Cutter Service Act

Cutter Service Act
Other short titles	Cutter Service Act, 1914
Long title	An Act to provide for the construction of two revenue cutters.
Nicknames	Revenue Cutters Service Act of 1914
Enacted by	the63rd United States Congress
Effective	June 24, 1914
Citations
Public law	Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)63–118
Statutes at Large	38Stat.387
Legislative history
	Introducedin the Senate as S. 4377 byJohn H. Bankhead(D–AL) on February 5, 1914; Passed the Senateon April 28, 1914 (Passed); Passed the Houseon May 13, 1914 (Passed); Signed into lawby PresidentWoodrow Wilsonon June 24, 1914;

Cutter Service Act, 1914is a United States federal statute authorizing the construction of two revenuecuttervessels as related to medical and surgical relief for Americanvessel crewsengaged in the deep-sea fisheries. The two revenue cutters provided a class of service as asteam-powered vesselencompassing thecoastal geographyof theGulf of MexicoandMaine.

Theact of Congressemphasized providing otherwise-unobtainable medical services for seamen on board Americanfishing fleets.It authorized thecommandant of the Revenue Cutter Serviceto "detail for duty on revenue cutters suchsurgeonsand other persons of thePublic Health Serviceas... necessary. "

As a result of the act, many cutter vessels were fitted out as hospital ships and "relieved from the regular duties as normally performed by cutters" to cruise thefishing banksoff the U.S. coastlines as floating hospitals.

See also