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HR 1248 114th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Civil actions and liability Fires Marine and inland water transportation Transportation employees Transportation safety and security Worker safety and health

To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual…

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To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.

Introduced: July 14, 2015 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Mar 4, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mar 4, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends federal shipping law to extend through October 31, 2028, the exemption of certain vessels from the requirement that U.S. passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers be constructed of fire-retardant materials in order to be granted a certificate of inspection.

Continues to apply this exemption only to vessels in operation before January 1, 1968, which operate only within the Boundary Line (the dividing point between inland waters and high seas).

Requires the owner or managing operator of an exempt vessel to:

  • notify crew members that the vessel does not comply with applicable fire safety standards due primarily to the wooden construction of passenger berthing areas, and
  • make annual structural alterations to at least 10% of vessel areas that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.

Requires any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard (with which an exempt vessel is still required to comply) to be consistent with the preservation of a vessel's historic integrity in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or generally visible to the public.

What's happening now March 5, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1717 Identical bill A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the …
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 14
All 14 Democratic 2 Republican 10
Sanford, Mark
· Sep 6, 2016
 R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Sep 6, 2016
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jul 6, 2016
 R
Smith, Jason
Missouri · Nov 17, 2015
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Oct 22, 2015
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Oct 16, 2015
Blum, Rod
· Jul 14, 2015
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Jul 7, 2015
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Mar 16, 2015
 R
Young, Todd
Indiana · Mar 16, 2015
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Mar 4, 2015
 R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Mar 4, 2015
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Mar 4, 2015
 R
Massie, Thomas
Kentucky · Mar 4, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1248: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1248/
MLA
"H.R. 1248: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1248/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1248, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1248/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1248: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1248/)
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