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S 3598 110th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedure Armed Forces and National Security Civil actions and liability Conspiracy Drug abuse Drug law enforcement Drug traffic Evidence (Law) Fines (Penalties) Government Operations and Politics Identification devices International Affairs Jurisdiction Law Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Marine transportation Navigation Sentencing guidelines Ships

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008

Introduced: September 25, 2008 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 13, 2008
Became Public Law No: 110-407.
Oct 13, 2008
Signed by President.
Oct 3, 2008
Presented to President.
Sep 29, 2008
Cleared for White House.
Sep 29, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 29, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 9/27/2008 H10251-10252)
Sep 29, 2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 9/27/2008 H10251-10252)
Sep 29, 2008
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10631)
Sep 27, 2008
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Smith (TX) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Sep 27, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3598.
Sep 27, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10251-10254)
Sep 27, 2008
Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Sep 26, 2008
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Sep 26, 2008
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 26, 2008
Received in the House.
Sep 25, 2008
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9553-9554; text as passed Senate: CR S9553-9554)
Sep 25, 2008
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9553-9554; text as passed Senate: CR S9553-9554)
Sep 25, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Title I: Criminal Prohibition - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating, attempting or conspiring to operate, or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality in, 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 avoid detection. Grants extraterritorial federal jurisdiction over an offense under this Act.

Specifies that a claim of nationality or registry under this Act includes only: (1) possession on board the vessel and production of documents evidencing the vessel's nationality as provided in the 1958 Convention on the High Seas; (2) flying its nation's ensign or flag; or (3) a verbal claim of nationality or registry by the person in charge of the vessel.

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 sentencing guidelines to provide adequate penalties for violating the criminal prohibition imposed by this Act.

Title II: Civil Prohibition - Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1 million for a violation of this Act. Allows the same defenses to a civil enforcement proceeding as for a criminal prosecution under this Act.

Defines a "semi-submersible vessel" as any manned or unmanned watercraft constructed or adapted to operate with most of its hull and bulk under the surface of the water. Defines a "submersible vessel" as a manned or unmanned vessel capable of operating completely below the surface of the water.

What's happening now October 13, 2008

Became Public Law No: 110-407.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2