H.R. 4819: Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-07-13 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-07-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. John, Christopher [D-LA-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004

Plain summary

Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004 - Makes available for each fiscal year to the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, for operations and maintenance of essential waterways (in addition to amounts otherwise made available for operations and maintenance), five percent of the amount of duties collected during the preceding fiscal year on articles transported by vessel unladen for purposes of entering the customs territory of the United States. Defines an "essential waterway" as a waterway that: (1) the Secretary of the Army determines provides service to one of the 25 highest ranked U.S. ports in terms of total tonnage of cargo transported through the port; (2) the Secretary of Energy determines is a critical component of the U.S. energy infrastructure; (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security determines provides service to at least one militarily and economically strategic port; or (4) the Secretary of Transportation determines provides service to at least one commercially strategic port.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. John, Christopher [D-LA-7] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr4819.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4819 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108