AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE REPLACEMENT VESSELS AND CAPACITY.

SEC. 3604. AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE REPLACEMENT VESSELS AND CAPACITY. Section 653(d)(1) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 1187b(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows: “(1) a contractor or other person that commits to make available a vessel or vessel capacity under the Emergency Preparedness Program or another primary sealift readiness program approved by the Secretary of Defense may, during the activation of that vessel or capacity under that program, operate or employ in foreign commerce a foreign-flag vessel or foreign-flag vessel capacity as a temporary replacement for the activated vessel or capacity; and”.