H.R. 2839 (112th): Piracy Suppression Act of 2011

Introduced:
Sep 02, 2011 (112th Congress, 2011–2013)
Sponsor:
Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R-NJ2]
Status:
Died (Reported by Committee)

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. H.R. stands for House of Representatives bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on September 8, 2011, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Sep 02, 2011
Referred to Committee Sep 06, 2011
Reported by Committee Sep 06, 2011
Referred to Committee Sep 08, 2011
Reported by Committee Sep 08, 2011
Cosponsors
1 cosponsors (1R) (show)
Committees

House Armed Services

House Transportation and Infrastructure

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

To suppress the threat of piracy on the high seas, and for other purposes.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

Read Bill Text »

Last updated Sep 06, 2011.
12 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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Citation

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

11/10/2011--Reported to House without amendment, Part I. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Piracy Suppression Act of 2011 -
Section 2 -
Amends the Revised Statutes to subject any person who commits an act of piracy to the penalty of death or imprisonment for life.
Defines "act of piracy" to mean any:
(1) illegal act of violence, detention, or depredation, committed by the crew or passengers of a vessel against a vessel, person, or property on the high seas or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of a state (including inciting or facilitating such an act of piracy); and
(2) any voluntary act of participation in the operation of a vessel with knowledge that it is a pirate ship.
Section 3 -
Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to seek reimbursement from a foreign country for the cost of U.S. action to protect or defend foreign-flagged vessels of the country from a pirate attack, including the cost of U.S. action to deter the attack. Authorizes the waiver of such costs under certain circumstances.
Section 4 -
Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a training program for U.S. mariners on the use of force against pirates.
Section 5 -
Directs the DOT Secretary to require each federal agency responsible for the transport of equipment, materials, or commodities (government-impelled cargo) by U.S. vessels to provide armed personnel aboard such vessels while transiting high-risk waters. Requires each agency to reimburse vessel owners or operators for the cost of providing armed personnel.
Section 6 -
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on efforts to track ransom payments paid to pirates operating in the waters off Somalia and improve their prosecution.

House Republican Conference Summary

The summary below was written by the House Republican Conference, which is the caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives.

No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

Slip Laws

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United States Code

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Other Citations

  • 10 U.S.C. Chapter 20
  • 46 U.S.C. Chapter 517