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HR 298 100th Congress House

A bill to protect and promote the American merchant marine by shipping U.S. mail exclusively aboard U.S.-flag vessels.

Introduced: January 21, 1987 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Cargo preferenceGovernment service contractsMarine transportationPostal Services and Facilities
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Postal servicePublic Contracts, Procurement, and PropertyShips and shipping
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This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 12, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from OMB, US Postal Service, DOT.
Feb 10, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Postal Personnel and Modernization.
Jan 20, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Merchant Marine.
Jan 20, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, US Postal Service.
Jan 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
Jan 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Jan 6, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 12, 1987

Executive Comment Requested from OMB, US Postal Service, DOT.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to require the Postal Service to contract with U.S. registered vessels for international sea transportation of mail. Requires rate charges for such transportation to comply with the Shipping Act of 1984. Authorizes competitive bidding for such contracts and limits such contracts to a one-year duration.

Prohibits the Postal Service from contracting with vessels based on cargo container size, unless necessary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Jan 21, 1987
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Jan 21, 1987
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 298: A bill to protect and promote the American merchant marine by shipping U.S. mail exclusively aboard U.S.-flag vessels.. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-298/
MLA
"H.R. 298: A bill to protect and promote the American merchant marine by shipping U.S. mail exclusively aboard U.S.-flag vessels.." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-298/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 298, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-298/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 298: A bill to protect and promote the American merchant marine by shipping U.S. mail exclusively aboard U.S.-flag vessels.](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-298/)
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