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HR2830 is no longer an active bill, due to the 110th Congress failure
to pass the legislation before adjourning in 2008.
It is likely that legislation containing similar vessel crew access provisions
will be reintroduced in the 111th Congress.
The Coast Guard
Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R. 2830
This proposed bill would authorize more than $8.3 billion for the Coast Guard
for fiscal year 2008. The bill includes a provision, Section 306, that would
require a marine terminal facility to provide a security system that allows
crewmembers of vessels docked at the facility to board and depart from the
vessel through the facility at no cost to the individual.
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Transportation &
Infrastructure Committee
Proposed Language for
Vessel Crew Access Provision (HR 2830
§
306)
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Reported Bill, September 20, 2007
SEC. 306. SEAMEN’S
SHORESIDE ACCESS.
Each facility security
plan approved under section 70103 (c) of title 46, United States Code, shall
provide a system for seamen assigned to a vessel at the facility, pilots,
and representatives of seamen’s welfare and labor organizations to board and
depart the vessel through the facility in a timely manner at no cost to the
individual. |
|
Report Language, September 20, 2007
Section 306 requires each
facility security plan approved under section 70103 (c) of title 46, United
States Code, to provide a system for seamen, pilots, ministers, and labor
organizations to board and depart the vessel through the facility in a
timely manner at no cost to the individual or the vessel. This addresses a
growing problem where these individuals or the vessel may be charged
hundreds of dollars for being provided an escort through a facility when
they board or depart a vessel. |
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Homeland Security
Committee
Amended Language for
Vessel Crew Access Provision (HR 2830
§
306)
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Reported Bill, October 1, 2007
SEC. 306. ACCESS FOR
SEAMEN.
Seamen assigned to a vessel docked at a
facility with a security plan approved under section 70103(c) of title 46,
United States Code, and pilots and representatives of seamen’s welfare and
labor organizations, who board and depart from the vessel in compliance with
the provisions of the facility security plan shall be provided access
through the facility at no cost to the individual.
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Report Language, October 1, 2007
Section 306 authorizes
seamen, pilots, ministers, and labor organizations who board and depart a
vessel in compliance with the provisions of the facility security plan to do
a no cost. The Committee is concerned about a growing problem where such
individuals are being charged hundreds of dollars for an escort through a
facility when boarding or departing vessels. |
Updates, Comments & Other Reports
August 2008
The Senate’s version of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 (S 1892) is
awaiting floor action. This bill also includes language addressing vessel crew
access through a facility that is identical to section 719 of HR 2830. The last
Coast Guard authorization bill was passed in 2004.
April 2008
On April 24, the House overwhelmingly passed The Coast Guard Authorization Act
of 2007 (HR 2830). The vote was 395-7. Seven Republicans voted against the
measure. The White House cited several objections to the bill, most notably the
requirement that the Coast Guard enforce security zones around liquefied natural
gas (LNG) terminals. President Bush has said that this would divert the Coast
Guard from other high-priority missions and provide an “unwarranted subsidy” for
LNG owners. The bill also included the vessel crew access provision, section
719. It would require a marine terminal to “provide” a security system that
allows crewmembers of vessels docked at the facility to board and depart from
the vessel through the facility at no cost to the individual.
Following approval by the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last June, the bill was
referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security, which rewrote the
provision in a way that is fair to both terminals and vessel owners. The
amended language kept the fundamental purpose of the original section, which is
to protect the individual crewmember, but it removed the language suggesting
that terminals pay for security systems for screening and escorting
crewmembers. However, the bill that was sent to the House floor and approved on
April 24 did not include the Homeland Security Committee’s version of that
provision. Rather, the bill included the original language written by the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
December 2007
For the past several months, ILTA has been
actively pursuing a reasonable vessel crew access provision. Specifically, ILTA
is working to ensure that the amended language proposed by the Homeland Security
Committee is retained. The revised language keeps the fundamental purpose of the
original provision, which is to protect the individual crewmember, but it
removes the language that imposes on terminals the cost of providing a security
system for screening and escorting crewmembers.
ILTA urges terminal companies to contact their
congressional representatives and members of both the Homeland Security and
Transportation & Infrastructure Committees regarding H.R. 2830 and the proposed
vessel crew access provision. Let them know that the inclusion of the Homeland
Security Committee’s language is of critical importance to the terminal
industry.
Click
here to find
your Congressman.
Download a list of
members of the House Committee on
Transportation & Infrastructure and the
House Committee on Homeland Security.
Download sample letters to the House
Committees. Each letter can be personalized and placed on company letterhead.
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Homeland Security Committee (majority members)
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Homeland Security Committee (minority members)
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Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (majority members)
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Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (minority members)
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MAJOR LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY ON H.R. 2830 |
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Date |
Committee |
Status |
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December 18, 2007 |
House Committee on
Energy & Commerce |
Granted an extension for
further consideration through January 15, 2008. |
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October 30, 2007 |
House Committee on
Judiciary |
Reported and referred to
Committee on Energy & Commerce. |
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October 1, 2007 |
House Committee on
Homeland Security |
Reported and referred to
Committee on Judiciary. The reported bill included a revised version of
Section 306 that included ILTA-suggested language. |
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September 20, 2007 |
House Committee on
Transportation & Infrastructure |
Reported and referred to
Committee on Homeland Security. Report clarified language in Section 306
to indicate that the cost of security screening for ships’ crews shall not
be paid by the vessel. |
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June 28, 2007 |
House Committee on
Transportation & Infrastructure |
Bill approved. |
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June 22, 2007 |
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Bill introduced,
referred to the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. |
Related ILTA Articles
ILTA provides a monthly newsletter to its
membership. Members may log in to the Member Resources page to access archived
newsletters. The following is a list of articles ILTA has published in its
newsletter relating to H.R. 2830 –Vessel Crew Access Provision.
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Coast Guard Issues Guidance on Shore Leave Through Facilities,
May 2008 Issue (p.3)
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ILTA Asks Members to Join Effort to Ensure
Reasonable Vessel Access Crew Provision,
November 2007 Issue (p.2)
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House Committee Adopts ILTA Language on Vessel
Crew Access Provision, October 2007
Issue (p.2)
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ILTA Continues Meetings with House Committees
on Vessel Crew Access Provision,
September 2007 Issue (p.2)
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Vessel Crew Access
Provision Could Increase Security Costs for Terminals,
August 2007 Issue (p.2)
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