LONG-TERM LEASE OR CHARTER AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN DOUBLE-HULL TANKERS AND OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSELS.

SEC. 128. LONG-TERM LEASE OR CHARTER AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN DOUBLE-HULL TANKERS AND OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSELS. (a) Authority.—The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a long-term lease or charter for any double-hull tanker or oceanographic vessel constructed in a United States shipyard after the date of the enactment of this Act using assistance provided under the National Shipbuilding Initiative. (b) Conditions on Obligation of Funds.—Unless budget authority is specifically provided in an appropriations Act for the lease or charter of vessels pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may not enter into a contract for a lease or charter pursuant to that subsection unless the contract includes the following provisions: (1) A statement that the obligation of the United States to make payments under the contract in any fiscal year is subject to appropriations being provided specifically for that fiscal year and specifically for that lease or charter or that kind of vessel lease or charter. (2) A commitment to obligate the necessary amount for each fiscal year covered by the contract when and to the extent that funds are appropriated for that lease or charter, or that kind of lease or charter, for that fiscal year. (3) A statement that such a commitment given under paragraph (2) does not constitute an obligation of the United States. (c) Inapplicability of Certain Laws.—A long-term lease or charter authorized by subsection (a) may be entered into without regard to the provisions of section 2401 of title 10, United States Code, or section 9081 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2401 note). (d) Definition.—For purposes of subsection (a), the term “long-term lease or charter” has the meaning given that term in subparagraph (A) of section 2401(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code. 107 STAT. 1568