To repeal the provision of title 46, United States Code, requiring a license for employment in the business of salvaging on the coast of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2482, a bill to repeal a provision in current law which requires licenses for employment in the business of maritime salvaging in the State of Florida.

S. 2482 is a companion bill to H.R. 4542, which was introduced by the ranking member of our full committee, Congressman John Mica of Florida, and which passed the House as part of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2008.

Sadly, even though Chairman Cummings has done a great job and even though Mr. Oberstar has done a great job and we've tried to work together on the Coast Guard reauthorization bill, our friends on the other side of the Capitol haven't quite reached agreement with us.

The bill repeals section 80102 of title 46, United States Code, an antiquated provision which dates back in various forms to the 1820s. It requires Federal judges to issue licenses to wreckers working in the State of Florida. Wreckers, now generally known as salvors, provided assistance to ships in trouble in exchange for a portion of the vessel's cargo. In the early 19th century, some argued that these wreckers may have provided assistance that was not needed and then demanded a portion of the vessel's cargo. It sounds a little bit like piracy to me, but I'm not sure.

At that time, the primary Federal presence in Florida was the Federal judiciary. Therefore, Federal judges were given licensing authority over these wreckers. The licensing requirement fell out of use early in the last century. Today, salvage vessels and their crews operating in Florida are regulated under Coast Guard safety, inspection, crew licensing, and environmental standards just like any other vessels operating in United States waters.

The Justice Department has determined the provision is unconstitutional, and S. 2482 repeals this anachronism. I support the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time subject to the chairman.

The gentleman is correct. If you have none, I am prepared to yield back and would yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2482) to repeal the provision of title 46, United States Code, requiring a license for employment in the business of salvaging on the coast of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 2482.

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

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise today in strong support of S. 2482.

This legislation is very simple. It would repeal an antiquated law that requires vessels and the captains of vessels conducting salvage operations off the coast of Florida to obtain licenses from a United States District Court. The law, which applies only to Florida, was adopted in 1847. No license has been issued under this law since approximately 1921, in large measure, because it seems to have been a forgotten requirement until the recent codification of title 46.

This law serves no purpose at this time. The measure before us would repeal this provision and would eliminate

a needless burden on salvors working off the coast of Florida.

I applaud Senator Martinez for his leadership on this measure, and I urge its adoption by the House.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Yes. I assume the gentleman, my minority ranking member, has no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, we yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2482, a bill to repeal the provision of title 46, United States Code, requiring a license for employment in the business of salvaging on the coast of Florida.

In 1847, Congress enacted a law designed to prevent individuals from luring ships on the beach with lanterns--and then salvaging these wrecks. The law said that you cannot salvage a ship in Florida unless you have a license issued by a U.S. District Court. At the time these individuals were called wreckers. Today, they are called salvors.

Two years ago, Congress passed a recodification of all of the laws in title 46 of the U.S. Code--titled ``Shipping''. It was only after that recodification when the terms were updated from ``wreckers'' to ``salvors'', did the salvage industry realize that they needed a license to do its work in Florida. This requirement is not imposed on salvors in any other State of the United States.

S. 2482 repeals this archaic law outright. Today Florida attracts tourists and cruise ships to its shores. It doesn't try to wreck them on the rocks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of S. 2482.