House of Representatives Passed Defense Bill With Maritime Measures

On May 18, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310) including, as is typical, several maritime related measures. Specifically, H.R. 4310 – (1) includes reauthorization changes to the Maritime Security Program for the new program commencing in 2015; and (2) contains a provision further tightening the ability of the federal government to issue Jones Act waivers. A provision that would have given the U.S. Maritime Administration more latitude over the sale of certain U.S. Government owned vessels destined to be scrapped was struck and therefore was not passed by the House. The U.S. Senate is expected to take up its version of the Defense Authorization in the up coming weeks.