 12132.
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Æ
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