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HR 5584 117th Congress House Transportation and Public Works

Fairness for Fallen Sailors Act

Introduced: October 15, 2021 Introduced by: Escobar, Veronica Democratic · Texas See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Oct 15, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 15, 2021
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fairness for Fallen Sailors Act

This bill revises federal law relating to individuals who die from an accident on the high seas.

The bill amends current law to allow the personal representative of the estate of an individual whose death is caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States, to bring a civil action in admiralty or in law against the person or vessel responsible. The action shall be for the exclusive benefit of the decedent's estate.

The recovery in an action shall be fair compensation for the pecuniary loss sustained by the individuals for whose benefit the action is brought (currently), the pre-death pain and suffering of the decedent, and non-pecuniary damages for the loss of care, comfort, and companionship of a family member of a decedent.

In an action related to death resulting from an aviation accident (under current law, this provision applies to commercial aviation accidents) occurring on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore of the United States, additional compensation is recoverable for nonpecuniary damages, but punitive damages are not recoverable.

What's happening now November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2