Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991

Summary

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation; (4) retired pay and benefits; (5) alteration or removal of bridges; and (6) environmental compliance and restoration. Requires certain expenditures under these authorizations for oil recovery systems to be: (1) for systems manufactured in the United States; and (2) pursuant to competitive bidding based on performance specification and cost. Authorizes Coast Guard end strengths for active-duty personnel and average military training student loads. Amends Federal law to: (1) delay the retirement date of Coast Guard rear admirals and rear admirals (lower half) who are considered but not continued on active duty; and (2) allow the Coast Guard Commandant, with the approval of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to annually retain on active duty a rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half) who would otherwise be retired. Establishes below-standard performance or moral or professional dereliction as criteria for involuntary retirement of enlisted personnel with at least 20 years of service. (Current law allows involuntary retirement at the discretion of an Enlisted Personnel Board, with approval by the Commandant.) Authorizes the Commandant to use services of individuals performing court-ordered community service. Authorizes the Coast Guard, to the extent provided for in appropriations Acts, to enter into: (1) a lease for a site at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod for construction and/or renovation of housing units; and (2) a lease to acquire a site at Charleston, South Carolina, for construction of a permanent air facility. Authorizes the Coast Guard to spend appropriated amounts for such housing and such air facility. Mandates a report to specified congressional committees on Coast Guard housing. Extends to September 30, 1994, the termination date of the Coast Guard Academy Advisory Committee. Provides for the sale of recyclable materials held by the Coast Guard and for the operation of recycling programs at Coast Guard installations. Deems the John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Charleston County, South Carolina, an unreasonable obstruction to navigation. Extends to September 30, 1996, the termination date of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council. Allows, in emergencies, Coast Guard Ready Reserve forces to be called to active duty: (1) with no stated requirement for Presidential approval (current law requires Presidential approval); and (2) for up to 30 days in a four-month period and up to 60 days in a two-year period (currently, for up to 14 days in a four-month period and up to 30 days in a one-year period). Increases the limitation on the percentage of retired officers who may be on active duty. Amends the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 to require a vessel or class of vessels of special construction or purpose to comply with alternative rules when the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines that the vessel or class cannot comply fully. (Current law requires such alternative compliance when the vessel or class cannot comply without interfering with the special function.) Modifies collision avoidance rules regarding vessels whose passage or safe passage is not to be impeded. Amends provisions of Federal law relating to the use of fire-retardant materials in certain passenger vessels to change from 1993 to 1998 the date on which certain requirements apply to vessels in operation before 1968. Requires the owner or operator of a vessel exempted from such provisions to notify the Coast Guard of structural alterations to the vessel and to comply with any noncombustible material requirements the Coast Guard prescribes consistent with preservation of the historic integrity of the vessel. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to report to specified congressional committees regarding methods by which Coast Guard enforcement efforts under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 may be enhanced and coordinated with those of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to convey to the State of New Jersey of all right, title, and interest of the United States in the Cape May Point Lighthouse to be used as a nonprofit center for the interpretation and preservation of the material culture of the Coast Guard and the maritime history of Cape May.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 14 June 1991

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 14 June 1991

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 30 July 1991

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

4. 3 October 1991

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 253.

   Source: Calendars

5. 3 October 1991

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 102-169.

   Source: Committee

6. 3 October 1991

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 102-169.

   Source: Committee

7. 21 November 1991

   Floor

   Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

   Source: Floor

8. 3 October 1992

   Floor

   Held at the desk.

   Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · undated · Official file
• Reported to Senate · undated · Official file

Documents

5 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

  summary · EN · 21 November 1991

  Open at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 3 October 1991

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 14 June 1991

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Breaux, John B. [D-LA-7] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991