Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/2673

 PUBLIC LAW 109–141—DEC. 22, 2005

119 STAT. 2655

(C) have set up remote assistance operations in the affected areas in order to best provide service to the Gulf of Mexico coastal region. (8) Members and employees of the Coast Guard have worked together to bring clean water, food, and resources to victims and survivors in need. (b) COMMENDATION, RECOGNITION, AND THANKS.—The Congress— (1) commends the outstanding efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina by members and employees of the Coast Guard; (2) recognizes that the actions of these individuals went above and beyond the call of duty; and (3) thanks them for their continued dedication and service. (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the Coast Guard should play a major role in response to any future national emergency or disaster caused by a natural event in the United States in a coastal or offshore area. SEC. 3. TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.

(a) LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY.—Notwithstanding sections 7106 and 7107 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may temporarily extend the duration of a license or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 of that title until not later than February 28, 2006, if— (1) the individual is a resident of Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana; or (2) the individual is a resident of any other State, and the records of the individual— (A) are located at the Coast Guard facility in New Orleans that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina; or (B) were damaged or lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina. (b) MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.—Notwithstanding section 7302(g) of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may temporarily extend the duration of a merchant mariners’ document issued for an individual under chapter 73 of that title until not later than February 28, 2006, if— (1) the individual is a resident of Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana; or (2) the individual is a resident of any other State, and the records of the individual— (A) are located at the Coast Guard facility in New Orleans that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina; or (B) were damaged or lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina. (c) MANNER OF EXTENSION.—Any extensions granted under this section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen. SEC. 4. TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF VESSEL CERTIFICATES OF INSPECTION.

(a) AUTHORITY TO EXTEND.—Notwithstanding section 3307 and 3711(b) of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may temporarily extend

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