[CHAPTER 912-2D SESSION] [H. R. 6263] AN ACT To amend the Act of June 23, 1943, so as to authorize inclusion of periods of education and training in an Army Transportation Corps civilian marine school as "service in the merchant marine". Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the first sentence of the Act entitled "An Act to provide reemployment rights for persons who leave their positions to serve in the merchant marine, and for other purposes", approved June 23, 1943 (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. IV, title 50 App., sec. 1471), is amended to read as follows: "That when used in this Act the term 'service in the merchant marine' means service as an officer or member of the crew on or in connection with a vessel documented under the laws of the United States or a vessel owned by, chartered to, or operated by or for the account or use of the Administrator, as an enrollee in the United States Maritime Service on active duty, and, to such extent as the Administrator shall prescribe, any period awaiting assignment to such service and any period of education or training for such service in any school or institution under the jurisdiction of the Administrator or any civilian marine school under the jurisdiction of the Army Transportation Corps." Approved August 8, 1946. [CHAPTER 918-2D SESSION] [8. 2236] AN ACT Providing for a medal for service in the merchant marine during the present war. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States Maritime Commission is authorized and directed to procure a medal and suitable appurtenances of appropriate design, including an honorable discharge lapel button, to be awarded to (1) each person who served honorably in a war zone as an officer or member of the crew of vessels owned by or operated by or for the account of the Maritime Commission or the War Shipping Administration for thirty days during the period beginning December 7, 1941, and ending with September 3, 1945; and (2) each person who is entitled to receive a certificate of substantially continuous service pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 87, Seventy-eighth Congress, approved June 23, 1943 (57 Stat. 162). The medal may be awarded posthumously and, when so awarded, shall be presented to such representative of the deceased as shall be prescribed in the applicable regulations. Awards under this Act shall be made pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Maritime Commission. SEC. 2. The Maritime Commission is authorized to expend out of any funds available for expenditure by the Maritime Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. SEC. 3. The manufacture, sale, possession, or display of any insignia, decoration, medal, award, or device, or the ribbon, button, or rosette thereof, or any colorable imitation of any insignia, decoration, medal, award, or device, provided for in this Act, is prohibited, except as authorized under such Act or any rule or regulation issued pursuant ⚫ thereto. Whoever violates any provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. Approved August 8, 1946. [CHAPTER 928-2D SESSION] [H. R. 1751] AN ACT To authorize the course of instruction at the United States Merchant Marine Academy to be given to not exceeding twelve persons at a time from the American republics, other than the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission is hereby authorized to permit, upon designation of the President of the United States, not exceeding twelve persons at a time from the American republics (other than the United States) to receive instruction in the United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps and at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Not more than two persons from any of such republics shall receive instruction under authority of this Act at the same time. The persons receiving instruction under authority of this Act shall receive the same pay, allowances, and emoluments, to be paid from the same appropriations, and, subject to such exceptions as may be determined by the Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, shall be subject to the same rules and regulations governing admission, attendance, discipline, resignation, discharge, dismissal, and graduation as cadet-midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy appointed from the United States; but such persons shall not be entitled to appointment to any office or position in the United States Merchant Marine by reason of their graduation from the Merchant Marine Academy. Approved August 9, 1946. [CHAPTER 932-2D SESSION] (H. R. 5380) AN ACT To provide for the conferring of the degree of bachelor of science upon graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act of May 25, 1933, as amended, relating to the conferring of degrees upon graduates of the Naval Academy, Military Academy, and Coast Guard Academy is hereby amended to read as follows: "The superintendents of the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy may, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of War, the United States Maritime Commission, and the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively may prescribe, confer the degree of bachelor of science upon all graduates of their respective academies, from and after the date of the accrediting of said academies by the Association of American Universities. On and after the date of the accrediting of the said academies by the Asssociation of American Universities the superintendents of the respective academies may, under such rules and regulations as the respective Secretaries, or the Maritime Commission, may make, confer the degree of bachelor of science upon such other living graduates of the respective academies as shall have met the requirements of the respective academies for such degree." Approved August 9, 1946. 62555 O-60-37 [CHAPTER 948-2D SESSION] [H. R. 4842] AN ACT To amend the Act of April 29, 1943, so as to afford a preference for veterans in acquiring certain vessels. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the return to private ownership of certain vessels formerly used or suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto", approved April 29, 1943, as amended (U. S. C. 1940 edition, Supp. V, title 50 App., secs. 1301-1304), is amended by inserting in section 3 after the words "advertise the vessel" the following: except any vessel acquired by a veteran pursuant to section 5 (a) (1)," and by adding at the end thereof the following section: " "SEC. 5. (a) (1) If any such vessel of sixty-five feet or less in length between perpendiculars is not returned to such owner as provided in section 3, then, prior to advertising such vessel for sale, the War Shipping Administration or the Maritime Commission shall make such vessel available for acquisition by a veteran, as defined in subsection (b), in accordance with the provisions of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. V, title 50 App., secs. 1611-1646), and regulations made thereunder, as property for exclusive disposal to veterans. "(2) In the case of any vessel of sixty-five feet or less in length between perpendiculars to be disposed of by the War Shipping Administration or the Maritime Commission as surplus property by virtue of any law other than this Act, such vessel shall be available for acquisition by a veteran, as defined in subsection (b), in accordance with the provisions of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. V, title 50 App., secs. 1611-1646), and regulations made thereunder, as property for exclusive disposal to veterans. "(b) For purposes of this Act, the terms 'veteran' means any person in the active military or naval service of the United States during the present war, or any person who served in the active military or naval service of the United States on or after September 16, 1940, and prior to the termination of the present war, and who has been discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or any person who is or has been eligible to receive a certificate for substantially continuous service in the merchant marine as provided in the Act of June 23, 1943 (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. V, title 50 App., sec. 1471)." Approved August 10, 1946. |