,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #af1 #bjbj,mr4 ,scott of ,florida 7for himself and ,mr4 ,rubio7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,maritime ,task ,force and a private sector advisory committee to address the health1 safety1 security1 and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel1 including the resumption of cruise operations1 in ,united ,states waters during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,set ,sail ,safely ,act 4 #b4 ,maritime ,task ,force 7a7 ,establishment ,upon enactment of the ,set ,sail ,safely ,act1 there is established a ,maritime ,task ,force to address the health1 safety1 security1 and logistical issues relating to the continuation of maritime travel1 including the resumption of cruise operations1 in ,united ,states waters during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,maritime ,task ,force shall consist of the following members1 or their designees3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 who shall serve as the chair of the ,task ,force4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7,c7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7,d7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,e7 ,the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard4 7,f7 ,the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7,g7 ,the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration4 7,h7 ,the ,commissioner of the ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection4 7,i7 ,the ,secretary of ,state4 7,j7 ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7,k7 ,the ,chairman of the ,federal ,maritime ,commission4 7,l7 ,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 ,secretary 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 ,secretary shall publish the plan required under paragraph 7#a7 in the ,federal ,register2 and 7,c7 #cj days after the 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 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 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 commercial fishermen4 7#h7 ,one representative from a small business whose primary income is derived from working with a port or cruise company4 7#i7 ,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 #e4 7,b7 ,chapter #aga of title #bh and any 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 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 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 #ah71 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 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 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 ,secretary ,each member of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security4 7#e7 ,security background examinations ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 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 ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall furnish to the committee any staff and services considered by the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to be necessary for the conduct of the committee's functions4 7#h7 ,termination ,the ,committee shall terminate upon conclusion of ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 as defined in section #b7;d74 #d4 ,no funding authorized ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall carry out this ,act using amounts appropriated or otherwise available to the ,secretary4