Oil Transportation by Vessel Liability Act
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Oil Transportation by Vessel Liability Act - Makes the owner and operator of a vessel (other than a public vessel) liable for all damages, cleanup costs, and interest resulting from such vessel. Limits the liability of such owner or operator unless: (1) there is gross or willful negligence or violations; or (2) there is a lack of cooperation. Sets forth specified defenses to such liability. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report periodically to Congress concerning the desirability of adjusting the liability limitations. Prohibits any agreement transferring liability from the vessel owner or operator. Sets forth the damages due to oil discharges for which claims may be made. Makes the President or authorized State representative public trustees of the natural resources. Permits claims by foreigners or foreign nations. Establishes an Oil Cargo Liability Fund in the U.S. Treasury to be liable for all damages and cleanup costs not otherwise compensated by the owner or operator. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to invest moneys in the Fund in U.S. interest-bearing special obligations. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue notes or other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury if the money in the Fund is insufficient to pay any claim. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report annually concerning such Fund. Establishes an Oil Cargo Liability Fund Fee to be levied on each barrel of crude oil. Provides civil penalties for failures to pay such fee. Permits any person or the Fund which pays any claimant compensation under this Act to be subrogated to all rights and causes of action of such claimant. Directs the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, to recover any compensation paid by the Fund. Sets forth the procedures to be followed in filing and pursuing a claim under this Act. Requires vessel owners and operators to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility acceptable to the Secretary. Authorizes the Attorney General to act on behalf of any group presenting claims. Gives the public access to information concerning liability and compensation for oil discharge damages or cleanup costs. Sets forth penalties for violating the provisions concerning evidence of financial responsibility. Permits States to impose additional requirements, taxes, or liability for damages and cleanup costs with specified exceptions. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978, the Intervention on the High Seas Act, the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act: (1) to repeal any separate liability provisions for oil discharge from vessels under such Acts; and (2) to provide coverage under the Oil Cargo Liability Fund.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on March 15, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on March 15, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
WARREN MAGNUSON (D-WA) introduced it on March 15, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 15, 1979, 17346 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17346 days ago, on March 15, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers