To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1990 for the Maritime Administration and for other purposes.
Public Law 101-115 · H.R. 1486 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 13, 1989 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC-1)
Cosponsors (9): Rep. Carroll Hubbard, Rep. Robert Davis,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Authorizes appropriations for the Maritime Administration for FY 1990 for: (1) operating-differential subsidies; (2) research and development; (3) manpower, education, and training; (4) operating programs; and (5) national security support capabilities, including for the National Defense Reserve Fleet and the Ready Reserve Force.
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to revise Federal provisions relating to the making of student incentive payments to individuals enrolled in State maritime academies.
Mandates that a State maritime academy, in order to receive any payment or the use of any vessel under certain provisions, require, as a condition for graduation, that a U.S. citizen in a merchant marine officer preparation program pass the Coast Guard examination for a license.
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to submit to the Congress a study on providing training opportunities for State, regional, and Federal maritime academy students that will produce licensed graduate officers. Prohibits the Secretary from implementing any ship sharing program until at least 60 days after submission of the study to the Congress.
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to set the cap on annual payments to regional maritime academies which meet certain requirements at $200,000.
Amends the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 to replace provisions setting forth the composition of the national defense reserve fleet and making certain vessels available to State marine schools with provisions directing the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a National Defense Reserve Fleet, including any vessel assigned to the Ready Reserve Force component of the fleet, consisting of vessels owned or acquired by the United States that the Secretary determines are of value for national defense and decides to place and maintain in the fleet.
Sets forth permissible uses of the fleet. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring certain types of bonds from contractors for repair, alteration, or maintenance of vessels of the National Defense Reserve Fleet unless required by law or the Secretary determines that such a requirement would not preclude any responsible bidder or offeror from competing.
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to condition war risk insurance and reinsurance for vessels on such vessels being available for the United States in time of war or national emergency. Extends until June 30, 1995, the expiration of the authority of the Secretary to provide war risk insurance or reinsurance.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to designate National Maritime Enhancement Institutes. Allows activities undertaken by the Institute to include: (1) conducting research on methods to improve maritime industries' performance; (2) enhancing the competitiveness of domestic maritime industries in international trade; (3) forecasting trade trends; (4) assessing technological advancements; (5) developing management and training; (6) analyzing impacts of regulatory policies and pending international negotiations; (7) assessing the compatibility of domestic and overseas transport systems; (8) fostering innovations in maritime transportation pricing; and (9) improving maritime economics and finance.
Sets forth criteria for designation of an Institute.
Authorizes the Secretary to make research grants to an Institute, on an equal matching basis, to a specified aggregate limit.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Merchant Marine Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.
- Oct 13, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-115.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 3, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 2, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Jones (NC) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- Sep 22, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Aug 30, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 20, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 3, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- May 2, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
- FloorFloor · Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1486 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. All points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with the provisions of …
- FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 138 passed House.
- Apr 26, 1989FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 138 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1486 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. All points of order against consideration…
- Apr 25, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 18, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 22, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 20, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.