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S 1717 114th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Civil actions and liability Fires Marine and inland water transportation Transportation employees Transportation safety and security Worker safety and health

A bill 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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A bill 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 8, 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 27, 2016
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 658.
Oct 27, 2016
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/29/2016 without amendment. With written report No. 114-367.
Jun 29, 2016
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 8, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 8, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill extends 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.

The bill 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).

An owner or managing operator of an exempt vessel shall:

  • notify crew members (currently, only prospective passengers) 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 and provide advance notice to the Coast Guard of such alterations.

Any noncombustible material requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard (with which an exempt vessel is still required to comply) shall 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 October 27, 2016

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 658.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1248 Identical bill To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-re…
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3
R
Cassidy, Bill
Louisiana · Jul 9, 2015
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Jul 8, 2015
 R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Jul 8, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1717: A bill 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-S-1717/
MLA
"S. 1717: A bill 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-S-1717/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1717, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1717/.
Markdown link
[S. 1717: A bill 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-S-1717/)
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