Senate passes Coast Guard Reauthorization, as amended (S.2444)

Senator Boxer asked unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.2444, with a Rockefeller-Thune substitute amendment containing a permanent exemption for discharges from small commercial vessels and fishing vessels; the bill be read a third time and passed; and the title amendment be agreed to. Senator Vitter asked that the request be modified and that the Senate consider a Rockefeller-Thune substitute amendment that includes a 3 year extension of the vessel discharge moratorium. There was no objection to the modification and the bill was passed, as amended.