US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

46 U.S.C. § 101

Agency

In this title, the term “agency” means a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government.

Pub. L. 109–304, § 4120 Stat. 1486(, , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

101

(no source).

A definition of “agency” is added to avoid having to repeat the substance of the definition at various places in the revised title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2023 Amendment

Pub. L. 118–7, § 1137 Stat. 52

section 51509 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘Changing Age-Determined Eligibility To Student Incentive Payments Act’ or the ‘CADETS Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–146, § 1136 Stat. 1272

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–14, § 1135 Stat. 273

section 3510 of this title“This Act [enacting ] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Tourism Restoration Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3514(a)133 Stat. 1980

section 50302 of this titlesection 50302 of this titlesection 51318 of this titlesection 9620 of Title 42“This section [amending , enacting provisions set out as a note under , and amending provisions set out as notes under and , The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the ‘Ports Improvement Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–265, § 1132 Stat. 3742

section 6309 of this titlesection 822 of Title 45“This Act [enacting , amending sections 2116, 3306, 3316, and 6101 of this title and sections 1952, 1954, and 1958 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 2101, 2116, 3201, 3203, 3306, 3315, and 3316 of this title, sections 1, 58, 88, and 93 of Title 14, Coast Guard, and , Railroads] may be cited as the ‘Save Our Seas Act of 2018’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 115–265, title II, § 201132 Stat. 3744

section 6309 of this titlesection 822 of Title 45“This title [enacting , amending sections 2116, 3306, 3316, and 6101 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2101, 2116, 3201, 3203, 3306, 3315, and 3316 of this title, sections 88 and 93 of Title 14, Coast Guard, and , Railroads] may be cited as the ‘Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 115–254, div. J, § 1801132 Stat. 3533

Pub. L. 115–254section 70107A of this title“This division [div. J (§§ 1801–1816) of , enacting sections 243 and 244 of Title 6, Domestic Security, amending sections 70101 to 70103, and 70112 of this title, and sections 921, 941, 945, and 983 of Title 6, repealing sections 70107A and 70116 of this title and sections 922 and 984 of Title 6, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 70101, 70102, 70107A, and 70112 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Security Improvement Act of 2018’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–213, title V, § 501126 Stat. 1574

section 51705 of this titlesection 55305 of this titlesection 51705 of this title“This title [enacting , amending , and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Piracy Suppression Act of 2012’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 601124 Stat. 2959

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Safety Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 111–207, § 1(a)124 Stat. 2243

section 676 of Title 14section 355 of Title 37section 3507 of this titlesection 1828 of Title 16section 2720 of Title 33section 70101 of this titlesection 637 of Title 14“This Act [enacting sections 3507 and 3508 of this title, amending , Coast Guard, and , Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, enacting provisions set out as notes under and , Conservation, amending provisions set out as a note under , Navigation and Navigable Waters, and repealing provisions set out as notes under and ] may be cited as the ‘Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–83, title V, § 561(a)123 Stat. 2182

section 70103 of this title“This section [amending and sections 114 and 40119 of Title 49, Transportation] may be cited as the ‘American Communities’ Right to Public Information Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXV, § 3501117 Stat. 1789

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Security Act of 2003’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–295, § 1(a)116 Stat. 2064

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 107–295, title II, § 201116 Stat. 2093

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Policy Improvement Act of 2002’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXVI, § 3601113 Stat. 975

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title II, § 201112 Stat. 2681–616

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘American Fisheries Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–324, title VI, § 601110 Stat. 3927

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard Regulatory Reform Act of 1996’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 104–297, title III, § 301110 Stat. 3615

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Fisheries Financing Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 104–239, § 1110 Stat. 3118

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Security Act of 1996’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–206, title V, § 501107 Stat. 2439

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5301106 Stat. 5081

Pub. L. 102–587“This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 5301–5305) of title V of , see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Abandoned Barge Act of 1992’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, § 601104 Stat. 2990

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Aleutian Trade Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–424, § 1102 Stat. 1585

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 100–418, title X, § 10001102 Stat. 1570

Pub. L. 100–418“This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 10001–10003) of title X of , see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 100–239, § 1101 Stat. 1778

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Anti-Reflagging Act of 1987’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–626, § 1100 Stat. 3504

“This act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Recreational Boating Safety Act of 1986’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–498, title II, § 21098 Stat. 2303

Pub. L. 98–498“This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 210–214) of title II of , see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Safety Act of 1984’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 40198 Stat. 445

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–31, § 195 Stat. 151

“That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Maritime Act of 1981’.”
, , , provided:

Short Title of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–372, § 190 Stat. 1042

“That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Negotiated Shipbuilding Contracting Act of 1976’.”
, , , provided:

Short Title of 1970 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–469, § 4484 Stat. 1039

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Merchant Marine Act of 1970’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1936 Amendment

Act June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title IX, § 90649 Stat. 2016Pub. L. 109–304, § 19120 Stat. 1710

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the Merchant Marine Act, 1936.”
, , as amended by , , , provided that: