[House Report 111-285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-285
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RECOGNIZING THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY ASSOCIATION ON THE
OCCASION OF ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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October 6, 2009.--Referred to the House Calender and ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 465]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 465) recognizing the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion of
its 10th anniversary, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and
recommend that the resolution as amended be agreed to.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway to recreational, commercial, and military vessels and
to the history and quality of life of the citizens of the
United States; and
(2) acknowledges the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
Association on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
Amend the preamble to read as follows:
Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) was authorized by the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 to provide a safe inside navigation channel
for commercial shipping, support for and encouragement of interstate
commerce, and safe harbor and protection for shipping from inclement
weather and wartime enemy attack;
Whereas the AIWW, completed in 1940, runs along the southeast coast of the
United States from Norfolk, Virginia, to Key West, Florida, and measures
1,088 miles long;
Whereas segments of the intracoastal waterway on the Atlantic Coast
received their initial congressional authorization through Rivers and
Harbors Acts beginning in 1880;
Whereas the AIWW is a vital transportation system providing safe, reliable,
and efficient navigation for commercial, recreational, and military
vessels;
Whereas the Corps of Engineers is currently engaged in flood control,
hydropower production, environmental restoration, maintenance dredging,
lock maintenance, recreation, and navigation projects along the AIWW;
Whereas, according to the Corps of Engineers, in 2007 the AIWW supported
the transportation of 2,543,000 tons of freight traffic, including
commodities such as wheat, corn, soybeans, electrical machinery, iron,
coal, gasoline, fabricated metal products, and electrical machinery;
Whereas, according to the Corps of Engineers, in 2007 the AIWW supported a
total of 34,184 trips made by recreational, commercial, and military
vessels;
Whereas the AIWW is an integral transportation network supporting the Armed
Forces through the shipment of military equipment, fuel, and generators
between Norfolk, Virginia, and Kings Bay, Georgia;
Whereas the Dismal Swamp Canal, on the AIWW, is the oldest operating
artificial waterway in the United States and has been placed on the
National Register of Historical Places, was registered as an engineering
landmark in 1988, and was included in the National Park Service's
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program in 2004;
Whereas the AIWW has enhanced the lives of the residents of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as well as the greater
southeastern United States, for more than 6 decades;
Whereas the wildlife, flora, and fauna along the AIWW provide ample
recreational opportunities for birdwatchers, photographers, and boaters;
Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association was organized in
1999 to address the navigation challenges of the AIWW and to encourage the
continuation and further development of waterborne commerce and recreation
on the AIWW;
Whereas the Association has voiced the interests of commercial and
recreational users of the AIWW, earning the title of ``Voice of the
Waterway'';
Whereas the Association has been an advocate for maintenance of the AIWW to
promote safe, cost-effective navigation; and
Whereas the Association promotes the AIWW as a vital marine highway along
the Atlantic coast, providing safe navigation for commercial and
recreational vessels: Now, therefore, be it
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Res. 465, as amended, recognizes the importance of the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and commends the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion of its 10th
anniversary.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) was authorized by
the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 (P.L. 75-392). It was
intended to provide a safe inland navigation channel for
commercial shipping, and to encourage and support interstate
commerce. It was also authorized to serve as a safe harbor to
protect shipping from inclement weather and military attack.
Since its creation, the AIWW has served the American public
by providing safe, reliable, and efficient navigation for
commercial, recreational and military vessels. According to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the AIWW supported over 2.5
million tons of freight traffic in 2007, including commodities
such as wheat, corn, soybeans, electrical machinery, iron,
coal, gasoline, fabricated metal products and electrical
machinery. In addition, recreational, commercial and military
vessels traveled a total of 34,184 trips on the AIWW in 2007.
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, celebrating
its 10th anniversary, was created to address many of the
navigation challenges that the AIWW faces, and to serve as a
voice for users of the AIWW.
H. Res. 465, as amended, recognizes the AIWW as a means of
waterborne transportation and acknowledges the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion of its 10th
anniversary.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
The official title of the resolution is: ``Recognizing the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion of
its 10th anniversary, and for other purposes.''
H. Res. 465 states that the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway to recreational, commercial, and
military vessels and to the history and quality of life
of the citizens of the United States; and
(2) acknowledges the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
Association on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On May 20, 2009, Representative Henry Brown, Jr. introduced
H. Res. 465. This resolution has not been introduced in a
previous Congress.
On September 24, 2009, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 465. The
Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute to
the bill by voice vote with a quorum present. The Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure ordered H. Res. 465, as
amended, reported favorably to the House by voice vote.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires each committee report to include the
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for
and against. There were no recorded votes taken in connection
with consideration of H. Res. 465, or ordering the resolution,
as amended, reported. A motion to order H. Res. 465, as
amended, reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice
vote with a quorum present.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 465
is a resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost
associated with this legislation for fiscal year 2009, or for
any fiscal year thereafter.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no comparison of the total estimated
funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate
levels under current law is required.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no cost estimate nor comparison for any
measure that authorizes funding is required.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list
of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits, as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of
rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. H. Res.
465, as amended, does not contain any earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits under clause 9(e), 9(f),
or 9(g) of rule XXI.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character shall include a statement
citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the
Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
H. Res. 465, as amended, contains no Federal mandates.
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 465, as
amended, does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H. Res. 465, as amended, makes no changes in existing law.