PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

HOWARD COBLE COAST GUARD AND 

MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2014 


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128 STAT. 3022 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

Public Law 113–281 

113th Congress 

An Act 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2015, and for 

other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Howard Coble Coast Guard 

and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014’’. 

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

The table of contents for this Act is the following: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Commissioned officers. 

Sec. 202. Commandant; appointment. 

Sec. 203. Prevention and response workforces. 

Sec. 204. Centers of expertise. 

Sec. 205. Penalties. 

Sec. 206. Agreements. 

Sec. 207. Tuition assistance program coverage of textbooks and other educational 

materials. 

Sec. 208. Coast Guard housing. 

Sec. 209. Lease authority. 

Sec. 210. Notification of certain determinations. 

Sec. 211. Annual Board of Visitors. 

Sec. 212. Flag officers. 

Sec. 213. Repeal of limitation on medals of honor. 

Sec. 214. Coast Guard family support and child care. 

Sec. 215. Mission need statement. 

Sec. 216. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 

Sec. 217. Inventory of real property. 

Sec. 218. Retired service members and dependents serving on advisory committees. 

Sec. 219. Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces. 

Sec. 220. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority. 

Sec. 221. Coast Guard administrative savings. 

Sec. 222. Technical corrections to title 14. 

Sec. 223. Multiyear procurement authority for Offshore Patrol Cutters. 

Sec. 224. Maintaining Medium Endurance Cutter mission capability. 

Sec. 225. Aviation capability. 

Sec. 226. Gaps in writings on Coast Guard history. 

Sec. 227. Officer evaluation reports. 

Sec. 228. Improved safety information for vessels. 

Sec. 229. E–LORAN. 

Sec. 230. Analysis of resource deficiencies with respect to maritime border security. 

Sec. 231. Modernization of National Distress and Response System. 

14 USC 1 note. 

Howard Coble 

Coast Guard and 

Maritime 

Transportation 

Act of 2014. 

Dec. 18, 2014 

[S. 2444] 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3023 

Sec. 232. Report reconciling maintenance and operational priorities on the Missouri 

River. 

Sec. 233. Maritime Search and Rescue Assistance Policy assessment. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Repeal. 

Sec. 302. Donation of historical property. 

Sec. 303. Small shipyards. 

Sec. 304. Drug testing reporting. 

Sec. 305. Opportunities for sea service veterans. 

Sec. 306. Clarification of high-risk waters. 

Sec. 307. Technical corrections. 

Sec. 308. Report. 

Sec. 309. Fishing safety grant programs. 

Sec. 310. Establishment of Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee. 

Sec. 311. Travel and subsistence. 

Sec. 312. Prompt intergovernmental notice of marine casualties. 

Sec. 313. Area Contingency Plans. 

Sec. 314. International ice patrol reform. 

Sec. 315. Offshore supply vessel third-party inspection. 

Sec. 316. Watches. 

Sec. 317. Coast Guard response plan requirements. 

Sec. 318. Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. 

Sec. 319. Uninspected passenger vessels in the United States Virgin Islands. 

Sec. 320. Treatment of abandoned seafarers. 

Sec. 321. Website. 

Sec. 322. Coast Guard regulations. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Award of reparations. 

Sec. 403. Terms of Commissioners. 

TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 

Sec. 501. Arctic maritime transportation. 

Sec. 502. Arctic maritime domain awareness. 

Sec. 503. IMO Polar Code negotiations. 

Sec. 504. Forward operating facilities. 

Sec. 505. Icebreakers. 

Sec. 506. Icebreaking in polar regions. 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 601. Distant water tuna fleet. 

Sec. 602. Extension of moratorium. 

Sec. 603. National maritime strategy. 

Sec. 604. Waivers. 

Sec. 605. Competition by United States flag vessels. 

Sec. 606. Vessel requirements for notices of arrival and departure and automatic 

identification system. 

Sec. 607. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Rochester, New York. 

Sec. 608. Conveyance of certain property in Gig Harbor, Washington. 

Sec. 609. Vessel determination. 

Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in Thunder Bay. 

Sec. 611. Parking facilities. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

Funds are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 

for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as follows: 

(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 

$6,981,036,000. 

(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and 

improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, 

vessels, and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, 

$1,546,448,000, to remain available until expended. 


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128 STAT. 3024 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including personnel and training costs, equipment, and services, 

$140,016,000. 

(4) For environmental compliance and restoration of Coast 

Guard vessels, aircraft, and facilities (other than parts and 

equipment associated with operation and maintenance), 

$16,701,000, to remain available until expended. 

(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research, 

development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, 

and human factors directly related to improving the performance of the Coast Guard’s mission with respect to search and 

rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental 

protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations, 

oceanographic research, and defense readiness, $19,890,000. 

(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 

waters of the United States constituting obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and administrative costs associated 

with the Alteration of Bridges Program, $16,000,000. 

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND 

TRAINING. 

(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is authorized 

an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for 

fiscal year 2015. 

(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The Coast Guard 

is authorized average military training student loads for fiscal 

year 2015 as follows: 

(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student years. 

(2) For flight training, 165 student years. 

(3) For professional training in military and civilian institutions, 350 student years. 

(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

SEC. 201. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Section 42(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

striking ‘‘7,200’’ and inserting ‘‘6,900’’. 

SEC. 202. COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT. 

Section 44 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

inserting after the first sentence the following: ‘‘The term of an 

appointment, and any reappointment, shall begin on June 1 of 

the appropriate year and end on May 31 of the appropriate year, 

except that, in the event of death, retirement, resignation, or 

reassignment, or when the needs of the Service demand, the Secretary may alter the date on which a term begins or ends if 

the alteration does not result in the term exceeding a period of 

4 years.’’. 

SEC. 203. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE WORKFORCES. 

Section 57 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 

(B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the 

end and inserting a semicolon; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

Time period. 

14 USC 42. 


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‘‘(4) waterways operations manager shall have knowledge, 

skill, and practical experience with respect to marine transportation system management; or 

‘‘(5) port and facility safety and security specialist shall 

have knowledge, skill, and practical experience with respect 

to the safety, security, and environmental protection responsibilities associated with maritime ports and facilities.’’; 

(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘or marine safety engineer’’ 

and inserting ‘‘marine safety engineer, waterways operations 

manager, or port and facility safety and security specialist’’; 

and 

(3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking ‘‘investigator or marine 

safety engineer.’’ and inserting ‘‘investigator, marine safety 

engineer, waterways operations manager, or port and facility 

safety and security specialist.’’. 

SEC. 204. CENTERS OF EXPERTISE. 

Section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(b) MISSIONS.—Any center established under subsection (a) 

shall— 

‘‘(1) promote, facilitate, and conduct— 

‘‘(A) education; 

‘‘(B) training; and 

‘‘(C) activities authorized under section 93(a)(4); 

‘‘(2) be a repository of information on operations, practices, 

and resources related to the mission for which the center was 

established; and 

‘‘(3) perform and support the mission for which the center 

was established.’’. 

SEC. 205. PENALTIES. 

(a) AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND FALSE DISTRESS MESSAGES.— 

Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in section 83 by striking ‘‘$100’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,500’’; 

(2) in section 84 by striking ‘‘$500’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,500’’; 

(3) in section 85 by striking ‘‘$100’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,500’’; 

and 

(4) in section 88(c)(2) by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and inserting 

‘‘$10,000’’. 

(b) UNAUTHORIZED USE OF WORDS ‘‘COAST GUARD’’.—Section 

639 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ 

and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’. 

SEC. 206. AGREEMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 93(a)(4) of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘, investigate’’ and inserting ‘‘and investigate’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘, and cooperate and coordinate such activities with other Government agencies and with private agencies’’. 

(b) AUTHORITY.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, 

as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

14 USC 58. 


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128 STAT. 3026 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘§ 102. Agreements 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 93(a)(4), the Commandant may— 

‘‘(1) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and other 

agreements with— 

‘‘(A) Federal entities; 

‘‘(B) other public or private entities in the United 

States, including academic entities; and 

‘‘(C) foreign governments with the concurrence of the 

Secretary of State; and 

‘‘(2) impose on and collect from an entity subject to an 

agreement or contract under paragraph (1) a fee to assist 

with expenses incurred in carrying out such section. 

‘‘(b) DEPOSIT AND USE OF FEES.—Fees collected under this 

section shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury 

as offsetting receipts. The fees may be used, to the extent provided 

in advance in an appropriation law, only to carry out activities 

under section 93(a)(4).’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘102. Agreements.’’. 

SEC. 207. TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COVERAGE OF TEXTBOOKS 

AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. 

Section 93(a)(7) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting ‘‘and the textbooks, manuals, and other materials 

required as part of such training or course of instruction’’ after 

‘‘correspondence courses’’. 

SEC. 208. COAST GUARD HOUSING. 

(a) COMMANDANT; GENERAL POWERS.—Section 93(a)(13) of title 

14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the Treasury’’ 

and inserting ‘‘the fund established under section 687’’. 

(b) LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY.—Section 672a(b) of title 14, United 

States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the Treasury’’ and inserting 

‘‘the fund established under section 687’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 687(b) of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) Monies received under section 93(a)(13). 

‘‘(5) Amounts received under section 672a(b).’’. 

SEC. 209. LEASE AUTHORITY. 

Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(f) LEASING OF TIDELANDS AND SUBMERGED LANDS.— 

‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant may lease under subsection (a)(13) submerged lands and tidelands under the control 

of the Coast Guard without regard to the limitation under 

that subsection with respect to lease duration. 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may lease submerged 

lands and tidelands under paragraph (1) only if— 

‘‘(A) lease payments are— 

‘‘(i) received exclusively in the form of cash; 

‘‘(ii) equal to the fair market value of the use 

of the leased submerged lands or tidelands for the 

period during which such lands are leased, as determined by the Commandant; and 

14 USC 93. 

14 USC prec. 81. 

14 USC 102. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3027 

‘‘(iii) deposited in the fund established under section 687; and 

‘‘(B) the lease does not provide authority to or commit 

the Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to 

such submerged lands or tidelands, or obtain goods or 

services from the lessee.’’. 

SEC. 210. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, 

as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

‘‘§ 103. Notification of certain determinations 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—At least 90 days prior to making a final 

determination that a waterway, or a portion thereof, is navigable 

for purposes of the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard, the Commandant 

shall provide notification regarding the proposed determination to— 

‘‘(1) the Governor of each State in which such waterway, 

or portion thereof, is located; 

‘‘(2) the public; and 

‘‘(3) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(b) CONTENT REQUIREMENT.—Each notification provided under 

subsection (a) to an entity specified in paragraph (3) of that subsection shall include— 

‘‘(1) an analysis of whether vessels operating on the waterway, or portion thereof, subject to the proposed determination 

are subject to inspection or similar regulation by State or 

local officials; 

‘‘(2) an analysis of whether operators of commercial vessels 

on such waterway, or portion thereof, are subject to licensing 

or similar regulation by State or local officials; and 

‘‘(3) an estimate of the annual costs that the Coast Guard 

may incur in conducting operations on such waterway, or portion thereof.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter, as 

amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘103. Notification of certain determinations.’’. 

SEC. 211. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS. 

Section 194 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘§ 194. Annual Board of Visitors 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard 

Academy is established to review and make recommendations on 

the operation of the Academy. 

‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The membership of the Board shall consist of the following: 

‘‘(A) The chairman of the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, or the chairman’s designee. 

14 USC 194. 

Deadline. 

Public 

information. 

14 USC 103. 


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128 STAT. 3028 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(B) The chairman of the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, or the 

chairman’s designee. 

‘‘(C) 3 Members of the Senate designated by the Vice 

President. 

‘‘(D) 4 Members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(E) 6 individuals designated by the President. 

‘‘(2) LENGTH OF SERVICE.— 

‘‘(A) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—A Member of Congress 

designated under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph 

(1) as a member of the Board shall be designated as a 

member in the First Session of a Congress and serve for 

the duration of that Congress. 

‘‘(B) INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT.— 

Each individual designated by the President under 

subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) shall serve as a member 

of the Board for 3 years, except that any such member 

whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve 

until a successor is appointed. 

‘‘(3) DEATH OR RESIGNATION OF A MEMBER.—If a member 

of the Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated 

for any unexpired portion of the term of the member by the 

official who designated the member. 

‘‘(c) ACADEMY VISITS.— 

‘‘(1) ANNUAL VISIT.—The Board shall visit the Academy 

annually to review the operation of the Academy. 

‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL VISITS.—With the approval of the Secretary, the Board or individual members of the Board may 

make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties 

of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of the 

Academy. 

‘‘(d) SCOPE OF REVIEW.—The Board shall review, with respect 

to the Academy— 

‘‘(1) the state of morale and discipline; 

‘‘(2) the curriculum; 

‘‘(3) instruction; 

‘‘(4) physical equipment; 

‘‘(5) fiscal affairs; and 

‘‘(6) other matters relating to the Academy that the Board 

determines appropriate. 

‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of an 

annual visit of the Board under subsection (c)(1), the Board shall 

submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report 

on the actions of the Board during such visit and the recommendations of the Board pertaining to the Academy. 

‘‘(f) ADVISORS.—If approved by the Secretary, the Board may 

consult with advisors in carrying out this section. 

‘‘(g) REIMBURSEMENT.—Each member of the Board and each 

adviser consulted by the Board under subsection (f) shall be 

reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, by the Coast Guard 

for actual expenses incurred while engaged in duties as a member 

or adviser.’’. 

Recommendations. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3029 

SEC. 212. FLAG OFFICERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting after section 295 the following: 

‘‘§ 296. Flag officers 

‘‘During any period in which the Coast Guard is not operating 

as a service in the Navy, section 1216(d) of title 10 does not 

apply with respect to flag officers of the Coast Guard.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 11 of title 

14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 

relating to section 295 the following: 

‘‘296. Flag officers.’’. 

SEC. 213. REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON MEDALS OF HONOR. 

Section 494 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

striking ‘‘medal of honor,’’ each place it appears. 

SEC. 214. COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND CHILD CARE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, as amended 

by this Act, is further amended by inserting after chapter 13 the 

following: 

‘‘CHAPTER 14—COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND 

CHILD CARE 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘531. Work-life policies and programs. 

‘‘532. Surveys of Coast Guard families. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT

‘‘542. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses. 

‘‘543. Youth sponsorship initiatives. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE

‘‘551. Definitions. 

‘‘553. Child development center standards and inspections. 

‘‘554. Child development center employees. 

‘‘555. Parent partnerships with child development centers. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

‘‘§ 531. Work-life policies and programs 

‘‘The Commandant is authorized— 

‘‘(1) to establish an office for the purpose of developing, 

promulgating, and coordinating policies, programs, and activities related to the families of Coast Guard members; 

‘‘(2) to implement and oversee policies, programs, and 

activities described in paragraph (1) as the Commandant considers necessary; and 

‘‘(3) to perform such other duties as the Commandant considers necessary. 

‘‘§ 532. Surveys of Coast Guard families 

‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant, in order to determine the 

effectiveness of Federal policies, programs, and activities related 

to the families of Coast Guard members, may survey— 

‘‘(1) any Coast Guard member; 

14 USC 532. 

14 USC 531. 

14 USC 

prec. 531. 

14 USC 

prec. 211. 

14 USC 296. 


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128 STAT. 3030 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(2) any retired Coast Guard member; 

‘‘(3) the immediate family of any Coast Guard member 

or retired Coast Guard member; and 

‘‘(4) any survivor of a deceased Coast Guard member. 

‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Participation in any survey 

conducted under subsection (a) shall be voluntary. 

‘‘(c) FEDERAL RECORDKEEPING.—Each person surveyed under 

subsection (a) shall be considered an employee of the United States 

for purposes of section 3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT 

‘‘§ 542. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard 

spouses 

‘‘(a) TUITION ASSISTANCE.—The Commandant may provide, subject to the availability of appropriations, tuition assistance to an 

eligible spouse to facilitate the acquisition of— 

‘‘(1) education and training required for a degree or credential at an accredited college, university, or technical school 

in the United States that expands employment and portable 

career opportunities for the spouse; or 

‘‘(2) education prerequisites and a professional license or 

credential required, by a government or government-sanctioned 

licensing body, for an occupation that expands employment 

and portable career opportunities for the spouse. 

‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 

apply: 

‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE SPOUSE.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible spouse’ means 

the spouse of a member of the Coast Guard who is serving 

on active duty and includes a spouse who receives transitional compensation under section 1059 of title 10. 

‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘eligible spouse’ does not 

include a person who— 

‘‘(i) is married to, but legally separated from, a 

member of the Coast Guard under a court order or 

statute of any State or territorial possession of the 

United States; or 

‘‘(ii) is eligible for tuition assistance as a member 

of the Armed Forces. 

‘‘(2) PORTABLE CAREER.—The term ‘portable career’ includes 

an occupation that requires education, training, or both that 

results in a credential that is recognized by an industry, profession, or specific type of business. 

‘‘§ 543. Youth sponsorship initiatives 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant is authorized to establish, 

within any Coast Guard unit, an initiative to help integrate into 

new surroundings the dependent children of members of the Coast 

Guard who received permanent change of station orders. 

‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION OF INITIATIVE.—An initiative established 

under subsection (a) shall— 

‘‘(1) provide for the involvement of a dependent child of 

a member of the Coast Guard in the dependent child’s new 

Coast Guard community; and 

‘‘(2) primarily focus on preteen and teenaged children. 

14 USC 543. 

14 USC 542. 

14 USC 

prec. 542. 


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‘‘(c) AUTHORITY.—In carrying out an initiative under subsection 

(a), the Commandant may— 

‘‘(1) provide to a dependent child of a member of the Coast 

Guard information on youth programs and activities available 

in the dependent child’s new Coast Guard community; and 

‘‘(2) enter into agreements with nonprofit entities to provide 

youth programs and activities to such child. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE 

‘‘§ 551. Definitions 

‘‘In this subchapter, the following definitions apply: 

‘‘(1) CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.—The term ‘child abuse 

and neglect’ has the meaning given that term in section 3 

of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 

5101 note). 

‘‘(2) CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER EMPLOYEE.—The term 

‘child development center employee’ means a civilian employee 

of the Coast Guard who is employed to work in a Coast Guard 

child development center without regard to whether the 

employee is paid from appropriated or nonappropriated funds. 

‘‘(3) COAST GUARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.—The term 

‘Coast Guard child development center’ means a facility on 

Coast Guard property or on property under the jurisdiction 

of the commander of a Coast Guard unit at which child care 

services are provided for members of the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(4) COMPETITIVE SERVICE POSITION.—The term ‘competitive 

service position’ means a position in the competitive service 

(as defined in section 2102 of title 5). 

‘‘(5) FAMILY HOME DAYCARE.—The term ‘family home 

daycare’ means home-based child care services provided for 

a member of the Coast Guard by an individual who— 

‘‘(A) is certified by the Commandant as qualified to 

provide home-based child care services; and 

‘‘(B) provides home-based child care services on a regular basis in exchange for monetary compensation. 

‘‘§ 553. Child development center standards and inspections 

‘‘(a) STANDARDS.—The Commandant shall require each Coast 

Guard child development center to meet standards that the Commandant considers appropriate to ensure the health, safety, and 

welfare of the children and employees at the center. 

‘‘(b) INSPECTIONS.—The Commandant shall provide for regular 

and unannounced inspections of each Coast Guard child development center to ensure compliance with this section. 

‘‘(c) NATIONAL REPORTING.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall maintain and 

publicize a means by which an individual can report, with 

respect to a Coast Guard child development center or a family 

home daycare— 

‘‘(A) any suspected violation of— 

‘‘(i) standards established under subsection (a); or 

‘‘(ii) any other applicable law or standard; 

‘‘(B) suspected child abuse or neglect; or 

‘‘(C) any other deficiency. 

14 USC 553. 

14 USC 551. 

14 USC 

prec. 551. 


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‘‘(2) ANONYMOUS REPORTING.—The Commandant shall 

ensure that an individual making a report pursuant to paragraph (1) may do so anonymously if so desired by the individual. 

‘‘(3) PROCEDURES.—The Commandant shall establish procedures for investigating reports made pursuant to paragraph 

(1). 

‘‘§ 554. Child development center employees 

‘‘(a) TRAINING.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall establish a 

training program for Coast Guard child development center 

employees and satisfactory completion of the training program 

shall be a condition of employment for each employee of a 

Coast Guard child development center. 

‘‘(2) TIMING FOR NEW HIRES.—The Commandant shall 

require each employee of a Coast Guard child development 

center to complete the training program established under paragraph (1) not later than 6 months after the date on which 

the employee is hired. 

‘‘(3) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—The training program 

established under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, 

instruction with respect to— 

‘‘(A) early childhood development; 

‘‘(B) activities and disciplinary techniques appropriate 

to children of different ages; 

‘‘(C) child abuse and neglect prevention and detection; 

and 

‘‘(D) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency medical procedures. 

‘‘(4) USE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS.—The 

Commandant may use Department of Defense training programs, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, for purposes of this subsection. 

‘‘(b) TRAINING AND CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS.— 

‘‘(1) SPECIALIST REQUIRED.—The Commandant shall require 

that at least 1 employee at each Coast Guard child development 

center be a specialist in training and curriculum development 

with appropriate credentials and experience. 

‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The duties of the specialist described in paragraph (1) shall include— 

‘‘(A) special teaching activities; 

‘‘(B) daily oversight and instruction of other child care 

employees; 

‘‘(C) daily assistance in the preparation of lesson plans; 

‘‘(D) assisting with child abuse and neglect prevention 

and detection; and 

‘‘(E) advising the director of the center on the performance of the other child care employees. 

‘‘(3) COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—Each specialist described in 

paragraph (1) shall be an employee in a competitive service 

position. 

‘‘§ 555. Parent partnerships with child development centers 

‘‘(a) PARENT BOARDS.— 

‘‘(1) FORMATION.—The Commandant shall require that 

there be formed at each Coast Guard child development center 

14 USC 555. 

14 USC 554. 


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a board of parents, to be composed of parents of children 

attending the center. 

‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—Each board of parents formed under paragraph (1) shall— 

‘‘(A) meet periodically with the staff of the center at 

which the board is formed and the commander of the 

unit served by the center, for the purpose of discussing 

problems and concerns; and 

‘‘(B) be responsible, together with the staff of the 

center, for coordinating any parent participation initiative 

established under subsection (b). 

‘‘(3) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

App.) does not apply to a board of parents formed under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(b) PARENT PARTICIPATION INITIATIVE.—The Commandant is 

authorized to establish a parent participation initiative at each 

Coast Guard child development center to encourage and facilitate 

parent participation in educational and related activities at the 

center.’’. 

(b) TRANSFER OF PROVISIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.— 

(A) REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADOPTION EXPENSES.—Section 

514 of title 14, United States Code, is redesignated as 

section 541 and transferred to appear before section 542 

of such title, as added by subsection (a) of this section. 

(B) CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.—Section 515 of title 

14, United States Code— 

(i) is redesignated as section 552 and transferred 

to appear after section 551 of such title, as added 

by subsection (a) of this section; and 

(ii) is amended— 

(I) in subsection (b)(2)(B) by inserting ‘‘and 

whether a family is participating in an initiative 

established under section 555(b)’’ after ‘‘family 

income’’; 

(II) by striking subsections (c) and (e); and 

(III) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). 

(C) DEPENDENT SCHOOL CHILDREN.—Section 657 of title 

14, United States Code— 

(i) is redesignated as section 544 and transferred 

to appear after section 543 of such title, as added 

by subsection (a) of this section; and 

(ii) is amended in subsection (a) by striking 

‘‘Except as otherwise’’ and all that follows through 

‘‘the Secretary may’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary 

may’’. 

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (A) PART I.—The analysis for part I of title 14, United 

States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to chapter 13 the following: 

‘‘14. Coast Guard Family Support and Child Care ............................................. 531’’. 

(B) CHAPTER 13.—The analysis for chapter 13 of title 

14, United States Code, is amended— 

(i) by striking the item relating to section 514; 

and 

14 USC 

prec. 461. 

14 USC prec. 1. 

14 USC 657. 

14 USC 552. 

14 USC 541. 


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128 STAT. 3034 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

(ii) by striking the item relating to section 515. 

(C) CHAPTER 14.—The analysis for chapter 14 of title 

14, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of 

this section, is amended by inserting— 

(i) before the item relating to section 542 the following: 

‘‘541. Reimbursement for adoption expenses.’’; 

(ii) after the item relating to section 551 the following: 

‘‘552. Child development services.’’; and 

(iii) after the item relating to section 543 the following: 

‘‘544. Dependent school children.’’. 

(D) CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chapter 17 of title 

14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 

relating to section 657. 

(c) COMMANDANT; GENERAL POWERS.—Section 93(a)(7) of title 

14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 

by inserting ‘‘, and to eligible spouses as defined under section 

542,’’ after ‘‘Coast Guard’’. 

(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress that the 

amount of funds appropriated for a fiscal year for operating 

expenses related to Coast Guard child development services 

should not be less than the amount of the child development 

center fee receipts estimated to be collected by the Coast Guard 

during that fiscal year. 

(2) CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FEE RECEIPTS DEFINED.— In this subsection, the term ‘‘child development center fee 

receipts’’ means fees paid by members of the Coast Guard 

for child care services provided at Coast Guard child development centers. 

SEC. 215. MISSION NEED STATEMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 569 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 569. Mission need statement 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the President submits 

to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2016 under section 1105 of 

title 31, on the date on which the President submits to Congress 

a budget for fiscal year 2019 under such section, and every 4 

years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate an integrated major acquisition mission need statement. 

‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 

apply: 

‘‘(1) INTEGRATED MAJOR ACQUISITION MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—The term ‘integrated major acquisition mission need 

statement’ means a document that— 

‘‘(A) identifies current and projected gaps in Coast 

Guard mission capabilities using mission hour targets; 

Deadlines. 

14 USC 569. 

14 USC 

prec. 631. 

14 USC 

prec. 531. 


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‘‘(B) explains how each major acquisition program 

addresses gaps identified under subparagraph (A) if funded 

at the levels provided for such program in the most recently 

submitted capital investment plan; and 

‘‘(C) describes the missions the Coast Guard will not 

be able to achieve, by fiscal year, for each gap identified 

under subparagraph (A). 

‘‘(2) MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM.—The term ‘major 

acquisition program’ has the meaning given that term in section 

569a(e). 

‘‘(3) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—The term ‘capital investment plan’ means the plan required under section 663(a)(1).’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 15 of title 

14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 

to section 569 and inserting the following: 

‘‘569. Mission need statement.’’. 

SEC. 216. TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION 

REQUEST. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, as amended 

by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 662 

the following: 

‘‘§ 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization 

request 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date on 

which the President submits to Congress a budget for a fiscal 

year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a Coast Guard authorization request 

with respect to such fiscal year. 

‘‘(b) COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION REQUEST DEFINED.—In this 

section, the term ‘Coast Guard authorization request’ means a 

proposal for legislation that, with respect to the Coast Guard for 

the relevant fiscal year— 

‘‘(1) recommends end strengths for personnel for that fiscal 

year, as described in section 661; 

‘‘(2) recommends authorizations of appropriations for that 

fiscal year, including with respect to matters described in section 662; and 

‘‘(3) addresses any other matter that the Secretary determines is appropriate for inclusion in a Coast Guard authorization bill.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 17 of title 

14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 

by inserting after the item relating to section 662 the following: 

‘‘662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.’’. 

SEC. 217. INVENTORY OF REAL PROPERTY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 679. Inventory of real property 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 2015, the 

Commandant shall establish an inventory of all real property, 

Deadlines. 

14 USC 679. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 662a. 

14 USC 

prec. 561. 


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128 STAT. 3036 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

including submerged lands, under the control of the Coast Guard, 

which shall include— 

‘‘(1) the size, the location, and any other appropriate 

description of each unit of such property; 

‘‘(2) an assessment of the physical condition of each unit 

of such property, excluding lands; 

‘‘(3) a determination of whether each unit of such property 

should be— 

‘‘(A) retained to fulfill a current or projected Coast 

Guard mission requirement; or 

‘‘(B) subject to divestiture; and 

‘‘(4) other information the Commandant considers appropriate. 

‘‘(b) INVENTORY MAINTENANCE.—The Commandant shall— 

‘‘(1) maintain the inventory required under subsection (a) 

on an ongoing basis; and 

‘‘(2) update information on each unit of real property 

included in such inventory not later than 30 days after any 

change relating to the control of such property. 

‘‘(c) RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than March 

30, 2016, and every 5 years thereafter, the Commandant shall 

submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes— 

‘‘(1) a list of all real property under the control of the 

Coast Guard and the location of such property by property 

type; 

‘‘(2) recommendations for divestiture with respect to any 

units of such property; and 

‘‘(3) recommendations for consolidating any units of such 

property, including— 

‘‘(A) an estimate of the costs or savings associated 

with each recommended consolidation; and 

‘‘(B) a discussion of the impact that such consolidation 

would have on Coast Guard mission effectiveness.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter, as 

amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘679. Inventory of real property.’’. 

SEC. 218. RETIRED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS SERVING 

ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, 

as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

‘‘§ 680. Retired service members and dependents serving on 

advisory committees 

‘‘A committee that— 

‘‘(1) advises or assists the Coast Guard with respect to 

a function that affects a member of the Coast Guard or a 

dependent of such a member; and 

‘‘(2) includes in its membership a retired Coast Guard 

member or a dependent of such a retired member; 

shall not be considered an advisory committee under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) solely because of such 

membership.’’. 

14 USC 680. 


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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter, as 

amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after the 

item relating to section 679 the following: 

‘‘680. Retired service members and dependents serving on advisory committees.’’. 

SEC. 219. ACTIVE DUTY FOR EMERGENCY AUGMENTATION OF REGULAR FORCES. 

Section 712(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

by striking ‘‘not more than 60 days in any 4-month period and’’. 

SEC. 220. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY. 

Section 404(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 

(Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 2951) is amended by striking ‘‘2015’’ 

and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 221. COAST GUARD ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS. 

(a) ELIMINATION OF OUTDATED AND DUPLICATIVE REPORTS.— 

(1) MARINE INDUSTRY TRAINING.—Section 59 of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant’’ 

and inserting ‘‘The Commandant’’; and 

(B) by striking subsection (b). 

(2) OPERATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.—Section 651 of title 

14, United States Code, and the item relating to such section 

in the analysis for chapter 17 of such title, are repealed. 

(3) DRUG INTERDICTION.—Section 103 of the Coast Guard 

Authorization Act of 1996 (14 U.S.C. 89 note), and the item 

relating to that section in the table of contents in section 

2 of that Act, are repealed. 

(4) NATIONAL DEFENSE.—Section 426 of the Maritime 

Transportation Security Act of 2002 (14 U.S.C. 2 note), and 

the item relating to that section in the table of contents in 

section 1(b) of that Act, are repealed. 

(5) LIVING MARINE RESOURCES.—Section 4(b) of the Cruise 

Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (16 U.S.C. 1828 note) 

is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘No report 

shall be required under this subsection, including that no report 

shall be required under section 224 of the Coast Guard and 

Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 or section 804 of the 

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006, for 

fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 2014.’’. 

(b) CONSOLIDATION AND REFORM OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) MARINE SAFETY.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 2116(d)(2)(B) of title 46, 

United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) on the program’s mission performance in achieving 

numerical measurable goals established under subsection 

(b), including— 

‘‘(i) the number of civilian and military Coast 

Guard personnel assigned to marine safety positions; 

and 

‘‘(ii) an identification of marine safety positions 

that are understaffed to meet the workload required 

to accomplish each activity included in the strategy 

and plans under subsection (a); and’’. 

14 USC 

prec. 631, 651. 

14 USC 712. 


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128 STAT. 3038 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 57 of title 14, 

United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 

amended— 

(i) by striking subsection (e); and 

(ii) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) 

as subsections (e), (f), and (g) respectively. 

(2) MINOR CONSTRUCTION.—Section 656(d)(2) of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than the date on which the President submits to Congress a budget under section 1105 of title 

31 each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a report describing each project 

carried out under paragraph (1), in the most recently concluded 

fiscal year, for which the amount expended under such paragraph for such project was more than $1,000,000. If no such 

project was carried out during a fiscal year, no report under 

this paragraph shall be required with respect to that fiscal 

year.’’. 

SEC. 222. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14. 

Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 

amended— 

(1) in section 93(b)(1) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding subsection (a)(14)’’ and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding subsection 

(a)(13)’’; and 

(2) in section 197(b) by striking ‘‘of Homeland Security’’. 

SEC. 223. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR OFFSHORE 

PATROL CUTTERS. 

In fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary 

of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may 

enter into, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United 

States Code, multiyear contracts for the procurement of Offshore 

Patrol Cutters and associated equipment. 

SEC. 224. MAINTAINING MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTER MISSION CAPABILITY. 

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

that includes— 

(1) a schedule and plan for decommissioning, not later 

than September 30, 2029, each of the 210-foot, Reliance-Class 

Cutters operated by the Coast Guard on the date of enactment 

of this Act; 

(2) a schedule and plan for enhancing the maintenance 

or extending the service life of each of the 270-foot, FamousClass Cutters operated by the Coast Guard on the date of 

enactment of this Act— 

(A) to maintain the capability of the Coast Guard to 

carry out sea-going missions with respect to such Cutters 

at the level of capability existing on September 30, 2013; 

and 

Deadlines. 

Reports. 

Plans. 

14 USC 577 note. 

14 USC 656. 


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(B) for the period beginning on the date of enactment 

of this Act and ending on the date on which the final 

Offshore Patrol Cutter is scheduled to be commissioned 

under paragraph (4); 

(3) an identification of the number of Offshore Patrol Cutters capable of sea state 5 operations that, if 8 National Security 

Cutters are commissioned, are necessary to return the sea 

state 5 operating capability of the Coast Guard to the level 

of capability that existed prior to the decommissioning of the 

first High Endurance Cutter in fiscal year 2011; 

(4) a schedule and plan for commissioning the number 

of Offshore Patrol Cutters identified under paragraph (3); and 

(5) a schedule and plan for commissioning, not later than 

September 30, 2034, a number of Offshore Patrol Cutters not 

capable of sea state 5 operations that is equal to— 

(A) 25; less 

(B) the number of Offshore Patrol Cutters identified 

under paragraph (3). 

SEC. 225. AVIATION CAPABILITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may— 

(1) request and accept through a direct military-to-military 

transfer under section 2571 of title 10, United States Code, 

such H–60 helicopters as may be necessary to establish a 

year-round operational capability in the Coast Guard’s Ninth 

District; and 

(2) use funds provided under section 101 of this Act to 

convert such helicopters to Coast Guard MH–60T configuration. 

(b) PROHIBITION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Coast Guard may not— 

(A) close a Coast Guard air facility that was in operation on November 30, 2014; or 

(B) retire, transfer, relocate, or deploy an aviation asset 

from an air facility described in subparagraph (A) for the 

purpose of closing such facility. 

(2) SUNSET.—This subsection is repealed effective January 

1, 2016. 

SEC. 226. GAPS IN WRITINGS ON COAST GUARD HISTORY. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

House of Representatives a report on any gaps that exist in writings 

on the history of the Coast Guard. The report shall address, at 

a minimum, operations, broad topics, and biographies with respect 

to the Coast Guard. 

SEC. 227. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORTS. 

(a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a written assessment of the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation reporting system. 

(b) CONTENTS OF ASSESSMENT.—The assessment required under 

subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, an analysis of— 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Time period. 


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128 STAT. 3040 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

(1) the extent to which the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation 

reports differ in length, form, and content from the officer 

fitness reports used by the Navy and other branches of the 

Armed Forces; 

(2) the extent to which differences determined pursuant 

to paragraph (1) are the result of inherent differences 

between— 

(A) the Coast Guard and the Navy; and 

(B) the Coast Guard and other branches of the Armed 

Forces; 

(3) the feasibility of more closely aligning and conforming 

the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation reports with the officer 

fitness reports of the Navy and other branches of the Armed 

Forces; and 

(4) the costs and benefits of the alignment and conformity 

described in paragraph (3), including with respect to— 

(A) Coast Guard administrative efficiency; 

(B) fairness and equity for Coast Guard officers; and 

(C) carrying out the Coast Guard’s statutory mission 

of defense readiness, including when operating as a service 

in the Navy. 

SEC. 228. IMPROVED SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VESSELS. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall establish a process that allows an operator of 

a marine exchange or other non-Federal vessel traffic information 

service to use the automatic identification system to transmit 

weather, ice, and other important navigation safety information 

to vessels. 

SEC. 229. E–LORAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may not carry out activities related 

to the dismantling or disposal of infrastructure that supported 

the former LORAN system until the later of— 

(1) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment 

of this Act; or 

(2) the date on which the Secretary provides to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate notice of a determination by the 

Secretary that such infrastructure is not required to provide 

a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are disrupted. 

(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to activities necessary for the safety of human life. 

(c) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative 

agreements, contracts, and other agreements with Federal entities 

and other public or private entities, including academic entities, 

to develop a positioning, navigation, and timing system, including 

an enhanced LORAN system, to provide redundant capability in 

the event GPS signals are disrupted. 

SEC. 230. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE DEFICIENCIES WITH RESPECT TO 

MARITIME BORDER SECURITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Deadlines. 

Deadline. 

14 USC 81. 


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provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives a report describing any Coast Guard 

resource deficiencies related to— 

(1) securing maritime borders with respect to the Great 

Lakes and the coastal areas of the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, including with respect to Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands; 

(2) patrolling and monitoring maritime approaches to the 

areas described in paragraph (1); and 

(3) patrolling and monitoring relevant portions of the 

Western Hemisphere Drug Transit Zone. 

(b) SCOPE.—In preparing the report under subsection (a), the 

Commandant shall consider, at a minimum— 

(1) the Coast Guard’s statutory missions with respect to 

migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, defense readiness, living 

marine resources, and ports, waterways, and coastal security; 

(2) whether Coast Guard missions are being executed to 

meet national performance targets set under the National Drug 

Control Strategy; 

(3) the number and types of cutters and other vessels 

required to effectively execute Coast Guard missions; 

(4) the number and types of aircraft, including unmanned 

aircraft, required to effectively execute Coast Guard missions; 

(5) the number of assets that require upgraded sensor 

and communications systems to effectively execute Coast Guard 

missions; 

(6) the Deployable Specialized Forces required to effectively 

execute Coast Guard missions; and 

(7) whether additional shoreside facilities are required to 

accommodate Coast Guard personnel and assets in support 

of Coast Guard missions. 

SEC. 231. MODERNIZATION OF NATIONAL DISTRESS AND RESPONSE 

SYSTEM. 

(a) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 

of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

a report on the implementation of the Rescue 21 project in Alaska 

and in Coast Guard sectors Upper Mississippi River, Lower Mississippi River, and Ohio River Valley. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under subsection (a) 

shall— 

(1) describe what improvements are being made to the 

distress response system in the areas specified in subsection 

(a), including information on which areas will receive digital 

selective calling and direction finding capability; 

(2) describe the impediments to installing digital selective 

calling and direction finding capability in areas where such 

technology will not be installed; 

(3) identify locations in the areas specified in subsection 

(a) where communication gaps will continue to present a risk 

to mariners after completion of the Rescue 21 project; 


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(4) include a list of all reported marine accidents, casualties, and fatalities occurring in the locations identified under 

paragraph (3) since 1990; and 

(5) provide an estimate of the costs associated with 

installing the technology necessary to close communication gaps 

in the locations identified under paragraph (3). 

SEC. 232. REPORT RECONCILING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL 

PRIORITIES ON THE MISSOURI RIVER. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

House of Representatives a report that outlines a course of action 

to reconcile general maintenance priorities for cutters with operational priorities on the Missouri River. 

SEC. 233. MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSISTANCE POLICY 

ASSESSMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

assess the Maritime Search and Rescue Assistance Policy as it 

relates to State and local responders. 

(b) SCOPE.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall consider, 

at a minimum— 

(1) the extent to which Coast Guard search and rescue 

coordinators have entered into domestic search and rescue 

agreements with State and local responders under the National 

Search and Rescue Plan; 

(2) whether the domestic search and rescue agreements 

include the Maritime Search and Rescue Assistance Policy; 

and 

(3) the extent to which Coast Guard sectors coordinate 

with 911 emergency centers, including ensuring the dissemination of appropriate maritime distress check-sheets. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 

a report on the assessment under subsection (a) to the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

SEC. 301. REPEAL. 

Chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by repealing section 55501; 

(2) by redesignating section 55502 as section 55501; and 

(3) in the analysis by striking the items relating to sections 

55501 and 55502 and inserting the following: 

‘‘55501. United States Committee on the Marine Transportation System.’’. 

SEC. 302. DONATION OF HISTORICAL PROPERTY. 

Section 51103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e) DONATION FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.— 

46 USC 

prec. 55501. 

46 USC 55501. 


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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may convey the right, 

title, and interest of the United States Government in any 

property administered by the Maritime Administration, except 

real estate or vessels, if— 

‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that such property is 

not needed by the Maritime Administration; and 

‘‘(B) the recipient— 

‘‘(i) is a nonprofit organization, a State, or a political subdivision of a State; 

‘‘(ii) agrees to hold the Government harmless for 

any claims arising from exposure to hazardous materials, including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or 

lead paint, after conveyance of the property; 

‘‘(iii) provides a description and explanation of the 

intended use of the property to the Secretary for 

approval; 

‘‘(iv) has provided to the Secretary proof, as determined by the Secretary, of resources sufficient to 

accomplish the intended use provided under clause 

(iii) and to maintain the property; 

‘‘(v) agrees that when the recipient no longer 

requires the property, the recipient shall— 

‘‘(I) return the property to the Secretary, at 

the recipient’s expense and in the same condition 

as received except for ordinary wear and tear; 

or 

‘‘(II) subject to the approval of the Secretary, 

retain, sell, or otherwise dispose of the property 

in a manner consistent with applicable law; and 

‘‘(vi) agrees to any additional terms the Secretary 

considers appropriate. 

‘‘(2) REVERSION.—The Secretary shall include in any 

conveyance under this subsection terms under which all right, 

title, and interest conveyed by the Secretary shall revert to 

the Government if the Secretary determines the property has 

been used other than as approved by the Secretary under 

paragraph (1)(B)(iii).’’. 

SEC. 303. SMALL SHIPYARDS. 

Section 54101(i) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

by striking ‘‘2009 through 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

SEC. 304. DRUG TESTING REPORTING. 

Section 7706 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘an applicant for employment by a Federal agency,’’ after ‘‘Federal agency,’’; and 

(2) in subsection (c), by— 

(A) inserting ‘‘or an applicant for employment by a 

Federal agency’’ after ‘‘an employee’’; and 

(B) striking ‘‘the employee.’’ and inserting ‘‘the 

employee or the applicant.’’. 

SEC. 305. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEA SERVICE VETERANS. 

(a) ENDORSEMENTS FOR VETERANS.—Section 7101 of title 46, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(j) The Secretary may issue a license under this section in 

a class under subsection (c) to an applicant that— 

46 USC 54101. 

Determination. 

Determination. 


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128 STAT. 3044 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(1) has at least 3 months of qualifying service on vessels 

of the uniformed services (as that term is defined in section 

101(a) of title 10) of appropriate tonnage or horsepower within 

the 7-year period immediately preceding the date of application; 

and 

‘‘(2) satisfies all other requirements for such a license.’’. 

(b) SEA SERVICE LETTERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting after section 427 the following: 

‘‘§ 428. Sea service letters 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide a sea service 

letter to a member or former member of the Coast Guard who— 

‘‘(1) accumulated sea service on a vessel of the armed 

forces (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of title 10); 

and 

‘‘(2) requests such letter. 

‘‘(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after receiving a request 

for a sea service letter from a member or former member of the 

Coast Guard under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide such 

letter to such member or former member if such member or former 

member satisfies the requirement under subsection (a)(1).’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 11 

of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

the item relating to section 427 the following: 

‘‘428. Sea service letters.’’. 

(c) CREDITING OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SERVICE, 

TRAINING, AND QUALIFICATIONS.— 

(1) MAXIMIZING CREDITABILITY.—The Secretary of the 

department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in implementing United States merchant mariner license, certification, 

and document laws and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 

1978, shall maximize the extent to which United States Armed 

Forces service, training, and qualifications are creditable 

toward meeting the requirements of such laws and such 

Convention. 

(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to implement 

this subsection. 

(d) MERCHANT MARINE POST-SERVICE CAREER OPPORTUNI- TIES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 

this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall take steps 

to promote better awareness, on an ongoing basis, among Coast 

Guard personnel regarding post-service use of Coast Guard training, 

education, and practical experience in satisfaction of requirements 

for merchant mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 46, 

Code of Federal Regulations. 

SEC. 306. CLARIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK WATERS. 

Section 55305(e) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)— 

Deadline. 

46 USC 7301 

note. 

Deadline. 

46 USC 7302 

note. 

14 USC 

prec. 211. 

14 USC 428. 

Time period. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3045 

(A) by striking ‘‘provide armed personnel aboard’’ and 

inserting ‘‘reimburse, subject to the availability of appropriations, the owners or operators of’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘for the cost of providing armed personnel aboard such vessels’’ before ‘‘if’’; and 

(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the 

following: 

‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk waters’ means 

waters so designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

in the maritime security directive issued by the Commandant 

and in effect on the date on which an applicable voyage begins, 

if the Secretary of Transportation— 

‘‘(A) determines that an act of piracy occurred in the 

12-month period preceding the date the voyage begins; 

or 

‘‘(B) in such period, issued an advisory warning that 

an act of piracy is possible in such waters.’’. 

SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

(a) TITLE 46.—Section 2116(b)(1)(D) of title 46, United States 

Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 93(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

93(c) of title 14’’. 

(b) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF

2006.—Section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241; 33 U.S.C. 1503 note) 

is amended by inserting ‘‘and from’’ before ‘‘the United States’’. 

(c) DEEPWATER PORT ACT OF 1974.—Section 4(i) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503(i)) is amended by inserting 

‘‘or that will supply’’ after ‘‘be supplied with’’. 

SEC. 308. REPORT. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a report on the number of jobs, 

including vessel construction and vessel operating jobs, that would 

be created in the United States maritime industry each year in 

2015 through 2025 if liquified natural gas exported from the United 

States were required to be carried— 

(1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels documented under 

the laws of the United States; and 

(2) on and after such date, on vessels documented under 

the laws of the United States and constructed in the United 

States. 

SEC. 309. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS. 

(a) FISHING SAFETY TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 

4502(i)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 

‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

(b) FISHING SAFETY RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 

4502(j)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 

‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

SEC. 310. ESTABLISHMENT OF MERCHANT MARINE PERSONNEL 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 81 of title 46, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

46 USC 2116. 


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128 STAT. 3046 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘§ 8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a Merchant 

Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in this section referred to 

as ‘the Committee’). The Committee— 

‘‘(1) shall act solely in an advisory capacity to the Secretary 

through the Commandant of the Coast Guard on matters 

relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, 

including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, 

and fitness standards, and other matters as assigned by the 

Commandant; 

‘‘(2) shall review and comment on proposed Coast Guard 

regulations and policies relating to personnel in the United 

States merchant marine, including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards; 

‘‘(3) may be given special assignments by the Secretary 

and may conduct studies, inquiries, workshops, and fact finding 

in consultation with individuals and groups in the private sector 

and with State or local governments; 

‘‘(4) shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations 

reflecting its independent judgment to the Secretary; 

‘‘(5) shall meet not less than twice each year; and 

‘‘(6) may make available to Congress recommendations that 

the Committee makes to the Secretary. 

‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist of not more 

than 19 members who are appointed by and serve terms of 

a duration determined by the Secretary. Before filling a position 

on the Committee, the Secretary shall publish a notice in 

the Federal Register soliciting nominations for membership 

on the Committee. 

‘‘(2) REQUIRED MEMBERS.—Subject to paragraph (3), the 

Secretary shall appoint as members of the Committee— 

‘‘(A) 9 United States citizens with active licenses or 

certificates issued under chapter 71 or merchant mariner 

documents issued under chapter 73, including— 

‘‘(i) 3 deck officers who represent the viewpoint 

of merchant marine deck officers, of whom— 

‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans any gross 

tons; 

‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed for inland river route 

with a limited or unlimited tonnage; 

‘‘(III) 2 shall have a master’s license or a 

master of towing vessels license; 

‘‘(IV) 1 shall have significant tanker experience; and 

‘‘(V) to the extent practicable— 

‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent the viewpoint of 

labor; and 

‘‘(bb) another shall represent a management perspective; 

‘‘(ii) 3 engineering officers who represent the viewpoint of merchant marine engineering officers, of 

whom— 

‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief engineer any 

horsepower; 

‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed as either a limited 

chief engineer or a designated duty engineer; and 

Notice. 

Federal Register, 

publication. 

46 USC 8108. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3047 

‘‘(III) to the extent practicable— 

‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent a labor viewpoint; 

and 

‘‘(bb) another shall represent a management perspective; 

‘‘(iii) 2 unlicensed seamen, of whom— 

‘‘(I) 1 shall represent the viewpoint of ablebodied seamen; and 

‘‘(II) another shall represent the viewpoint of 

qualified members of the engine department; and 

‘‘(iv) 1 pilot who represents the viewpoint of merchant marine pilots; 

‘‘(B) 6 marine educators, including— 

‘‘(i) 3 marine educators who represent the viewpoint of maritime academies, including— 

‘‘(I) 2 who represent the viewpoint of State 

maritime academies and are jointly recommended 

by such State maritime academies; and 

‘‘(II) 1 who represents either the viewpoint 

of the State maritime academies or the United 

States Merchant Marine Academy; and 

‘‘(ii) 3 marine educators who represent the viewpoint of other maritime training institutions, 1 of whom 

shall represent the viewpoint of the small vessel 

industry; 

‘‘(C) 2 individuals who represent the viewpoint of shipping companies employed in ship operation management; 

and 

‘‘(D) 2 members who are appointed from the general 

public. 

‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with the 

Secretary of Transportation in making an appointment under 

paragraph (2)(B)(i)(II). 

‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Secretary shall designate one member of the Committee as the Chairman and one 

member of the Committee as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of the 

Chairman, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman. 

‘‘(d) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Committee may establish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups for any purpose consistent with this section, subject to conditions imposed by the Committee. Members of the Committee and additional persons drawn 

from the general public may be assigned to such subcommittees 

and working groups. Only Committee members may chair subcommittee or working groups. 

‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate on September 30, 2020.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.’’. 

SEC. 311. TRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCE. 

(a) TITLE 46, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 2110 of title 46, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 

‘‘(b)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and charges established under subsection (a), in providing a service or thing of value 

46 USC 2110. 

46 USC 

prec. 8101. 


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128 STAT. 3048 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

under this subtitle the Secretary may accept in-kind transportation, 

travel, and subsistence. 

‘‘(2) The value of in-kind transportation, travel, and subsistence 

accepted under this paragraph may not exceed applicable per diem 

rates set forth in regulations prescribed under section 464 of title 

37.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘subsections (a) and (b),’’ 

and inserting ‘‘subsection (a),’’. 

(b) TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 664 of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsections (e) 

though (g) as subsections (f) through (h), respectively, and by 

inserting after subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(e)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and charges established under this section, in the provision of a service or thing 

of value by the Coast Guard the Secretary may accept in-kind 

transportation, travel, and subsistence. 

‘‘(2) The value of in-kind transportation, travel, and subsistence 

accepted under this paragraph may not exceed applicable per diem 

rates set forth in regulations prescribed under section 464 of title 

37.’’. 

(c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may not accept in-kind transportation, 

travel, or subsistence under section 664(e) of title 14, United States 

Code, or section 2110(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code, as 

amended by this section, until the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard— 

(1) amends the Standards of Ethical Conduct for members 

and employees of the Coast Guard to include regulations governing the acceptance of in-kind reimbursements; and 

(2) notifies the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives of 

the amendments made under paragraph (1). 

SEC. 312. PROMPT INTERGOVERNMENTAL NOTICE OF MARINE CASUALTIES. 

Section 6101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 

‘‘(c) NOTICE TO STATE AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.—Not later 

than 24 hours after receiving a notice of a major marine casualty 

under this section, the Secretary shall notify each State or federally 

recognized Indian tribe that is, or may reasonably be expected 

to be, affected by such marine casualty.’’; 

(2) in subsection (h)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and 

(B) by redesignating subsection (h)(2) as subsection 

(i) of section 6101, and in such subsection— 

(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph,’’ and inserting ‘‘section,’’; and 

(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through 

(D) as paragraphs (1) through (4); and 

(3) by redesignating the last subsection as subsection (j). 

SEC. 313. AREA CONTINGENCY PLANS. 

Section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 

(33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(4)) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘qualified personnel 

of Federal, State, and local agencies.’’ and inserting ‘‘qualified— 

Deadline. 

Notification. 

14 USC 664 note. 

14 USC 664. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3049 

‘‘(i) personnel of Federal, State, and local agencies; 

and 

‘‘(ii) members of federally recognized Indian tribes, 

where applicable.’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘and local’’ and inserting ‘‘, local, and 

tribal’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘wildlife;’’ and inserting ‘‘wildlife, 

including advance planning with respect to the closing 

and reopening of fishing areas following a discharge;’’; 

(3) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ‘‘and local’’ and 

inserting ‘‘, local, and tribal’’; and 

(4) in subparagraph (C)— 

(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and Federal, State, and 

local agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, Federal, State, and local 

agencies, and tribal governments’’; 

(B) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) as clauses 

(viii) and (ix), respectively; and 

(C) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: 

‘‘(vii) include a framework for advance planning and 

decisionmaking with respect to the closing and reopening 

of fishing areas following a discharge, including protocols 

and standards for the closing and reopening of fishing 

areas;’’. 

SEC. 314. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL REFORM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 803 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) in section 80301, by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.—Payments received pursuant to subsection 

(b)(1) shall be credited to the appropriation for operating expenses 

of the Coast Guard.’’; 

(2) in section 80302— 

(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘An ice patrol vessel’’ 

and inserting ‘‘The ice patrol’’; 

(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘An ice patrol 

vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice patrol’’; and 

(C) in the first sentence of subsection (d), by striking 

‘‘vessels’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 80304. Limitation on ice patrol data 

‘‘Notwithstanding sections 80301 and 80302, data collected by 

an ice patrol conducted by the Coast Guard under this chapter 

may not be disseminated to a vessel unless such vessel is— 

‘‘(1) documented under the laws of the United States; or 

‘‘(2) documented under the laws of a foreign country that 

made the payment or contribution required under section 

80301(b) for the year preceding the year in which the data 

is collected.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘80304. Limitation on ice patrol data.’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect on January 

1, 2017. 

46 USC 80301 

note. 

46 USC 

prec. 80301. 

46 USC 80301. 


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128 STAT. 3050 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

SEC. 315. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY INSPECTION. 

Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), and by inserting 

after subsection (e) the following: 

‘‘(f)(1) Upon request of an owner or operator of an offshore 

supply vessel, the Secretary shall delegate the authorities set forth 

in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) with respect to such vessel to 

a classification society to which a delegation is authorized under 

that paragraph. A delegation by the Secretary under this subsection 

shall be used for any vessel inspection and examination function 

carried out by the Secretary, including the issuance of certificates 

of inspection and all other related documents. 

‘‘(2) If the Secretary determines that a certificate of inspection 

or related document issued under authority delegated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect to a vessel has reduced 

the operational safety of that vessel, the Secretary may terminate 

the certificate or document, respectively. 

‘‘(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 

of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 

Act of 2014, and for each year of the subsequent 2-year period, 

the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

a report describing— 

‘‘(A) the number of vessels for which a delegation was 

made under paragraph (1); 

‘‘(B) any savings in personnel and operational costs 

incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted from the delegations; 

and 

‘‘(C) based on measurable marine casualty and other data, 

any impacts of the delegations on the operational safety of 

vessels for which the delegations were made, and on the crew 

on those vessels.’’. 

SEC. 316. WATCHES. 

Section 8104 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘coal passers, firemen, 

oilers, and water tenders’’ and inserting ‘‘and oilers’’; and 

(2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘(except the coal passers, 

firemen, oilers, and water tenders)’’. 

SEC. 317. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 

(a) VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN CONTENTS.—The Secretary of the 

department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require 

that each vessel response plan prepared for a mobile offshore 

drilling unit includes information from the facility response plan 

prepared for the mobile offshore drilling unit regarding the planned 

response to a worst case discharge, and to a threat of such a 

discharge. 

(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNIT.—The term ‘‘mobile 

offshore drilling unit’’ has the meaning given that term in 

section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701). 

(2) RESPONSE PLAN.—The term ‘‘response plan’’ means a 

response plan prepared under section 311(j) of the Federal 

Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). 

33 USC 1321 

note. 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

Determination. 

Delegation 

authority. 

46 USC 3316. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3051 

(3) WORST CASE DISCHARGE.—The term ‘‘worst case discharge’’ has the meaning given that term under section 311(a) 

of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)). 

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to require the Coast Guard to review or approve a facility 

response plan for a mobile offshore drilling unit. 

SEC. 318. REGIONAL CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

Section 5002(k)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 

2732(k)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘not more than $1,000,000’’ 

and inserting ‘‘not less than $1,400,000’’. 

SEC. 319. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE UNITED STATES 

VIRGIN ISLANDS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4105 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and 

(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b)(1) In applying this title with respect to an uninspected 

vessel of less than 24 meters overall in length that carries passengers to or from a port in the United States Virgin Islands, 

the Secretary shall substitute ‘12 passengers’ for ‘6 passengers’ 

each place it appears in section 2101(42) if the Secretary determines 

that the vessel complies with, as applicable to the vessel— 

‘‘(A) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small 

Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly referred to as the 

‘Yellow Code’), as published by the U.K. Maritime and 

Coastguard Agency and in effect on January 1, 2014; or 

‘‘(B) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small 

Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly referred to as the 

‘Blue Code’), as published by such agency and in effect 

on such date. 

‘‘(2) If the Secretary establishes standards to carry out 

this subsection— 

‘‘(A) such standards shall be identical to those established in the Codes of Practice referred to in paragraph 

(1); and 

‘‘(B) on any dates before the date on which such standards are in effect, the Codes of Practice referred to in 

paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to the vessels 

referred to in paragraph (1).’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 4105(c) of title 46, United 

States Code, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, 

is amended by striking ‘‘Within twenty-four months of the date 

of enactment of this subsection, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 

SEC. 320. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 111 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers 

‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Treasury 

a separate account to be known as the Abandoned Seafarers 

Fund. 

‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED USES.—Amounts in the Fund may be 

appropriated to the Secretary for use— 

‘‘(A) to pay necessary support of a seafarer— 

46 USC 11113. 

Applicability. 

Standards. 

Applicability. 

Determination. 

46 USC 4105. 


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128 STAT. 3052 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(i) who— 

‘‘(I) was paroled into the United States under 

section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)), or for whom the 

Secretary has requested parole under such section; 

and 

‘‘(II) is involved in an investigation, reporting, 

documentation, or adjudication of any matter that 

is related to the administration or enforcement 

of law by the Coast Guard; or 

‘‘(ii) who— 

‘‘(I) is physically present in the United States; 

‘‘(II) the Secretary determines was abandoned 

in the United States; and 

‘‘(III) has not applied for asylum under the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 

et seq.); and 

‘‘(B) to reimburse a vessel owner or operator for the 

costs of necessary support of a seafarer who has been 

paroled into the United States to facilitate an investigation, 

reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any matter 

that is related to the administration or enforcement of 

law by the Coast Guard, if— 

‘‘(i) the vessel owner or operator is not convicted 

of a criminal offense related to such matter; or 

‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that reimbursement 

is appropriate. 

‘‘(3) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 

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

(B), there shall be credited to the Fund the following: 

‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund under section 

9 of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 

1908). 

‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recovered under subsection (c). 

‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be credited to the 

Fund under subparagraph (A) only if the unobligated balance of the Fund is less than $5,000,000. 

‘‘(4) REPORT REQUIRED.—On the date on which the President submits each budget for a fiscal year pursuant to section 

1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate a report that describes— 

‘‘(A) the amounts credited to the Fund under paragraph 

(2) for the preceding fiscal year; and 

‘‘(B) amounts in the Fund that were expended for the 

preceding fiscal year. 

‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed— 

‘‘(1) to create a private right of action or any other right, 

benefit, or entitlement to necessary support for any person; 

or 

‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reimburse the cost 

of necessary support. 

‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT; RECOVERY.— 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3053 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A vessel owner or operator shall 

reimburse the Fund an amount equal to the total amount 

paid from the Fund for necessary support of a seafarer, if— 

‘‘(A) the vessel owner or operator— 

‘‘(i) during the course of an investigation, reporting, 

documentation, or adjudication of any matter under 

this Act that the Coast Guard referred to a United 

States attorney or the Attorney General, fails to provide necessary support of a seafarer who was paroled 

into the United States to facilitate the investigation, 

reporting, documentation, or adjudication; and 

‘‘(ii) subsequently is— 

‘‘(I) convicted of a criminal offense related to 

such matter; or 

‘‘(II) required to reimburse the Fund pursuant 

to a court order or negotiated settlement related 

to such matter; or 

‘‘(B) the vessel owner or operator abandons a seafarer 

in the United States, as determined by the Secretary based 

on substantial evidence. 

‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT.—If a vessel owner or operator fails 

to reimburse the Fund under paragraph (1) within 60 days 

after receiving a written, itemized description of reimbursable 

expenses and a demand for payment, the Secretary may— 

‘‘(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on which the 

seafarer served in the Federal district court for the district 

in which the vessel is found; and 

‘‘(B) withhold or revoke the clearance required under 

section 60105 for the vessel and any other vessel operated 

by the same operator (as that term is defined in section 

2(9)(a) of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 

1901(9)(a)) as the vessel on which the seafarer served. 

‘‘(3) OBTAINING CLEARANCE.—A vessel may obtain clearance 

from the Secretary after it is withheld or revoked under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel owner or operator— 

‘‘(A) reimburses the Fund the amount required under 

paragraph (1); or 

‘‘(B) provides a bond, or other evidence of financial 

responsibility, sufficient to meet the amount required to 

be reimbursed under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall notify 

the vessel at least 72 hours before taking any action under 

paragraph (2)(B). 

‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) ABANDONS; ABANDONED.—Each of the terms ‘abandons’ 

and ‘abandoned’ means— 

‘‘(A) a vessel owner’s or operator’s unilateral severance 

of ties with a seafarer; or 

‘‘(B) a vessel owner’s or operator’s failure to provide 

necessary support of a seafarer. 

‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under this section. 

‘‘(3) NECESSARY SUPPORT.—The term ‘necessary support’ 

means normal wages and expenses the Secretary considers 

reasonable for lodging, subsistence, clothing, medical care 

(including hospitalization), repatriation, and any other support 

the Secretary considers to be appropriate. 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 


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128 STAT. 3054 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(4) SEAFARER.—The term ‘seafarer’ means an alien crew 

member who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board 

a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 

‘‘(5) VESSEL SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED

STATES.—The term ‘vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the 

United States’ has the meaning given that term in section 

70502(c), except that it does not include a vessel that is— 

‘‘(A) owned, or operated under a bareboat charter, by 

the United States, a State or political subdivision thereof, 

or a foreign nation; and 

‘‘(B) not engaged in commerce.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers.’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the Act to Prevent 

Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908) is amended by adding at 

the end the following: 

‘‘(g) Any penalty collected under subsection (a) or (b) that 

is not paid under that subsection to the person giving information 

leading to the conviction or assessment of such penalties shall 

be deposited in the Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under 

section 11113 of title 46, United States Code.’’. 

SEC. 321. WEBSITE. 

(a) REPORTS TO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION; INCIDENTS

AND DETAILS.—Section 3507(g)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘the incident to an Internet 

based portal maintained by the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘each 

incident specified in clause (i) to the Internet website maintained by the Secretary of Transportation under paragraph 

(4)(A)’’; and 

(2) in clause (iii) by striking ‘‘based portal maintained 

by the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘website maintained by the 

Secretary of Transportation under paragraph (4)(A)’’. 

(b) AVAILABILITY OF INCIDENT DATA ON INTERNET.—Section 

3507(g)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(A) WEBSITE.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 

shall maintain a statistical compilation of all incidents 

on board a cruise vessel specified in paragraph (3)(A)(i) 

on an Internet website that provides a numerical 

accounting of the missing persons and alleged crimes 

reported under that paragraph without regard to the 

investigative status of the incident. 

‘‘(ii) UPDATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The 

compilation under clause (i) shall— 

‘‘(I) be updated not less frequently than quarterly; 

‘‘(II) be able to be sorted by cruise line; 

‘‘(III) identify each cruise line by name; 

‘‘(IV) identify each crime or alleged crime committed or allegedly committed by a passenger or 

crewmember; 

Deadlines. 

46 USC 3507. 

46 USC 

prec. 11101. 


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‘‘(V) identify the number of individuals alleged 

overboard; and 

‘‘(VI) include the approximate number of passengers and crew carried by each cruise line during 

each quarterly reporting period. 

‘‘(iii) USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT.—The Secretary of 

Transportation shall ensure that the compilation, data, 

and any other information provided on the Internet 

website maintained under this subparagraph are in 

a user-friendly format. The Secretary shall, to the 

greatest extent practicable, use existing commercial 

off the shelf technology to transfer and establish the 

website, and shall not independently develop software, 

or acquire new hardware in operating the site.’’; and 

(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’. 

SEC. 322. COAST GUARD REGULATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an analysis of the Coast Guard’s proposed promulgation 

of safety and environmental management system requirements for 

vessels engaged in Outer Continental Shelf activities. The analysis 

shall include— 

(1) a discussion of any new operational, management, 

design and construction, financial, and other mandates that 

would be imposed on vessel owners and operators; 

(2) an estimate of all associated direct and indirect operational, management, personnel, training, vessel design and 

construction, record keeping, and other costs; 

(3) an identification and justification of any of such proposed requirements that exceed those in international conventions applicable to the design, construction, operation, and 

management of vessels engaging in United States Outer Continental Shelf activities; and 

(4) an identification of exemptions to the proposed requirements, that are based upon vessel classification, tonnage, offshore activity or function, alternative certifications, or any other 

appropriate criteria. 

(b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not issue proposed regulations relating to safety and environmental management system 

requirements for vessels on the United States Outer Continental 

Shelf for which noticed was published on September 10, 2013 (78 

Fed. Reg. 55230) earlier than 6 months after the submittal of 

the analysis required by subsection (a). 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

COMMISSION 

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for fiscal year 2015. 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 

Analysis. 


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128 STAT. 3056 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

SEC. 402. AWARD OF REPARATIONS. 

Section 41305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, plus reasonable attorney 

fees’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e) ATTORNEY FEES.—In any action brought under section 

41301, the prevailing party may be awarded reasonable attorney 

fees.’’. 

SEC. 403. TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(b) of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) TERMS.—The term of each Commissioner is 5 years. 

When the term of a Commissioner ends, the Commissioner 

may continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified, but for a period not to exceed one year. Except as provided 

in paragraph (3), no individual may serve more than 2 terms.’’; 

and 

(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5), and 

inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy shall be filled in the same 

manner as the original appointment. An individual appointed 

to fill a vacancy is appointed only for the unexpired term 

of the individual being succeeded. An individual appointed to 

fill a vacancy may serve 2 terms in addition to the remainder 

of the term for which the predecessor of that individual was 

appointed. 

‘‘(4) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 

‘‘(A) LIMITATION ON RELATIONSHIPS WITH REGULATED

ENTITIES.—A Commissioner may not have a pecuniary 

interest in, hold an official relation to, or own stocks or 

bonds of any entity the Commission regulates under 

chapter 401 of this title. 

‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON OTHER ACTIVITIES.—A Commissioner may not engage in another business, vocation, or 

employment.’’. 

(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) 

does not apply with respect to a Commissioner of the Federal 

Maritime Commission appointed and confirmed by the Senate before 

the date of the enactment of this Act. 

TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME 

TRANSPORTATION 

SEC. 501. ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION. 

(a) ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION.—Chapter 5 of title 14, 

United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 89 the 

following: 

‘‘§ 90. Arctic maritime transportation 

‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to ensure safe 

and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic including the availability 

of aids to navigation, vessel escorts, spill response capability, and 

maritime search and rescue in the Arctic. 

Safety. 

14 USC 90. 

46 USC 301 note. 


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‘‘(b) INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION AGREEMENTS.— 

To carry out the purpose of this section, the Secretary is encouraged 

to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime 

Organization to conclude and execute agreements to promote coordinated action among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, 

Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic nations to 

ensure, in the Arctic— 

‘‘(1) placement and maintenance of aids to navigation; 

‘‘(2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and salvage capabilities; 

‘‘(3) oil spill prevention and response capability; 

‘‘(4) maritime domain awareness, including long-range 

vessel tracking; and 

‘‘(5) search and rescue. 

‘‘(c) COORDINATION BY COMMITTEE ON THE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—The Committee on the Maritime Transportation 

System established under section 55501 of title 46, United States 

Code, shall coordinate the establishment of domestic transportation 

policies in the Arctic necessary to carry out the purpose of this 

section. 

‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary may, subject 

to the availability of appropriations, enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements with, or make grants to, 

individuals and governments to carry out the purpose of this section 

or any agreements established under subsection (b). 

‘‘(e) ICEBREAKING.—The Secretary shall promote safe maritime 

navigation by means of icebreaking where necessary, feasible, and 

effective to carry out the purposes of this section. 

‘‘(f) ARCTIC DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘Arctic’? has 

the meaning given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Research 

and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 89 the 

following: 

‘‘90. Arctic maritime transportation’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 307 of the Coast Guard 

Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 14 U.S.C. 92 note) 

is repealed. 

SEC. 502. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 154. Arctic maritime domain awareness 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall improve maritime 

domain awareness in the Arctic— 

‘‘(1) by promoting interagency cooperation and coordination; 

‘‘(2) by employing joint, interagency, and international 

capabilities; and 

‘‘(3) by facilitating the sharing of information, intelligence, 

and data related to the Arctic maritime domain between the 

Coast Guard and departments and agencies listed in subsection 

(b). 

‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Commandant shall seek to coordinate 

the collection, sharing, and use of information, intelligence, and 

14 USC 154. 

14 USC prec. 81. 

Foreign nations. 


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128 STAT. 3058 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

data related to the Arctic maritime domain between the Coast 

Guard and the following: 

‘‘(1) The Department of Homeland Security. 

‘‘(2) The Department of Defense. 

‘‘(3) The Department of Transportation. 

‘‘(4) The Department of State. 

‘‘(5) The Department of the Interior. 

‘‘(6) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

‘‘(7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

‘‘(8) The Environmental Protection Agency. 

‘‘(9) The National Science Foundation. 

‘‘(10) The Arctic Research Commission. 

‘‘(11) Any Federal agency or commission or State the Commandant determines is appropriate. 

‘‘(c) COOPERATION.—The Commandant and the head of a department or agency listed in subsection (b) may by agreement, on 

a reimbursable basis or otherwise, share personnel, services, equipment, and facilities to carry out the requirements of this section. 

‘‘(d) 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than January 1, 2016 

and every 5 years thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives a 5-year strategic plan to guide 

interagency and international intergovernmental cooperation and 

coordination for the purpose of improving maritime domain awareness in the Arctic. 

‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section the term ‘Arctic’ has the 

meaning given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Research 

and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 153 the 

following: 

‘‘154. Arctic maritime domain awareness.’’. 

SEC. 503. IMO POLAR CODE NEGOTIATIONS. 

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, and thereafter with the submission of the budget proposal 

submitted for each of fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018 under 

section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of the 

department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate, a report on— 

(1) the status of the negotiations at the International Maritime Organization regarding the establishment of a draft international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters, 

popularly known as the Polar Code, and any amendments proposed by such a code to be made to the International Convention 

for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention 

for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships; 

(2) the coming into effect of such a code and such amendments for nations that are parties to those conventions; 

(3) impacts, for coastal communities located in the Arctic 

(as that term is defined in the section 112 of the Arctic Research 

and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111)) of such a code or 

such amendments, on— 

(A) the costs of delivering fuel and freight; and 

Deadline. 

Reports. 

14 USC 

prec. 141. 

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3059 

(B) the safety of maritime transportation; and 

(4) actions the Secretary must take to implement the 

requirements of such a code and such amendments. 

SEC. 504. FORWARD OPERATING FACILITIES. 

The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating may construct facilities in the Arctic (as that term 

is defined in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act 

of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). The facilities shall— 

(1) support aircraft maintenance, including exhaust ventilation, heat, an engine wash system, fuel, ground support services, and electrical power; 

(2) provide shelter for both current helicopter assets and 

those projected to be located at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, 

for at least 20 years; and 

(3) include accommodations for personnel. 

SEC. 505. ICEBREAKERS. 

(a) COAST GUARD POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—Section 222 of the 

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public 

Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (d)(2)— 

(A) in the paragraph heading by striking ‘‘; BRIDGING

STRATEGY’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘Commandant of the Coast Guard’’ 

and all that follows through the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; 

(2) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If in the analysis submitted under this section the Secretary does not make a determination under subsection (a)(5) regarding whether it is cost 

effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, then— 

‘‘(A) the Commandant of the Coast Guard may 

decommission the Polar Sea; or 

‘‘(B) the Secretary may make such determination, not 

later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 

Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 

Act of 2014, and take actions in accordance with this subsection as though such determination was made in the 

analysis previously submitted.’’; 

(3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and 

(4) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: 

‘‘(e) STRATEGIES.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

on which the analysis required under subsection (a) is submitted, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 

‘‘(A) unless the Secretary makes a determination under 

this section that it is cost effective to reactivate the Polar 

Sea, a bridging strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard’s 

polar icebreaking services until at least September 30, 

2024; 

‘‘(B) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s Arctic ice 

operations needs through September 30, 2050; and 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 


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128 STAT. 3060 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(C) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s Antarctic 

ice operations needs through September 30, 2050 

‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—The strategies required under paragraph (1) shall include a business case analysis comparing 

the leasing and purchasing of icebreakers to maintain the needs 

and services described in that paragraph.’’. 

(b) CUTTER ‘‘POLAR SEA’’.—Upon the submission of a service 

life extension plan in accordance with section 222(d)(1)(C) of the 

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public 

Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560), the Secretary of the department 

in which the Coast Guard is operating may use funds authorized 

under section 101 of this Act to conduct a service life extension 

of 7 to 10 years for the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea (WAGB 

11) in accordance with such plan. 

(c) LIMITATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating may not expend amounts appropriated for the Coast Guard for any of fiscal years 2015 through 

2024, for— 

(A) design activities related to a capability of a PolarClass Icebreaker that is based solely on an operational 

requirement of another Federal department or agency, 

except for amounts appropriated for design activities for 

a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016; or 

(B) long-lead-time materials, production, or postdelivery activities related to such a capability. 

(2) OTHER AMOUNTS.—Amounts made available to the Secretary under an agreement with another Federal department 

or agency and expended on a capability of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that is based solely on an operational requirement 

of that or another Federal department or agency shall not 

be treated as amounts expended by the Secretary for purposes 

of the limitation established under paragraph (1). 

SEC. 506. ICEBREAKING IN POLAR REGIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 86 the following: 

‘‘§ 87. Icebreaking in polar regions 

‘‘The President shall facilitate planning for the design, procurement, maintenance, deployment, and operation of icebreakers as 

needed to support the statutory missions of the Coast Guard in 

the polar regions by allocating all funds to support icebreaking 

operations in such regions, except for recurring incremental costs 

associated with specific projects, to the Coast Guard.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 86 the 

following: 

‘‘87. Icebreaking in polar regions.’’. 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 

Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 

Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended— 

(1) by striking subsections (c) and (e); and 

14 USC prec. 81. 

President. 

14 USC 87. 

Plans. 

Time period. 

Analysis. 


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(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (f) as subsections 

(c) and (d), respectively. 

SEC. 602. EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM. 

Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 note) is 

amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 603. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

Guard is operating, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

a national maritime strategy. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The strategy required under subsection (a) 

shall— 

(1) identify— 

(A) Federal regulations and policies that reduce the 

competitiveness of United States flag vessels in international transportation markets; and 

(B) the impact of reduced cargo flow due to reductions 

in the number of members of the United States Armed 

Forces stationed or deployed outside of the United States; 

and 

(2) include recommendations to— 

(A) make United States flag vessels more competitive 

in shipping routes between United States and foreign ports; 

(B) increase the use of United States flag vessels to 

carry cargo imported to and exported from the United 

States; 

(C) ensure compliance by Federal agencies with chapter 

553 of title 46, United States Code; 

(D) increase the use of third-party inspection and certification authorities to inspect and certify vessels; 

(E) increase the use of short sea transportation routes, 

including routes designated under section 55601(c) of title 

46, United States Code, to enhance intermodal freight 

movements; and 

(F) enhance United States shipbuilding capability. 

SEC. 604. WAIVERS. 

(a) ‘‘JOHN CRAIG’’.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8902 of title 46, United States 

Code, shall not apply to the vessel John Craig (United States 

official number D1110613) when such vessel is operating on 

the portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, located at approximately mile point 158, in Pool Number 9, between Lock and 

Dam Number 9 and Lock and Dam Number 10. 

(2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply on and after 

the date on which the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating determines that a licensing 

requirement has been established under Kentucky State law 

that applies to an operator of the vessel John Craig. 

(b) ‘‘F/V WESTERN CHALLENGER’’.—Notwithstanding section 

12132 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate 

Recommendations. 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 


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128 STAT. 3062 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the F/V Western 

Challenger (IMO number 5388108). 

SEC. 605. COMPETITION BY UNITED STATES FLAG VESSELS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 

enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 

to conduct an assessment of authorities under subtitle II of title 

46, United States Code, that have been delegated to the Coast 

Guard and that impact the ability of vessels documented under 

the laws of the United States to effectively compete in international 

transportation markets. 

(b) REVIEW OF DIFFERENCES WITH IMO STANDARDS.—The 

assessment under subsection (a) shall include a review of differences 

between United States laws, policies, regulations, and guidance 

governing the inspection of vessels documented under the laws 

of the United States and standards set by the International Maritime Organization governing the inspection of vessels. 

(c) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which 

the Commandant enters into an arrangement with the National 

Academy of Sciences under subsection (a), the Commandant shall 

submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment required 

under such subsection. 

SEC. 606. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICES OF ARRIVAL AND 

DEPARTURE AND AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. 

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating shall notify the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the 

status of the final rule that relates to the notice of proposed rulemaking titled ‘‘Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival and 

Departure, and Automatic Identification System’’ and published 

in the Federal Register on December 16, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 76295). 

SEC. 607. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN ROCHESTER, 

NEW YORK. 

(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of the Coast 

Guard is authorized to convey, at fair market value, all right, 

title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 

property, consisting of approximately 0.2 acres, that is under the 

administrative control of the Coast Guard and located at 527 River 

Street in Rochester, New York. 

(b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The City of Rochester, New 

York, shall have the right of first refusal with respect to the 

purchase, at fair market value, of the real property described in 

subsection (a). 

(c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description of the 

property described in subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey 

satisfactory to the Commandant. 

(d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of the property 

described in subsection (a) shall— 

(1) be determined by appraisal; and 

(2) be subject to the approval of the Commandant. 

(e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate transaction and 

Deadline. 

Notification. 

Regulations. 

Contracts. 

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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3063 

environmental documentation costs, associated with a conveyance 

under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Commandant and 

the purchaser. 

(f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Commandant 

may require such additional terms and conditions in connection 

with a conveyance under subsection (a) as the Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests of the 

United States. 

(g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds from a conveyance 

under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the fund established 

under section 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

SEC. 608. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY IN GIG HARBOR, 

WASHINGTON. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 

apply: 

(1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of Gig Harbor, 

Washington. 

(2) PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘Property’’ means the parcel of 

real property, together with any improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 0.86 acres of fast lands commonly 

identified as tract 65 of lot 1 of section 8, township 21 north, 

range 2 east, Willamette Meridian, on the north side of the 

entrance of Gig Harbor, narrows of Puget Sound, Washington. 

(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior. 

(b) CONVEYANCE.— 

(1) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.—Not later than 30 days after 

the date on which the Secretary of the department in which 

the Coast Guard is operating relinquishes the reservation of 

the Property for lighthouse purposes, at the request of the 

City and subject to the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall convey to the City all right, title, and interest 

of the United States in and to the Property, notwithstanding 

the land use planning requirements of sections 202 and 203 

of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 

U.S.C. 1712, 1713). 

(2) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.—A conveyance made under 

paragraph (1) shall be made— 

(A) subject to valid existing rights; 

(B) at the fair market value as described in subsection 

(c); and 

(C) subject to any other condition that the Secretary 

may consider appropriate to protect the interests of the 

United States. 

(3) COSTS.—The City shall pay any transaction or administrative costs associated with a conveyance under paragraph 

(1), including the costs of the appraisal, title searches, maps, 

and boundary and cadastral surveys. 

(4) CONVEYANCE IS NOT A MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION.—A 

conveyance under paragraph (1) shall not be considered a major 

Federal action for purposes of section 102(2) of the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)). 

(c) FAIR MARKET VALUE.— 

(1) DETERMINATION.—The fair market value of the Property 

shall be— 

Deadline. 


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128 STAT. 3064 PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 

(A) determined by an appraisal conducted by an independent appraiser selected by the Secretary; and 

(B) approved by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (3). 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—An appraisal conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 

(A) be conducted in accordance with nationally recognized appraisal standards, including— 

(i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal 

Land Acquisitions; and 

(ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional 

Appraisal Practice; and 

(B) shall reflect the equitable considerations described 

in paragraph (3). 

(3) EQUITABLE CONSIDERATIONS.—In approving the fair 

market value of the Property under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration matters of equity and fairness, including the City’s past and current lease of the Property, 

any maintenance or improvements by the City to the Property, 

and such other factors as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(d) REVOCATION; REVERSION.—Effective on and after the date 

on which a conveyance of the Property is made under subsection 

(b)(1)— 

(1) Executive Order 3528, dated August 9, 1921, is revoked; 

and 

(2) the use of the tide and shore lands belonging to the 

State of Washington and adjoining and bordering the Property, 

that were granted to the Government of the United States 

pursuant to the Act of the Legislature, State of Washington, 

approved March 13, 1909, the same being chapter 110 of the 

Session Laws of 1909, shall revert to the State of Washington. 

SEC. 609. VESSEL DETERMINATION. 

The vessel assigned United States official number 1205366 

is deemed a new vessel effective on the date of delivery of the 

vessel after January 1, 2012, from a privately owned United States 

shipyard, if no encumbrances are on record with the Coast Guard 

at the time of the issuance of the new certificate of documentation 

for the vessel. 

SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THUNDER BAY. 

The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

Agency may not prohibit a vessel operating within the existing 

boundaries and any future expanded boundaries of the Thunder 

Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve from 

taking up or discharging ballast water to allow for safe and efficient 

vessel operation if the uptake or discharge meets all Federal and 

State ballast water management requirements that would apply 

if the area were not a marine sanctuary. 

SEC. 611. PARKING FACILITIES. 

(a) ALLOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements of this section, the Administrator of General Services, in coordination 

with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall allocate and 

assign the spaces in parking facilities at the Department of 

Homeland Security St. Elizabeths Campus to allow any member 

Coordination. 

District of 

Columbia. 

Effective date. 

Effective date. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–281—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3065 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2444 (H.R. 5769): 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014): 

Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate and House. 

Æ 

or employee of the Coast Guard, who is assigned to the Campus, 

to use such spaces. 

(2) TIMING.—In carrying out paragraph (1), and in addition 

to the parking spaces allocated and assigned to Coast Guard 

members and employees in fiscal year 2014, the Administrator 

shall allocate and assign not less than— 

(A) 300 parking spaces not later than September 30, 

2015; 

(B) 700 parking spaces not later than September 30, 

2016; and 

(C) 1,042 parking spaces not later than September 

30, 2017. 

(b) TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT REPORT.—Not later than 

1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each fiscal 

year thereafter in which spaces are allocated and assigned under 

subsection (a)(2), the Administrator shall provide to the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives a report on— 

(1) the impact of assigning and allocating parking spaces 

under subsection (a) on the congestion of roads connecting 

the St. Elizabeths Campus to the portions of Suitland Parkway 

and I–295 located in the Anacostia section of the District of 

Columbia; and 

(2) progress made toward completion of essential transportation improvements identified in the Transportation Management Program for the St. Elizabeths Campus. 

(c) REALLOCATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 

Administrator may revise the allocation and assignment of spaces 

to members and employees of the Coast Guard made under subsection (a) as necessary to accommodate employees of the Department of Homeland Security, other than the Coast Guard, when 

such employees are assigned to the St. Elizabeths Campus. 

Approved December 18, 2014. 

Deadlines. 


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