Skip to main content
HR 2847 108th Congress House

Hawaii Agriculture/Livestock Shipping Open Market Act of 2003

Official title: To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, to allow transportation of certain agricultural goods and livestock in Hawaiian noncontiguous trade on foreign-flag vessels, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 24, 2003 Introduced by: Case, Ed Democratic · Hawaii See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works AliensAnimalsCoastwise shippingEmployee rights
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Employers' liabilityEnvironmental ProtectionFarm produceFines (Penalties)Flags of convenienceForest productsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHawaiiHealthInternational AffairsInternational environmental cooperationJurisdictionLabor and EmploymentLawLicensesLivestockMarine transportationMerchant seamenMerchant shipsOccupational health and safetyPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesStandardsTaxationTreatiesWorkers' compensation
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 25, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Jul 25, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1593-1594)
Jul 24, 2003
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 24, 2003
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action July 25, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hawaii Agriculture/Livestock Shipping Open Market Act of 2003 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, to make the requirement that all cargo shipping between U.S. ports occur exclusively on U.S. flagged vessels inapplicable with respect to transportation in Hawaii noncontiguous trade of merchandise that is a forest product, agricultural product, or livestock on a foreign qualified freight vessel for which the Secretary of Transportation has issued a certificate of documentation.

Amends the Shipping Act, 1916, to repeal certain requirements regarding: (1) the percentage of ownership of a corporation operating in coastwise trade owned by U.S. citizens; and (2) seizure and forfeiture of documented vessels.

Requires jurisdiction for an action brought for recovery for injury to or death of a seaman against a defendant employer that does not reside or maintain an office in the United States and that engages in any enterprise that makes use of one or more ports in the United States to be under the district court most proximate to the place of the occurrence of the personal injury or death that is the subject of the action. Authorizes the employer of a master or member of the crew of a vessel, at the employer's election, to participate in an authorized compensation plan under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.

Subjects all vessels operating in the U.S. coastwise trade to minimum international labor and environmental standards. Sets requirements for non-citizens irregularly engaging in the U.S. domestic coastwise trade.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2847: Hawaii Agriculture/Livestock Shipping Open Market Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2847/
MLA
"H.R. 2847: Hawaii Agriculture/Livestock Shipping Open Market Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2847/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2847, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2847/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2847: Hawaii Agriculture/Livestock Shipping Open Market Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2847/)
Report a problem