H. R. 2810-273
SEC. 1044. PROHIBITION ON CHARGE OF CERTAIN TARIFFS ON AIRCRAFI' TRAVELING TlmOUGH CHANNEL ROUTES.

(a) IN GENERAL.-Chapter 157 of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
"§ 2652. Prohibition on charge of certain tariffs on aircraft

traveling through channel routes
"The United States Transportation Command may not charge
a tariff by reason of the use by a military service of an aircraft
of that military service on a route designated by the United States
Transportation Command as a channel route.".
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.-The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
"2652. Prohibition on charge of certain tariffs on aircraft traveling through channel
routes.".

SEC. 1045. PROHIBITION ON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BY CERTAIN OFFICERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
OF THE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING SEPARATION FROM
MILITARY SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

(a) Two-YEAR PROHIBITION.(1) PROHIBITION.-An individual described in paragraph
(2) may not engage in lobbying activities with respect to the
Department of Defense during the two-year period beginning
on the date of retirement or separation from service in the
Armed Forces or the date of retirement or separation from
service with the Department, as applicable.
(2) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.-An individual described in this
paragraph is the following:
(A) An officer of the Armed Forces in grade 0-9 or
higher at the time of retirement or separation from the
Armed Forces.
(B) A civilian employee of the Department of Defense
who had a civilian grade equivalent to a military grade
specified in subparagraph (A) at the time of the employee's
retirement or separation from service with the Department.
(b) ONE-YEAR PROHIBITION.(1) PROHIBITION.-An individual described in paragraph
(2) may not engage in lobbying activities with respect to the
Department of Defense during the one-year period beginning
on the date of retirement or separation from service in the
Armed Forces or the date of retirement or separation from
service with the Department, as applicable.
(2) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.-An individual described in this
paragraph is the following:
(A) An officer of the Armed Forces in grade 0-7 or
0-8 at the time of retirement or separation from the Armed
Forces.
(B) A civilian employee of the Department of Defense
who had a civilian grade equivalent to a military grade
specified in subparagraph (A) at the time of the employee's
retirement or separation from service with the Department.
(c) DEFINITIONS.-ln this section:

 H. R. 2810-274

(1) The term "lobbying activities with respect to the Department of Defense" means the following:
(A) Lobbying contacts and other lobbying activities
with covered executive branch officials with respect to the
Department of Defense.
(B) Lobbying contacts with covered executive branch
officials described in subparagraphs (C) through (F) of section 3(3) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1602(3)) in the Department of Defense.
(2) The terms "lobbying activities" and ''lobbying contacts"
have the meaning given such terms in section 3 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602).
(3) The term "covered executive branch official" has the
meaning given that term in section 3(3) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(3)).
SEC. 1046. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR RETIREMENT OF
LEGACY MARITIME MINE COUNTERMEASURES PLATFORMS.

(a) PROHIBITION.-Except as provided in subsection (b), the
Secretary of the Navy may not obligate or expend funds to-(1) retire, prepare to retire, transfer, or place in storage
any AVENGER-class mine countermeasures ship or associated
equipment;
(2) retire, prepare to retire, transfer, or place in storage
any SEA DRAGON (MH-53) helicopter or associated equipment;
(3) make any reductions to manning levels with respect
to any AVENGER-class mine countermeasures ship; or
(4) make any reductions to manning levels with respect
to any SEA DRAGON helicopter squadron or detachment.
(b) WAIVER.-The Secretary of the Navy may waive the prohibition under subsection (a}(1) with respect to an AVENGER-class ship or a SEA
DRAGON helicopter, if the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the Secretary has(A) identified a replacement capability and the necessary quantity of such systems to meet all combatant
commander mine countermeasures operational requirements that are currently being met by the ship or helicopter
to be retired, transferred, or placed in storage;
(B) achieved initial operational capability of all systems
described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) deployed a sufficient quantity of systems described
in subparagraph (A) that have achieved initial operational
capability to continue to meet or exceed all combatant
commander mine countermeasures operational requirements currently being met by the ship or helicopter to
be retired, transferred, or placed in storage; or
(2) with respect to a SEA DRAGON helicopter, if the Secretary certifies to such committees that the Secretary has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that such a helicopter is nonoperational because of a mishap or other damage or because
it is uneconomical to repair.