S. 2717: Maritime Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2019

115th Congress · introduced 2018-04-19 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 505.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-04-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 505. 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

Maritime Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Plain summary

Maritime Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2019 This bill reauthorizes for FY2019 programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) associated with maintaining the United States merchant marine, including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), state maritime academies, the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program, U.S. Maritime Administration operations and programs, the ship disposal program, and the maritime guaranteed loan program. The bill addresses (1) DOT jurisdiction over the USMMA; (2) the USMMA policy on sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (3) implementation of recommendations for the USMMA Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program; (4) electronic records on mariner availability to meet national security needs; (5) small shipyard grants; (6) domestic ship recycling facilities; (7) USMMA cadet Sea Year training needs; (8) the national maritime strategy; (9) the DOT Office of Inspector General report on the financial controls and protections included in its policies and procedures for approving loan applications under the Federal Ship Financing Program; (10) multi-year contracts for the procurement of vessels within the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program; (11) the use of state academy training vessels; (12) DOT authority to issue war risk insurance; and (13) the comprehensive study of the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Seaway navigation system.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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

Maritime Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2717, Maritime Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (2018-06-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Gary C. Peters (D-MI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] reported raising $976,129 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (5)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
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.
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
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 Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s2717.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s2717 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115