Bringing Oligarch Accountability Through Seizure Act or the BOATS Act
This bill prohibits Russian vessels from entering or operating in the navigable waters of the United States or transferring cargo in any port or place under U.S. jurisdiction, except for national security purposes. Violation of this prohibition subjects a vessel to seizure and forfeiture.
Any Russian vessel seized and forfeited to the United States shall be sold at an auction to any entity that is not affiliated with Russia. The proceeds of such auction may only be used for humanitarian aid to Ukraine that is provided by other member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6890 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6890
To prohibit Russian vessels from operating in the navigable waters of
the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 2022
Mr. Young (for himself, Ms. Malliotakis, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Wilson of
South Carolina, Mr. Huizenga, and Mr. Palazzo) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Russian vessels from operating in the navigable waters of
the United States, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bringing Oligarch Accountability
Through Seizure Act'' or the ``BOATS Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON ENTRY AND OPERATION.
(a) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
section, no vessel described in subsection (b) may enter or
operate in the navigable waters of the United States or
transfer cargo in any port or place under the jurisdiction of
the United States.
(2) Limitations on application.--
(A) In general.--The prohibition under paragraph
(1) shall not apply with respect to a vessel described
in subsection (b)(1) if the Secretary of State
determines that--
(i) the vessel is owned or operated by a
Russian national or operated by the government
of the Russian Federation; and
(ii) it is in the national security
interest not to apply the prohibition to such
vessel.
(B) Notice.--Not later than 15 days after making a
determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of
State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate written
notice of the determination and the basis upon which
the determination was made.
(C) Publication.--The Secretary of State shall
publish a notice in the Federal Register of each
determination made under subparagraph (A).
(b) Vessels Described.--A vessel referred to in subsection (a) is a
vessel owned or operated by a Russian national or operated by the
Government of the Russian Federation.
(c) Information and Publication.--The Secretary of the department
in which the Coast Guard is operating, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, shall--
(1) maintain timely information on the registrations of all
foreign vessels owned or operated by or on behalf of the
Government of the Russian Federation, a Russian national, or a
entity organized under the laws of the Russian Federation or
any jurisdiction within the Russian Federation; and
(2) periodically publish in the Federal Register a list of
the vessels described in paragraph (1).
(d) Notification of Governments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall notify each
government, the agents or instrumentalities of which are
maintaining a registration of a foreign vessel that is included
on a list published under subsection (c)(2), not later than 30
days after such publication, that all vessels registered under
such government's authority are subject to subsection (a).
(2) Additional notification.--In the case of a government
that continues to maintain a registration for a vessel that is
included on such list after receiving an initial notification
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall issue an additional
notification to such government not later than 120 days after
the publication of a list under subsection (c)(2).
(e) Notification of Vessels.--Upon receiving a notice of arrival
under section 70001(a)(5) of title 46, United States Code, from a
vessel described in subsection (b), the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall notify the master of such
vessel that the vessel may not enter or operate in the navigable waters
of the United States or transfer cargo in any port or place under the
jurisdiction of the United States, unless--
(1) the Secretary of State has made a determination under
subsection (a)(2); or
(2) the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating allows provisional entry of the vessel, or
transfer of cargo from the vessel, under subsection (f).
(f) Provisional Entry or Cargo Transfer.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this section, the Secretary of the department in which the
Coast Guard is operating may allow provisional entry of, or transfer of
cargo from, a vessel, if such entry or transfer is necessary for the
safety of the vessel or persons aboard.
SEC. 3. SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF VESSEL; FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
If any owner, agent, master, officer, or person in charge, or any
member of the crew of any such vessel fails to comply with any
regulation or rule issued or order given under the provisions of this
subtitle, or obstructs or interferes with the exercise of any power
conferred by this subtitle--
(1) the vessel, together with the tackle, apparel,
furniture, and equipment, shall be subject to seizure and
forfeiture to the United States in the same manner as
merchandise is forfeited for violation of the customs revenue
laws; and
(2) the person guilty of such failure, obstruction, or
interference shall be punished by imprisonment for not more
than 50 years and fined not more than $10,000,000,000.
SEC. 4. AUCTION AND PROCEEDS OF VESSEL SEIZURE.
(a) In General.--Any vessel seized and forfeited under section 422
shall be sold at auction to any entity that is not the Government of
the Russian Federation, a Russian national, or a entity organized under
the laws of the Russian Federation or any jurisdiction within the
Russian Federation. The proceeds of any such auction may only be used
for humanitarian aid to Ukraine that is provided by a state that is a
member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(b) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) shall be effective until the
earlier of--
(1) 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) the date on which the President certifies that the
conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has
concluded.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
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