,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hdga ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #a1 #bjbj ,miss ,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,shalala1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,weber of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,mucarsel-,powell1 and ,mr4 ,rutherford7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,federal ,maritime ,task ,force and a private sector advisory committee to address the health1 safety1 security1 and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel and the resumption of cruise operations in ,united ,states waters during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,set ,sail ,safely ,act4 #b4 ,maritime task force 7a7 ,establishment ,upon enactment of the ,set ,sail ,safely ,act1 there is established a ,maritime ,task ,force to address the health and safety of passengers1 crew1 and associated workers1 logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel1 and the resumption of cruise operations1 including navigation safety1 in ,united ,states waters during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,maritime ,task ,force shall consist of the following members1 or their designees3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating1 who shall serve as the chair of the ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 during any period in which the ,coast ,guard is operating as a service in the ,navy4 7#c7 ,the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#d7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#e7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#f7 ,the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7#g7 ,the ,secretary of ,state4 7#h7 ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#i7 ,the ,chairman of the ,federal ,maritime ,commission4 7#aj7 ,the ,chair of the ,national ,economic ,council of the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,maritime ,task ,force shall meet in-person or virtually during the duration of the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency to develop a plan containing information about the requirements and protocols that each ,federal agency represented on the ,maritime ,task ,force will implement to address the health1 safety1 security1 and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel in ,united ,states waters during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 and with respect to the resumption of cruise operations and increased passenger maritime travel after the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency ends4 7#b7 ,private sector advisory committee recommendations ,not more than-- 7,a7 #aj days after receiving the written recommendations from the private sector advisory committee under section #c7;c71 the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force shall call an in-person or virtual meeting between the private sector advisory committee and the ,maritime ,task ,force2 7,b7 #aj days after the meeting under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force shall publish the plan required under paragraph 7#a7 in the ,federal ,register2 and 7,c7 #cj days after publication of such plan in the ,federal ,register1 each ,federal agency represented on the ,maritime ,task ,force shall begin implementing the plan developed under paragraph 7#a71 including taking necessary administrative actions to implement the requirements and protocols of the plan4 7d7 ,,covid-#ai public health emergency ,the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency means the public health emergency related to the coronavirus that has been declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d74 #c4 ,private sector advisory committee 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #g days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force shall nominate representatives to a private sector advisory committee to work in consultation with the ,maritime ,task ,force4 7b7 ,composition ,the private sector advisory committee shall consist of the following members3 7#a7 ,two representatives from the passenger cruise line industry4 7#b7 ,one representative from the harbor pilots industry4 7#c7 ,two representatives from longshoremen unions4 7#d7 ,one representative from the travel agent industry4 7#e7 ,one representative from a port council4 7#f7 ,one representative from vessel and cargo operations4 7#g7 ,one representative from a small business whose primary income is derived from working with a port or cruise company4 7#h7 ,one representative who is a nongovernmental medical health professional with expertise in infectious diseases4 7c7 ,duties ,not later than #ae days after the appointment of all members of the private sector advisory committee1 the private sector advisory committee shall submit written recommendations to the ,maritime ,task ,force established under section #b on policies and procedures to be adopted for the safe resumption of the cruise line industry during and after the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 including providing recommendations about-- 7#a7 best scientific practices2 7#b7 measures adopted in other travel industries that may be adapted for the cruise line industry2 and 7#c7 general matters affecting the safe and reasonable resumption of cruise line activity4 7d7 ,administration 7#a7 ,employee status ,a member of the private sector advisory committee shall not be considered an employee of the ,federal ,government by reason of service on such committee1 except for the purposes of the following3 7,a7 ,chapter #ha of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,b7 ,chapter #aga of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 and an other ,federal law relating to tort liability4 7#b7 ,acceptance of volunteer services ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a member of the private sector advisory committee shall serve on such committee on a voluntary basis without pay4 7#c7 ,status of members ,with respect to a member of the committee whom the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force appoints to represent an entity or group-- 7,a7 the member is authorized to represent the interests of the applicable entity or group2 and 7,b7 requirements under ,federal law that would interfere with such representation and that apply to a special ,government employee 7as defined in section #bjb7;a7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code71 including requirements relating to employee conduct1 political activities1 ethics1 conflicts of interest1 and corruption1 do not apply to the member4 7#d7 ,service on committee 7,a7 ,prohibition ,the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force shall not seek1 consider1 or otherwise use information concerning the political affiliation of an appointee in making an appointment to the committee4 7,b7 ,service at pleasure of the ,chair ,each member of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force4 7#e7 ,security background examinations ,the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force may require an individual to have passed an appropriate security background examination before appointment to the committee4 7#f7 ,prohibition ,a ,federal employee may not be appointed as a member of the committee4 7#g7 ,staff services ,the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force shall furnish to the committee any staff and services considered by the ,chair of the ,maritime ,task ,force to be necessary for the conduct of the committee's functions and may accept staff and services from the members of the ,maritime ,task ,force4 7#h7 ,termination ,the committee shall terminate upon conclusion of the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 as defined in section #b7;d74