H.R. 4158House108th Congress (2003-2005)Passed House

To provide for the conveyance to the Government of Mexico of a decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, and for other purposes.

Legislative Activity

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16 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 20, 2004

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 2, 2004

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

April 2, 2004

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

April 7, 2004

HouseCommittee

Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.

Natural Resources Committee

April 7, 2004

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

May 13, 2004

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 19, 2004

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

May 19, 2004

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

May 19, 2004

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-537.

Natural Resources Committee

June 9, 2004

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 311.

June 9, 2004

HouseFloor

Mr. Hayworth moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

July 19, 2004 • 3:18 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5941-5942)

July 19, 2004 • 3:18 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4158.

July 19, 2004 • 3:18 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5941)

July 19, 2004 • 3:21 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5941)

July 19, 2004 • 3:21 PM

HouseFloor

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

July 19, 2004 • 3:21 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 20, 2004

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 4158 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. J. D. HayworthR-AZ-5 · Jul 19, 2004

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4158) to provide for the conveyance to the Government of Mexico of a decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4158) to provide for the conveyance to the Government of Mexico of a decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4158.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4158 will transfer a decommissioned NOAA vessel, the Whiting, to the Government of Mexico.

The United States is an active partner in the U.S.-Mexico Charting Advisors Committee which addresses regional issues on charting, research and data collection. As part of the cooperative activities of this committee, the Government of Mexico contacted NOAA indicating an interest in obtaining the vessel from the United States. The Government of Mexico does not have a vessel dedicated to hydrographic surveys, and the Whiting would be the first ship to fill that role.

The Whiting is 163 feet in length, draws 12 feet of water, has a cruising speed of 12 knots and a cruising range of 5,700 nautical miles. It was removed from service in 2002 after 40 years of conducting hydrographic surveys in the Great Lakes and along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States.

Under the terms of H.R. 4158, all rights, title and interest in the Whiting are transferred to the Government of Mexico. The vessel must be used as a hydrographic platform in support of activities of the U.S.- Mexico Charting Advisors Committee.

The ship will be delivered at the vessel's current home port of Norfolk, Virginia, and the United States will not be responsible for any remediation, maintenance or operation of the Whiting after delivery. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 4158, and compliment the author, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Madeleine Z. BordalloD-GU · Jul 19, 2004

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.) Mr. Speaker, as noted, H.R. 4158 is a noncontroversial piece of…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued July 20, 2004

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4158 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

2d Session
H. R. 4158

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 20, 2004

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To provide for the conveyance to the Government of Mexico of a
decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship,
and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF NOAA VESSEL WHITING.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall convey to the
Government of Mexico, without consideration, all right, title, and
interest of the United States in and to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration vessel WHITING--
(1) for use as a hydrographic survey platform in support of
activities of the United States-Mexico Charting Advisors
Committee; and
(2) to enhance coordination and cooperation between the
United States and Mexico regarding hydrographic surveying and
nautical charting activities in the border waters of both
countries in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific Ocean.
(b) Operation and Maintenance.--The Government of the United States
shall not be responsible or liable for any remediation, maintenance, or
operation of a vessel conveyed under this section after the date of the
delivery of the vessel to the Government of Mexico.
(c) Deadline.--The Secretary shall seek to complete the conveyance
by as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Delivery of Vessel.--The Secretary shall deliver the vessel
WHITING pursuant to this section at the vessel's homeport location of
Norfolk, Virginia, at no additional cost to the United States.

Passed the House of Representatives July 19, 2004.

Attest:

JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.