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TheWeekInCongress.com (TM) Week Ending August 1, 2008
H.R.6295 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit operation by any means or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, through or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, and for other purposes.
The US Code is amended based on Congress’ findings that an international problem exists regarding semi-submersible vessels that may be involved in drug trafficking or terrorism.
The bill establishes as an offense knowingly or intentionally operating by any means or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible vessel that has no national registration and enters territorial waters of one country from adjacent territorial waters of another.
Submersible means a vessel that is capable of operating below the surface of water and includes manned and unmanned watercraft. Semi-submersible vessel means a watercraft constructed or adapted to be capable of putting much of its bulk under the surface of the water.
To establish nationality the vessel must have on board and be able to produce documents that evidence the vessels nationality, must fly its nation’s ensign or flag or the master of the vessel must verbally claim nationality or registry. Should the evidence of nationality or registry not be displayed a rebuttable presumption is created that the vessel is without nationality.
A person in violation of this law shall be fined or imprisoned no more than 20 years or both.
The bill establishes extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over offenses including an attempt or conspiracy to commit the offense.
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Lungren (CA-3rd) Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 30, 2008 Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost. Earmark Certification: ## All Rights Reserved. © 2008 TheWeekInCongress.com(TM) No reproduction, language translation or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)
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