OF GOVERNMENT-IMPELLED CARGO.

SEC. 503. SECURITY OF GOVERNMENT-IMPELLED CARGO. Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “(e) Security of Government-Impelled Cargo. “(1) In order to ensure the safety of vessels and crewmembers transporting equipment, materials, or commodities under this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall direct each department or agency (except the Department of Defense), when responsible for the carriage of such equipment, materials, or commodities, to provide armed personnel aboard vessels of the United States carrying such equipment, materials, or commodities if the vessels are transiting high-risk waters. “(2) The Secretary of Transportation shall direct each department or agency responsible to provide armed personnel under paragraph (1) to reimburse, subject to the availability of appropriations, the owners or operators of applicable vessels for the cost of providing armed personnel. “(3) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk waters’ means waters so designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard in the Port Security Advisory in effect on the date on which an applicable voyage begins.” .