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HR 6295 110th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedure Civil actions and liability Conspiracy District courts Drug abuse Drug law enforcement Drug traffic Evidence (Law) Fines (Penalties) Government Operations and Politics Identification devices Jurisdiction Law Marine transportation Sentences (Criminal procedure) Sentencing guidelines Ships Smuggling Submarines

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008

Introduced: June 18, 2008 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) 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 12 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 1, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 30, 2008
Received in the Senate.
Jul 29, 2008
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Jul 29, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 29, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7237)
Jul 29, 2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7237)
Jul 29, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6295.
Jul 29, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7237-7240)
Jul 29, 2008
Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 28, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 18, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 18, 2008
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating or embarking in any submersible or semisubmersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating in, or has navigated into, through, or from, waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to evade detection. Grants extraterritorial federal jurisdiction over violations of this Act.

Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this Act that a vessel operated at the time of a violation was: (1) a vessel of the Untied States or lawfully registered in a foreign nation; (2) classed by and designated in accordance with the rules of a classification society; (3) lawfully operated in a government-regulated or licensed activity; or (4) equipped with and using an operable automatic identification system, vessel monitoring system, or a long range identification and tracking system. Specifies the documents required to conclusively prove an affirmative defense.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend existing guidelines to provide adequate penalties for violations of this Act.

What's happening now August 1, 2008

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

 Related & companion bills 5
  • HR 7099 Related bill Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
  • S 3198 Related bill A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation of submersible or semi-submersible vessels…
  • S 3351 Related bill Drug Trafficking Interdiction Assistance Act of 2008
  • S 3526 Related bill Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
  • S 3598 Related bill Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · Jul 15, 2008
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jul 15, 2008
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6295: Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6295/
MLA
"H.R. 6295: Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6295/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6295, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6295/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6295: Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6295/)
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