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United States · Law · S

S. 1004 (104th)

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

29 June 1995

Last action

19 October 1996 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-324.

Sponsors

Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence, Environment, Transport, Taxation

Source updated

7 April 2025

Healthcare · Defence · Environment · Transport · Taxation

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization Title II: Personnel Management Improvement Title III: Marine Safety and Waterway Services Management Title IV: Coast Guard Auxiliary Amendments Title V: Recreational Boating Safety Improvement Title VI: Coast Guard Regulatory Reform Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1995 - Title I: Authorization - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard 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, testing, and evaluation; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (5) alteration or removal of bridges; and (6) environmental compliance and restoration at Coast Guard facilities. Amends provisions of Federal law relating to the Federal Highway Administration to declare that, notwithstanding specified provisions of law, highway bridges determined to be unreasonable obstructions to navigation under the Truman-Hobbs Act may be funded from amounts set aside from the discretionary bridge program. Mandates the transfer of those allocations and the responsibility for the administration of those funds to the Coast Guard. (Sec. 102) Authorizes the Coast Guard end-of-year strength for active duty personnel and its average military training student loads. Title II: Personnel Management Improvement - Amends Federal law to authorize the Commandant of the Coast Guard to make child development services available for members and civilian employees of the Coast Guard and, if space is available, for members of the armed forces and Federal civilian employees. Authorizes the use of Coast Guard appropriated funds to provide assistance to family home day care providers so that family home day care services can be provided to uniformed service members and civilian employees of the Coast Guard at a cost comparable to the cost of services provided by Coast Guard child development centers. (Sec. 202) Declares that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 applies to Coast Guard military personnel assigned to, or employed at or in connection with, any Federal facility or installation around Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, on or before August 24, 1992, except that a limited amount of Coast Guard funds shall be used. (Sec. 203) Removes provisions requiring dissemination to the service at large of the names of officers selected for continuation on active duty. (Sec. 204) Excludes certain reserve members in computing authorized strength of members on active duty or members in grade. (Sec. 205) Revises provisions regarding officer retention to provide for retention until retirement-eligible under specified conditions. (Sec. 206) Authorizes contracts to carry out health care responsibilities under Federal law relating to Coast Guard personnel and covered beneficiaries. Title III: Marine Safety and Waterway Services Management - Amends provisions relating to the documentation of vessels to: (1) increase the limit on civil fines for violations; (2) modify the circumstances in which a vessel (including a recreational vessel) and its equipment are liable to seizure and forfeiture. Allows a recreational vessel in U.S. territorial waters to be commanded by a non-U.S. citizen. (Sec. 302) Removes provisions authorizing denial and revocation of endorsements if civil penalties have not been paid. (Sec. 303) Mandates a civil fine for failure to implement or conduct, as prescribed under provisions relating to vessels and seamen and related regulations, chemical testing for dangerous drugs or for evidence of alcohol use. (Sec. 304) Extends the termination dates of the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee, and the Towing Safety Advisory Committee. (Sec. 307) Allows a bill of sale, conveyance, mortgage assignment, or related instrument to be filed electronically. Requires the original to be provided within 10 days. (Sec. 308) Imposes a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 (currently, a civil penalty of $1,000) for failure to report a casualty or for violating provisions relating to small vessel manning. Title IV: Coast Guard Auxiliary - Amends Federal law to specify the Coast Guard Commandant's authorities regarding the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Deems the Auxiliary a U.S. instrumentality except when it acts outside its legislated purpose or forms a corporation under State law. (Sec. 402) Declares that the Auxiliary's purpose is to assist the Coast Guard. (Sec. 403) Declares that Auxiliary members are not Federal employees except for certain situations. (Sec. 404) Removes the word "specific" from provisions: (1) authorizing the use of Coast Guard appropriations for certain expenses of Auxiliary members assigned to authorized specific duties; (2) relating to assignment of Auxiliary members to specific duties and related vesting in the Auxiliary members of the same power and authority as members of the regular Coast Guard assigned to similar duty; and (3) injury to or death of an Auxiliary member while performing any specific duty assigned by a Coast Guard authority. (Sec. 405) Authorizes the Coast Guard to use Auxiliary members and facilities in assisting Federal agencies, States, Territories, possessions, or political subdivisions. (Sec. 406) Deems motorboats, yachts, or aircraft, while assigned to Coast Guard duty, to be public vessels of the United States and vessels of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard aircraft. Deems (subject to specified provisions) Auxiliary pilots to be Coast Guard pilots. (Sec. 408) Authorizes disposal to the Auxiliary of obsolete or unneeded Coast Guard material. Title V: Recreational Boating Safety Improvement - Amends Federal law (popularly known as the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act, the Fish Restoration and Management Projects Act, and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act) to mandate the distribution from the Sport Fish Restoration Account of certain amounts in specified fiscal years for grants under the Clean Vessel Act of 1992, for recreational boating safety programs, and for grants under this Act for transient nontrailerable vessel facilities. Authorizes the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to spend, under contracts with States, certain amounts for State recreational boating safety programs. Authorizes appropriations. Declares that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a specified amount of the annual appropriation from the Sport Fish Restoration Account in a certain fiscal year under specified provisions shall be excluded from the calculation of certain amounts to be distributed. (Sec. 502) Mandates a survey and plan regarding transient nontrailerable vessels and related public facilities. Requires certain amounts to be made available for grants to States to construct or renovate such public facilities. Title VI: Coast Guard Regulatory Reform - Coast Guard Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Mandates regulations establishing a safety management system for specified persons and vessels, including: (1) a safety and environmental protection policy; (2) instructions and procedures to ensure safe operation of those vessels and protection of the environment in compliance with international and U.S. law; (3) defined levels of authority and lines of communications between and among personnel on shore and on the vessel; and (4) procedures for reporting accidents and nonconformities with this title, preparing for and responding to emergency situations, and internal audits and management reviews of the system. Requires regulations prescribed to be consistent with the International Safety Management Code with respect to vessels engaged on a foreign voyage. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) implementation of the safety management system; and (2) certification and enforcement. Mandates a study and report to the Congress on the methods that may be used to implement and enforce the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of ships and for Pollution Prevention under the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to rely, as evidence of compliance with this title, on reports, documents, and records of other persons and on other methods determined by the head of that department to be reliable. (Sec. 604) Revises provisions regarding: (1) equipment approval; (2) frequency of inspection; (3) certificates of inspection; and (4) delegation of authority of the head of that department to classification societies. Title VII: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Amends the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 to modify various navigational rules. (Sec. 702) Amends Federal law relating to measurement of vessels to authorize the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe, where a statute allows, an alternate tonnage. (Sec. 702) Allows alternate tonnage measurement by amending the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act, the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act, the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, Federal law relating to reporting of U.S. vessels rebuilt abroad, the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and numerous provisions of Federal law relating to vessels and seamen. (Sec. 745) Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (notwithstanding specified provisions) to issue a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document based on the individual applicant's service, using the tonnage as measured under specified provisions.

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

Timeline

  1. 29 June 1995

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 29 June 1995

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9453, S9465)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 29 June 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 20 July 1995

    Reported

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

    Source: Committee

  5. 19 October 1995

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 210.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 19 October 1995

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-160.

    Source: Committee

  7. 19 October 1995

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-160.

    Source: Committee

  8. 17 November 1995

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S17362-17420)

    Source: Floor

  9. 17 November 1995

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

  10. 19 November 1995

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  11. 19 November 1995

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  12. 19 November 1995

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  13. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  14. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  15. 29 February 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration of the Senate bill and the House amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Shuster, Young (AK), Coble, Fowler, Baker (CA), Oberstar, Clement, and Poshard.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  16. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    On motion that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H1582)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  17. 29 February 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Coble asked unanimous consent that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  18. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

  19. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

  20. 29 February 1996

    Passed

    The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 1361. Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  21. 29 February 1996

    Floor

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H1582)

    Source: Floor

  22. 29 February 1996

    Floor

    Mr. Coble asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.

    Source: Floor

  23. 5 March 1996

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill and House requests a conference.

    Source: Floor

  24. 11 July 1996

    Passed

    Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Pressler; Stevens; Gorton; Lott; Hutchison; Snowe; Ashcroft; Abraham; Hollings; Inouye; Ford; Kerry; Breaux; Dorgan; Wyden. (consideration: CR S7703)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  25. 11 July 1996

    Passed

    Senate disagreed to the House Amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  26. 11 July 1996

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate disagreed to the House Amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: NotUsed

  27. 19 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference held.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  28. 19 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference committee actions: Conference held.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  29. 27 September 1996

    Passed

    Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.(consideration: CR H11544)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  30. 27 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  31. 27 September 1996

    Passed

    Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  32. 27 September 1996

    Passed

    On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  33. 27 September 1996

    Passed

    Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  34. 27 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    The previous question was ordered without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  35. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.

    Source: Floor

  36. 27 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Shuster asked unanimous consent for consideration of the conference report, H. Rept. 104-854.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  37. 27 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report H. Rept. 104-854 filed. (text of conference report: CR H11485-11524)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  38. 27 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 104-854 filed.(text of conference report: CR H11485-11524)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  39. 28 September 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  40. 28 September 1996

    Passed

    Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11803)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  41. 30 September 1996

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  42. 9 October 1996

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  43. 9 October 1996

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  44. 19 October 1996

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 104-324.

    Source: President

  45. 19 October 1996

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  46. 19 October 1996

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

17 official files

Public Law (text)

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 28 September 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 28 September 1996

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  • Conference report filed in House

    summary · EN · 27 September 1996

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 29 February 1996

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 29 February 1996

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 29 February 1996

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 17 November 1995

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 17 November 1995

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 17 November 1995

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 19 October 1995

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 19 October 1995

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 19 October 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 June 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 June 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 29 June 1995

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