Coast Guard authorization bill clears House
Legislation includes a provision allowing crew members of U.S. ships to defend themselves against pirates without worrying about legal liability.
The House overwhelmingly approved a Coast Guard reauthorization bill Friday, including language giving crew members of U.S. ships the ability to defend themselves from pirate attacks.
The bill, approved 385-11, authorizes $10 billion for the Coast Guard in fiscal 2010, about $200 million more than the Obama administration requested.
Lawmakers approved by voice vote an amendment from House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard Subcommittee ranking member Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., that limits liability for injuries or deaths if an operator of a U.S.-flagged vessel takes defensive actions against an attack by pirates.
The underlying bill included language that would have required operators to determine their defensive measures were reasonable in order to receive liability protection. But LoBiondo's amendment offering blanket protection replaced that language, a GOP aide said.
The bill also includes several technology-related provisions. It requires, for example, that the Coast Guard study the feasibility of using biometric facial and iris scans to rapidly identify individuals for security purposes.
And it requires the maritime agency to conduct a study to determine whether transponders, such as radio frequency identification tags, can be used to identify small boats operating around U.S. ships and ports. Lawmakers have worried that small boats loaded with explosives could be used to carry out attacks.
"Transponders are not the only way to address the small boat threat -- and they may not be the best -- but they have the potential to greatly increase situational awareness in U.S. ports," said Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee Chairwoman Jane Harman, D-Calif., who backed the provision.
The bill also requires the Homeland Security Department to allow any individual with a pending application for a transportation security card and who needs to work in a secure area of a U.S. port to have access to that area with an escort. That provision was authored by Homeland Security Border Subcommittee Chairwoman Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.