Full Text of Maritime Act of 2023, Which Could Help Open Up & Protect Ocean Shipping Through Middle East
H. R. 2973, titled the Maritime Architect and Response to International Terrorism In the Middle East Act of 2023 or more simply the Maritime Act of 2023, passed both the House and Senate to be signed into law by President Biden. It’s a small bill, but it builds upon the Abraham Accords ushered in by the Trump Administration, and could be a step to help shippers smoothly and securely import from and export to the Middle East.
The bill is more of a fact-finding and strategy-building piece of legislation than anything else. However, its assessment of threats to maritime in the Middle East, development of strategy for U.S. interdiction to protect it and the people of the region, and its goal “to develop a Middle East integrated maritime domain awareness” with a particular emphasis on the inclusion of America’s ally Israel could prove to be important for the future of shipping through the region.
Lately, there’s been quite a bit of new U.S. regulation, proposed regulation, and general regulatory reform when it comes to international shipping and the maritime sector in particular. It’s not surprising this bill would go through relatively unnoticed, when larger bills with more sweeping and immediate ramifications like the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) rightfully pull the spotlight.
Still, we like to share the text of bills that affect international shipping here in Universal Cargo, like we did with OSRA when it was still working its way through Congress.
With that, here’s the full text of the Maritime Act of 2023:
H. R. 2973
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop, in cooperation with allies and partners in the Middle East, an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2023
Mrs. Rodgers of Washington (for herself, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Trone, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 require the Secretary of Defense to develop, in cooperation with allies and partners in the Middle East, an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability, 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 “Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism In the Middle East Act of 2023” or the “MARITIME Act of 2023”.
SEC. 2. Middle East integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability.
(a) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall seek to build upon the historic opportunities created by the Abraham Accords and the incorporation of Israel into the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command to develop a Middle East integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability for the purpose of protecting the people, infrastructure, and territory of such countries from—
(1) manned and unmanned naval systems, undersea warfare capabilities, and anti-ship missiles of Iran and groups affiliated with Iran; and
(2) violent extremist organizations, criminal networks, and piracy activities that threaten lawful commerce in the waterways within the area of responsibility of the United States Naval Forces Central Command.
(b) Strategy.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a strategy for the cooperation described in subsection (a).
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the threats posed to ally or partner countries in the Middle East by—
(i) manned and unmanned naval systems, undersea warfare capabilities, and anti-ship missiles of Iran and groups affiliated with Iran; and
(ii) violent extremist organizations, criminal networks, and piracy activities that threaten lawful commerce in the waterways within the area of responsibility of the United States Naval Forces Central Command.
(B) A description of existing multilateral maritime partnerships currently led by the United States Naval Forces Central Command, including the Combined Maritime Forces (including its associated Task Forces 150, 151, 152, and 153), the International Maritime Security Construct, and the Navy’s Task Force 59, and a discussion of the role of such partnerships in building an integrated maritime security capability.
(C) A description of progress made in advancing the integration of Israel into the existing multilateral maritime partnerships described in subparagraph (B).
(D) A description of efforts among countries in the Middle East to coordinate intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities and indicators and warnings with respect to the threats described in subparagraph (A), and a description of any impediment to optimizing such efforts.
(E) A description of the current Department of Defense systems that, in coordination with ally and partner countries in the Middle East—
(i) provide awareness of and defend against such threats; and
(ii) address current capability gaps.
(F) An explanation of the manner in which an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction architecture would improve collective security in the Middle East.
(G) A description of existing and planned efforts to engage ally and partner countries in the Middle East in establishing such an architecture.
(H) An identification of the elements of such an architecture that may be acquired and operated by ally and partner countries in the Middle East, and a list of such elements for each such ally and partner.
(I) An identification of the elements of such an architecture that may only be provided and operated by members of the United States Armed Forces.
(J) An identification of any challenge to optimizing such an architecture in the Middle East.
(K) An assessment of progress and key challenges in the implementation of the strategy required by paragraph (1) using the metrics identified in accordance with paragraph (3).
(L) Recommendations for improvements in the implementation of such strategy based on such metrics.
(M) An assessment of any capabilities or lessons from the Navy’s Task Force 59 that may be leveraged to support an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability in the Middle East.
(N) Any other matter the Secretary of Defense considers relevant.
(3) METRICS.—The Secretary of Defense shall identify metrics to assess progress in the implementation of the strategy required by paragraph (1).
(4) FORMAT.—The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
(c) Feasibility study.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a fund for an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of ally and partner countries in the Middle East from—
(A) manned and unmanned naval systems, undersea warfare capabilities, and anti-ship missiles of Iran and groups affiliated with Iran; and
(B) violent extremist organizations, criminal networks, and piracy activities that threaten lawful commerce in the waterways of the Middle East.
(2) ELEMENT.—The study required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of funds that could be contributed by ally and partner countries of the United States.
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(d) Protection of sensitive information.—Any activity carried out under this section shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive information and the national security interests of the United States.
(e) Appropriate committees of Congress defined.—In this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
