Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 234 Introduced in House (IH)] 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 234 To provide limitations on maritime liens on fishing permits, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2017 Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide limitations on maritime liens on fishing permits, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Maritime Lien Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON MARITIME LIENS ON FISHING PERMIT AND PERMIT

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON MARITIME LIENS ON FISHING PERMIT AND PERMIT DESCRIPTION. (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 313 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 31310. Limitation on maritime liens on fishing permit and permit description ``(a) In General.--This chapter-- ``(1) does not establish a maritime lien on a permit that-- ``(A) authorizes a person or use of a vessel to engage in fishing; and ``(B) is issued under State or Federal law; and ``(2) does not authorize any civil action to enforce a maritime lien on such a permit. ``(b) Treatment of Fishing Permits.--A fishing permit-- ``(1) is governed solely by the State or Federal law under which it was issued; and ``(2) is not included in the whole of a vessel or as an appurtenance or intangible of a vessel for any purpose. ``(c) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in subsections (a) and (b) shall be construed as imposing any limitation upon the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to modify, suspend, revoke, or sanction any Federal fishery permit issued by the Secretary of Commerce or to bring a civil action to enforce such modification, suspension, revocation, or sanction.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 31309 the following: ``31310. Limitation on maritime liens on fishing permit and permit description.''.