On March 19, 2012, Jonathan Waldron, Partner, Blank Rome, addressed the American Salvage Association at its Spring Meeting in Stamford, Ct. on the issue of responder immunity. Responder Immunity was the number one issue that SCAA members took to Capitol Hill during its Capitol Hill Visit day on March 7, 2012. Mr. Waldron has been instrumental in working to effect language to strengthen responder immunity for first responders when incidents such as the Deepwater Horizon Occur.
Mr. Waldron commented that “There has been no movement in 2012 with regard to either pollution or general maritime legislation except for the publishing of S. 1665 and its attendant report. We continue to hear rumblings that the Senate may try and move S. 1665 as early as March 2012, but if the lack of Senate action in the last year is any guide to the future, it remains questionable that it will happen until later in the year, if at all. If the Senate is able to move S. 1665, that would probably result in some kind of a conference between the House and the Senate to push maritime legislation in 2012. In addition, both the House and the Senate could decide to push for pollution related legislation later in 2012. That legislation could move either independently, or at some point in 2012 be combined with the Coast Guard Authorization pending legislation.”
When SCAA see’s movement of S. 1665, SCAA will initiate a campaign in support of responder immunity amendments based on our Capitol Hill Senate side contacts and other Senate offices for which our members are constituents.
Comments
Post a Comment