U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

79–010 

" ! SENATE 115TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

REPORT

2017

115–181 

Calendar No. 259 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER 

CORPS AMENDMENTS AND HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT 

REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS 

ACT OF 2017 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. 171 

NOVEMBER 7, 2017.—Ordered to be printed 


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

TED CRUZ, Texas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts 

DEAN HELLER, Nevada CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey 

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

MIKE LEE, Utah GARY C. PETERS, Michigan 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, New Hampshire 

TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada 

NICK ROSSI, Staff Director 

ADRIAN ARNAKIS, Deputy Staff Director 

JASON VAN BEEK, General Counsel 

KIM LIPSKY, Democratic Staff Director 

CHRISTOPHER DAY, Democratic Deputy Staff Director 

1P.L. 107–372, (116 Stat. 3078) 

2P.L. 105–384, (112 Stat 3454) 

Calendar No. 259 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 115–181 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS AMENDMENTS AND HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES 

IMPROVEMENT ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 

2017 

NOVEMBER 7, 2017.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. THUNE, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 171] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the bill (S. 171) to reauthorize and amend the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned 

Officer Corps Act of 2002, to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services 

Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment (in 

the nature of a substitute) and recommends that the bill (as 

amended) do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of S. 171 is to reauthorize the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps 

(NOAA Corps) Act of 2002 (Act of 2002) 1 and to reauthorize the 

Hydrographic Services Improvements Act of 1998 (Act of 1998).2

This Act also would make a number of improvements, clarifications, and refinements to the statutory authorities of NOAA. 

2 

3The United States has seven uniformed services, of which five are ‘armed services’ (Army, 

Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) and of which two are not armed (Public Health 

Service and NOAA Corps). 4 NOAA’s six line offices include the following: NOAA Marine & Aviation Operations (OMAO); 

NOAA Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); National Ocean Service (NOS); Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research (OAR); National Weather Service (NWS); and National Environmental 

Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). 5P.L. 105–384, (116 Stat. 3454) 

BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps 

NOAA Corps is one of the seven uniformed services of the United 

States.3 The 321 officers of the NOAA Corps make up only about 

3 percent of NOAA’s personnel, but as the operators of NOAA’s 

ship and aircraft fleet, they are critical to NOAA’s expansive and 

diverse missions. Their combination of scientific and operational 

expertise, coupled with a high degree of flexibility and 

deployability, allow them to serve throughout NOAA’s line and 

staff offices and support nearly all of NOAA’s programs and missions. 

Like officers in other uniformed services, NOAA Corps officers 

often spend much of their careers away from family and friends, 

operating NOAA ships and aircraft that are frequently deployed up 

to 9 months a year. NOAA Corps officers also regularly work with 

other uniformed services, including as follows: commanding Navy 

underwater unmanned vehicle platoons; training with Navy scientific aircraft squadrons; and deploying on Coast Guard cutters. 

The NOAA Corps and the Coast Guard now have joint Officer Candidate School classes. 

Hydrographic services 

The National Ocean Service (NOS) is one of six line offices within 

NOAA.4 There are multiple programs within NOS, but the main 

areas of focus are the following: navigation; observations and positioning; coastal science and assessment; and ocean and coastal 

management services. The navigation, observations, and positioning sector of NOS is tasked with geodetic and hydrographic 

surveys, shoreline mapping, and building and maintaining the Nation’s nautical charts. The hydrographic survey data are used to 

support a variety of maritime functions, including the following: 

safe navigation; port and harbor maintenance; coastal engineering; 

offshore resource development; managing sensitive marine habitats; selecting alternative energy sites; identifying geological hazards; and supporting inundation studies to understand the risks of 

coastal erosion, hurricanes, and tsunamis. 

Government accountability 

Some of the hydrographic survey data collection is done by the 

hydrographic survey vessels within NOAA’s fleet. However, NOS 

also procures and oversees hydrographic surveying and related support services from the private sector. 

Congress enacted the Act of 1998 5 to establish a framework for 

NOAA to implement new state-of-the-art technologies to modernize 

the United States’ hydrographic services program. The law also encourages NOAA to use outside contractors for certain hydrographic 

services. The law has been amended twice. In the most recent 

3 

6P.L. 107–372, (116 Stat. 3079) 

7 NOAA NOS, ‘‘NOS Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables,’’ May 2015, at 

http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsd/specs/Specsl201pdf. 8 NOAA NOS, ‘‘Arctic Navigation,’’ 2014, at http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/economy/arctic. 

amendment,6 the hydrographic services program was reauthorized 

and deadlines were set for NOAA to establish a quality assurance 

program for privately produced hydrographic products. NOAA now 

produces NOS Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and 

Deliverables which detail the requirements for hydrographic surveys undertaken either by NOAA field units or by organizations 

under contract to the Director, Office of Coast Survey.7

In addition, Senators Thune and Sullivan requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study comparing the 

unit costs of survey data collected by NOAA and the unit costs of 

procuring such data in the private sector. The study examined the 

establishment of a plan to increase private sector involvement and 

the quality assurance program to oversee these acquisitions. 

Based on the continuous pressure of hydrographic survey needs, 

particularly in the Arctic,8 there is concern with NOAA’s ability to 

meet current, let alone increasing, demands. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

S. 171 would include many provisions from previously Senatepassed NOAA Corps reauthorization legislation, including the following: 

• Giving the NOAA Corps new tools to improve recruiting 

and retention to improve diversity in the NOAA Corps and 

allow for retention of highly-skilled NOAA Corps officers, especially female officers, including the following: 

Æ A pre-commissioning educational assistance program 

for students who agree to serve in the NOAA Corps (similar to a Coast Guard pre-commissioning program). 

Æ Authority for an education loan repayment program 

for students with critical skills. 

Æ An education loan interest repayment program for officers in the first 3 years of active duty. 

Æ Authorization for a ‘‘sabbatical’’ program modeled on a 

successful Coast Guard program to allow officers to leave 

the service (and receive no pay or benefits) for a few years 

for personal reasons, such as starting a family. 

• More closely aligning the NOAA Corps with other uniformed services, improving the ability to both support NOAA 

missions and be a useful national asset, including the following: 

Æ Creating a new ‘‘Officer Candidate’’ rank for officers 

entering duty for a period of initial training. 

Æ Requiring officers to meet Coast Guard physical fitness standards. 

Æ Authorizing a period of obligated service after initial 

training. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 171 was introduced by Senator Sullivan on January 17, 2017, 

with Senators Cantwell, Murkowski, Nelson, Schatz, Thune, and 

4 

9P.L. 114–328, (130 Stat. 2000) 

Wicker as cosponsors. On January 24, 2017, the Committee met in 

open Executive Session and, by a voice vote, ordered S. 171 to be 

reported favorably with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute). The substitute amendment incorporated preliminary findings from the GAO report Senators Thune and Sullivan requested 

that compared NOAA’s procurement of hydrographic data collected 

from internal and private sector sources. 

Bills reauthorizing the NOAA Corps and aligning both the officers’ obligations and benefits with officers in other uniformed services have been passed by the Senate in the 112th, 113th, and 114th 

Congresses. Specifically, the NOAA Corps Amendments Act of 2012 

passed the Senate by unanimous consent in the 112th Congress 

(S. 2388), the NOAA Corps Amendments Act of 2013 passed the 

Senate by unanimous consent in the 113th Congress (S. 1068), and 

the NOAA Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act passed 

the Senate by unanimous consent in the 114th Congress as part of 

the Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act 

for fiscal year (FY) 2017 (S. 2829). The portions of that Act related 

to sexual harassment and assault prevention within NOAA were 

signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act 

for FY 2017 on January 4, 2016.9

A bill to reauthorize and amend the Act of 1998 passed the Senate by unanimous consent in the 114th Congress as part of the 

Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for 

FY 2017 (S. 2829). The Hydrographic Services Improvement 

Amendments Act (H.R. 221) was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2017, and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following cost estimate, 

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 171—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments and Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 

2017 

Summary: The bill would authorize the appropriation of $183 

million annually through 2021 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct certain hydrographic activities (the measurement and description of features that affect 

maritime navigation). S. 171 also would modify recruiting policies 

for the NOAA commissioned officer corps. 

CBO estimates that implementing S. 171 would cost $697 million 

over the 2018–2022 period and $28 million after 2022, assuming 

appropriation of the authorized amounts. Enacting the legislation 

would affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 

procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that any such effects 

would be insignificant. 

5 

CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase 

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. 

S. 171 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). 

CBO estimates that the costs of those mandates would fall below 

the annual thresholds established in UMRA for intergovernmental 

and private-sector mandates ($78 million and $156 million in 2017, 

respectively, adjusted annually for inflation). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary effect of S. 171 is shown in the following table. The costs of 

this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018– 

2022 

INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level .............................................................................. 0 183 183 183 183 0 732 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................................... 0 114 157 178 181 67 697 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted late in 2017 and that the authorized amounts 

will be appropriated for each fiscal year beginning in 2018. 

Spending subject to appropriation 

CBO estimates that implementing S. 171 would cost $697 million 

over the 2018–2022 period, mostly for hydrographic activities authorized under the bill. 

Hydrographic Activities. Title V would authorize the appropria- tion of $183 million a year through 2021 to carry out hydrographic 

activities, including nautical mapping and charting, collecting hydrographic data, maintaining a geodetic reference system (a worldwide coordinate system used for navigation purposes), and measuring tides and currents. In 2016, NOAA allocated $207 million to 

carry out similar activities. CBO estimates that implementing title 

V would cost $697 million over the 2018–2022 period. 

Recruiting. Title I would authorize NOAA to spend appropriated 

funds to recruit members for the commissioned officer corps. NOAA 

allocated about $400,000 to recruiting in 2016. Because NOAA is 

performing similar tasks under its current authority, CBO estimates that implementing this section would have no effect on the 

federal budget. 

Title II would authorize NOAA to pay certain expenses related 

to higher education for people serving in the commissioned officer 

corps or those who commit to serve in the corps after completing 

a college degree. Based on an analysis of information provided by 

the agency about the number of officers who would receive such assistance, CBO estimates that implementing this provision would 

cost less than $500,000 a year. 

Direct spending and revenues 

Title II would make it illegal for anyone to wear the uniform of 

NOAA’s commissioned officer corps without proper authorization. 

Violators would be subject to criminal penalties, which are treated 

as revenues; however, CBO estimates that any amounts collected 

6 

would be insignificant. Furthermore, any such revenues would be 

deposited into the Crime Victims Fund and would be available to 

be spent without further appropriation. Therefore, the net effect on 

the deficit from enacting this provision would be negligible. 

Title III would establish service requirements for people enlisting 

in NOAA’s commissioned officer corps. Under the bill, any officer 

who fails to meet those requirements would be obligated to repay 

NOAA an amount equal to the costs incurred to train that officer. 

Based on an analysis of information provided by NOAA regarding 

the cost of such training, CBO estimates that the total amount of 

payments to NOAA from officers who fail to meet their service obligations would be insignificant (such payments would be offsetting 

receipts, which are recorded as reductions in direct spending). 

Title V would allow NOAA to collect and spend, without further 

appropriation, monetary gifts to finance costs associated with planning the construction of a new port facility. Such gifts would be recorded as offsetting receipts. Because CBO expects that any gifts 

would be spent soon after they are received, we estimate the net 

change in direct spending would be negligible. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 

of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures 

for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. CBO estimates 

that enacting S. 171 would increase revenues by an insignificant 

amount and would have an insignificant effect on direct spending. 

Increase in long-term direct spending and deficits: CBO estimates that enacting S. 171 would not increase net direct spending 

or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 

beginning in 2028. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 171 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA, but CBO estimates that the costs of those mandates would 

fall below the annual thresholds established in UMRA ($78 million 

and $156 million in 2017, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation). 

Mandates that apply to public and private entities 

The bill could increase the costs of complying with existing mandates by making personnel in the NOAA commissioned officer corps 

eligible for protections under the Uniformed Services Employment 

and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Protections under that 

act require public and private employers to grant various allowances to members of the uniformed services. Because the increase 

in the number of service members covered by USERRA would be 

so small (fewer than 400), CBO expects that the incremental cost 

of compliance also would be small. 

Mandates that apply to public entities only 

The bill would exempt NOAA officers from an obligation to serve 

on juries if the service unreasonably conflicts with official duties or 

would adversely affect the readiness of a unit, command, or activity. By expanding this exemption to NOAA officers, the bill would 

preempt some state and local laws governing jury duty; however, 

that preemption would impose no duty on state or local governments that would result in additional spending or loss of revenues. 

7 

Mandates that apply to private entities only 

The bill would prohibit individuals from wearing the uniform of 

the NOAA commissioned officer corps without authorization. CBO 

expects that the prohibition would affect few individuals. Consequently, the cost of the mandate would be negligible. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Robert Reese; Impact on 

state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT

In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the legislation, as reported: 

NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED

S. 171, as reported, would not create any new programs or impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not 

subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations. 

ECONOMIC IMPACT

S. 171 would reauthorize the Act of 1998 and would authorize 

appropriations of $183 million for the program for each of FYs 2017 

through FY 2021. These appropriations would be used for the functions of nautical mapping and charting, contracting for hydrographic surveys, operating hydrographic survey vessels, and conducting geodetic, tide, and current measurements, all of which may 

aid commerce and support economic activity. The components of 

this legislation are not expected to have any significant adverse impacts on the Nation’s economy. 

PRIVACY

S. 171 would not impact the personal privacy of individuals. 

PAPERWORK

The reported bill would not increase paperwork requirements for 

the private sector. The bill would require a number of reports and 

policies from the Federal Government. Not later than 1 year after 

the date of enactment, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, 

would be required to develop and implement a system to track and 

report the full cost to the Department of Commerce of hydrographic 

data collection, including costs relating to vessel acquisition, vessel 

repair, and administration of contracts to procure data. Not later 

than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the 

above activities, the Secretary would be required to develop a strategy for how NOAA will increase contracting with non-governmental 

entities for hydrographic data collection. 

8 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no provisions 

contained in the bill, as reported, meet the definition of congressionally directed spending items under the rule. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title. 

This section would provide that the Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments and Hydrographic Services Improvements 

Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017.’’ 

Section 2. References to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002. 

References for amendments or repeal would be considered to be 

made to a section or provision of the Act of 2002. 

Title I. General provisions 

Section 101. Strength and distribution in grade. 

This section would establish the commissioned grades for officers 

in the NOAA Corps, and would authorize the Secretary to determine the proportion of officers assigned to ranks below Lieutenant 

Commander. This section would require the Secretary to annually 

determine the number of officers authorized for service in each 

grade, but would protect officers from demotion, pay cuts, or separation from the service as a result of the Secretary’s determination. 

Section 102. Recalled officers. 

Occasionally, the NOAA Corps needs to recall officers from retired status for temporary duty such as for disaster response (e.g., 

Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon) or to serve on personnel 

boards. It cannot do so if it is at authorized strength, reducing its 

ability to have a ‘‘surge’’ capacity. 

This section would require that, in determining the number of officers in each grade, officers serving in positions of importance and 

responsibility (33 U.S.C. 3028) and officers recalled from retirement for temporary duty (e.g., during a disaster response), or officers detailed outside of the NOAA would not be counted in, or 

against, the total number of authorized officers in the NOAA 

Corps. 

Section 103. Obligated service requirement. 

The NOAA Corps currently does not have any legislative authority to bind officers to service by contract or obligation. Theoretically, an officer could receive training (costs up to $100,000, depending on type of training) and resign from the NOAA Corps 

shortly thereafter. The other uniformed services require an obligated service for appointment, training, promotion, etc. of officers 

to ensure they receive an adequate return on investment in these 

categories. 

9 

This section would authorize the Secretary to bind NOAA Corps 

officers to an obligation of service. It also would authorize the Secretary to seek reimbursement from officers who do not meet their 

obligated service requirements, and would characterize that as a 

debt owed to the United States. This section would allow the Secretary to waive an obligation of service requirement for an officer 

that is not qualified for service. 

Section 104. Training and physical fitness. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to carry out training 

programs and to require officers to maintain a state of physical fitness substantially equivalent to that required for officers in the 

Coast Guard. 

Section 105. Recruiting materials. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to use products created as recruiting and advertising materials (such as videos or 

pamphlets). 

Section 106. Technical correction. 

This section would correct a definition of active-duty NOAA 

Corps officers. 

Title II. Parity and recruitment 

Section 201. Education loans. 

The NOAA Corps does not have the same education loan repayment recruiting incentives as the other uniformed services. This is 

particularly an issue when trying to increase NOAA Corps diversity; many other organizations use these types of incentives to recruit minority students with science and engineering backgrounds. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to create an education 

loan repayment program for certain qualified NOAA Corps officers. 

Section 202. Interest payments. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to create an interest 

payment program for student loans of certain active-duty NOAA 

Corps officers. 

Section 203. Student pre-commissioning program. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to provide financial 

assistance to support tuition and other education-related costs of a 

currently-enrolled student if the student agrees to serve for a certain number of years as a NOAA Corps officer upon completion of 

his or her educational program. 

Section 204. Limitation on educational assistance. 

This section would limit the total amount expended by the Secretary for educational assistance programs (sections 201, 202, 203) 

for NOAA Corps officers to the amount saved by the creation of the 

Officer Candidate rank (section 306). 

10 

Section 205. Applicability of certain provisions of title 10, United 

States Code, and extension of certain authorities applicable to 

members of the Armed Forces to commissioned officer corps. 

This section would extend the following additional title 10 authorities to the NOAA Corps: prohibition on unauthorized wearing 

of a uniform; rules regarding wearing religious apparel in uniform; 

exemption for serving on certain juries; administration of the oath; 

benefits and services for separated members; family programs; notary service; mental health resources; and educational assistance. 

It also would authorize the Secretary to accept certain voluntary 

services, such as the implementation of an Ombudsman program. 

Ombudsman programs would improve communication between the 

command and family members of service members within the command. 

Section 206. Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United 

States Code. 

This section would extend the following additional title 37 authorities to the NOAA Corps: accession bonuses for officers with 

critical skills; housing allowances while on field or sea duty and 

housing allowances for dependents of deceased members; personal 

spending allowances; recruiting expenses; and funeral honors duty 

allowances. 

Section 207. Legion of Merit award. 

This section would amend section 1121 of title 10, United States 

Code, to allow the officers of the NOAA Corps to receive the Legion 

of Merit award. 

Section 208. Prohibition on retaliatory personnel actions. 

This section would amend section 1034 of title 10, United States 

Code, to include members of the NOAA Corps in whistleblower protections provided to members of the military. 

Section 209. Penalties for wearing uniform without authority. 

This section would amend section 702 of title 18, United States 

Code, to include NOAA Corps officers in a provision that criminalizes wearing a uniform without authority. 

Section 210. Application of certain provisions of competitive service 

law. 

This section would amend section 3304 of title 5, United States 

Code, to allow former NOAA Corps officers to be eligible for consideration to competitive service positions. 

Section 211. Employment and reemployment rights. 

This section would amend section 4303 of title 38, United States 

Code, to extend the definition of uniformed services to include 

NOAA Corps officers for the purposes of employment and reemployment rights granted by chapter 43 of that title. 

Section 212. Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps 

for purposes of certain hiring decisions. 

This section would require the Secretary to deem that an officer 

who has served in the commissioned officer corps for at least 3 

11 

years to be serving in a career or career-conditional position. An officer would therefore be qualified to apply for positions limited to 

individuals currently employed within NOAA. 

Section 213. Direct hire authority. 

This section would allow for the direct hire of a NOAA Corps officer, up to 5 years after leaving the service, into the Federal workforce. To be considered, the officer would have to meet the service 

obligation defined in section 103 and have been discharged under 

conditions other than dishonorable. 

Title III. Appointments and promotion of officers 

Section 301. Appointments. 

This section would allow for officers to be reappointed at the 

same grade they held when they separated from the NOAA Corps. 

It would allow officers to temporarily separate and pursue personal 

goals, like starting a family or other opportunities outside the service, while providing a mechanism for their return to active duty. 

This section would authorize officers to be commissioned from 

the following sources: officer training school; military service academies; and licensed officers of the merchant marine with at least 

2 years of service on a U.S. vessel. 

Finally, this section would require the Secretary to coordinate 

with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the department 

in which the Coast Guard is operating to promote inter-service 

transfers of officers and would give preference to inter-service 

transfers in recruiting new NOAA Corps officers, as appropriate. 

Section 302. Personnel boards. 

This section would specify that the membership of personnel 

boards may include officers serving in or above the grade of the officers under consideration by the board and may include recalled, 

retired officers. 

The current law does not allow retired or active officers below 

the pay grade of commander to serve on personnel boards and 

makes it very difficult to form personnel boards due to the NOAA 

Corps’ small size. This would help increase the diversity of the 

boards. 

Section 303. Delegation of authority. 

This section would require the President to delegate authority for 

appointments and promotions to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce or NOAA Administrator for periods when the position of Secretary is vacant. 

Section 304. Assistant Administrator of the Office of the Marine and 

Aviation Operations. 

This section would require that the position of the Director for 

the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) carry the 

title of Assistant Administrator to be consistent with the other 

NOAA line offices. The OMAO is responsible for the oversight of 

the vessel and aircraft fleets and for the administration of the commissioned officer corps. 

12 

Section 305. Temporary appointments. 

This section would establish a mechanism for junior officers to be 

temporarily appointed by the President alone. 

Section 306. Officer candidates. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to create an officer 

candidate rank for individuals who are in training before receiving 

their commission. 

Currently, officers entering the NOAA Corps for initial training 

are directly commissioned as officers (Ensigns) on their first day. 

All other uniformed services have a period when an individual is 

an ‘‘officer candidate’’ before receiving a commission. This section 

would give NOAA the authority to create an ‘‘officer candidate’’ 

rank, with reduced pay. This would result in savings of approximately $115,000 annually, which could be used to pay for officer 

precommissioning and education programs established elsewhere in 

this bill. 

Section 307. Procurement of personnel. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to make expenditures 

in order to recruit NOAA Corps officers. 

Title IV. Separation and retirement of officers 

Section 401. Involuntary retirement or separation. 

This section would enable the NOAA Corps to defer involuntary 

retirement or separation due to medical conditions for officers of 

any rank. Currently, the NOAA Corps can defer involuntary separation of Lieutenant Commanders and below, but it cannot for 

Commanders and Captains. 

Section 402. Separation pay. 

This section would clarify that separation pay may not be paid 

to an officer discharged after two missed promotion opportunities 

if the officer is not genuinely seeking a promotion. 

Title V. Hydrographic services and other matters 

Section 501. Reauthorization of Hydrographic Services Improvement 

Act of 1998. 

This section would reauthorize the Act of 1998 through FY 2021. 

The bill would use $5 million and $2 million of the authorized appropriations for Arctic hydrographic surveys and continental shelf 

delineation, respectively. It would limit administrative expenses associated with contract management to not more than 5 percent. 

Section 502. System for tracking and reporting all-inclusive cost of 

hydrographic surveys. 

This section would require the Secretary not later than 1 year 

after the date of enactment to develop and implement a system to 

track and report the full cost of hydrographic data collection, including costs relating to vessel acquisition, vessel repair, and administration of contacts to procure data. 

13 

10Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–77; 115 Stat. 775). 

Section 503. Plans for construction of new port facility for homeporting of R/V FAIRWEATHER. 

This section would allow the Secretary to accept non-Federal 

funds for the purpose of cost estimates, designs, and permits necessary for the construction of a new port facility for the R/V 

FAIRWEATHER, in accordance with existing law.10 This section 

also would require a strategic plan for the construction of such facility not later than 180 days after the date of enactment. 

Section 504. Waivers of bond requirements for certain contracts. 

This section would authorize the Secretary to waive the bond requirement in section 3134 of title 40, United States Code, for the 

construction, alteration, or repair of a vessel. This waiver has been 

provided to the Department of Transportation and the Department 

of Defense. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

TITLE 5. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES 

PART III. EMPLOYEES

SUBPART B. EMPLOYMENT AND RETENTION

CHAPTER 33. EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT

SUBCHAPTER I. EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT

§ 3304. Competitive service; examinations 

* * * * * * * 

(f)(1) Preference eligibles or veterans who have been separated 

from the armed forces and members of the commissioned officer 

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or 

its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic Survey) separated from such uniformed service under honorable conditions after 

3 years or more of active service may not be denied the opportunity 

to compete for vacant positions for which the agency making the 

announcement will accept applications from individuals outside its 

own workforce under merit promotion procedures. 

(2) If selected, a preference eligible øor veteran¿, veteran, or 

member described in paragraph (1) shall receive a career or career-conditional appointment, as appropriate. 

(3) This subsection shall not be construed to confer an entitlement to veterans’ preference that is not otherwise required 

by law. 

(4) The area of consideration for all merit promotion announcements which include consideration of individuals of the 

Federal workforce shall indicate that preference eligibles and 

14 

veterans who have been separated from the armed forces and 

members of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic Survey) separated from such 

uniformed service under honorable conditions after 3 years or 

more of active service are eligible to apply. The announcements 

shall be publicized in accordance with section 3327. 

(5) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this subsection. The 

regulations shall ensure that an individual who has completed 

an initial tour of active duty is not excluded from the application of this subsection because of having been released from 

such tour of duty shortly before completing 3 years of active 

service, having been honorably released from such duty. 

TITLE 10. ARMED FORCES 

SUBTITLE A. GENERAL MILITARY LAW

PART II. PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 53. MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS

§ 1044a. Authority to act as notary 

(a) The persons named in subsection (b) have the general powers 

of a notary public and of a consul of the United States in the performance of all notarial acts to be executed by any of the following: 

(1) Members of any of the øarmed forces¿ uniformed services. 

(2) Other persons eligible for legal assistance under the provisions of section 1044 of this title or regulations of the Department of Defense. 

(3) Persons serving with, employed by, or accompanying the 

armed forces outside the United States and outside the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. 

(4) Other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military 

Justice (chapter 47 of this title) outside the United States. 

(b) Persons with the powers described in subsection (a) are the 

following: 

(1) All judge advocates, including reserve judge advocates 

when not in a duty status. 

(2) All civilian attorneys serving as legal assistance attorneys. 

(3) All adjutants, assistant adjutants, and personnel adjutants, including reserve members when not in a duty status. 

(4) All other members of the øarmed forces¿ uniformed services, including reserve members when not in a duty status, 

who are designated by regulations of the øarmed forces¿ uniformed services or by statute to have those powers. 

(5) For the performance of notarial acts at locations outside 

the United States, all employees of a military department or 

the Coast Guard who are designated by regulations of the Secretary concerned or by statute to have those powers for exercise outside the United States. 

(c) No fee may be paid to or received by any person for the performance of a notarial act authorized in this section. 

15 

(d) The signature of any such person acting as notary, together 

with the title of that person’s offices, is prima facie evidence that 

the signature is genuine, that the person holds the designated title, 

and that the person is authorized to perform a notarial act. 

§ 1121. Legion of Merit: award 

The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may 

award a decoration called the ‘‘Legion of Merit’’, having suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees, to any 

member of the øarmed forces¿ uniformed services of the United 

States or of any friendly foreign nation who, after September 8, 

1939, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services. 

§ 1588. Authority to accept certain voluntary services 

(a) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT SERVICES.—Subject to subsection (b) 

and notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the Secretary concerned may accept from any person the following services: 

(1) Voluntary medical services, dental services, nursing services, or other health-care related services. 

(2) Voluntary services to be provided for a museum or a natural resources program. 

(3) Voluntary services to be provided for programs providing 

services to members of the øarmed forces¿ uniformed services 

and the families of such members, including the following programs: 

(A) Family support programs. 

(B) Child development and youth services programs. 

(C) Library and education programs. 

(D) Religious programs. 

(E) Housing referral programs. 

(F) Programs providing employment assistance to 

spouses of such members. 

(G) Morale, welfare, and recreation programs, to the extent not covered by another subparagraph of this paragraph. 

(4) Voluntary services as a member of a funeral honors detail 

under section 1491 of this title. 

(5) Legal services voluntarily provided as legal assistance 

under section 1044 of this title. 

(6) Voluntary services as a proctor for administration to secondary school students of the test known as the ‘‘Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery’’. 

(7) Voluntary translation or interpretation services offered 

with respect to a foreign language by a person (A) who is registered for such foreign language on the National Foreign Language Skills Registry under section 1596b of this title, or (B) 

who otherwise is approved to provide voluntary translation or 

interpretation services for national security purposes, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 

(8) Voluntary services to support programs of a committee of 

the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve as authorized 

by the Secretary of Defense. 

(9) Voluntary services to facilitate accounting for missing 

persons. 

16 

(10) Voluntary legal support services provided by law students through internship and externship programs approved 

by the Secretary concerned. 

* * * * * * * 

(g) SECRETARY CONCERNED FOR ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICES FOR

PROGRAMS SERVING MEMBERS OF NOAA CORPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.—For purposes of the acceptance of services described in subsection (a)(3), the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ in subsection (a) shall 

include the Secretary of Commerce with respect to members of the 

commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

§ 2153. Capstone course: newly selected general and flag officers 

(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each officer selected for promotion to the 

grade of brigadier general or, in the case of the Navy or the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, rear admiral (lower half) shall be required, after 

such selection, to attend a military education course designed specifically to prepare new general and flag officers to work with the 

øother armed forces¿ other uniformed services. 

(b) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense or the 

Secretary of Commerce, as applicable, may waive subsection 

(a)— 

(A) in the case of an officer whose immediately previous 

assignment was in a joint duty assignment and who is 

thoroughly familiar with joint matters; 

(B) when necessary for the good of the service; 

(C) in the case of an officer whose proposed selection for 

promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical 

qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist (as 

determined under regulations prescribed under section 

619(e)(4) of this title); and 

(D) in the case of a medical officer, dental officer, veterinary officer, medical service officer, nurse, biomedical 

science officer, or chaplain. 

(2) The authority of the Secretary of Defense to grant a waiver under paragraph (1) may only be delegated to the Deputy 

Secretary of Defense, an Under Secretary of Defense, or an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Such a waiver may be granted 

only on a case-by-case basis in the case of an individual officer. 

TITLE 18. CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 

PART I. CRIMES

CHAPTER 33. EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES

§ 702. Uniform of armed forces and Public Health Service 

Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United 

States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform 

or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive 

part of the uniform of any of the armed forces of the United States, 

Public Health øService or any¿ Service, the commissioned officer 

17 

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or 

any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned 

not more than six months, or both. 

TITLE 37. PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED 

SERVICES 

CHAPTER 3. BASIC PAY

§ 203. Rates 

* * * * * * * 

(f)(1) An officer candidate enrolled in the basic officer training 

program of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration is entitled, while participating in 

such program, to monthly officer candidate pay at monthly rate 

equal to the basic pay of an enlisted member in the pay grade E– 

5 with less than 2 years service. 

(2) An individual who graduates from such program shall receive 

credit for the time spent participating in such program as if such 

time were time served while on active duty as a commissioned officer. If the individual does not graduate from such program, such 

time shall not be considered creditable for active duty or pay. 

CHAPTER 7. ALLOWANCES OTHER THAN TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION

ALLOWANCES

§ 414. Personal money allowance 

(a) ALLOWANCE FOR OFFICERS SERVING IN CERTAIN RANKS OR PO- SITIONS.—In addition to other pay or allowances authorized by this 

title, an officer who is entitled to basic pay is entitled to a personal 

money allowance of— (1) $500 a year, while serving in the grade of lieutenant general or vice admiral, or in an equivalent grade or rank; (2) $1,200 a year, in place of any other personal money allowance authorized by this section, while serving as Surgeon 

General of the Public Health Service or the director of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 

(3) $2,200 a year, in addition to the personal money allowance authorized by clause (1), while serving as a senior member of the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations; 

(4) $2,200 a year, while serving in the grade of general or admiral, or in an equivalent grade or rank; or 

(5) $4,000 a year, in place of any other personal money allowance authorized by this section, while serving as Chief of 

Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of 

the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Commandant 

of the Coast Guard, or Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 

(b) ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN NAVAL OFFICERS.—In addition to 

other pay or allowances authorized by law, an officer who is serving in one of the following positions is entitled to the amount set 

forth for that position, to be paid annually out of naval appropriations for pay, and to be spent in his discretion for the contingencies 

of his position— 

(1) President of the Naval Postgraduate School-$400; 

(2) Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy-$800; 

18 

(3) President of the Naval War College-$1,000; 

(4) Superintendent of the Naval Academy-$5,200; and 

(5) Director of Naval Intelligence-$5,200. 

(c) ALLOWANCE FOR SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS.—In addition to 

other pay or allowances authorized by this title, a noncommissioned officer is entitled to a personal money allowance of $2,000 

a year while serving as the Sergeant Major of the Army, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the Chief Master Sergeant of 

the Air Force, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the Master 

Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, the Senior Enlisted Advisor 

to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the Senior Enlisted 

Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 

TITLE 38. VETERANS’ BENEFITS 

PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL

§ 101. Definitions 

* * * * * * * 

(21) The term ‘‘active duty’’ means— 

(A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active 

duty for training; 

(B) full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as 

a commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of 

the Public Health Service (i) on or after July 29, 1945, or 

(ii) before that date under circumstances affording entitlement to ‘‘full military benefits’’ or (iii) at any time, for the 

purposes of chapter 13 of this title; 

(C) full-time duty as a commissioned officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessor organization the 

Coast and Geodetic Survey (i) on or after July 29, 1945, or 

(ii) before that date (I) while on transfer to one of the 

Armed Forces, or (II) while, in time of war or national 

emergency declared by the President, assigned to duty on 

a project for one of the Armed Forces in an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate military hazard, or (III) in the Philippine Islands on December 

7, 1941, and continuously in such islands thereafter, or (iii) 

at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title; 

(D) service as a cadet at the United States Military, Air 

Force, or Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at 

the United States Naval Academy; and 

(E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service. 

§ 4303. Definitions 

For the purposes of this chapter— 

* * * * * * * 

(16) The term ‘‘uniformed services’’ means the Armed Forces, 

the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard when 

engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or 

full-time National Guard duty, the commissioned corps of the 

Public Health Service, the commissioned officer corps of the NaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:48 Nov 09, 2017 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR181.XXX SR181
19 

tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, System members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System during a period of appointment into Federal service under 

section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency. 

TITLE 40. PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS 

SUBTITLE II. PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS

PART A. GENERAL

CHAPTER 31. GENERAL SUBCHAPTER III. BONDS

§ 3134. Waivers for certain contracts 

(a) MILITARY.—. The Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the 

Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, or the Secretary of Transportation may waive this subchapter with respect to cost-plus-a-fixed 

fee and other cost-type contracts for the construction, alteration, or 

repair of any public building or public work of the Federal Government and with respect to contracts for manufacturing, producing, 

furnishing, constructing, altering, repairing, processing, or assembling vessels, aircraft, munitions, materiel, or supplies for the 

Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard, respectively, regardless of 

the terms of the contracts as to payment or title. 

(b) TRANSPORTATION.—The Secretary of Transportation may 

waive this subchapter with respect to contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of vessels when the contract is made 

under sections 1535 and 1536 of title 31, subtitle V of title 46, or 

the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (50 App. U.S.C. 1735 et seq.), 

regardless of the terms of the contracts as to payment or title. 

(c) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.—The 

Secretary of Commerce may waive this subchapter with respect to 

contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of vessels, regardless of the terms of the contracts as to payment or title, when 

the contract is made under the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to define the 

functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and for 

other purposes’’, approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.). 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS 

[33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.] 

SEC. 212. DEFINITIONS. 

[33 U.S.C. 3002] 

(a) APPLICABILITY OF DEFINITIONS IN TITLE 10, UNITED STATES

CODE.—Except as provided in subsection (b), the definitions provided in section 101 of title 10, United States Code, apply to the 

provisions of this title. 

(b) ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 

(1) ACTIVE DUTY.—The term ‘‘active duty’’ means full-time 

duty in the active service of a uniformed service. 

(2) GRADE.—The term ‘‘grade’’ means a step or degree, in a 

graduated scale of office or rank, that is established and designated as a grade by law or regulation. 

20 

(3) OFFICER.—The term ‘‘officer’’ means an officer of the commissioned corps. 

(4) OFFICER CANDIDATE.—The term ‘‘officer candidate’’ means 

an individual who is enrolled in the basic officer training program of the Administration and is under consideration for appointment as an officer under section 221(a)(2)(A). 

ø(4)¿(5) FLAG OFFICER.—The term ‘‘flag officer’’ means an officer serving in, or having the grade of, vice admiral, rear admiral, or rear admiral (lower half). 

ø(5)¿(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Commerce. 

ø(6)¿(7) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administration’’ means 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

øSEC. 214. STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION IN GRADE. 

[33 U.S.C. 3004] 

ø(a) RELATIVE RANK; PROPORTION.—Of the total authorized number of officers on the lineal list of the commissioned corps, there are 

authorized numbers in permanent grade, in relative rank with officers of the Navy, in proportions as follows: 

ø(1) 8 in the grade of captain. 

ø(2) 14 in the grade of commander. 

ø(3) 19 in the grade of lieutenant commander. 

ø(4) 23 in the grade of lieutenant. 

ø(5) 18 in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade). 

ø(6) 18 in the grade of ensign. 

ø(b) COMPUTATION OF NUMBER IN GRADE.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), whenever a final 

fraction occurs in computing the authorized number of officers 

in a grade, the nearest whole number shall be taken, and if the 

fraction is one-half the next higher whole number shall be 

taken. 

ø(2) LIMITATION ON INCREASE IN TOTAL NUMBER.—The total 

number of officers on the lineal list authorized by law may not 

be increased as the result of the computations prescribed in 

this section, and if necessary the number of officers in the lowest grade shall be reduced accordingly. 

ø(c) PRESERVATION OF GRADE AND PAY, ETC.—No officer may be 

reduced in grade or pay or separated from the commissioned corps 

as the result of a computation made to determine the authorized 

number of officers in the various grades. 

ø(d) FILLING OF VACANCIES; ADDITIONAL NUMBERS.—Nothing in 

this section may be construed as requiring the filling of any vacancy or as prohibiting additional numbers in any grade to compensate for vacancies existing in higher grades. 

ø(e) TEMPORARY INCREASE IN NUMBERS.—The total number of officers authorized by law to be on the lineal list during a fiscal year 

may be temporarily exceeded so long as the average number on 

that list during that fiscal year does not exceed the authorized 

number.¿ 

SEC. 214. STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION IN GRADE. 

(a) GRADES.—The commissioned grades in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration are the following, in relative rank 

with officers of the Navy: 

(1) Vice admiral. 

21 

(2) Rear admiral. 

(3) Rear admiral (lower half). 

(4) Captain. 

(5) Commander. 

(6) Lieutenant commander. 

(7) Lieutenant. 

(8) Lieutenant (junior grade). 

(9) Ensign. 

(b) GRADE DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall prescribe, with respect to the distribution on the lineal list in grade, the percentages 

applicable to the grades set forth in subsection (a). 

(c) ANNUAL COMPUTATION OF NUMBER IN GRADE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than once each year, the 

Secretary shall make a computation to determine the number of 

officers on the lineal list authorized to be serving in each grade. 

(2) METHOD OF COMPUTATION.—The number in each grade 

shall be computed by applying the applicable percentage to the 

total number of such officers serving on active duty on the date 

the computation is made. 

(3) FRACTIONS.—If a final fraction occurs in computing the 

authorized number of officers in a grade, the nearest whole 

number shall be taken. If the fraction is 1⁄2, the next higher 

whole number shall be taken. 

(d) TEMPORARY INCREASE IN NUMBERS.—The total number of officers authorized by law to be on the lineal list during a fiscal year 

may be temporarily exceeded if the average number on that list during that fiscal year does not exceed the authorized number. 

(e) POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY.—Officers 

serving in positions designated under section 228(a) and officers recalled from retired status shall not be counted when computing authorized strengths under subsection (c) and shall not count against 

those strengths. 

(f) PRESERVATION OF GRADE AND PAY.—No officer may be reduced 

in grade or pay or separated from the commissioned officer corps of 

the Administration as the result of a computation made to determine the authorized number of officers in the various grades. 

SEC. 215. NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

[33 U.S.C. 3005] 

øEffective¿ 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Effective October 1, 2009, the total number of 

authorized commissioned officers on the lineal list of the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be increased from 321 to 379 if— 

(1) the Secretary has submitted to the Congress— 

(A) the Administration’s ship recapitalization plan for 

fiscal years 2010 through 2024; 

(B) the Administration’s aircraft remodernization plan; 

and 

(C) supporting workforce management plans; 

(2) appropriated funding is available; and 

(3) the Secretary has justified organizational needs for the 

commissioned corps for each such fiscal year. 

(b) POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY.—Officers 

serving in positions designated under section 228 and officers reVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:48 Nov 09, 2017 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR181.XXX SR181
22 

called from retired status or detailed to an agency other than the 

Administration— 

(1) may not be counted in determining the total number of 

authorized officers on the lineal list under this section; and 

(2) may not count against such number. 

SEC. 216. OBLIGATED SERVICE REQUIREMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 

(1) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary shall prescribe the obligated 

service requirements for appointments, training, promotions, 

separations, continuations, and retirement of officers not otherwise covered by law. 

(2) WRITTEN AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary and officers shall 

enter into written agreements that describe the officers’ obligated service requirements prescribed under paragraph (1) in 

return for such appointments, training, promotions, separations, and retirements as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(b) REPAYMENT FOR FAILURE TO SATISFY REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may require an officer who 

fails to meet the service requirements prescribed under subsection (a)(1) to reimburse the Secretary in an amount that 

bears the same ratio to the total costs of the training provided 

to that officer by the Secretary as the unserved portion of active 

duty bears to the total period of active duty the officer agreed 

to serve. 

(2) OBLIGATION AS DEBT TO UNITED STATES.—An obligation to 

reimburse the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be considered for all purposes as a debt owed to the United States. 

(3) DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY.—A discharge in bankruptcy 

under title 11 that is entered less than 5 years after the termination of a written agreement entered into under subsection 

(a)(2) does not discharge the individual signing the agreement 

from a debt arising under such agreement. 

(c) WAIVER OR SUSPENSION OF COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary may 

waive the service obligation of an officer who— 

(1) becomes unqualified to serve on active duty in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration because of a circumstance not within the control of that officer; or 

(2) is— 

(A) not physically qualified for appointment; and 

(B) determined to be unqualified for service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration because of a 

physical or medical condition that was not the result of the 

officer’s own misconduct or grossly negligent conduct. 

SEC. 217. TRAINING AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. 

(a) TRAINING.—The Secretary may take such measures as may be 

necessary to ensure that officers are prepared to carry out their duties in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration and 

proficient in the skills necessary to carry out such duties. Such 

measures may include the following: 

(1) Carrying out training programs and correspondence 

courses, including establishing and operating a basic officer 

training program to provide initial indoctrination and maritime vocational training for officer candidates as well as refresher training, mid-career training, aviation training, and 

23 

such other training as the Secretary considers necessary for officer development and proficiency. 

(2) Providing officers and officer candidates with books and 

school supplies. 

(3) Acquiring such equipment as may be necessary for training and instructional purposes. 

(b) PHYSICAL FITNESS.—The Secretary shall ensure that officers 

maintain a high physical state of readiness by establishing standards of physical fitness for officers that are substantially equivalent 

to those prescribed for officers in the Coast Guard. 

SEC. 218. USE OF RECRUITING MATERIALS FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS. 

The Secretary may use for public relations purposes of the Department of Commerce any advertising materials developed for use for 

recruitment and retention of personnel for the commissioned officer 

corps of the Administration. Any such use shall be under such conditions and subject to such restrictions as the Secretary shall prescribe. 

øSEC. 221. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. 

[33 U.S.C. 3021] 

ø(a) IN GENERAL.— 

ø(1) GRADES.—Original appointments may be made in the 

grades of ensign, lieutenant (junior grade), and lieutenant. 

ø(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Under regulations prescribed by the 

Secretary, such an appointment may be given only to a person 

who— 

ø(A) meets the qualification requirements specified in 

paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 532(a) of title 10, 

United States Code; and 

ø(B) has such other special qualifications as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation. 

ø(3) EXAMINATION.—A person may be given such an appointment only after passage of a mental and physical examination 

given in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. 

ø(4) REVOCATION OF COMMISSION OF OFFICERS FOUND NOT

QUALIFIED.—The President may revoke the commission of any 

officer appointed under this section during the officer’s first 

three years of service if the officer is found not qualified for the 

service. Any such revocation shall be made under regulations 

prescribed by the President. 

ø(b) LINEAL LIST.—Each person appointed under this section 

shall be placed on the lineal list in a position commensurate with 

that person’s age, education, and experience, in accordance with 

regulations prescribed by the Secretary. 

ø(c) SERVICE CREDIT UPON ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT IN GRADE

ABOVE ENSIGN.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of basic pay, a person 

appointed under this section in the grade of lieutenant shall be 

credited as having, on the date of that appointment, three 

years of service, and a person appointed under this section in 

the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) shall be credited as having, as of the date of that appointment, 1 1/2 years of service. 

ø(2) HIGHER CREDIT UNDER OTHER LAW.—If a person appointed under this section is entitled to credit for the purpose 

24 

of basic pay under any other provision of law that would exceed the amount of credit authorized by paragraph (1), that 

person shall be credited with that amount of service in lieu of 

the credit authorized by paragraph (1).¿ 

SEC. 221. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS. 

(a) ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.— (1) GRADES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), an original appointment of an officer may be made in 

such grades as may be appropriate for— 

(i) the qualification, experience, and length of service 

of the appointee; and 

(ii) the commissioned officer corps of the Administration. 

(B) APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER CANDIDATES.— (i) LIMITATION ON GRADE.—An original appointment 

of an officer candidate, upon graduation from the basic 

officer training program of the commissioned officer 

corps of the Administration, may not be made in any 

other grade than ensign. 

(ii) RANK.—Officer candidates receiving appointments as ensigns upon graduation from basic officer 

training program shall take rank according to their 

proficiency as shown by the order of their merit at date 

of graduation. 

(2) SOURCE OF APPOINTMENTS.—An original appointment 

may be made from among the following: 

(A) Graduates of the basic officer training program of the 

commissioned officer corps of the Administration. 

(B) Graduates of the military service academies of the 

United States who otherwise meet the academic standards 

for enrollment in the training program described in subparagraph (A). 

(C) Graduates of the maritime academies of the States 

who— 

(i) otherwise meet the academic standards for enrollment in the training program described in subparagraph (A); 

(ii) completed at least 3 years of regimented training 

while at a maritime academy of a State; and 

(iii) obtained an unlimited tonnage or unlimited 

horsepower Merchant Mariner Credential from the 

United States Coast Guard. 

(D) Licensed officers of the United States merchant marine who have served 2 or more years aboard a vessel of the 

United States in the capacity of a licensed officer, who otherwise meet the academic standards for enrollment in the 

training program described in subparagraph (A). 

(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

(A) MARITIME ACADEMIES OF THE STATES.—The term 

‘‘maritime academies of the States’’ means the following: 

(i) California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, California. 

(ii) Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, 

Michigan. 

(iii) Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine. 

25 

(iv) Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards 

Bay, Massachusetts. 

(v) State University of New York Maritime College, 

Fort Schuyler, New York. 

(vi) Texas A&M Maritime Academy, Galveston, 

Texas. 

(B) MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES OF THE UNITED

STATES.—The term ‘‘military service academies of the 

United States’’ means the following: 

(i) The United States Military Academy, West Point, 

New York. 

(ii) The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, 

Maryland. 

(iii) The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado 

Springs, Colorado. 

(iv) The United States Coast Guard Academy, New 

London, Connecticut. 

(v) The United States Merchant Marine Academy, 

Kings Point, New York. 

(b) REAPPOINTMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual who previously served in the commissioned officer 

corps of the Administration may be appointed by the Secretary 

to the grade the individual held prior to separation. 

(2) REAPPOINTMENTS TO HIGHER GRADES.—An appointment 

under paragraph (1) to a position of importance and responsibility designated under section 228 may only be made by the 

President. 

(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—An appointment under subsection (a) or (b) 

may not be given to an individual until the individual’s mental, 

moral, physical, and professional fitness to perform the duties of an 

officer has been established under such regulations as the Secretary 

shall prescribe. 

(d) PRECEDENCE OF APPOINTEES.—Appointees under this section 

shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance 

with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in 

such grade. Appointees whose dates of commission are the same 

shall take precedence with each other as the Secretary shall determine. 

(e) INTER-SERVICE TRANSFERS.—For inter-service transfers (as described in the Department of Defense Directive 1300.4 (dated December 27, 2006)) the Secretary shall— 

(1) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 

of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to 

promote and streamline inter-service transfers; 

(2) give preference to such inter-service transfers for recruitment purposes as determined appropriate by the Secretary; and 

(3) reappoint such inter-service transfers to the equivalent 

grade in the commissioned officer corps. 

øSEC. 222. PERSONNEL BOARDS. 

[33 U.S.C. 3022] 

ø(a) CONVENING.—At least once a year and at such other times 

as the Secretary determines necessary, the Secretary shall convene 

a personnel board. A personnel board shall consist of not less than 

26 

five officers on the lineal list in the permanent grade of commander 

or above. 

ø(b) DUTIES.—Each personnel board shall— 

ø(1) recommend to the Secretary such changes in the lineal 

list as the board may determine; and 

ø(2) make selections and recommendations to the Secretary 

and President for the appointment, promotion, separation, continuation, and retirement of officers as prescribed in this subtitle and subtitle C. 

ø(c) ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS NOT ACCEPTABLE.—In a case 

in which any recommendation by a board convened under subsection (a) is not accepted by the Secretary or the President, the 

board shall make such further recommendations as are acceptable.¿ 

SEC. 222. PERSONNEL BOARDS. 

(a) CONVENING.—Not less frequently than once each year and at 

such other times as the Secretary determines necessary, the Secretary shall convene a personnel board. 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A board convened under subsection (a) 

shall consist of 5 or more officers who are serving in or above 

the permanent grade of the officers under consideration by the 

board. 

(2) RETIRED OFFICERS.—Officers on the retired list may be recalled to serve on such personnel boards as the Secretary considers necessary. 

(3) NO MEMBERSHIP ON 2 SUCCESSIVE BOARDS.—No officer 

may be a member of 2 successive personnel boards convened to 

consider officers of the same grade for promotion or separation. 

(c) DUTIES.—Each personnel board shall— 

(1) recommend to the Secretary such changes as may be necessary to correct any erroneous position on the lineal list that 

was caused by administrative error; and 

(2) make selections and recommendations to the Secretary 

and the President for the appointment, promotion, involuntary 

separation, continuation, and involuntary retirement of officers 

in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration as prescribed in this title. 

(d) ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS NOT ACCEPTABLE.—If any recommendation by a board convened under subsection (a) is not accepted by the Secretary or the President, the board shall make such 

further recommendations as the Secretary or the President considers 

appropriate. 

SEC. 226. APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS TO PERMANENT GRADES. 

[33 U.S.C. 3026] 

øAppointments¿ 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Appointments in and promotions to all permanent grades shall be made by the President. 

(b) DELEGATION OF APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.—If the President 

delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under 

this section, the President shall, during a period in which the position of the Secretary is vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy 

Secretary of Commerce or the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere during such period. 

27 

SEC. 228. POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. 

[33 U.S.C. 3028] 

* * * * * * * 

(c) DIRECTOR OF NOAA CORPS AND ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR

OF THE OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall designate one position under this section as responsible for oversight of the vessel and aircraft fleets and for the administration of the commissioned officer corps. That position shall 

be filled by an officer on the lineal list serving in or above the 

grade of rear admiral (lower half). For the specific purpose of administering the commissioned officer corps, that position shall 

carry the title of Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. For the specific purpose of administering the vessel and aircraft fleets, that position 

shall carry the title of øDirector¿ Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. 

* * * * * * * 

øSEC. 229. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS GENERALLY. 

[33 U.S.C. 3029] 

ø(a) ENSIGN.—Temporary appointments in the grade of ensign 

may be made by the President. Each such temporary appointment 

terminates at the close of the next regular session of the Congress. 

ø(b) LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE).—Officers in the permanent 

grade of ensign may be temporarily promoted to and appointed in 

the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) by the President whenever 

vacancies exist in higher grades. 

ø(c) ANY ONE GRADE.—When determined by the Secretary to be 

in the best interest of the service, officers in any permanent grade 

may be temporarily promoted one grade by the President. Any such 

temporary promotion terminates upon the transfer of the officer to 

a new assignment.¿ 

SEC. 229. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS. 

(a) APPOINTMENTS BY PRESIDENT.—Temporary appointments in 

the grade of ensign, lieutenant junior grade, or lieutenant may be 

made by the President. 

(b) TERMINATION.—A temporary appointment to a position under 

subsection (a) shall terminate upon approval of a permanent appointment for such position made by the President. 

(c) ORDER OF PRECEDENCE.—Appointees under subsection (a) 

shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance 

with the dates of their appointments as officers in such grade. The 

order of precedence of appointees who are appointed on the same 

date shall be determined by the Secretary. 

(d) ANY ONE GRADE.—When determined by the Secretary to be in 

the best interest of the commissioned officer corps, officers in any 

permanent grade may be temporarily promoted one grade by the 

President. Any such temporary promotion terminates upon the 

transfer of the officer to a new assignment. 

(e) DELEGATION OF APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.—If the President 

delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under 

this section, the President shall, during a period in which the position of the Secretary is vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy 

28 

Secretary of Commerce or the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere during such period. 

SEC. 234. OFFICER CANDIDATES. 

(a) DETERMINATION OF NUMBER.—The Secretary shall determine 

the number of appointments of officer candidates. 

(b) APPOINTMENT.—Appointment of officer candidates shall be 

made under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, including regulations with respect to determining age limits, methods of 

selection of officer candidates, term of service as an officer candidate 

before graduation from the program, and all other matters affecting 

such appointment. 

(c) DISMISSAL.—The Secretary may dismiss from the basic officer 

training program of the Administration any officer candidate who, 

during the officer candidate’s term as an officer candidate, the Secretary considers unsatisfactory in either academics or conduct, or 

not adapted for a career in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration. Officer candidates shall be subject to rules governing 

discipline prescribed by the Director of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. 

(d) AGREEMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each officer candidate shall sign an agreement with the Secretary in accordance with section 216(a)(2) regarding the officer candidate’s term of service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration. 

(2) ELEMENTS.—An agreement signed by an officer candidate 

under paragraph (1) shall provide that the officer candidate 

agrees to the following: 

(A) That the officer candidate will complete the course of 

instruction at the basic officer training program of the Administration. 

(B) That upon graduation from the such program, the officer candidate— 

(i) will accept an appointment, if tendered, as an officer; and 

(ii) will serve on active duty for at least 4 years immediately after such appointment. 

(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 

carry out this section. Such regulations shall include— 

(1) standards for determining what constitutes a breach of an 

agreement signed under such subsection (d)(1); and 

(2) procedures for determining whether such a breach has occurred. 

(f) REPAYMENT.—An officer candidate or former officer candidate 

who does not fulfill the terms of the obligation to serve as specified 

under section (d) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 216(b). 

SEC. 235. PROCUREMENT OF PERSONNEL. 

The Secretary may make such expenditures as the Secretary considers necessary in order to obtain recruits for the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, including advertising. 

29 

SEC. 241. INVOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION. 

[33 U.S.C. 3041] 

(a) TRANSFER OF OFFICERS TO RETIRED LIST; SEPARATION FROM

SERVICE.—As recommended by a personnel board convened under 

section 222— 

(1) an officer in the permanent grade of captain or commander may be transferred to the retired list; and 

(2) an officer in the permanent grade of lieutenant commander, lieutenant, or lieutenant (junior grade) who is not 

qualified for retirement may be separated from the service. 

(b) COMPUTATIONS.—In any fiscal year, the total number of officers selected for retirement or separation under subsection (a) plus 

the number of officers retired for age may not exceed the whole 

number nearest 4 percent of the total number of officers authorized 

to be on the active list, except as otherwise provided by law. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE OF RETIREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS.—A retirement or separation under subsection (a) shall take effect on the 

first day of the sixth month beginning after the date on which the 

Secretary approves the retirement or separation, except that if the 

officer concerned requests an earlier retirement or separation date, 

the date shall be as determined by the Secretary. 

(d) DEFERMENT OF RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION FOR MEDICAL

REASONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary determines that the evaluation of the medical condition of an officer requires hospitalization or medical observation that cannot be completed with confidence in a manner consistent with the officer’s well being before the date on which the officer would otherwise be required 

to retire or be separated under this section, the Secretary may 

defer the retirement or separation of the officer. 

(2) CONSENT REQUIRED.—A deferment may only be made with 

the written consent of the officer involved. If the officer does not 

provide written consent to the deferment, the officer shall be retired or separated as scheduled. 

(3) LIMITATION.—A deferral of retirement or separation under 

this subsection may not extend for more than 30 days after completion of the evaluation requiring hospitalization or medical 

observation. 

SEC. 242. SEPARATION PAY. 

[33 U.S.C. 3042] 

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT.—An officer who is separated 

under section 241(a)(2) and who has completed more than three 

years of continuous active service immediately before that separation is entitled to separation pay computed under subsection (b) unless the Secretary determines that the conditions under which the 

officer is separated do not warrant payment of that pay. 

(b) AMOUNT OF SEPARATION PAY.— 

(1) SIX OR MORE YEARS.—In the case of an officer who has 

completed six or more years of continuous active service immediately before that separation, the amount of separation pay to 

be paid to the officer under this section is 10 percent of the 

product of— 

(A) the years of active service creditable to the officer; 

and 

30 

(B) 12 times the monthly basic pay to which the officer 

was entitled at the time of separation. 

(2) THREE TO SIX YEARS.—In the case of an officer who has 

completed three or more but fewer than six years of continuous 

active service immediately before that separation, the amount 

of separation pay to be paid to the officer under this section is 

one-half of the amount computed under paragraph (1). 

(c) OTHER CONDITIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE

PROVISIONS.—The provisions of subsections (f), (g), and (h) of section 1174 of title 10, United States Code, shall apply to separation 

pay under this section in the same manner as such provisions 

apply to separation pay under that section. 

(d) EXCEPTION.—An officer discharged for twice failing selection 

for promotion to the next higher grade is not entitled to separation 

pay under this section if the officer— 

(1) expresses a desire not to be selected for promotion; or 

(2) requests removal from the list of selectees. 

SEC. 261. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 10, 

UNITED STATES CODE. 

[33 U.S.C. 3071] 

(a) PROVISIONS MADE APPLICABLE TO THE CORPS.—The rules of 

law that apply to the Armed Forces under the following provisions 

of title 10, United States Code, as those provisions are in effect 

from time to time, apply also to the commissioned officer corps of 

the Administration: 

(1) Chapter 40, relating to leave. 

(2) Section 533(b), relating to constructive service. 

(3) Section 716, relating to transfers between the armed 

forces and to and from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

(4) Section 771, relating to unauthorized wearing of uniforms. 

(5) Section 774, relating to wearing religious apparel while in 

uniform. 

(6) Section 982, relating to service on State and local juries. 

(7) Section 1031, relating to administration of oaths. 

(8) Section 1034, relating to protected communications and 

prohibition of retaliatory personnel actions. 

ø(4)¿ (9) Section 1035, relating to deposits of savings. 

ø(5)¿ (10) Section 1036, relating to transportation and travel 

allowances for escorts for dependents of members. 

ø(6)¿ (11) Section 1052, relating to reimbursement for adoption expenses. 

ƒ(11)≈(12) Section 1074n, relating to annual mental health 

assessments. 

ƒ(12)≈(13) Section 1090a, relating to referrals for mental 

health evaluations. 

ƒ(13)≈(14) Chapter 58, relating to the Benefits and Services 

for members being separated or recently separated. 

ø(7)¿(15) Section 1174a, relating to special separation benefits (except that benefits under subsection (b)(2)(B) of such section are subject to the availability of appropriations for such 

purpose and are provided at the discretion of the Secretary of 

Commerce). 

ø(8)¿(16) Chapter 61, relating to retirement or separation for 

physical disability. 

31 

ø(9)¿(17) Chapter 69, relating to retired grade, except sections 1370, 1375, and 1376. 

ø(10)¿(18) Chapter 71, relating to computation of retired pay. 

ø(11)¿(19) Chapter 73, relating to annuities based on retired 

or retainer pay. 

ø(12)¿(20) Subchapter II of chapter 75, relating to death benefits. 

(21) Subchapter I of chapter 88, relating to Military Family 

Programs. 

(22) Section 2005, relating to advanced education assistance, 

active duty agreements, and reimbursement requirements. 

ø(13)¿(23) Section 2634, relating to transportation of motor 

vehicles for members on permanent change of station. 

ø(14)¿(24) Sections 2731 and 2735, relating to property loss 

incident to service. 

ø(15)¿(25) Section 2771, relating to final settlement of accounts of deceased members. 

ø(16)¿(26) Such other provisions of subtitle A of that title as 

may be adopted for applicability to the commissioned officer 

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

by any other provision of law. 

(b) REFERENCES.—The authority vested by title 10, United States 

Code, in the ‘‘military departments’’, ‘‘the Secretary concerned’’, or 

‘‘the Secretary of Defense’’ with respect to the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a) shall be exercised, with respect to the 

commissioned officer corps of the Administration, by the Secretary 

of Commerce or the Secretary’s designee. For purposes of paragraph (8) of subsection (a), the term ‘‘Inspector General’’ in section 

1034 of such title 10 shall mean the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce. 

(c) REGULATIONS REGARDING PROTECTED COMMUNICATIONS AND

PROHIBITION OF RETALIATORY PERSONNEL ACTIONS.—The Secretary 

may promulgate regulations to carry out the application of section 

1034 of title 10, United States Code, to the commissioned officer 

corps of the Administration, including by promulgating such administrative procedures for investigation and appeal within the 

commissioned officer corps as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

SEC. 261A. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 37, 

UNITED STATES CODE. 

(a) PROVISIONS MADE APPLICABLE TO COMMISSIONED OFFICER

CORPS.—The provisions of law applicable to the Armed Forces 

under the following provisions of title 37, United States Code, shall 

apply to the commissioned officer corps of the Administration: 

(1) Section 324, relating to accession bonuses for new officers 

in critical skills. 

(2) Section 403(f)(3), relating to prescribing regulations defining the terms ‘‘field duty’’ and ‘‘sea duty’’. 

(3) Section 403(l), relating to temporary continuation of housing allowance for dependents of members dying on active duty. 

(4) Section 488, relating to allowances for recruiting expenses. 

(5) Section 495, relating to allowances for funeral honors 

duty. 

(b) REFERENCES.—The authority vested by title 37, United States 

Code, in the ‘‘military departments’’, ‘‘the Secretary concerned’’, or 

‘‘the Secretary of Defense’’ with respect to the provisions of law reVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:48 Nov 09, 2017 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR181.XXX SR181
32 

ferred to in subsection (a) shall be exercised, with respect to the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, by the Secretary of 

Commerce or the Secretary’s designee. 

SEC. 267. EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) AUTHORITY TO REPAY EDUCATION LOANS.—For the purpose of 

maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration on active duty who have skills required by the commissioned officer corps, the Secretary may repay, 

in the case of a person described in subsection (b), a loan that— 

(1) was used by the person to finance education; and 

(2) was obtained from a governmental entity, private financial institution, educational institution, or other authorized entity. 

(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—To be eligible to obtain a loan repayment 

under this section, a person must— 

(1) satisfy 1 of the requirements specified in subsection (c); 

(2) be fully qualified for, or hold, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration; and 

(3) sign a written agreement to serve on active duty, or, if on 

active duty, to remain on active duty for a period in addition 

to any other incurred active duty obligation. 

(c) ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—One of the following academic requirements must be satisfied for purposes of determining the eligibility of an individual for a loan repayment 

under this section: 

(1) The person is fully qualified in a profession that the Secretary has determined to be necessary to meet identified skill 

shortages in the commissioned officer corps. 

(2) The person is enrolled as a full-time student in the final 

year of a course of study at an accredited educational institution (as determined by the Secretary of Education) leading to a 

degree in a profession that will meet identified skill shortages 

in the commissioned officer corps. 

(d) LOAN REPAYMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the limits established under 

paragraph (2), a loan repayment under this section may consist 

of the payment of the principal, interest, and related expenses 

of a loan obtained by a person described in subsection (b). 

(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—For each year of obligated service that a person agrees to serve in an agreement described in 

subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may pay not more than the 

amount specified in section 2173(e)(2) of title 10, United States 

Code. 

(e) ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE OBLIGATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A person entering into an agreement described in subsection (b)(3) incurs an active duty service obligation. 

(2) LENGTH OF OBLIGATION DETERMINED UNDER REGULATIONS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), the length of the obligation under paragraph (1) shall 

be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. 

33 

(B) MINIMUM OBLIGATION.—The regulations prescribed 

under subparagraph (A) may not provide for a period of obligation of less than 1 year for each maximum annual 

amount, or portion thereof, paid on behalf of the person for 

qualified loans. 

(3) PERSONS ON ACTIVE DUTY BEFORE ENTERING INTO AGREEMENT.—The active duty service obligation of persons on active 

duty before entering into the agreement shall be served after the 

conclusion of any other obligation incurred under the agreement. 

(f) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO COMPLETE OBLIGATION.— 

(1) ALTERNATIVE OBLIGATIONS.—An officer who is relieved of 

the officer’s active duty obligation under this section before the 

completion of that obligation may be given any alternative obligation, at the discretion of the Secretary. 

(2) REPAYMENT.—An officer who does not complete the period 

of active duty specified in the agreement entered into under subsection (b)(3), or the alternative obligation imposed under paragraph (1), shall be subject to the repayment provisions under 

section 216. 

(g) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 

carry out this section, including— 

(1) standards for qualified loans and authorized payees; and 

(2) other terms and conditions for the making of loan repayments. 

SEC. 268. INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may pay the interest and any special allowances that accrue on 1 or more student loans of an eligible 

officer, in accordance with this section. 

(b) ELIGIBLE OFFICERS.—An officer is eligible for the benefit described in subsection (a) while the officer— 

(1) is serving on active duty; 

(2) has not completed more than 3 years of service on active 

duty; 

(3) is the debtor on 1 or more unpaid loans described in subsection (c); and 

(4) is not in default on any such loan. 

(c) STUDENT LOANS.—The authority to make payments under subsection (a) may be exercised with respect to the following loans: 

(1) A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title 

IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.). 

(2) A loan made under part D of such title (20 U.S.C. 1087a 

et seq.). 

(3) A loan made under part E of such title (20 U.S.C. 1087aa 

et seq.). 

(d) MAXIMUM BENEFIT.—Interest and any special allowance may 

be paid on behalf of an officer under this section for any of the 36 

consecutive months during which the officer is eligible under subsection (b). 

(e) FUNDS FOR PAYMENTS.—The Secretary may use amounts appropriated for the pay and allowances of personnel of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration for payments under this 

section. 

(f) COORDINATION WITH SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.— 

34 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Education regarding the administration of this section. 

(2) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall transfer to the 

Secretary of Education the funds necessary— 

(A) to pay interest and special allowances on student 

loans under this section (in accordance with sections 

428(o), 455(l), and 464(j) of the Higher Education Act of 

1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(o), 1087e(l), and 1087dd(j)); and 

(B) to reimburse the Secretary of Education for any reasonable administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in 

coordinating the program under this section with the administration of the student loan programs under parts B, 

D, and E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

(20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.). 

(g) SPECIAL ALLOWANCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘special allowance’’ means a special allowance that is payable under 

section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087– 

1). 

SEC. 269. STUDENT PRE-COMMISSIONING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE 

PROGRAM. 

(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—For the purpose of maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration on active duty, the Secretary may provide financial assistance to a person described in 

subsection (b) for expenses of the person while the person is pursuing on a full-time basis at an accredited educational institution 

(as determined by the Secretary of Education) a program of education approved by the Secretary that leads to— 

(1) a baccalaureate degree in not more than 5 academic years; 

or 

(2) a postbaccalaureate degree. 

(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A person is eligible to obtain financial assistance under subsection (a) if the person— 

(A) is enrolled on a full-time basis in a program of education referred to in subsection (a) at any educational institution described in such subsection; 

(B) meets all of the requirements for acceptance into the 

commissioned officer corps of the Administration except for 

the completion of a baccalaureate degree; and 

(C) enters into a written agreement with the Secretary described in paragraph (2). 

(2) AGREEMENT.—A written agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(C) is an agreement between the person and the Secretary in which the person— 

(A) agrees to accept an appointment as an officer, if tendered; and 

(B) upon completion of the person’s educational program, 

agrees to serve on active duty, immediately after appointment, for— 

(i) up to 3 years if the person received less than 3 

years of assistance; and 

(ii) up to 5 years if the person received at least 3 

years of assistance. 

35 

(c) QUALIFYING EXPENSES.—Expenses for which financial assistance may be provided under subsection (a) are the following: 

(1) Tuition and fees charged by the educational institution involved. 

(2) The cost of books. 

(3) In the case of a program of education leading to a baccalaureate degree, laboratory expenses. 

(4) Such other expenses as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(d) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall prescribe the 

amount of financial assistance provided to a person under subsection (a), which may not exceed the amount specified in section 

2173(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code, for each year of obligated 

service that a person agrees to serve in an agreement described in 

subsection (b)(2). 

(e) DURATION OF ASSISTANCE.—Financial assistance may be provided to a person under subsection (a) for not more than 5 consecutive academic years. 

(f) SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A person who receives financial assistance 

under subsection (a) shall be entitled to a monthly subsistence 

allowance at a rate prescribed under paragraph (2) for the duration of the period for which the person receives such financial 

assistance. 

(2) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall prescribe monthly rates for subsistence allowance provided under 

paragraph (1), which shall be equal to the amount specified in 

section 2144(a) of title 10, United States Code. 

(g) INITIAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.— 

(1) TRAINING.—The Secretary may prescribe a sum which 

shall be credited to each person who receives financial assistance under subsection (a) to cover the cost of the person’s initial 

clothing and equipment issue. 

(2) APPOINTMENT.—Upon completion of the program of education for which a person receives financial assistance under 

subsection (a) and acceptance of appointment in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, the person may be 

issued a subsequent clothing allowance equivalent to that normally provided to a newly appointed officer. 

(h) TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall terminate the assistance provided to a person under this section if— 

(A) the Secretary accepts a request by the person to be released from an agreement described in subsection (b)(2); 

(B) the misconduct of the person results in a failure to 

complete the period of active duty required under the agreement; or 

(C) the person fails to fulfill any term or condition of the 

agreement. 

(2) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary may require a person 

who receives assistance described in subsection (c), (f), or (g) 

under an agreement entered into under subsection (b)(1)(C) to 

reimburse the Secretary in an amount that bears the same ratio 

to the total costs of the assistance provided to that person as the 

36 

unserved portion of active duty bears to the total period of active duty the officer agreed to serve under the agreement. 

(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the service obligation 

of a person through an agreement entered into under subsection 

(b)(1)(C) if the person— 

(A) becomes unqualified to serve on active duty in the 

commissioned officer corps of the Administration because of 

a circumstance not within the control of that person; or 

(B) is— 

(i) not physically qualified for appointment; and 

(ii) determined to be unqualified for service in the 

commissioned officer corps of the Administration because of a physical or medical condition that was not 

the result of the person’s own misconduct or grossly 

negligent conduct. 

(4) OBLIGATION AS DEBT TO UNITED STATES.—An obligation to 

reimburse the Secretary imposed under paragraph (2) is, for all 

purposes, a debt owed to the United States. 

(5) DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY.—A discharge in bankruptcy 

under title 11, United States Code, that is entered less than 5 

years after the termination of a written agreement entered into 

under subsection (b)(1)(C) does not discharge the person signing 

the agreement from a debt arising under such agreement or 

under paragraph (2). 

(i) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may promulgate such regulations and orders as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out 

this section. 

SEC. 269A. TREATMENT OF COMMISSION IN COMMISSIONED OFFICER 

CORPS AS EMPLOYMENT IN ADMINISTRATION FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN HIRING DECISIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case in which the Secretary accepts an 

application for a position of employment with the Administration 

and limits consideration of applications for such position to applications submitted by individuals serving in a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service within the Administration, 

the Secretary shall deem an officer who has served as an officer in 

the commissioned officer corps for at least 3 years to be serving in 

a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service 

within the Administration for purposes of such limitation. 

(b) CAREER APPOINTMENTS.—If the Secretary selects an application submitted by an officer described in subsection (a) for a position described in such subsection, the Secretary shall give such officer a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive 

service, as appropriate. 

(c) COMPETITIVE SERVICE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

‘‘competitive service’’ has the meaning given the term in section 2102 

of title 5, United States Code. 

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 

[20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] 

SEC. 428. FEDERAL PAYMENTS TO REDUCE STUDENT INTEREST 

COSTS. 

[20 U.S.C. 1078] 

* * * * * * * 

37 

(o) øARMED FORCES STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAM¿ ARMED FORCES AND NOAA COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS

STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAMS.— 

(1) AUTHORITY.—Using funds received by transfer to the Secretary under section 2174 of title 10, United States Code, or 

section 268 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 for the payment of interest and any special allowance on a loan to a member of the Armed Forces or an officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, respectively, that is made, insured, or guaranteed under 

this part, the Secretary shall pay the interest and special allowance on such loan as due for a period not in excess of 36 

consecutive months. The Secretary may not pay interest or any 

special allowance on such a loan out of any funds other than 

funds that have been so transferred. 

(2) FORBEARANCE.—During the period in which the Secretary 

is making payments on a loan under paragraph (1), the lender 

shall grant the borrower forbearance in accordance with the 

guaranty agreement under subsection (c)(3)(A)(i)(IV). 

(3) SPECIAL ALLOWANCE DEFINED.—For the purposes of this 

subsection, the term ‘‘special allowance’’, means a special allowance that is payable with respect to a loan under section 

438. 

SEC. 455. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LOANS. 

[20 U.S.C. 1087e] 

* * * * * * * 

(l) øARMED FORCES STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PRO- GRAM¿ ARMED FORCES AND NOAA COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS

STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAMS.— (1) AUTHORITY.—Using funds received by transfer to the Secretary under section 2174 of title 10, United States Code, or 

section 268 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 for the payment of interest on a loan made under this part to a member 

of the Armed Forces or an officer in the commissioned officer 

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

respectively, the Secretary shall pay the interest on the loan as 

due for a period not in excess of 36 consecutive months. The 

Secretary may not pay interest on such a loan out of any funds 

other than funds that have been so transferred. 

(2) FORBEARANCE.—During the period in which the Secretary 

is making payments on a loan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant the borrower forbearance, in the form of a 

temporary cessation of all payments on the loan other than the 

payments of interest on the loan that are made under that 

paragraph. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 464. TERMS OF LOANS. 

[20 U.S.C. 1087dd] 

* * * * * * * 

38 

(j) øARMED FORCES STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PRO- GRAM¿ ARMED FORCES AND NOAA COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS

STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAMS.— (1) AUTHORITY.—Using funds received by transfer to the Secretary under section 2174 of title 10, United States Code, or 

section 268 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 for the payment of interest on a loan made under this part to a member 

of the Armed Forces or an officer in the commissioned officer 

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

respectively, the Secretary shall pay the interest on the loan as 

due for a period not in excess of 36 consecutive months. The 

Secretary may not pay interest on such a loan out of any funds 

other than funds that have been so transferred. 

(2) FORBEARANCE.—During the period in which the Secretary 

is making payments on a loan under paragraph (1), the institution of higher education shall grant the borrower forbearance 

in accordance with subsection (e)(1)(C). 

* * * * * * * 

HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998 

[33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.] 

SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

[33 U.S.C. 892d] 

øThere are¿ 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

Administrator the following: 

(1) To carry out nautical mapping and charting functions 

under sections 304 and 305, except for conducting hydrographic øsurveys—¿ 

ø(A) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and¿ 

ø(D) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ surveys, $70,814,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

(2) To contract for hydrographic surveys under section 

304(b)(1), including the leasing or time chartering of øvessels— 

¿ 

ø(A) $32,130,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $32,760,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $33,390,000 for fiscal year 2011; and¿ 

ø(D) $34,020,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ vessels, 

$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

(3) To operate hydrographic survey vessels owned by the 

United States and operated by the øAdministration—¿ 

ø(A) $25,900,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $26,400,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $26,900,000 for fiscal year 2011; and¿ 

ø(D) $27,400,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ Administration, 

$29,932,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

(4) To carry out geodetic functions under this øtitle—¿ 

ø(A) $32,640,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $33,280,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $33,920,000 for fiscal year 2011; and¿ 

39 

ø(D) $34,560,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ title, $26,800,000 

for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

(5) To carry out tide and current measurement functions 

under this øtitle—¿ 

ø(A) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and¿ 

ø(D) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ title, $30,564,000 

for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

(6) To acquire a replacement hydrographic survey vessel capable of staying at sea continuously for at least 30 days 

$75,000,000. 

(b) ARCTIC PROGRAMS.—Of the amount authorized by this section 

for each fiscal year— 

(1) $10,000,000 is authorized for use— 

(A) to acquire hydrographic data; 

(B) to provide hydrographic services; 

(C) to conduct coastal change analyses necessary to ensure safe navigation; 

(D) to improve the management of coastal change in the 

Arctic; and 

(E) to reduce risks of harm to Alaska Native subsistence 

and coastal communities associated with increased international maritime traffic; and 

(2) $2,000,000 is authorized for use to acquire hydrographic 

data and provide hydrographic services in the Arctic necessary 

to delineate the United States extended Continental Shelf. 

(c) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR SURVEYS.—Of 

amounts authorized by this section for each fiscal year for contract 

hydrographic surveys, not more than 5 percent is authorized for administrative costs associated with contract management. 

Æ