HR 4625
Neptune act
Neptune Act
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Bill overview
The Neptune Act authorizes the U.S. Navy to build or acquire up to two ships designed to lay and repair submarine cables. It establishes financial limitations on contracts for these ships and prevents the retirement of the existing USNS Zeus until a comparable replacement ship is operational. This legislation aims to bolster the Navy’s capabilities for maintaining underwater communication infrastructure. The act focuses specifically on the construction and operation of these specialized vessels.
Key provisions
- Authorizes the Navy to construct up to two submarine cable laying and repair ships.
- Establishes financial limitations on contracts for these ships, including appropriation requirements and contract termination liability.
- Prevents the retirement of the USNS Zeus until a replacement ship is ready.
- Defines the replacement ship as a Navy-owned submarine cable laying and repair vessel.
- Specifies that commercial vessels leased or chartered cannot be considered replacements.
Who is affected
- U.S. Navy
- Department of the Navy
- Telecommunications Industry (indirectly)
- Federal Government (financially)
Notable changes
- Creates a dedicated procurement pathway for submarine cable laying and repair ships.
- Imposes financial constraints on Navy contracts.
- Preserves the operational capacity of the USNS Zeus for a defined period.
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4625
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a contract for the construction of submarine cable laying and repair ships, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Naval Enhancement for Protection of Telecommunications Undersea Network Equipment Act NEPTUNE Act
or the
.
The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a contract for the construction of up to two submarine cable laying and repair ships and associated material.
Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—
any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose; and
the total liability of the Federal Government for termination of the contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of termination.
The Secretary of the Navy may not retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage the USNS Zeus until the date on which a replacement ship with capabilities equal to or exceeding those of the USNS Zeus has achieved full operational capability.
In this section, the term replacement ship
—
means a submarine cable laying and repair ship designated USNS
and maintained in the inventory of the Navy; and
does not include a commercial vessel leased or chartered by the Navy.