IB 

Union Calendar No. 411 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7659 

[Report No. 118–495] 

To authorize and amend authorities, programs, and statutes administered 

by the Coast Guard. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 13, 2024 

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, and Mr. CARBAJAL) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

MAY 8, 2024 

Additional sponsor: Mrs. GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N

MAY 8, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 13, 2024] 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7659 RH

A BILL 

To authorize and amend authorities, programs, and statutes 

administered by the Coast Guard. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Commandant defined. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 102. Shoreside infrastructure and facilities and information technology. 

Sec. 103. Availability of amounts for acquisition of additional vessels and aircraft. 

Sec. 104. Authorization for certain programs and services. 

Sec. 105. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Subtitle A—Organization and Authorities 

Sec. 201. Prohibition on use of lead systems integrators. 

Sec. 202. Minor construction increase. 

Sec. 203. Tsunami evacuation plans. 

Sec. 204. Service life extension programs. 

Sec. 205. Maritime domain awareness in Coast Guard sector for Puerto Rico and 

Virgin Islands. 

Sec. 206. Public availability of information on monthly drug and migrant interdictions. 

Sec. 207. Report on establishment of unmanned systems capabilities office. 

Sec. 208. Great Lakes icebreaker. 

Sec. 209. Consideration of life-cycle cost estimates for acquisition and procurement. 

Sec. 210. Authorization of certain support for Coast Guard Academy foundations. 

Sec. 211. National Coast Guard Museum. 

Sec. 212. Regular Polar Security Cutter updates. 

Sec. 213. Technology pilot program. 

Sec. 214. Report on condition of Missouri River dayboards. 

Sec. 215. Delegation of ports and waterways safety authorities in St. Lawrence 

seaway. 

Sec. 216. Study on Coast Guard missions. 

Sec. 217. Additional Pribilof Island transition completion actions. 

Subtitle B—Personnel 

Sec. 221. Direct hire authority for civilian faculty at the Coast Guard Academy. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7659 RH

Sec. 222. Temporary exemption from authorized end strength for Coast Guard enlisted members on active duty. 

Sec. 223. Additional available guidance and considerations for reserve selection 

boards. 

Sec. 224. Parental leave parity for members of certain reserve components of 

Coast Guard. 

Sec. 225. Authorization for maternity uniform allowance for officers. 

Sec. 226. Report on GAO recommendations on housing program. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Subtitle A—Vessel Operations 

Sec. 301. Definitions. 

Sec. 302. Notification. 

Sec. 303. Publication of fines and penalties. 

Subtitle B—Merchant Mariner Credentialing 

Sec. 311. Revising merchant mariner deck training requirements. 

Sec. 312. Amendments. 

Sec. 313. Renewal of merchant mariner licenses and documents. 

Sec. 314. Merchant seamen licenses, certificates, and documents; manning of vessels. 

Subtitle C—Vessel Safety 

Sec. 321. Grossly negligent operations of a vessel. 

Sec. 322. Administrative procedure for security risks. 

Sec. 323. Requirements for DUKW amphibious passenger vessels. 

Sec. 324. Risk based examination of tank vessels. 

Sec. 325. Ports and waterways safety. 

Sec. 326. Study on Bering Strait vessel traffic projections and emergency response posture at the port of Point Spencer, Alaska. 

Sec. 327. Underwater inspections brief. 

Sec. 328. St. Lucie River railroad bridge. 

Sec. 329. Rulemaking regarding port access routes. 

Sec. 330. Articulated tug-barge manning. 

Subtitle D—Other Matters 

Sec. 341. Anchor handling activities. 

Sec. 342. Establishment of National Advisory Committee on Autonomous Maritime Systems. 

Sec. 343. Controlled substance onboard vessels. 

Sec. 344. Nonoperating individual. 

Sec. 345. Information on type approval certificates. 

Sec. 346. Manning and crewing requirements for certain vessels, vehicles, and 

structures. 

Sec. 347. Classification societies. 

Sec. 348. Authority to establish safety zones for special activities in exclusive economic zone. 

Sec. 349. Fishing vessel and fisherman training safety. 

Sec. 350. Authority over Deepwater Port Act of 1974. 

Sec. 351. National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee composition. 

Sec. 352. Improving Vessel Traffic Service monitoring. 

Sec. 353. Abandoned and derelict vessel removals. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 7659 RH

Sec. 354. Near shore cable laying barge. 

Sec. 355. Anchorages. 

TITLE IV—OIL POLLUTION INCIDENT LIABILITY 

Sec. 401. Vessel response plans. 

Sec. 402. Use of marine casualty investigations. 

Sec. 403. Timing of review. 

Sec. 404. Online incident reporting system. 

TITLE V—IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND 

TRANSPARENCY REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS 

Sec. 501. Implementation status of directed actions. 

Sec. 502. Independent review of Coast Guard reforms. 

Sec. 503. Requirement to maintain certain records. 

Sec. 504. Study on Coast Guard Academy oversight. 

Sec. 505. Providing for the transfer of a cadet who is the victim of a sexual assault or related offense. 

Sec. 506. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or 

healthcare. 

Sec. 507. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of Coast Guard. 

Sec. 508. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard. 

Sec. 509. Modification of delivery date of Coast Guard sexual assault report. 

Sec. 510. Higher-level review of board of determination decisions. 

Sec. 511. Review of discharge or dismissal. 

Sec. 512. Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial. 

Sec. 513. Coast Guard Academy room reassignment. 

TITLE VI—AMENDMENTS 

Sec. 601. Amendments. 

1 SEC. 2. COMMANDANT DEFINED. 

2 In this Act, the term ‘‘Commandant’’ means the Com3 mandant of the Coast Guard. 

4 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF 

5 APPROPRIATIONS 

6 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

7 Section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, is amend8 ed— 

9 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 

10 striking ‘‘fiscal years 2022 and 2023’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘fiscal years 2025 and 2026’’; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) in paragraph (1)— 

2 (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking clauses 

3 (i) and (ii) and inserting the following: 

4 ‘‘(i) $11,287,500,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(ii) $11,851,875,000 for fiscal year 2026.’’; 

7 (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking 

8 ‘‘$23,456,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$25,570,000’’; and 

9 (C) in subparagraph (C) by striking 

10 ‘‘$24,353,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$26,848,500’’; 

11 (3) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clauses (i) 

12 and (ii) and inserting the following: 

13 ‘‘(i) $3,477,600,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

14 and 

15 ‘‘(ii) $3,651,480,000 for fiscal year 2026.’’; 

16 (4) in paragraph (3) by striking subparagraphs 

17 (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 

18 ‘‘(A) $15,415,000 for fiscal year 2025; and 

19 ‘‘(B) $16,185,750 for fiscal year 2026.’’; and 

20 (5) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 

21 following: 

22 ‘‘(4) For retired pay, including the payment of 

23 obligations otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropria24 tions for purposes of retired pay, payments under the 

25 Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan and the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Survivor Benefit Plan, payment for career status bo2 nuses, payment of continuation pay under section 

3 356 of title 37, concurrent receipts, combat-related 

4 special compensation, and payments for medical care 

5 of retired personnel and their dependents under chap6 ter 55 of title 10, $1,210,840,000 for fiscal year 

7 2025.’’. 

8 SEC. 102. SHORESIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES 

9 AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. 

10 (a) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.—Of the amounts au11 thorized to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of title 

12 14, United States Code— 

13 (1) for fiscal year 2025, $36,300,000 is author14 ized to modernize the Coast Guard’s information tech15 nology systems, of which $11,000,000 is authorized to 

16 fund the acquisition, development, and implementa17 tion of a new credentialing system for the Merchant 

18 Mariner credentialing program; and 

19 (2) for fiscal year 2026, $36,300,000 is author20 ized to modernize the Coast Guard’s information tech21 nology systems. 

22 (b) SHORESIDE INFRASTRUCTURE.—Of the amounts 

23 authorized to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of 

24 title 14, United States Code— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) for fiscal year 2025, $500,000,000 is author2 ized to fund maintenance, construction, and repairs 

3 for Coast Guard shoreside infrastructure, of which— 

4 (A) $225,000,000 is authorized for the pur5 poses of improvements to facilities at the United 

6 States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May 

7 in Cape May, New Jersey; 

8 (B) $10,000,000 is authorized to fund the 

9 creation of an infrastructure development plan 

10 for the Coast Guard Academy in New London, 

11 Connecticut; 

12 (C) $50,000,000 is authorized to complete 

13 repairs and improvements of Chase Hall at the 

14 Coast Guard Academy in New London, Con15 necticut, including remediation of asbestos, lead, 

16 and mold and upgrading the electric outlet 

17 availability and storage space in student rooms, 

18 and making changes to house not more than 2 

19 Officer Candidates in a room; 

20 (D) $70,000,000 is authorized for the pur21 poses of planning, designing, and building a 

22 floating drydock at the United States Coast 

23 Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland; 

24 (E) $40,000,000 is authorized for the pur25 poses of planning, designing, and building a 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 7659 RH

1 hangar to house, at a minimum, 2 HC–130J 

2 Super Hercules aircraft at Air Station Barbers 

3 Point in Kapolei, Hawaii; and 

4 (F) $90,000,000 is authorized to fund wa5 terfront improvements of Coast Guard Base Se6 attle; and 

7 (2) for fiscal year 2026, $600,000,000 is author8 ized to fund maintenance, construction, and repairs 

9 for Coast Guard shoreside infrastructure, of which— 

10 (A) $125,000,000 is authorized for the pur11 poses of improvements to facilities at the United 

12 States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May 

13 in Cape May, New Jersey; 

14 (B) $100,000,000 is authorized to execute 

15 the infrastructure development plan for the Coast 

16 Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut de17 veloped in paragraph (1)(C); 

18 (C) $100,000,000 is authorized for the pur19 poses of planning, designing, and building a 

20 floating drydock at the United States Coast 

21 Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland; 

22 (D) $40,000,000 is authorized for the pur23 poses of planning, designing, and building a 

24 hangar to house at a minimum 2 HC–130J 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Super Hercules aircraft at Air Station Barbers 

2 Point in Kapolei, Hawaii; and 

3 (E) $90,000,000 is authorized to fund wa4 terfront improvements of Coast Guard Base Se5 attle. 

6 SEC. 103. AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS FOR ACQUISITION OF 

7 ADDITIONAL VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT. 

8 (a) FISCAL YEAR 2025.—Of the amounts authorized 

9 to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of title 14, 

10 United States Code, for fiscal year 2025— 

11 (1) $138,500,000 is authorized for the acquisi12 tion or procurement of 1 missionized HC–130J Super 

13 Hercules aircraft; and 

14 (2) $36,000,000 is authorized for the service life 

15 extension program and any necessary upgrades of the 

16 47-foot Motor Life Boat. 

17 (b) FISCAL YEAR 2026.—Of the amounts authorized 

18 to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of title 14, 

19 United States Code, for fiscal year 2026— 

20 (1) $1,200,000,000 is authorized for the acquisi21 tion of a Polar Security Cutter; 

22 (2) $1,100,000,000 is authorized for the acquisi23 tion of 2 Offshore Patrol Cutters; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (3) $138,500,000 is authorized for the acquisi2 tion or procurement of 1 missionized HC–130J Super 

3 Hercules aircraft; and 

4 (4) $153,500,000 is authorized to outfit and as5 semble 5 MH–60T Jayhawk aircrafts. 

6 SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND 

7 SERVICES. 

8 (a) FISCAL YEAR 2025.—Of the amounts authorized 

9 to be appropriated under section 4902(1)(A) of title 14, 

10 United States Code, for fiscal year 2025— 

11 (1) $11,978,000 is authorized to fund additional 

12 recruiting personnel and offices for the Coast Guard 

13 Recruiting Command; 

14 (2) $9,000,000 is authorized to enhance Coast 

15 Guard recruiting capabilities; and 

16 (3) $25,000,000 is authorized for the implemen17 tation of each directed action outlined in enclosure 1 

18 of the memorandum of the Commandant titled ‘‘Com19 mandant’s Directed Actions-Accountability and 

20 Transparency’’, dated November 27, 2023. 

21 (b) FISCAL YEAR 2026.—Of the amounts authorized 

22 to be appropriated under section 4902(1)(A) of title 14, 

23 United States Code, $35,000,000 is authorized for the im24 plementation of each directed action outlined in enclosure 

25 1 of the memorandum of the Commandant titled ‘‘ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 7659 RH

1 mandant’s Directed Actions-Accountability and Trans2 parency’’, dated November 27, 2023. 

3 SEC. 105. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 

4 AND TRAINING. 

5 Section 4904 of title 14, United States Code, is amend6 ed— 

7 (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘fiscal years 

8 2022 and 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2025 and 

9 2026’’; and 

10 (2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘fiscal years 

11 2022 and 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2025 and 

12 2026’’. 

13 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

14 Subtitle A—Organization and 

15 Authorities 

16 SEC. 201. PROHIBITION ON USE OF LEAD SYSTEMS INTE17 GRATORS. 

18 Section 1105 of title 14, United States Code, is amend19 ed by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(c) LEAD SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR DEFINED.—In this 

21 section, the term ‘lead systems integrator’ has the meaning 

22 given such term in section 805(c) of the National Defense 

23 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109– 

24 163).’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 202. MINOR CONSTRUCTION INCREASE. 

2 Section 903(d)(1) of title 14, United States Code, is 

3 amended by striking ‘‘$1,500,000’’ and inserting 

4 ‘‘$2,000,000’’. 

5 SEC. 203. TSUNAMI EVACUATION PLANS. 

6 (a) TSUNAMI EVACUATION PLANS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant, 

9 in consultation with the Administrator of the Na10 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 

11 the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage12 ment Agency, shall establish location specific tsunami 

13 evacuation plans for each unit and sector of the Coast 

14 Guard that has facilities, personnel, or assets located 

15 within areas— 

16 (A) designated by the Administrator of the 

17 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra18 tion as high risk or very high risk of a United 

19 States tsunami hazard; and 

20 (B) that are located inside a tsunami inun21 dation zone. 

22 (2) EVACUATION PLANS.—In establishing the 

23 evacuation plans under paragraph (1), the Com24 mandant shall ensure that such plans— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (A) are included in the emergency action 

2 plans for each unit or sector located inside of a 

3 tsunami inundation zone; 

4 (B) designate an evacuation route to an as5 sembly area located outside of a tsunami inun6 dation zone; 

7 (C) include a map or diagram of all tsu8 nami inundation zone evacuation routes; 

9 (D) include evacuation routes for all Coast 

10 Guard personnel and dependents of such per11 sonnel living in Coast Guard housing; 

12 (E) are feasible for all servicemembers and 

13 dependents of such servicemembers present on 

14 Coast Guard property or living in Coast Guard 

15 provided housing; 

16 (F) include procedures to begin evacuations 

17 once a major seismic event is detected; 

18 (G) include evacuation plans for air and 

19 water assets that do not impinge on the safety of 

20 human life; 

21 (H) are able to be completely executed with22 in 15 minutes of detection of a seismic event or, 

23 if not possible within 15 minutes, within a rea24 sonable timeframe; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
15 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (I) are able to be completely executed by 

2 servicemembers on foot from any location within 

3 the tsunami inundation zone; 

4 (J) are exercised biennially by each unit 

5 and sector located in a tsunami inundation zone; 

6 and 

7 (K) are evaluated by leadership at each unit 

8 and sector located in a tsunami inundation zone 

9 annually. 

10 (3) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the evacu11 ation plans under paragraph (1), the Commandant 

12 shall consult local governments. 

13 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

14 of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to 

15 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

16 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

17 Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and provide a 

18 briefing to each such Committee on, a report on— 

19 (1) the status of the implementation and feasi20 bility of the plans established under subsection (a)(1); 

21 (2) a risk evaluation and vulnerability assess22 ment of the infrastructure and assets located within 

23 tsunami inundation zones; 

24 (3) the need for vertical evacuation structures for 

25 units and sectors in which an evacuation of a tsuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
16 

•HR 7659 RH

1 nami inundation zone cannot be completed on foot 

2 within 15 minutes of the detection of a seismic event; 

3 and 

4 (4) whether the plans established under sub5 section (a)(1) achieve the purpose to protect human 

6 life and ensure the ability for the Coast Guard to pro7 vide search and rescue operations following a tsunami 

8 event in the area. 

9 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

10 (1) SEISMIC EVENT.—The term ‘‘seismic event’’ 

11 means an earthquake, volcanic eruption, submarine 

12 landslide, coastal rockfall, or other event with the 

13 magnitude to cause a tsunami. 

14 (2) TSUNAMI INUNDATION ZONE.—The term 

15 ‘‘tsunami inundation zone’’ means an area of inland 

16 flooding modeled, predicted, or forecasted as a poten17 tial result of a tsunami or seismic event. 

18 (3) VERTICAL EVACUATION STRUCTURE.—The 

19 term ‘‘vertical evacuation structure’’ means an ele20 vated structure above the tsunami inundation zone 

21 designated as a place of refuge from flood waters. 

22 SEC. 204. SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAMS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 11 of title 

24 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

25 the following: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
17 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘§ 1138. Service life extension programs 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Requirements for a Level 1 or 

3 Level 2 acquisition project or program under sections 1131 

4 through 1134 shall not apply to an acquisition by the Coast 

5 Guard that is a service life extension program. 

6 ‘‘(b) SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM DEFINED.— 

7 In this section, the term ‘service life extension program’ 

8 means a capital investment that is solely intended to extend 

9 the service life and address obsolescence of components or 

10 systems of a particular capability or asset.’’. 

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

12 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

13 after the item relating to section 1137 the following: 

‘‘1138. Service life extension programs.’’. 

14 SEC. 205. MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS IN COAST GUARD 

15 SECTOR FOR PUERTO RICO AND VIRGIN IS16 LANDS. 

17 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

18 of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

19 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep20 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

21 Transportation of the Senate a report containing— 

22 (1) an overview of the maritime domain aware23 ness in the area of responsibility of the Coast Guard 

24 sector responsible for Puerto Rico and the United 

25 States Virgin Islands, including— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
18 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (A) the average volume of known maritime 

2 traffic that transited the area during fiscal years 

3 2020 through 2023; 

4 (B) current sensor platforms deployed by 

5 such sector to monitor illicit activity occurring 

6 at sea in such area; 

7 (C) the number of illicit activity incidents 

8 at sea in such area that the sector responded to 

9 during fiscal years 2020 through 2023; 

10 (D) an estimate of the volume of traffic en11 gaged in illicit activity at sea in such area and 

12 the type and description of any vessels used to 

13 carry out illicit activities that such sector re14 sponded to during fiscal years 2020 through 

15 2023; and 

16 (E) the maritime domain awareness re17 quirements to effectively meet the mission of such 

18 sector; 

19 (2) a description of current actions taken by the 

20 Coast Guard to partner with Federal, regional, State, 

21 and local entities to meet the maritime domain 

22 awareness needs of such area; 

23 (3) a description of any gaps in maritime do24 main awareness within the area of responsibility of 

25 such sector resulting from an inability to meet the enVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
19 

•HR 7659 RH

1 during maritime domain awareness requirements of 

2 the sector or adequately respond to maritime disorder, 

3 including illicit drug and migrant activity; 

4 (4) an identification of current technology and 

5 assets the Coast Guard has to mitigate the gaps iden6 tified in paragraph (3); 

7 (5) an identification of capabilities needed to 

8 mitigate such gaps, including any capabilities the 

9 Coast Guard currently possesses that can be deployed 

10 to the sector; 

11 (6) an identification of technology and assets the 

12 Coast Guard does not currently possess and are need13 ed to acquire in order to address such gaps; and 

14 (7) an identification of any financial obstacles 

15 that prevent the Coast Guard from deploying existing 

16 commercially available sensor technology to address 

17 such gaps. 

18 SEC. 206. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION ON 

19 MONTHLY DRUG AND MIGRANT INTERDIC20 TIONS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11269 of the Don Young 

22 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117– 

23 263) is— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
20 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) transferred to appear at the end of sub2 chapter II of chapter 5 of title 14, United States 

3 Code; 

4 (2) redesignated as section 529; and 

5 (3) amended— 

6 (A) by striking the section enumerator and 

7 heading and inserting the following: 

8 ‘‘§ 529. Public availability of information on monthly 

9 drug and migrant interdictions’’; 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and insert11 ing the following: 

12 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than’’; 

13 (C) by inserting ‘‘drug and’’ before ‘‘mi14 grant interdictions’’; and 

15 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In making information about inter17 dictions publicly available under subsection (a), the Com18 mandant shall include a description of the following: 

19 ‘‘(1) The number of incidents in which drugs 

20 were interdicted, the amount and type of drugs inter21 dicted, and the Coast Guard sectors and geographic 

22 areas of responsibility in which such incidents oc23 curred. 

24 ‘‘(2) The number of incidents in which migrants 

25 were interdicted, the number of migrants interdicted, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
21 

•HR 7659 RH

1 and the Coast Guard sectors and geographic areas of 

2 responsibility in which such incidents occurred.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

4 (1) The analysis for chapter 5 of title 14, United 

5 States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 

6 relating to section 528 the following: 

‘‘529. Public availability of information on monthly drug and migrant interdictions.’’. 

7 (2) The table of sections in section 11001(b) of 

8 the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

9 2022 (division K of Public Law 117–263) is amended 

10 by striking the item relating to section 11269. 

11 SEC. 207. REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF UNMANNED SYS12 TEMS CAPABILITIES OFFICE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

14 of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to 

15 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

16 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

17 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that out18 lines a plan for establishing an unmanned systems capa19 bilities office within the Coast Guard responsible for the ac20 quisition and development of unmanned system and 

21 counter-unmanned system technologies and to expand the 

22 capabilities of the Coast Guard with respect to such tech23 nologies. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
22 

•HR 7659 RH

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

2 (a) shall include the following: 

3 (1) A management strategy for the acquisition, 

4 development, and deployment of unmanned system 

5 and counter-unmanned system technologies. 

6 (2) A service-wide coordination strategy to syn7 chronize and integrate efforts across the Coast Guard 

8 in order to— 

9 (A) support the primary duties of the Coast 

10 Guard pursuant to section 102 of title 14, 

11 United States Code; and 

12 (B) pursue expanded research, development, 

13 testing, and evaluation opportunities and fund14 ing to expand and accelerate identification and 

15 transition of unmanned system and counter-un16 manned system technologies. 

17 (3) The identification of contracting and acqui18 sition authorities needed to expedite the development 

19 and deployment of unmanned system and counter-un20 manned system technologies. 

21 (4) A detailed list of commercially available un22 manned system and counter-unmanned system tech23 nologies with capabilities determined to be useful for 

24 the Coast Guard. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
23 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (5) A cross-agency collaboration plan to engage 

2 with the Department of Homeland Security, the De3 partment of Defense, and other relevant agencies to 

4 identify common requirements and opportunities to 

5 partner in acquiring, contracting, and sustaining un6 manned system and counter-unmanned system capa7 bilities. 

8 (6) Opportunities to obtain and share unmanned 

9 system data from government and commercial sources 

10 to improve maritime domain awareness. 

11 (7) The development of a concept of operations 

12 for a data ecosystem that supports and integrates un13 manned system and counter-unmanned system tech14 nologies with key enablers, including enterprise com15 munications networks, data storage and management, 

16 artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, and 

17 information sharing and dissemination capabilities. 

18 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

19 (1) COUNTER-UNMANNED SYSTEM.—The term 

20 ‘‘counter-unmanned system’’ means a system or device 

21 capable of lawfully and safely disabling, disrupting, 

22 or seizing control of an unmanned system, including 

23 a counter-UAS system (as such term is defined in sec24 tion 44801 of title 49, United States Code). 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
24 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) UNMANNED SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘unmanned 

2 system’’ means an unmanned surface, undersea, or 

3 aircraft and associated elements (including commu4 nication links and the components that control the 

5 unmanned system) that are required for the operator 

6 to operate the system safely and efficiently, including 

7 an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined 

8 in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code). 

9 SEC. 208. GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER. 

10 Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 

11 this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

12 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep13 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

14 Transportation of the Senate a strategy detailing how the 

15 Coast Guard will complete design and construction of the 

16 Great Lakes icebreaker at least as capable as the Coast 

17 Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB–30) in not more than 3 

18 years after funding is provided for such icebreaker. 

19 SEC. 209. CONSIDERATION OF LIFE-CYCLE COST ESTIMATES 

20 FOR ACQUISITION AND PROCUREMENT. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 11 of title 

22 14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 

23 the end the following: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
25 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘§ 1139. Consideration of life-cycle cost estimates for 

2 acquisition and procurement 

3 ‘‘In carrying out the acquisition and procurement of 

4 vessels and aircraft, the Secretary of the department in 

5 which the Coast Guard is operating, acting through the 

6 Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall consider the life7 cycle cost estimates of vessels and aircraft, as applicable, 

8 during the design and evaluation processes to the maximum 

9 extent practicable.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

11 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

12 after the item relating to section 1138 (as added by this 

13 Act) the following: 

‘‘1139. Consideration of life-cycle cost estimates for acquisition and procurement.’’. 

14 SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN SUPPORT FOR 

15 COAST GUARD ACADEMY FOUNDATIONS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 19 of title 

17 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

18 the following: 

19 ‘‘§ 1907. Authorization of certain support for Coast 

20 Guard Academy foundations 

21 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—Subject to subsection (b) and pur22 suant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the de23 partment in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Super24 intendent of the Coast Guard Academy may authorize a 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
26 

•HR 7659 RH

1 covered foundation to use, on an unreimbursed basis, facili2 ties or equipment of the Coast Guard Academy. 

3 ‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.—Use of facilities or equipment 

4 under subsection (a) may be provided only if such use has 

5 been reviewed and approved by an attorney of the Coast 

6 Guard and only if such use— 

7 ‘‘(1) is without any liability of the United States 

8 to the covered foundation; 

9 ‘‘(2) does not affect the ability of any official or 

10 employee of the Coast Guard, or any member of the 

11 armed forces, to carry out any responsibility or duty 

12 in a fair and objective manner; 

13 ‘‘(3) does not compromise the integrity or ap14 pearance of integrity of any program of the Coast 

15 Guard, or any individual involved in such a pro16 gram; 

17 ‘‘(4) does not include the participation of any 

18 cadet other than participation in an honor guard at 

19 an event of the covered foundation; and 

20 ‘‘(5) complies with any applicable ethics regula21 tions. 

22 ‘‘(c) BRIEFING.—In any fiscal year during which the 

23 Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy exercises the 

24 authority under subsection (a), the Commandant of the 

25 Coast Guard shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
27 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep2 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

3 Transportation of the Senate not later than the last day 

4 of that fiscal year regarding the number of events or activi5 ties of a covered foundation supported by such exercise dur6 ing such fiscal year. 

7 ‘‘(d) COVERED FOUNDATION DEFINED.—In this sec8 tion, the term ‘covered foundation’ means a charitable, edu9 cational, or civic nonprofit organization under section 

10 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that the 

11 Secretary concerned determines operates exclusively to sup12 port, with respect to a Service Academy, any of the fol13 lowing: 

14 ‘‘(1) Recruiting. 

15 ‘‘(2) Parent or alumni development. 

16 ‘‘(3) Academic, leadership, or character develop17 ment. 

18 ‘‘(4) Institutional development. 

19 ‘‘(5) Athletics.’’. 

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

21 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

22 after the item relating to section 1906 the following: 

‘‘1907. Authorization of certain support for Coast Guard Academy foundations.’’. 

23 SEC. 211. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 

24 Section 316 of title 14, United States Code, is amend25 ed— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
28 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) in subsection (b)— 

2 (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘The Sec3 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 

4 paragraph (2), the Secretary’’; and 

5 (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘engineer6 ing and design of a Museum’’ and inserting ‘‘de7 sign of a Museum, and engineering, construction 

8 administration, and quality assurance services of 

9 a Museum’’; 

10 (2) by amending subsection (e)(2)(A) to read as 

11 follows: 

12 ‘‘(A) lease from the Association for Coast Guard 

13 operations the Museum and properties owned by the 

14 Association adjacent to the railroad tracks to which 

15 the property on which the Museum is located are ad16 jacent; and’’; and 

17 (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as fol18 lows: 

19 ‘‘(g) SERVICES.—With respect to the services related 

20 to the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Mu21 seum, the Commandant may— 

22 ‘‘(1) solicit and accept services from nonprofit 

23 entities, including the Association; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
29 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) enter into contracts or memorandums of 

2 agreement with or make grants to the Association to 

3 acquire such services.’’. 

4 SEC. 212. REGULAR POLAR SECURITY CUTTER UPDATES. 

5 (a) REPORT.— 

6 (1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 

7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com8 mandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor9 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa10 tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

11 Transportation of the Senate a report on the status 

12 of acquisition of the first Polar Security Cutter. 

13 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph 

14 (1) shall include— 

15 (A) a detailed timeline for the acquisition 

16 process of the first Polar Security Cutter, includ17 ing expected milestones and projected commis18 sioning date; 

19 (B) an accounting of the previously appro20 priated funds spent to date on the Polar Secu21 rity Cutter Program, updated cost projections for 

22 the first Polar Security Cutter, and projections 

23 for when additional funds will be required; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
30 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (C) potential factors and risks that could 

2 further delay or imperil the completion of the 

3 first Polar Security Cutter; and 

4 (D) a review of the acquisition of the first 

5 Polar Security Cutter to date, including factors 

6 that led to substantial cost overruns and delivery 

7 delays. 

8 (b) BRIEFINGS.— 

9 (1) PROVISION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 

10 days after the submission of the report under sub11 section (a), and not less frequently than every 60 days 

12 thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the Com13 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

14 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com15 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 

16 briefing on the status of the Polar Security Cutter ac17 quisition process. 

18 (2) TIMELINE.—The briefings under paragraph 

19 (1) shall occur after any key milestone in the Polar 

20 Security Cutter acquisition process, but not less fre21 quently than every 60 days. 

22 (3) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing under paragraph 

23 (1) shall include— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
31 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (A) a summary of acquisition progress since 

2 the most recent previous briefing conducted pur3 suant to paragraph (1); 

4 (B) an updated timeline and budget esti5 mate for acquisition and building of pending 

6 Polar Security Cutters; and 

7 (C) an explanation of any delays or addi8 tional costs incurred in the acquisition progress. 

9 (c) NOTIFICATIONS.—In addition to the briefings re10 quired under subsection (b), the Commandant shall notify 

11 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

12 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

13 Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 3 business 

14 days of any significant change to the scope or funding level 

15 of the Polar Security Cutter acquisition strategy of such 

16 change. 

17 SEC. 213. TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM. 

18 Section 319(b)(1) of title 14, United States Code, is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘2’’ and inserting ‘‘4’’. 

20 SEC. 214. REPORT ON CONDITION OF MISSOURI RIVER 

21 DAYBOARDS. 

22 (a) PROVISION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 

23 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com24 mandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

25 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
32 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

2 the Senate a report on the condition of dayboards and the 

3 placement of buoys on the Missouri River. 

4 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph (1) shall 

5 include— 

6 (1) a list of the most recent date on which each 

7 dayboard and buoy was serviced by the Coast Guard; 

8 (2) an overview of the plan of the Coast Guard 

9 to systematically service each dayboard and buoy on 

10 the Missouri River; and 

11 (3) assigned points of contact. 

12 SEC. 215. DELEGATION OF PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY 

13 AUTHORITIES IN ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY. 

14 Section 70032 of title 46, United States Code, is 

15 amended to read as follows: 

16 ‘‘§ 70032. Saint Lawrence Seaway 

17 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

18 (b), the authority granted to the Secretary under sections 

19 70001, 70002, 70003, 70004, and 70011 may not be dele20 gated with respect to the Saint Lawrence Seaway to any 

21 agency other than the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway 

22 Development Corporation. Any other authority granted the 

23 Secretary under subchapters I through III and this sub24 chapter shall be delegated by the Secretary to the Great 

25 Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
33 

•HR 7659 RH

1 the extent the Secretary determines such delegation is nec2 essary for the proper operation of the Saint Lawrence Sea3 way. 

4 ‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the department in 

5 which the Coast Guard is operating, after consultation with 

6 the Secretary of Transportation, or the head of an agency 

7 to which the Secretary has delegated the authorities in sub8 section (a), may— 

9 ‘‘(1) issue and enforce special orders in accord10 ance with section 70002; 

11 ‘‘(2) establish water or waterfront safety zones, 

12 or other measures, for limited, controlled, or condi13 tional access and activity when necessary for the pro14 tection of any vessel structure, waters, or shore area, 

15 as permitted in section 70011(b)(2); and 

16 ‘‘(3) take actions for port, harbor, and coastal fa17 cility security in accordance with section 70116.’’. 

18 SEC. 216. STUDY ON COAST GUARD MISSIONS. 

19 (a) STUDY.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

21 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 

22 shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally 

23 funded research and development center with relevant 

24 expertise under which such center shall conduct an as25 sessment of the operational capabilities and ability of 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
34 

•HR 7659 RH

1 the Coast Guard to conduct the primary duties of the 

2 Coast Guard under section 102 of title 14, United 

3 States Code, and missions under section 888 of the 

4 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468). 

5 (2) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the assessment 

6 required under paragraph (1), the federally funded re7 search and development center selected under such 

8 subsection shall, with respect to the primary duties 

9 and missions described in paragraph (1), include the 

10 following: 

11 (A) An analysis of the extent to which the 

12 Coast Guard is able to effectively carry out such 

13 duties and missions. 

14 (B) Recommendations for the Coast Guard 

15 to more effectively carry out such duties and 

16 missions, in light of manpower and asset con17 straints. 

18 (C) Recommendations of which such duties 

19 and missions should be transferred to other de20 partments or eliminated in light of the man21 power and asset constraints of the Coast Guard. 

22 (D) An analysis of the benefits and draw23 backs of transferring the Coast Guard or any of 

24 the duties and missions of the Coast Guard to 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
35 

•HR 7659 RH

1 other appropriate Federal departments or inde2 pendent agencies. 

3 (b) ASSESSMENT TO COMMANDANT.—Not later than 1 

4 year after the date on which Commandant enters into an 

5 agreement under section (a), the federally funded research 

6 and development center selected under such subsection shall 

7 submit to the Commandant the assessment required under 

8 subsection (a). 

9 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

11 receipt of the assessment under subsection (b), the 

12 Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 

13 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

14 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

15 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

16 that includes recommendations included in the assess17 ment to strengthen the ability of the Coast Guard to 

18 carry out such duties and missions. 

19 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 

20 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

21 (A) The assessment received by the Com22 mandant under subsection (b). 

23 (B) For each recommendation included in 

24 the such assessment— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
36 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (i) an assessment by the Commandant 

2 of the feasibility and advisability of imple3 menting such recommendation; and 

4 (ii) if the Commandant of the Coast 

5 Guard considers the implementation of such 

6 recommendation feasible and advisable, a 

7 description of the actions taken, or to be 

8 taken, to implement such recommendation. 

9 SEC. 217. ADDITIONAL PRIBILOF ISLAND TRANSITION COM10 PLETION ACTIONS. 

11 Section 11221 of the Don Young Coast Guard Author12 ization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–263) is amended by 

13 adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL REPORTS ON STATUS OF USE OF FA15 CILITIES AND HELICOPTER BASING.—Beginning with the 

16 first quarterly report required under subsection (a) sub17 mitted after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Au18 thorization Act of 2024, the Secretary shall include in each 

19 such report— 

20 ‘‘(1) the status of the use of recently renovated 

21 Coast Guard housing facilities, food preparation fa22 cilities, and maintenance and repair facilities on St. 

23 Paul Island, Alaska, including a projected date for 

24 full use and occupancy of such facilities in support 

25 of Coast Guard missions in the Bering Sea; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
37 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) a detailed plan for the acquisition and con2 struction of a hangar in close proximity to existing 

3 St. Paul airport facilities to house 1 or more Coast 

4 Guard helicopters for the prosecution of Coast Guard 

5 operational missions, including plans for the use of 

6 land needed for such hangar.’’. 

7 Subtitle B—Personnel 

8 SEC. 221. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR CIVILIAN FACULTY 

9 AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY. 

10 Section 1941 of title 14, United States Code, is amend11 ed— 

12 (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 

13 (c); and 

14 (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol15 lowing: 

16 ‘‘(b) The Secretary may, without regard to the ap17 pointment requirements of title 5, United States Code, non18 competitively appoint a highly qualified candidate to a fac19 ulty position in the excepted service.’’. 

20 SEC. 222. TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM AUTHORIZED END 

21 STRENGTH FOR COAST GUARD ENLISTED 

22 MEMBERS ON ACTIVE DUTY. 

23 Notwithstanding section 517 of title 10, United States 

24 Code, and until October 1, 2027, the authorized end strength 

25 for enlisted members on active duty (other than for trainVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
38 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ing) in the Coast Guard in pay grades E–8 and E–9 may 

2 be more than 3.0 percent and 1.25 percent respectively of 

3 the number of enlisted members of the Coast Guard who 

4 are on active duty other than for training. 

5 SEC. 223. ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE GUIDANCE AND CONSID6 ERATIONS FOR RESERVE SELECTION 

7 BOARDS. 

8 Section 3740(f) of title 14, United States Code, is 

9 amended by striking ‘‘section 2117’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 

10 2115 and 2117’’. 

11 SEC. 224. PARENTAL LEAVE PARITY FOR MEMBERS OF CER12 TAIN RESERVE COMPONENTS OF COAST 

13 GUARD. 

14 (a) PARENTAL LEAVE.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 29 of 

16 title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding 

17 at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘§ 2907. Parental leave for members of certain reserve 

19 components of Coast Guard 

20 ‘‘(a)(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, 

21 a member of the reserve component of the Coast Guard de22 scribed in subsection (b) is allowed parental leave for a du23 ration of up to 12 inactive-duty training periods, under 

24 section 206 of title 37, during the one-year period beginning 

25 after the following events: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
39 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(A) the birth or adoption of a child of the mem2 ber and to care for such child; or 

3 ‘‘(B) the placement of a minor child with the 

4 member for adoption or long-term foster care. 

5 ‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary of the department in which the 

6 Coast Guard is operating, may authorize leave described 

7 under subparagraph (A) to be taken after the one-year pe8 riod described in subparagraph (A) in the case of a member 

9 described in subsection (b) who, except for this subpara10 graph, would lose unused parental leave at the end of the 

11 one-year period described in subparagraph (A) as a result 

12 of— 

13 ‘‘(i) operational requirements; 

14 ‘‘(ii) professional military education obligations; 

15 or 

16 ‘‘(iii) other circumstances that the Secretary de17 termines reasonable and appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(B) The regulations prescribed under clause (i) shall 

19 require that any leave authorized to be taken after the one20 year period described in subparagraph (A) shall be taken 

21 within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the 

22 Secretary in which the department is operating, after ces23 sation of the circumstances warranting the extended dead24 line. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
40 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(b) A member described in this subsection is a mem2 ber of the Coast Guard who is a member of— 

3 ‘‘(1) the selected reserve who is entitled to com4 pensation under section 206 of title 37; or 

5 ‘‘(2) the individual ready reserve who is entitled 

6 to compensation under section 206 of title 37 when 

7 attending or participating in a sufficient number of 

8 periods of inactive-duty training during a year to 

9 count the year as a qualifying year of creditable serv10 ice toward eligibility for retired pay.’’. 

11 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

12 chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

13 by inserting after the item relating to section 2906 the 

14 following: 

‘‘2907. Parental leave for members of certain reserve components of Coast Guard.’’. 

15 (b) COMPENSATION.—Section 206(a)(4) of title 37, 

16 United States Code, is amended by inserting before the pe17 riod at the end ‘‘or parental leave under section 2907 of 

18 title 14’’. 

19 SEC. 225. AUTHORIZATION FOR MATERNITY UNIFORM AL20 LOWANCE FOR OFFICERS. 

21 Section 2708 of title 14, United States Code, is amend22 ed by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(c) The Coast Guard may provide a cash allowance 

24 in such amount as the Secretary of the department in which 

25 the Coast Guard is operating shall determine in regulations 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
41 

•HR 7659 RH

1 to be paid to pregnant officer personnel for the purchase 

2 of maternity-related uniform items if such uniform items 

3 are not so furnished to the member.’’. 

4 SEC. 226. REPORT ON GAO RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOUS5 ING PROGRAM. 

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

7 this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

8 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep9 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

10 Transportation of the Senate a report on the status of the 

11 implementation of the recommendations contained in the 

12 report of the Government Accountability Office titled ‘‘Coast 

13 Guard: Better Feedback Collection and Information Could 

14 Enhance Housing Program’’, and issued February 5, 2024 

15 (GAO–24–106388). 

16 TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 

17 NAVIGATION 

18 Subtitle A—Vessel Operations 

19 SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 

20 In this subtitle: 

21 (1) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.—The term 

22 ‘‘outer Continental Shelf’’ has the meaning given such 

23 term in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf 

24 Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331). 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
42 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) RULING LETTER.—The term ‘‘ruling letter’’ 

2 means any ruling letter or headquarters ruling letter 

3 relating to the enforcement of chapters 121 and 551 

4 of title 46, United States Code (commonly referred to 

5 as the ‘‘Jones Act’’), issued by the Commissioner of 

6 U.S. Customs and Border Protection pursuant to sec7 tions 502(a) or 625 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 

8 U.S.C. 1502(a) and 1625). 

9 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 

11 the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Pro12 tection. 

13 SEC. 302. NOTIFICATION. 

14 (a) ADVANCE NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Prior to en15 gaging in any activity or operations on the outer Conti16 nental Shelf, the operator of a foreign vessel used in such 

17 activity or operations shall file with the Secretary a notifi18 cation describing all activities and operations to be per19 formed on the outer Continental Shelf and an identification 

20 of applicable ruling letters issued by the Secretary that have 

21 approved the use of a foreign vessel in a substantially simi22 lar activity or operation. 

23 (b) PUBLICATION OF NOTICES.— 

24 (1) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish 

25 a notification under subsection (a) in the Customs 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
43 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Bulletin and Decisions within 14 days of receipt of 

2 such notification. 

3 (2) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.—The Sec4 retary shall redact any information exempt from dis5 closure under section 552 of title 5, United States 

6 Code, in a notification published under paragraph 

7 (1). 

8 SEC. 303. PUBLICATION OF FINES AND PENALTIES. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 55102 of title 46, United 

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

11 ‘‘(d) PUBLICATION OF PENALTY.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 14 days after 

13 the issuance of a pre-penalty notice or a penalty, in14 cluding a settlement, under subsection (c), the Sec15 retary of Homeland Security shall publish such pre16 penalty notice or a notification of such penalty in the 

17 Customs Bulletin and Decisions to the party im18 pacted by the penalty. 

19 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—A pre-penalty notice or pen20 alty notification published under paragraph (1) shall 

21 include— 

22 ‘‘(A) the name and the International Mari23 time Organization identification number of the 

24 vessel that is the subject of the penalty; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
44 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(B) the name of the owner of the vessel 

2 that is the subject of the penalty; 

3 ‘‘(C) the amount of the fine or value of mer4 chandise seized; and 

5 ‘‘(D) a summary of the alleged misconduct 

6 and justification for imposing a penalty.’’. 

7 (b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 days after the 

8 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such 

9 regulations as are necessary to implement the amendments 

10 made by subsection (a), including— 

11 (1) regulations regarding the information to be 

12 contained in a penalty notification under section 

13 55102(d) of title 46, United States Code (as amended 

14 by such subsection); and 

15 (2) any changes to existing regulations relating 

16 to penalties issued by the Secretary. 

17 Subtitle B—Merchant Mariner 

18 Credentialing 

19 SEC. 311. REVISING MERCHANT MARINER DECK TRAINING 

20 REQUIREMENTS. 

21 (a) GENERAL DEFINITIONS.—Section 2101 of title 46, 

22 United States Code, is amended— 

23 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (20) through 

24 (56) as paragraphs (21) through (57), respectively; 

25 and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
45 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) by inserting after paragraph (19) the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(20) ‘merchant mariner credential’ means a 

4 merchant mariner license, certificate, or document 

5 that the Secretary is authorized to issue pursuant to 

6 this title.’’. 

7 (b) EXAMINATIONS.—Section 7116 of title 46, United 

8 States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c). 

9 (c) MERCHANT MARINERS DOCUMENTS.— 

10 (1) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—Section 7306 of 

11 title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as 

12 follows: 

13 ‘‘§ 7306. General requirements and classifications for 

14 members of deck departments 

15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue a mer16 chant mariner credential, to members of the deck depart17 ment in the following classes: 

18 ‘‘(1) Able Seaman-Unlimited. 

19 ‘‘(2) Able Seaman-Limited. 

20 ‘‘(3) Able Seaman-Special. 

21 ‘‘(4) Able Seaman-Offshore Supply Vessels. 

22 ‘‘(5) Able Seaman-Sail. 

23 ‘‘(6) Able Seaman-Fishing Industry. 

24 ‘‘(7) Ordinary Seaman. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
46 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(b) CLASSIFICATION OF CREDENTIALS.—The Sec2 retary may classify the merchant mariner credential issued 

3 under subsection (a) based on— 

4 ‘‘(1) the tonnage and means of propulsion of ves5 sels; 

6 ‘‘(2) the waters on which vessels are to be oper7 ated; or 

8 ‘‘(3) other appropriate standards. 

9 ‘‘(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In issuing the credential 

10 under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider the fol11 lowing qualifications of the merchant mariner: 

12 ‘‘(1) Age. 

13 ‘‘(2) Character. 

14 ‘‘(3) Habits of life. 

15 ‘‘(4) Experience. 

16 ‘‘(5) Professional qualifications demonstrated by 

17 satisfactory completion of applicable examinations or 

18 other educational requirements. 

19 ‘‘(6) Physical condition, including sight and 

20 hearing. 

21 ‘‘(7) Other requirements established by the Sec22 retary, including career patterns and service appro23 priate to the particular service, industry, or job func24 tions the individual is engaged.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
47 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

2 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

3 by striking the item relating to section 7306 and in4 serting the following: 

‘‘7306. General requirements and classifications for members of deck departments.’’. 

5 (3) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF

6 ENGINE DEPARTMENTS.—Section 7313(b) of title 46, 

7 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and coal 

8 passer’’. 

9 (4) TRAINING.—Section 7315 of title 46, United 

10 States Code, is amended— 

11 (A) by amending subsection (a) to read as 

12 follows: 

13 ‘‘(a) Graduation from a nautical school program ap14 proved by the Secretary may be substituted for the service 

15 requirements under sections 7307–7312 and 7314.’’; 

16 (B) in subsection (b)— 

17 (i) by striking ‘‘one-third’’ and insert18 ing ‘‘one-half’’; and 

19 (ii) by striking ‘‘7307–7311 of this 

20 title’’ and inserting ‘‘7307–7312 and 7314’’; 

21 and 

22 (C) by striking subsection (c). 

23 (d) REDUCTION OF LENGTHS OF CERTAIN PERIODS OF

24 SERVICE.— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
48 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Title 46, United States Code, 

2 is amended as follows: 

3 (A) Section 7307 is amended by striking ‘‘3 

4 years’’ and inserting ‘‘18 months’’. 

5 (B) Section 7308 is amended by striking 

6 ‘‘18 months’’ and inserting ‘‘12 months’’. 

7 (C) Section 7309 is amended by striking 

8 ‘‘12 months’’ and inserting ‘‘6 months’’. 

9 (2) TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF LENGTHS OF

10 CERTAIN PERIODS OF SERVICE.—Section 3534(j) of 

11 the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

12 Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is repealed. 

13 (e) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS.—Section 

14 7510 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 

15 subsection (d). 

16 (f) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of the depart17 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall imple18 ment the amended requirements under subsections (c)(3), 

19 (c)(4), and (c)(6) of this section without regard to chapters 

20 5 and 6 of title 5, United States Code, and Executive Orders 

21 12866 and 13563 (5 U.S.C. 601 note). 

22 SEC. 312. AMENDMENTS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The heading for subtitle II of title 

24 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Seamen’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘Seafarer’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
49 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (b) MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS.—The head2 ing for part E of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, 

3 is amended by striking ‘‘MERCHANT SEAMEN LI4 CENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND DOCUMENTS’’ and in5 serting ‘‘MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS’’. 

6 (c) ABLE SEAFARERS—UNLIMITED.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec8 tion 7307 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

9 by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

10 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

11 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

12 amended in the item relating to section 7307 by strik13 ing ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

14 (d) ABLE SEAMEN—LIMITED.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec16 tion 7308 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

17 by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

18 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

19 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

20 amended in the item relating to section 7308 by strik21 ing ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

22 (e) ABLE SEAFARERS—SPECIAL.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec24 tion 7309 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

25 by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
50 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

2 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

3 amended in the item relating to section 7309 by strik4 ing ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

5 (f) ABLE SEAFARERS—OFFSHORE SUPPLY VES6 SELS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec8 tion 7310 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

9 by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

10 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

11 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

12 amended in the item relating to section 7310 by strik13 ing ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

14 (g) ABLE SEAFARERS—SAIL.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec16 tion 7311 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

17 by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

18 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

19 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

20 amended in the item relating to section 7311 by strik21 ing ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

22 (h) ABLE SEAMEN—FISHING INDUSTRY.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The section heading for sec24 tion 7311a of title 46, United States Code, is amendVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
51 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ed by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘sea2 farers’’. 

3 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

4 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is further 

5 amended in the item relating to section 7311a by 

6 striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘seafarers’’. 

7 (i) PARTS E AND F.—Parts E and F of subtitle II 

8 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘sea10 farer’’ each place it appears; and 

11 (2) by striking ‘‘seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘sea12 farers’’ each place it appears. 

13 (j) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) The analysis for 

14 subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, is amended in 

15 the item relating to part E by striking ‘‘MERCHANT SEA16 MEN LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND DOCU17 MENTS’’ and inserting ‘‘MERCHANT MARINER CRE18 DENTIALS’’. 

19 (2) The analysis of subtitles at the beginning of title 

20 46, United States Code, is amended in the item relating 

21 to subtitle II by striking ‘‘SEAMEN’’ and inserting ‘‘SEA22 FARER’’ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
52 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 313. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES 

2 AND DOCUMENTS. 

3 Section 7507 of title 46, United States Code, is amend4 ed by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(d) RENEWAL.—With respect to any renewal of an 

6 active merchant mariner credential issued under this part 

7 that is not an extension under subsection (a) or (b), such 

8 credential shall begin the day after the expiration of the 

9 active credential of the credential holder.’’. 

10 SEC. 314. MERCHANT SEAMEN LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, 

11 AND DOCUMENTS; MANNING OF VESSELS. 

12 (a) CITIZENSHIP OR NONCITIZEN NATIONALITY.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7102 of title 46, 

14 United States Code, is amended— 

15 (A) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘or 

16 noncitizen nationality’’ after ‘‘Citizen17 ship’’; and 

18 (B) by inserting ‘‘or noncitizen nationals 

19 (as such term is described in section 308 of the 

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

21 1408))’’ after ‘‘citizens’’. 

22 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

23 chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

24 by striking the item relating to section 7102 and in25 serting the following: 

‘‘7102. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
53 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (b) CITIZENSHIP OR NONCITIZEN NATIONALITY NOTA2 TION ON MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7304 of title 46, 

4 United States Code, is amended— 

5 (A) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘or 

6 noncitizen nationality’’ after ‘‘Citizen7 ship’’; and 

8 (B) by inserting ‘‘or noncitizen national (as 

9 such term is described in section 308 of the Im10 migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

11 1408))’’ after ‘‘citizen’’. 

12 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

13 chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

14 by striking the item relating to section 7304 and in15 serting the following: 

‘‘7304. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality notation on merchant mariners’ documents.’’. 

16 (c) CITIZENSHIP OR NONCITIZEN NATIONALITY.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8103 of title 46, 

18 United States Code, is amended— 

19 (A) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘or 

20 noncitizen nationality’’ after ‘‘Citizen21 ship’’; 

22 (B) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘or non23 citizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’; 

24 (C) in subsection (b)— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
54 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (i) in paragraph (1)(A)(i) by inserting 

2 ‘‘or noncitizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’; 

3 (ii) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘or 

4 noncitizen nationality’’ after ‘‘citizenship’’; 

5 and 

6 (iii) in paragraph (3)(C) by inserting 

7 ‘‘or noncitizen nationals’’ after ‘‘citizens’’; 

8 (D) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘or non9 citizen nationals’’ after ‘‘citizens’’; 

10 (E) in subsection (d)— 

11 (i) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘or 

12 noncitizen nationals’’ after ‘‘citizens’’; and 

13 (ii) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘or 

14 noncitizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’ each 

15 place it appears; 

16 (F) in subsection (e) by inserting ‘‘or non17 citizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’ each place it 

18 appears; 

19 (G) in subsection (i)(1)(A) by inserting ‘‘or 

20 noncitizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’; 

21 (H) in subsection (k)(1)(A) by inserting ‘‘or 

22 noncitizen national’’ after ‘‘citizen’’; and 

23 (I) by adding at the end the following: 

24 ‘‘(l) NONCITIZEN NATIONAL DEFINED.—In this sec25 tion, the term ‘noncitizen national’ means an individual 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
55 

•HR 7659 RH

1 described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nation2 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408).’’. 

3 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

4 chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

5 by striking the item relating to section 8103 and in6 serting the following: 

‘‘8103. Citizenship or noncitizen nationality and Navy Reserve requirements.’’. 

7 (d) COMMAND OF DOCUMENTED VESSELS.—Section 

8 12131(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

9 inserting ‘‘or noncitizen national (as such term is described 

10 in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

11 U.S.C. 1408))’’ after ‘‘citizen’’. 

12 (e) INVALIDATION OF CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTA13 TION.—Section 12135(2) of title 46, United States Code, is 

14 amended by inserting ‘‘or noncitizen national (as such term 

15 is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nation16 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1408))’’ after ‘‘citizen’’. 

17 Subtitle C—Vessel Safety 

18 SEC. 321. GROSSLY NEGLIGENT OPERATIONS OF A VESSEL. 

19 Section 2302(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 

20 amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘(b) GROSSLY NEGLIGENT OPERATION.— 

22 ‘‘(1) MISDEMEANOR.—A person operating a ves23 sel in a grossly negligent manner that endangers the 

24 life, limb, or property of a person commits a class A 

25 misdemeanor. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
56 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) FELONY.—A person operating a vessel in a 

2 grossly negligent manner that results in serious bodily 

3 injury, as defined in section 1365(h)(3) of title 18— 

4 ‘‘(A) commits a class E felony; and 

5 ‘‘(B) may be assessed a civil penalty of not 

6 more than $35,000.’’. 

7 SEC. 322. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR SECURITY 

8 RISKS. 

9 (a) SECURITY RISK.—Section 7702(d)(1) of title 46, 

10 United States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) in subparagraph (B) by redesignating 

12 clauses (i) through (iv) as subclauses (I) through (IV), 

13 respectively (and by conforming the margins accord14 ingly); 

15 (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) 

16 as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and by con17 forming the margins accordingly); 

18 (3) by striking ‘‘an individual if—’’ and insert19 ing the following: ‘‘an individual— 

20 ‘‘(A) if—’’; 

21 (4) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(IV), as so redesig22 nated, by striking the period at the end and inserting 

23 ‘‘; or’’; and 

24 (5) by adding at the end the following: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
57 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(B) if there is probable cause to believe that the 

2 individual has violated company policy and is a se3 curity risk that poses a threat to other individuals on 

4 the vessel.’’. 

5 (b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 2101(47)(B) of 

6 title 46, United States Code (as so redesignated), is amend7 ed by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting ‘‘; or’’. 

8 SEC. 323. REQUIREMENTS FOR DUKW AMPHIBIOUS PAS9 SENGER VESSELS. 

10 Section 11502 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense 

11 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117– 

12 263) is amended— 

13 (1) in the section header by striking ‘‘DUKW

14 AMPHIBIOUS PASSENGER VESSELS’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘COMMERCIAL AMPHIBIOUS SMALL PAS16 SENGER VESSELS’’; 

17 (2) by striking ‘‘DUKW amphibious passenger 

18 vessel’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘commer19 cial amphibious small passenger vessel’’; 

20 (3) by striking ‘‘DUKW amphibious passenger 

21 vessels’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘commer22 cial amphibious small passenger vessels’’; 

23 (4) in subsection (h)— 

24 (A) by striking ‘‘DEFINITIONS’’ and all that 

25 follows through ‘‘The term ‘appropriate congresVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
58 

•HR 7659 RH

1 sional committees’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘APPRO2 PRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE3 FINED.—The term ‘appropriate congressional 

4 committees’ ’’; and 

5 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

6 (5) by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(i) APPLICATION.—This section shall apply to am8 phibious vessels operating as a small passenger vessel in 

9 waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as 

10 such term is defined in section 2.38 of title 33, Code of Fed11 eral Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 

12 the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024).’’. 

13 SEC. 324. RISK BASED EXAMINATION OF TANK VESSELS. 

14 Section 3714 of title 46, United States Code, is amend15 ed— 

16 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘The Sec17 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub18 section (c), the Secretary’’; 

19 (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 

20 (d); and 

21 (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(c) RISK-BASED EXAMINATION.— 

24 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to examinations 

25 of foreign-flagged vessels to which this chapter applies, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
59 

•HR 7659 RH

1 the Secretary may adopt a risk-based examination 

2 schedule to which such vessels shall be examined and 

3 the frequency with which the examinations occur. 

4 ‘‘(2) RESTRICTION.—The Secretary may not 

5 adopt a risk-based examination schedule under para6 graph (1) until the Secretary has— 

7 ‘‘(A) received and reviewed the study by the 

8 National Academies required under section 

9 8254(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry Na10 tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

11 2021 (Public Law 116–283); 

12 ‘‘(B) conducted the assessment recommended 

13 in the report of the Government Accountability 

14 Office submitted under section 8254(a) of such 

15 Act; 

16 ‘‘(C) concluded through such assessment that 

17 a risk-based examination schedule provides not 

18 less than the level of safety provided by the an19 nual examinations required under subsection 

20 (a)(1); and 

21 ‘‘(D) provided the results of such assessment 

22 to the Committee on Transportation and Infra23 structure of the House of Representatives and the 

24 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor25 tation of the Senate.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
60 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 325. PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY. 

2 (a) WATERFRONT SAFETY.—Section 70011(a) of title 

3 46, United States Code, is amended— 

4 (1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘, including 

5 damage or destruction resulting from cyber incidents, 

6 transnational organized crime, or foreign state 

7 threats’’ after ‘‘adjacent to such waters’’; and 

8 (2) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘or harm re9 sulting from cyber incidents, transnational organized 

10 crime, or foreign state threats’’ after ‘‘loss’’. 

11 (b) REGULATION OF ANCHORAGE AND MOVEMENT OF

12 VESSELS DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCY.—Section 70051 

13 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

14 ‘‘or cyber incidents, or transnational organized crime, or 

15 foreign state threats,’’ after ‘‘threatened war, or invasion, 

16 or insurrection, or subversive activity,’’. 

17 (c) FACILITY VISIT BY STATE SPONSOR OF TER18 RORISM.—Section 70011(b) of title 46, United States Code, 

19 is amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

21 end; 

22 (2) in paragraph (4) by striking the period at 

23 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

24 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

25 ‘‘(5) prohibiting a representative of a govern26 ment of country that the Secretary of State has deterVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
61 

•HR 7659 RH

1 mined has repeatedly provided support for acts of 

2 international terrorism under section 620A of the 

3 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371) from 

4 visiting a facility for which a facility security plan 

5 is required under section 70103(c).’’. 

6 SEC. 326. STUDY ON BERING STRAIT VESSEL TRAFFIC PRO7 JECTIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE POS8 TURE AT THE PORT OF POINT SPENCER, 

9 ALASKA. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

11 date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek 

12 to enter into an agreement with the National Academies 

13 of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, under which the 

14 Marine Board of the Transportation Research Board (in 

15 this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) shall conduct a 

16 study to— 

17 (1) analyze commercial vessel traffic that tran18 sits through the Bering Strait and projections for the 

19 growth of such traffic during the 10-year period be20 ginning after such date of enactment; and 

21 (2) assess the adequacy of emergency response ca22 pabilities and infrastructure at the Port of Point 

23 Spencer, Alaska, to address navigation safety risks 

24 and geographic challenges necessary to conduct emerVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
62 

•HR 7659 RH

1 gency maritime response operations in the Arctic en2 vironment. 

3 (b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under subsection 

4 (a) shall include the following: 

5 (1) An analysis of the volume and types of do6 mestic and international commercial vessel traffic 

7 through the Bering Strait and the projected growth of 

8 such traffic, including a summary of— 

9 (A) the sizes, ages, and flag states of vessels; 

10 and 

11 (B) the oil and product tankers that are— 

12 (i) in transit to or from Russia or 

13 China; or 

14 (ii) owned or operated by a Russian or 

15 Chinese entity. 

16 (2) An assessment of the state and adequacy of 

17 vessel traffic services and oil spill and emergency re18 sponse capabilities in the vicinity of the Bering 

19 Strait, including its approaches. 

20 (3) A risk assessment of the projected growth in 

21 commercial vessel traffic in the Bering Strait and 

22 higher probability of increased frequency in the num23 ber of maritime accidents, including spill events, and 

24 the potential impacts to the Arctic maritime environVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
63 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ment and Native Alaskan village communities in the 

2 vicinity of the Bering Strait. 

3 (4) An evaluation of the ability of the Port of 

4 Point Spencer, Alaska, to serve as a port of refuge 

5 and as a staging, logistics, and operations center to 

6 conduct and support maritime emergency and spill 

7 response activities. 

8 (5) Recommendations for practical actions that 

9 can be taken by the Congress, Federal agencies, the 

10 State of Alaska, vessel carriers and operators, the ma11 rine salvage and emergency response industry, and 

12 other relevant stakeholders to mitigate risks, upgrade 

13 infrastructure, and improve the posture of the Port of 

14 Point Spencer, Alaska, to function as a strategic stag15 ing and logistics center for maritime emergency and 

16 spill response operations in the Bering Strait region. 

17 (c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study required 

18 under subsection (a), the Board shall consult with— 

19 (1) the Department of Transportation; 

20 (2) the Corps of Engineers; 

21 (3) the National Transportation Safety Board; 

22 (4) relevant ministries of the government of Can23 ada; 

24 (5) the Port Coordination Council for the Port of 

25 Point Spencer; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
64 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (6) non-government entities with relevant exper2 tise in monitoring and characterizing vessel traffic in 

3 the Arctic. 

4 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after initiating 

5 the study under subsection (a), the Board shall submit to 

6 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

7 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

8 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report con9 taining the findings and recommendations of the study. 

10 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean12 ing given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Re13 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

14 (2) PORT COORDINATION COUNCIL FOR THE

15 PORT OF POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Port Coordina16 tion Council for the Port of Point Spencer’’ means the 

17 Council established under section 541 of the Coast 

18 Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114– 

19 120). 

20 SEC. 327. UNDERWATER INSPECTIONS BRIEF. 

21 Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 

22 this Act, the Commandant, or a designated individual, shall 

23 brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

24 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com25 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
65 

•HR 7659 RH

1 underwater inspection in lieu of drydock program estab2 lished under section 176.615 of title 46, Code of Federal 

3 Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 

4 Act). 

5 SEC. 328. ST. LUCIE RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE. 

6 Regarding Docket Number USCG–2022–0222, before 

7 adopting a final rule, the Commandant shall conduct an 

8 independent boat traffic study at mile 7.4 of the St. Lucie 

9 River. 

10 SEC. 329. RULEMAKING REGARDING PORT ACCESS ROUTES. 

11 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

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

13 Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule for the 

14 Atlantic Coast Port Route Access Study for which an Ad15 vanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled ‘‘Shipping 

16 Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast’’ was issued on 

17 June 19, 2020. 

18 SEC. 330. ARTICULATED TUG-BARGE MANNING. 

19 Section 11508 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense 

20 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117– 

21 263) is amended to read as follows: 

22 ‘‘SEC. 11508. ARTICULATED TUG-BARGE MANNING. 

23 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the watch setting 

24 requirements set forth in section 8104 of title 46, United 

25 States Code, or any other provision of law or regulation, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
66 

•HR 7659 RH

1 an Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection may authorize a 

2 covered vessel— 

3 ‘‘(1) when engaged on a domestic voyage of more 

4 than 600 miles, to be manned with a minimum num5 ber of 2 licensed engineers in the engine department; 

6 and 

7 ‘‘(2) when engaged on a voyage of less than 600 

8 miles, to be manned with a minimum number of 1 

9 licensed engineer in the engine department. 

10 ‘‘(b) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—In this section, the 

11 term ‘covered vessel’ means a towing vessel issued a certifi12 cate of inspection under subchapter M of chapter I of title 

13 46, Code of Federal Regulations, which— 

14 ‘‘(1) forms part of an articulated tug-barge unit; 

15 and 

16 ‘‘(2) is either— 

17 ‘‘(A) equipped with engineering control and 

18 monitoring systems of a type accepted by a rec19 ognized classification society for a periodically 

20 unmanned machinery space notation or accepted 

21 by the Commandant for a periodically unat22 tended machinery space endorsement; or 

23 ‘‘(B) is a vessel that, prior to July 19, 2022, 

24 was issued a minimum safe manning document 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
67 

•HR 7659 RH

1 or certificate of inspection that authorized equiv2 alent or less manning levels.’’. 

3 Subtitle D—Other Matters 

4 SEC. 341. ANCHOR HANDLING ACTIVITIES. 

5 Section 12111(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 

6 amended— 

7 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

8 (A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘or 

9 other energy production or transmission facility, 

10 or vessel engaged in the launch, recovery, or sup11 port of commercial space transportation or space 

12 exploration activities’’ after ‘‘drilling unit’’; and 

13 (B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘or 

14 other energy production or transmission facility, 

15 or vessel engaged in the launch, recovery, or sup16 port of commercial space transportation or space 

17 exploration activities’’ after ‘‘drilling unit’’; and 

18 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘(3) ENERGY PRODUCTION OR TRANSMISSION FA20 CILITY DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘energy 

21 production or transmission facility’ means a floating 

22 offshore facility that is— 

23 ‘‘(A) not a vessel; 

24 ‘‘(B) securely and substantially moored to 

25 the seabed, but not by driven pile anchors; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
68 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(C) equipped with wind turbines which 

2 are used for the generation and transmission of 

3 non-mineral energy resources.’’. 

4 SEC. 342. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COM5 MITTEE ON AUTONOMOUS MARITIME SYS6 TEMS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 151 of title 46, United 

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

9 ‘‘§ 15110. Establishment of National Advisory Com10 mittee on Autonomous Maritime Systems 

11 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Na12 tional Advisory Committee on Autonomous Maritime Sys13 tems (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 

14 ‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the Sec15 retary on matters relating to the regulation and use of Au16 tonomous Systems within the territorial waters of the 

17 United States. 

18 ‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist 

20 of 9 members appointed by the Secretary in accord21 ance with this section and section 15109. 

22 ‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com23 mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and 

24 experience in matters relating to the function of the 

25 Committee. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
69 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Each of the following 

2 groups shall be represented by at least 1 member on 

3 the Committee: 

4 ‘‘(A) Marine safety or security entities. 

5 ‘‘(B) Vessel design and construction entities. 

6 ‘‘(C) Entities engaged in the production or 

7 research of unmanned vehicles, including drones, 

8 autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, or any 

9 other product or service integral to the provision, 

10 maintenance, or management of such products or 

11 services. 

12 ‘‘(D) Port districts, authorities, or terminal 

13 operators. 

14 ‘‘(E) Vessel operators. 

15 ‘‘(F) National labor unions representing 

16 merchant mariners. 

17 ‘‘(G) Maritime pilots. 

18 ‘‘(H) Commercial space transportation op19 erators. 

20 ‘‘(I) Academic institutions.’’. 

21 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for chap22 ter 151 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by add23 ing at the end the following: 

‘‘15110. Establishment of National Advisory Committee on Autonomous Maritime 

Systems.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
70 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (c) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

2 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the depart3 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish 

4 the Committee under section 15110 of title 46, United 

5 States Code (as added by this section). 

6 SEC. 343. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS. 

7 Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 

10 striking ‘‘While on board a covered vessel, an indi11 vidual’’ and inserting ‘‘An individual’’; 

12 (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol13 lows: 

14 ‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, possess with in15 tent to manufacture or distribute, or place or cause 

16 to be placed with intent to manufacture or distribute 

17 a controlled substance on board a covered vessel;’’; 

18 and 

19 (3) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘aboard a cov20 ered vessel’’ after ‘‘Comprehensive Drug Abuse Preven21 tion and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a))’’. 

22 SEC. 344. NONOPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 

23 Section 8313(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 

24 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
71 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (Public Law 116– 283) is amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘2027’’. 

3 SEC. 345. INFORMATION ON TYPE APPROVAL CERTIFI4 CATES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title IX of the Frank LoBiondo 

6 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 

7 282) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘SEC. 904. INFORMATION ON TYPE APPROVAL CERTIFI9 CATES. 

10 ‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall, upon re11 quest by any State, the District of Columbia, or any terri12 tory of the United States, provide all data possessed by the 

13 Coast Guard pertaining to challenge water quality charac14 teristics, challenge water biological organism concentra15 tions, post-treatment water quality characteristics, and 

16 post-treatment biological organism concentrations data for 

17 a ballast water management system with a type approval 

18 certificate approved by the Coast Guard pursuant to sub19 part 162.060 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in 

21 section 2 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authoriza22 tion Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282) is amended by in23 serting after the item relating to section 903 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 904. Information on type approval certificates.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
72 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 346. MANNING AND CREWING REQUIREMENTS FOR 

2 CERTAIN VESSELS, VEHICLES, AND STRUC3 TURES. 

4 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF LIMITED EXEMPTIONS FROM

5 MANNING AND CREW REQUIREMENT.—Chapter 81 of title 

6 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

7 the following: 

8 ‘‘§ 8109. Exemptions from manning and crew require9 ments 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide an ex11 emption described in subsection (b) to the owner or operator 

12 of a covered facility if each individual who is manning or 

13 crewing the covered facility is— 

14 ‘‘(1) a citizen of the United States; 

15 ‘‘(2) an alien lawfully admitted to the United 

16 States for permanent residence; or 

17 ‘‘(3) a citizen of the nation under the laws of 

18 which the vessel is documented. 

19 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR EXEMP20 TION.—An exemption under this subsection is an exemption 

21 from the regulations established pursuant to section 

22 302(a)(3) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 

23 U.S.C. 1356(a)(3)). 

24 ‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS.—An exemption under this sec25 tion— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
73 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(1) shall provide that the number of individuals 

2 manning or crewing the covered facility who are de3 scribed in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) 

4 may not exceed two and one- half times the number 

5 of individuals required to man or crew the covered fa6 cility under the laws of the nation under the laws of 

7 which the covered facility is documented; and 

8 ‘‘(2) shall be effective for not more than 12 

9 months, but may be renewed by application to and 

10 approval by the Secretary. 

11 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for an exemption 

12 or a renewal of an exemption under this section, the owner 

13 or operator of a covered facility shall apply to the Secretary 

14 with an application that includes a sworn statement by the 

15 applicant of all information required for the issuance of 

16 the exemption. 

17 ‘‘(e) REVOCATION.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary— 

19 ‘‘(A) may revoke an exemption for a covered 

20 facility under this section if the Secretary deter21 mines that information provided in the applica22 tion for the exemption was false or incomplete, 

23 or is no longer true or complete; and 

24 ‘‘(B) shall immediately revoke such an ex25 emption if the Secretary determines that the covVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
74 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ered facility, in the effective period of the exemp2 tion, was manned or crewed in a manner not 

3 authorized by the exemption. 

4 ‘‘(2) NOTICE REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 

5 provides notice of a determination under subpara6 graph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) to the owner or 

7 operator of the covered facility. 

8 ‘‘(f) REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary shall 

9 periodically, but not less than once annually, inspect each 

10 covered facility that operates under an exemption under 

11 this section to verify the owner or operator of the covered 

12 facility’s compliance with the exemption. During an inspec13 tion under this subsection, the Secretary shall require all 

14 crew members serving under the exemption to hold a valid 

15 transportation security card issued under section 70105. 

16 ‘‘(g) PENALTY.—In addition to revocation under sub17 section (e), the Secretary may impose on the owner or oper18 ator of a covered facility a civil penalty of $10,000 per day 

19 for each day the covered facility— 

20 ‘‘(1) is manned or crewed in violation of an ex21 emption under this subsection; or 

22 ‘‘(2) operated under an exemption under this 

23 subsection that the Secretary determines was not val24 idly obtained. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
75 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(h) NOTIFICATION OF SECRETARY OF STATE.—The 

2 Secretary shall notify the Secretary of State of each exemp3 tion issued under this section, including the effective period 

4 of the exemption. 

5 ‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 ‘‘(1) COVERED FACILITY.—The term ‘covered fa7 cility’ means any vessel, rig, platform, or other vehi8 cle or structure, over 50 percent of which is owned by 

9 citizens of a foreign nation or with respect to which 

10 the citizens of a foreign nation have the right effec11 tively to control, except to the extent and to the degree 

12 that the President determines that the government of 

13 such foreign nation or any of its political subdivi14 sions has implemented, by statute, regulation, policy, 

15 or practice, a national manning requirement for 

16 equipment engaged in the exploring for, developing, or 

17 producing resources, including non-mineral energy re18 sources in its offshore areas. 

19 ‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 

20 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

21 Guard is operating.’’. 

22 (b) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, and annually there25 after, the Secretary of the department in which the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
76 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Coast Guard is operating shall submit to Committee 

2 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

3 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

4 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

5 containing information on each letter of nonapplica6 bility of section 8109 of title 46, United States Code, 

7 with respect to a covered facility that was issued by 

8 the Secretary during the preceding year. 

9 (2) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph (1) 

10 shall include, for each covered facility— 

11 (A) the name and International Maritime 

12 Organization number; 

13 (B) the nation in which the covered facility 

14 is documented; 

15 (C) the nationality of owner or owners; and 

16 (D) for any covered facility that was pre17 viously issued a letter of nonapplicability in a 

18 prior year, any changes in the information de19 scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 

20 (c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall pro22 mulgate regulations that specify the documentary and other 

23 requirements for the issuance of an exemption under the 

24 amendment made by this section. 

25 (d) EXISTING EXEMPTIONS.— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
77 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) EFFECT OF AMENDMENTS; TERMINATION.— 

2 Each exemption under section 30(c)(2) of the Outer 

3 Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(c)(2)) 

4 issued before the date of the enactment of this Act— 

5 (A) shall not be affected by the amendments 

6 made by this section during the 120-day period 

7 beginning on the date of the enactment of this 

8 Act; and 

9 (B) shall not be effective after such period. 

10 (2) NOTIFICATION OF HOLDERS.—Not later than 

11 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

12 the Secretary shall notify all persons that hold such 

13 an exemption that it will expire as provided in para14 graph (1). 

15 (e) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

16 81 of the title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 

17 at the end the following: 

‘‘8109. Exemptions from manning and crew requirements.’’. 

18 SEC. 347. CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES. 

19 Section 3316(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) by amending paragraph (2)(B)(i) to read as 

22 follows: 

23 ‘‘(i) the government of the foreign country in 

24 which the foreign society is headquartered— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
78 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(I) delegates that authority to the Amer2 ican Bureau of Shipping; or 

3 ‘‘(II) does not delegate that authority to any 

4 classification society; or’’; and 

5 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(5) CLARIFICATION ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing 

7 in this subsection authorizes the Secretary to make a 

8 delegation under paragraph (2) to a classification so9 ciety from the People’s Republic of China.’’. 

10 SEC. 348. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH SAFETY ZONES FOR 

11 SPECIAL ACTIVITIES IN EXCLUSIVE ECO12 NOMIC ZONE. 

13 (a) REPEAL.—Section 8343 of the William M. (Mac) 

14 Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

15 Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) is repealed. 

16 (b) SPECIAL ACTIVITIES IN EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC

17 ZONE.—Subchapter I of chapter 700 of title 46, United 

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

19 ‘‘§ 70008. Special activities in exclusive economic zone 

20 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 

21 in which the Coast Guard is operating may establish safety 

22 zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic 

23 zone. 

24 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

25 ‘‘(1) SAFETY ZONE.—The term ‘safety zone’— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
79 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(A) means a water area, shore area, or 

2 water and shore area to which, for safety or en3 vironmental purposes, access is limited to au4 thorized persons, vehicles, or vessels; and 

5 ‘‘(B) may be stationary and described by 

6 fixed limits or may be described as a zone 

7 around a vessel in motion. 

8 ‘‘(2) SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.—The term ‘special ac9 tivities’ includes— 

10 ‘‘(A) space activities, including launch and 

11 reentry (as such terms are defined in section 

12 50902 of title 51) carried out by United States 

13 citizens; and 

14 ‘‘(B) offshore energy development activities, 

15 as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer 

16 Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 

17 1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near fixed platforms (as 

18 such term is defined in section 2281(d) of title 

19 18). 

20 ‘‘(3) UNITED STATES CITIZEN.—The term 

21 ‘United States citizen’ has the meaning given the 

22 term ‘eligible owners’ in section 12103 of title 46, 

23 United States Code.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
80 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

2 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

3 after the item relating to section 70007 the following: 

‘‘70008. Special activities in exclusive economic zone.’’. 

4 SEC. 349. FISHING VESSEL AND FISHERMAN TRAINING 

5 SAFETY. 

6 Section 4502 of title 46, United States Code, is amend7 ed— 

8 (1) in subsection (i)— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

10 (i) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking 

11 ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 

12 (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) 

13 as subparagraph (C); and 

14 (iii) by inserting after subparagraph 

15 (A) the following: 

16 ‘‘(B) to conduct safety and prevention 

17 training that addresses behavioral and physical 

18 health risks, to include substance use disorder 

19 and worker fatigue, facing fishing vessel opera20 tors and crewmembers; and’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

22 (i) by striking ‘‘, in consultation with 

23 and based on criteria established by the 

24 Commandant of the Coast Guard’’; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
81 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (ii) by striking ‘‘subsection on a com2 petitive basis’’ and inserting the following: 

3 ‘‘subsection— 

4 ‘‘(A) on a competitive basis; and 

5 ‘‘(B) based on criteria developed in con6 sultation with the Commandant of the Coast 

7 Guard’’; and 

8 (C) in paragraph (4) by striking 

9 ‘‘$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘to the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

11 $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 

12 2026’’; and 

13 (2) in subsection (j)— 

14 (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘, and 

15 understanding and mitigating behavioral and 

16 physical health risks, to include substance use 

17 disorder and worker fatigue, facing members of 

18 the commercial fishing industry’’ after ‘‘weather 

19 detection’’; 

20 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

21 (i) by striking ‘‘, in consultation with 

22 and based on criteria established by the 

23 Commandant of the Coast Guard,’’; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
82 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (ii) by striking ‘‘subsection on a com2 petitive basis’’ and inserting the following: 

3 ‘‘subsection— 

4 ‘‘(A) on a competitive basis; and 

5 ‘‘(B) based on criteria developed in con6 sultation with the Commandant of the Coast 

7 Guard’’; and 

8 (C) in paragraph (4) by striking 

9 ‘‘$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘to the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

11 $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 

12 2026’’. 

13 SEC. 350. AUTHORITY OVER DEEPWATER PORT ACT OF 1974. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(a) of the Deepwater Port 

15 Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(a)) is amended by striking 

16 the first sentence and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding section 

17 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

18 468(b)), the Secretary shall have the authority to issue regu19 lations to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act, 

20 in accordance with the provisions of section 553 of title 5, 

21 United States Code, without regard to subsection (a) there22 of.’’. 

23 (b) AFFIRMING THE AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF

24 TRANSPORTATION OVER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.—SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
83 

•HR 7659 RH

1 tion 5(f) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 

2 1504(f) is amended to read as follows: 

3 ‘‘(f) COMPLIANCE.—Notwithstanding section 888(b) of 

4 the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468(b)), the 

5 Secretary, in cooperation with other involved Federal agen6 cies and departments, shall comply with the National Envi7 ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 

8 act as the lead agency under section 4336a of title 42, 

9 United States Code, for all applications under this Act. 

10 Such compliance shall fulfill the requirement of all Federal 

11 agencies in carrying out their responsibilities under the Na12 tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 pursuant to this 

13 chapter.’’. 

14 (c) REGULATIONS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 

16 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 

17 shall transfer the authorities provided to the Coast 

18 Guard in part 148 of title 33, Code of Federal Regu19 lations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of 

20 this Act), except as provided in paragraph (2), to the 

21 Secretary of Transportation. 

22 (2) RETENTION OF AUTHORITY.—The Com23 mandant shall retain responsibility for authorities 

24 pertaining to design, construction, equipment, and 

25 operation of deepwater ports and navigational safety. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
84 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (3) UPDATES TO AUTHORITY.—As soon as prac2 ticable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary shall issue such regulations as are necessary to 

4 reflect the updates to authorities prescribed by this 

5 subsection. 

6 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec7 tion, or the amendments made by this section, may be con8 strued to limit the authorities of other governmental agen9 cies previously delegated authorities of the Deepwater Port 

10 Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.). 

11 (e) APPLICATIONS.—Nothing in this section shall 

12 apply to any application submitted before the date of enact13 ment of this Act. 

14 SEC. 351. NATIONAL OFFSHORE SAFETY ADVISORY COM15 MITTEE COMPOSITION. 

16 Section 15106(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 

17 amended— 

18 (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘15 members’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘17 members’’; and 

20 (2) in paragraph (3) by adding at the end the 

21 following: 

22 ‘‘(L) 2 members shall represent entities en23 gaged in non-mineral energy activities on the 

24 Outer Continental Shelf.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
85 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 352. IMPROVING VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE MONI2 TORING. 

3 (a) PROXIMITY OF ANCHORAGES TO PIPELINES.— 

4 (1) IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTRUCTURING

5 PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact6 ment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement 

7 the November 2021 proposed plan of the Vessel Traffic 

8 Service Los Angeles-Long Beach for restructuring the 

9 Federal anchorages in San Pedro Bay described on 

10 page 54 of the Report of the National Transportation 

11 Safety Board titled ‘‘Anchor Strike of Underwater 

12 Pipeline and Eventual Crude Oil Release’’ and issued 

13 January 2, 2024. 

14 (2) STUDY.—The Secretary of the department in 

15 which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a 

16 study to identify any anchorage grounds other than 

17 the San Pedro Bay Federal anchorages in which the 

18 distance between the center of an approved anchorage 

19 ground and a pipeline is less than 1 mile. 

20 (3) REPORT.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 

22 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com23 mandant shall submit to the Committee on 

24 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

25 of Representatives and the Committee on Com26 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
86 

•HR 7659 RH

1 a report on the results of the study required 

2 under paragraph (2). 

3 (B) CONTENTS.—The report under subpara4 graph (A) shall include— 

5 (i) a list of the anchorage grounds de6 scribed under paragraph (2); 

7 (ii) whether it is possible to move each 

8 such anchorage ground to provide a min9 imum distance of 1 mile; and 

10 (iii) a recommendation of whether to 

11 move any such anchorage ground and ex12 planation for the recommendation. 

13 (b) PROXIMITY TO PIPELINE ALERTS.— 

14 (1) AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARMS.—The Com15 mandant shall consult with the providers of vessel 

16 monitoring systems to add to the monitoring systems 

17 for vessel traffic services audible and visual alarms 

18 that alert the watchstander when an anchored vessel 

19 is encroaching on a pipeline. 

20 (2) NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.—Not later than 

21 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

22 Commandant shall develop procedures for all vessel 

23 traffic services to notify pipeline and utility operators 

24 following potential incursions on submerged pipelines 

25 within the vessel traffic service area of responsibility. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
87 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

2 date of enactment of this Act, and annually there3 after, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

4 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

5 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

6 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on 

7 the implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2). 

8 SEC. 353. ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSEL REMOVALS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 47 of title 46, United 

10 States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) in the chapter heading by striking 

12 ‘‘BARGES’’ and inserting ‘‘VESSELS’’; 

13 (2) by inserting before section 4701 the following: 

14 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—BARGES’’; and 

15 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—NON-BARGE VESSELS 

17 ‘‘§ 4710. Definitions 

18 ‘‘In this subchapter: 

19 ‘‘(1) ABANDON.—The term ‘abandon’ means to 

20 moor, strand, wreck, sink, or leave a covered vessel 

21 unattended for longer than 45 days. 

22 ‘‘(2) COVERED VESSEL.—The term ‘covered ves23 sel’ means a vessel that is not a barge to which sub24 chapter I applies. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
88 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 

2 has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 

3 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

4 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

5 ‘‘§ 4711. Abandonment of vessels prohibited 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An owner or operator of a covered 

7 vessel may not abandon such vessel on the navigable waters 

8 of the United States. 

9 ‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF ABANDONMENT.— 

10 ‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a cov12 ered vessel that appears to be abandoned, the 

13 Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 

14 ‘‘(i) attempt to identify the owner 

15 using the vessel registration number, hull 

16 identification number, or any other infor17 mation that can be reasonably inferred or 

18 gathered; and 

19 ‘‘(ii) notify such owner— 

20 ‘‘(I) of the penalty described in 

21 subsection (c); and 

22 ‘‘(II) that the vessel will be re23 moved at the expense of the owner if 

24 the Commandant determines that the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
89 

•HR 7659 RH

1 vessel is abandoned and the owner does 

2 not remove or account for the vessel. 

3 ‘‘(B) FORM.—The Commandant shall pro4 vide the notice required under subparagraph 

5 (A)— 

6 ‘‘(i) if the owner can be identified, via 

7 certified mail or other appropriate forms 

8 determined by the Commandant; or 

9 ‘‘(ii) if the owner cannot be identified, 

10 via an announcement in a local publication 

11 and on a website maintained by the Coast 

12 Guard. 

13 ‘‘(2) DETERMINATION.—The Commandant shall 

14 make a determination not earlier than 45 days after 

15 the date on which the Commandant provides the noti16 fication required under paragraph (1) of whether a 

17 covered vessel described in such paragraph is aban18 doned. 

19 ‘‘(c) PENALTY.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may as21 sess a civil penalty of not more than $500 against an 

22 owner or operator of a covered vessel determined to be 

23 abandoned under subsection (b) for a violation of sub24 section (a). 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
90 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) LIABILITY IN REM.—The owner or operator 

2 of a covered vessel shall also be liable in rem for a 

3 penalty imposed under paragraph (1). 

4 ‘‘(d) VESSELS NOT ABANDONED.—The Commandant 

5 may not determine that a covered vessel is abandoned under 

6 this section if— 

7 ‘‘(1) such vessel is located at a federally ap8 proved or State approved mooring area; 

9 ‘‘(2) such vessel is located on private property 

10 with the permission of the owner of such property; 

11 ‘‘(3) the owner or operator of such vessel provides 

12 a notification to the Commandant that— 

13 ‘‘(A) indicates the location of the vessel; 

14 ‘‘(B) indicates that the vessel is not aban15 doned; and 

16 ‘‘(C) contains documentation proving that 

17 the vessel is allowed to be in such location; or 

18 ‘‘(4) the Commandant determines that such an 

19 abandonment determination would not be in the pub20 lic interest. 

21 ‘‘§ 4712. Inventory of abandoned vessels 

22 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

23 date of enactment of this section, the Commandant, in con24 sultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic 

25 and Atmospheric Administration and relevant State agenVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
91 

•HR 7659 RH

1 cies, shall establish and maintain a national inventory of 

2 covered vessels that are abandoned. 

3 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The inventory established and main4 tained under subsection (a) shall include data on each ves5 sel, including geographic information system data related 

6 to the location of each such vessel. 

7 ‘‘(c) PUBLICATION.—The Commandant shall make the 

8 inventory established under subsection (a) publicly avail9 able on a website of the Coast Guard. 

10 ‘‘(d) REPORTING OF POTENTIALLY ABANDONED VES11 SELS.—In carrying out this section, the Commandant shall 

12 develop a process by which— 

13 ‘‘(1) a State, Indian Tribe, or person may report 

14 a covered vessel that may be abandoned to the Com15 mandant for potential inclusion in the inventory es16 tablished under subsection (a); and 

17 ‘‘(2) the Commandant shall review any such re18 port and add such vessel to the inventory if the Com19 mandant determines that the reported vessel is aban20 doned pursuant to section 4711.’’. 

21 (b) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary of the department 

22 in which the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation with 

23 the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engi24 neers, and the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 

25 Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall issue 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
92 

•HR 7659 RH

1 regulations with respect to the procedures for determining 

2 that a vessel is abandoned for the purposes of subchapter 

3 II of chapter 47 of title 46, United States Code (as added 

4 by this section). 

5 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 47 of title 

6 46, United States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) in section 4701— 

8 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 

9 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘sub10 chapter’’; and 

11 (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘chapter’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; 

13 (2) in section 4703 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and 

14 inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; 

15 (3) in section 4704 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ each 

16 place it appears and inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; and 

17 (4) in section 4705 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and 

18 inserting ‘‘subchapter’’. 

19 (d) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for chap20 ter 47 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

21 (1) by inserting before the item relating to sec22 tion 4701 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—BARGES’’; and 

23 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—VESSELS

‘‘4710. Definitions. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
93 

•HR 7659 RH

‘‘4711. Abandonment of vessels prohibited. 

‘‘4712. Inventory of abandoned vessels.’’. 

1 SEC. 354. NEAR SHORE CABLE LAYING BARGE. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Until the date that is 2 years after 

3 the date of enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding sub4 section (b), the Secretary of the department in which the 

5 Coast Guard is operating may not enforce citizenship re6 quirements under section 8103 of title 46, United States 

7 Code, or the credentialing requirements under section 8701 

8 of title 46, United States Code, with respect to a covered 

9 individual. 

10 (b) TRAINING.—Until the date that is 2 years after the 

11 date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall ensure 

12 that operators of near shore cable lay vertical trenching in13 jector equipment on barges on which covered individuals 

14 serve— 

15 (1) develop processes and requirements for con16 ducting certification and training such individuals; 

17 and 

18 (2) certify and train a sufficient cadre of quali19 fied individuals. 

20 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

21 (1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered 

22 individual’’ means an individual, including near 

23 shore cable lay vertical trenching injector operators or 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
94 

•HR 7659 RH

1 near shore cable laying vertical trenching injector 

2 support personnel, who is— 

3 (A) engaged on board a barge for the pur4 pose of operating specialized equipment, includ5 ing a vertical trenching injector, necessary to lay 

6 near shore power cable in support of non-min7 eral energy exploration, development, and pro8 duction; and 

9 (B) not— 

10 (i) included in the complement of li11 censed individuals to be stated in the cer12 tificate of inspection issued under chapter 

13 33 of title 46, United States Code, to be nec14 essary by the Certificate of Inspection or to 

15 ensure the safe navigation of such vessel; or 

16 (ii) a member of the steward’s depart17 ment on such a barge. 

18 (2) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘quali19 fied individual’’ means an individual qualified to— 

20 (A) serve on a vessel documented under 

21 chapter 121 of the title 46, United States Code, 

22 under section 8103 of such title; 

23 (B) receive a merchant mariner credential 

24 under section 8701 of title 46, United States 

25 Code; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
95 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (C) available to operate and support the op2 eration of specialized near shore cable lay 

3 vertical trenching injectors on United States-doc4 umented barges in support of United States off5 shore non-mineral energy exploration, develop6 ment, and production. 

7 SEC. 355. ANCHORAGES. 

8 Section 8437 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry Na9 tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub10 lic Law 116–283) is amended— 

11 (1) by striking subsections (d) and (e); 

12 (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 

13 (d); and 

14 (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol15 lowing: 

16 ‘‘(c) PROHIBITION.—The Commandant shall prohibit 

17 any vessel anchoring on the reach of the Hudson River de18 scribed in subsection (a) unless such anchoring is within 

19 any anchorage established before January 1, 2021.’’. 

20 TITLE IV—OIL POLLUTION 

21 INCIDENT LIABILITY 

22 SEC. 401. VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 311(j)(6) of the Federal 

24 Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(6)) is 

25 amended to read as follows: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
96 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(6) EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, VERIFICATION, 

2 AND INSPECTION.— 

3 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may re4 quire— 

5 ‘‘(i) periodic inspection of containment 

6 booms, skimmers, vessels, and other major 

7 equipment used to remove discharges; 

8 ‘‘(ii) periodic inspection of vessels, sal9 vage and marine firefighting equipment, 

10 and other major equipment used to respond 

11 to marine casualties or prevent discharges; 

12 ‘‘(iii) periodic verification of capabili13 ties to appropriately, and in a timely man14 ner, respond to a marine casualty, a worst 

15 case discharge, or a substantial threat of a 

16 discharge, including— 

17 ‘‘(I) drills, with or without prior 

18 notice; 

19 ‘‘(II) review of contracts and rel20 evant third-party agreements; 

21 ‘‘(III) testing of equipment; 

22 ‘‘(IV) review of training; and 

23 ‘‘(V) other evaluations of response 

24 capabilities, as determined appropriate 

25 by the President; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
97 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(iv) vessels operating on navigable 

2 waters and carrying oil or a hazardous sub3 stance in bulk as cargo, and nontank vessels 

4 carrying oil of any kind as fuel for main 

5 propulsion, to carry appropriate removal 

6 equipment that employs the best technology 

7 economically feasible and that is compatible 

8 with the safe operation of the vessel. 

9 ‘‘(B) MARINE CASUALTY.—In this para10 graph, the term ‘marine casualty’ means a ma11 rine casualty that is required to be reported pur12 suant to section 6101 of title 46, United States 

13 Code.’’. 

14 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

16 the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

17 General of the United States shall submit to the Com18 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

19 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com20 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 

21 report on the state of marine firefighting authorities, 

22 jurisdiction, plan review, and other considerations 

23 with respect to vessel fires at waterfront facilities and 

24 within the navigable waters of the United States up 

25 to 3 nautical miles from the shoreline. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
98 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) CONTENTS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 

2 the Comptroller General shall— 

3 (A) examine factors that affect Federal and 

4 non-Federal collaboration aimed at reducing ves5 sel and waterfront facility fire risk to local com6 munities; 

7 (B) focus on the prevalence and frequency of 

8 vessel fires described in paragraph (1); and 

9 (C) make recommendations for prepared10 ness, responses to, training for, and other items 

11 for consideration. 

12 SEC. 402. USE OF MARINE CASUALTY INVESTIGATIONS. 

13 Section 6308 of title 46, United States Code, is amend14 ed— 

15 (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘initiated’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘conducted’’; and 

17 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(e) For purposes of this section, an administrative 

19 proceeding conducted by the United States includes pro20 ceedings under section 7701 and claims adjudicated under 

21 section 1013 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 

22 2713).’’. 

23 SEC. 403. TIMING OF REVIEW. 

24 Section 1017 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 

25 U.S.C. 2717) is amended by adding at the end the following: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
99 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(g) TIMING OF REVIEW.—Before the date of comple2 tion of a removal action, no person may bring an action 

3 under this Act, section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution 

4 Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321), or chapter 7 of title 5, United 

5 States Code, challenging any decision relating to such re6 moval action that is made by an on-scene coordinator ap7 pointed under the National Contingency Plan.’’. 

8 SEC. 404. ONLINE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

10 date of enactment of this Act, the National Response Center 

11 shall— 

12 (1) develop an online capacity through a web13 based application to receive a notification of an oil 

14 discharge or release of a hazardous substance; and 

15 (2) allow any such notification to the National 

16 Response Center that is required under Federal law 

17 or regulation to be made online using the application. 

18 (b) USE OF APPLICATION.—In carrying out subsection 

19 (a), the National Response Center may not require the noti20 fication of an oil discharge or release of a hazardous sub21 stance to be made using the application developed under 

22 such subsection. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
100 

•HR 7659 RH

1 TITLE V—IMPLEMENTATION OF 

2 ACCOUNTABILITY AND 

3 TRANSPARENCY REVIEW REC4 OMMENDATIONS 

5 SEC. 501. IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF DIRECTED AC6 TIONS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United 

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

9 ‘‘§ 5116. Implementation status of directed actions 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2025, and 

11 not later than March 1 of each of the 3 subsequent years 

12 thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee 

13 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep14 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

15 Transportation of the Senate a report on the status of the 

16 implementation of each directed action outlined in enclo17 sure 1 of the memorandum of the Commandant titled ‘Com18 mandant’s Directed Actions—Accountability and Trans19 parency’, dated November 27, 2023. 

20 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under section 

21 (a) shall contain the following: 

22 ‘‘(1) The status of the implementation of each di23 rected action from enclosure 1 of the memorandum ti24 tled ‘Commandant’s Directed Actions—Accountability 

25 and Transparency’ dated November 27, 2023. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
101 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) A plan and timeline for the next steps to be 

2 taken to complete outstanding directed actions in en3 closure 1 of the memorandum titled ‘Commandant’s 

4 Directed Actions—Accountability and Transparency’ 

5 dated November 27, 2023, including identifying the 

6 individual the Commandant has selected to ensure the 

7 successful completion of each directed action. 

8 ‘‘(3) Metrics to determine the effectiveness of each 

9 directed action in such enclosure. 

10 ‘‘(4) Any additional actions the Commandant is 

11 taking to mitigate instances of sexual assault and sex12 ual harassment within the Coast Guard.’’. 

13 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

14 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding 

15 at the end the following: 

‘‘5116. Implementation status of directed actions.’’. 

16 SEC. 502. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF COAST GUARD RE17 FORMS. 

18 (a) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE19 PORT.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

21 the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

22 General of the United States shall report to the Com23 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

24 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com25 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
102 

•HR 7659 RH

1 the efforts of the Coast Guard to mitigate cases of sex2 ual assault and sexual harassment within the service. 

3 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 

4 paragraph (1) shall— 

5 (A) evaluate— 

6 (i) the efforts of the Commandant to 

7 implement the directed actions from enclo8 sure 1 of the memorandum titled ‘‘Com9 mandant’s Directed Actions—Account10 ability and Transparency’’ dated November 

11 27, 2023; 

12 (ii) whether the Commandant met the 

13 reporting requirements under section 5112 

14 of title 14, United States Code; and 

15 (iii) the effectiveness of the actions of 

16 the Coast Guard, including efforts outside of 

17 the actions described in the memorandum 

18 titled ‘‘Commandant’s Directed Actions— 

19 Accountability and Transparency’’ dated 

20 November 27, 2023, to mitigate instances of 

21 sexual assault and sexual harassment and 

22 improve the enforcement relating to such in23 stances within the Coast Guard, and how 

24 the Coast Guard is overcoming challenges in 

25 implementing such actions. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
103 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (B) make recommendations to the Com2 mandant for improvements to the efforts of the 

3 service to mitigate instances of sexual assault 

4 and sexual harassment and improve the enforce5 ment relating to such instances within the Coast 

6 Guard; and 

7 (C) make recommendations to the Com8 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

9 the House of Representatives and the Committee 

10 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

11 the Senate to mitigate instances of sexual assault 

12 and sexual harassment in the Coast Guard and 

13 improve the enforcement relating to such in14 stances within the Coast Guard, including pro15 posed changes to any legislative authorities. 

16 (b) REPORT BY COMMANDANT.—Not later than 90 

17 days after the date on which the Comptroller General com18 pletes all actions under subsection (a), the Commandant 

19 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In20 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com21 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

22 Senate a report that includes the following: 

23 (1) A plan for Coast Guard implementation, in24 cluding interim milestones and timeframes, of any 

25 recommendation made by the Comptroller General 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
104 

•HR 7659 RH

1 under subsection (a)(2)(B) with which the Com2 mandant concurs. 

3 (2) With respect to any recommendation made 

4 under subsection (a)(2)(B) with which the Com5 mandant does not concur, an explanation of the rea6 sons why the Commandant does not concur. 

7 SEC. 503. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN RECORDS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 14, United States 

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

10 ‘‘§ 955. Requirement to maintain certain records 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall maintain 

12 all work product related to final action documenting a dis13 position decision on an investigation by the Coast Guard 

14 Investigative Service or other law enforcement entity inves15 tigating a Coast Guard member accused of misconduct for 

16 not less than 7 years from date of the disposition decision. 

17 ‘‘(b) FINAL ACTION MEMO.—Upon a final action docu18 menting a disposition decision described in subsection (a), 

19 the convening authority or final decision making authority, 

20 as applicable, shall sign a final action memo that includes 

21 the following: 

22 ‘‘(1) A reference section listing the materials re23 viewed in making a disposition decision. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
105 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(2) The Coast Guard Investigative Service re2 port of investigation listed as either a reference or an 

3 enclosure. 

4 ‘‘(3) The prosecution memo, signed by the con5 vening authority or the final decision making author6 ity, listed and included as an enclosure. 

7 ‘‘(4) The completed Coast Guard Investigative 

8 Service report of adjudication listed and included as 

9 an enclosure. 

10 ‘‘(5) The disposition decision. 

11 ‘‘(c) WORK PRODUCT.—In this section, the term ‘work 

12 product’ includes— 

13 ‘‘(1) a prosecution memo; 

14 ‘‘(2) emails, notes, and other correspondence re15 lated to a disposition decision; and 

16 ‘‘(3) the content described in paragraphs (1) 

17 through (5) of subsection (b).’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

19 9 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding 

20 at the end the following: 

‘‘955. Requirement to maintain certain records.’’. 

21 SEC. 504. STUDY ON COAST GUARD ACADEMY OVERSIGHT. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 

23 date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in con24 sultation with relevant stakeholders, shall conduct a study 

25 on the governance of the Coast Guard Academy, including 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
106 

•HR 7659 RH

1 examining the roles, responsibilities, authorities, advisory 

2 functions, and membership qualifications and expertise of 

3 the Board of Visitors and Board of Trustees of such Acad4 emy. 

5 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

6 enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 

7 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

8 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

9 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written report 

10 that contains— 

11 (1) the results of the study required under sub12 section (a); and 

13 (2) recommendations to improve governance at 

14 the Coast Guard Academy. 

15 SEC. 505. PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSFER OF A CADET WHO 

16 IS THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RE17 LATED OFFENSE. 

18 Section 1902 of title 14, United States Code, is amend19 ed by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(f) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF

21 CADET WHO IS THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RE22 LATED OFFENSE.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall pro24 vide for timely consideration of and action on a re25 quest submitted by a cadet appointed to the Coast 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
107 

•HR 7659 RH

1 Guard Academy who is the victim of an alleged sex2 ual assault or other offense covered by section 920, 

3 920c, or 930 of title 10 (article 120, 120c, or 130 of 

4 the Uniform Code of Military Justice) for transfer to 

5 a Service Academy or to enroll in a Senior Reserve 

6 Officers’ Training Corps program affiliated with an7 other institution of higher education. 

8 ‘‘(2) RULEMAKING.—The Commandant shall pre9 scribe regulations to carry out this subsection that— 

10 ‘‘(A) ensure that any cadet who has been 

11 appointed to the Coast Guard Academy is in12 formed of the right to request a transfer pursu13 ant to this subsection, and that any formal re14 quest submitted by a cadet is processed as expe15 ditiously as practicable for review and action by 

16 the Superintendent; 

17 ‘‘(B) direct the Superintendent of the Coast 

18 Guard Academy, in coordination with the Su19 perintendent of the Service Academy to which 

20 the cadet requests to transfer— 

21 ‘‘(i) to act on a request for transfer 

22 under this subsection not later than 72 

23 hours after receiving the formal request 

24 from the cadet; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
108 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(ii) to approve such request for trans2 fer unless there are exceptional cir3 cumstances that require denial of the re4 quest; and 

5 ‘‘(iii) upon approval of such request, to 

6 take all necessary and appropriate action to 

7 effectuate the transfer of the cadet to the 

8 Service Academy concerned as expeditiously 

9 as possible; and 

10 ‘‘(C) direct the Superintendent of the Coast 

11 Guard Academy, in coordination with the Sec12 retary of the military department that sponsors 

13 the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro14 gram at the institution of higher education to 

15 which the cadet requests to transfer— 

16 ‘‘(i) to act on a request for transfer 

17 under this subsection not later than 72 

18 hours after receiving the formal request 

19 from the cadet; 

20 ‘‘(ii) subject to the cadet’s acceptance 

21 for admission to the institution of higher 

22 education to which the cadet wishes to 

23 transfer, to approve such request for trans24 fer unless there are exceptional cirVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
109 

•HR 7659 RH

1 cumstances that require denial of the re2 quest; and 

3 ‘‘(iii) to take all necessary and appro4 priate action to effectuate the cadet’s enroll5 ment in the institution of higher education 

6 to which the cadet wishes to transfer and to 

7 process the cadet for participation in the 

8 relevant Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 

9 Corps program as expeditiously as possible. 

10 ‘‘(3) DENIAL OF TRANSFER REQUEST.—If the 

11 Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy denies a 

12 request for transfer under this subsection, the cadet 

13 may request review of the denial by the Secretary of 

14 the Department in which the Coast Guard is oper15 ating, who shall act on such request not later than 72 

16 hours after receipt of the formal request for review. 

17 ‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS.—The Sec18 retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 

19 is operating shall ensure that all records of any re20 quest, determination, transfer, or other action under 

21 this subsection remain confidential, consistent with 

22 applicable law and regulation. 

23 ‘‘(5) APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE ACADEMY.—A 

24 cadet who transfers under this subsection may retain 

25 the cadet’s appointment to the Coast Guard Academy 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
110 

•HR 7659 RH

1 or may be appointed to the Service Academy to which 

2 the cadet transfers without regard to the limitations 

3 and requirements described in sections 7442, 8454, 

4 and 9442 of title 10. 

5 ‘‘(6) APPOINTMENT UPON GRADUATION.— 

6 ‘‘(A) PREFERENCE.—A cadet who transfers 

7 under this subsection to a Service Academy, is 

8 entitled, before graduating from such Academy, 

9 to state the preference of the cadet for appoint10 ment, upon graduation, as a commissioned offi11 cer in the Coast Guard. 

12 ‘‘(B) MANNER OF APPOINTMENT.—Upon 

13 graduation, a cadet described in subparagraph 

14 (A) is entitled to be accepted for appointment as 

15 a permanent commissioned officer in the Regular 

16 Coast Guard in the same manner as graduates 

17 of the Coast Guard Academy as described in sec18 tion 2101. 

19 ‘‘(7) COMMISSION INTO COAST GUARD.—A cadet 

20 who transfers under this subsection to a Senior Re21 serve Officers’ Training Corps program affiliated 

22 with another institution of higher education is enti23 tled upon graduation from the Senior Reserve Offi24 cers’ Training program to commission into the Coast 

25 Guard as described in section 3738a. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
111 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(8) SERVICE ACADEMY DEFINED.—In this sub2 section, the term ‘Service Academy’ has the meaning 

3 given such term in section 347 of title 10.’’. 

4 SEC. 506. DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS WITH PARTICULAR 

5 EXPERTISE IN MILITARY JUSTICE OR 

6 HEALTHCARE. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 

8 14, United States Code is amended by adding at the end 

9 the following: 

10 ‘‘§ 2132. Designation of officers with particular exper11 tise in military justice or healthcare 

12 ‘‘(a) SECRETARY DESIGNATION.—The Secretary may 

13 designate a limited number of officers of the Coast Guard 

14 as having particular expertise in— 

15 ‘‘(1) military justice; or 

16 ‘‘(2) healthcare. 

17 ‘‘(b) PROMOTION AND GRADE.—An individual des18 ignated under this section— 

19 ‘‘(1) shall not be included on the active duty pro20 motion list; 

21 ‘‘(2) shall be promoted under section 2126; and 

22 ‘‘(3) may not be promoted to a grade higher than 

23 captain.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
112 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

2 21 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

3 after the item relating to section 2131 the following: 

‘‘2132. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or 

healthcare.’’. 

4 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

5 (1) Section 2102(a) of title 14, United States 

6 Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by striking 

7 ‘‘and officers of the permanent commissioned teaching 

8 staff of the Coast Guard Academy’’ and inserting ‘‘of9 ficers of the permanent commissioned teaching staff of 

10 the Coast Guard Academy, and officers designated by 

11 the Secretary pursuant to section 2132’’. 

12 (2) Subsection (e) of section 2103 of title 14, 

13 United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

14 ‘‘(e) SECRETARY TO PRESCRIBE NUMBERS FOR CER15 TAIN OFFICERS.—The Secretary shall prescribe the number 

16 of officers authorized to be serving on active duty in each 

17 grade of— 

18 ‘‘(1) the permanent commissioned teaching staff 

19 of the Coast Guard Academy; 

20 ‘‘(2) the officers designated by the Secretary pur21 suant to section 2132; and 

22 ‘‘(3) the officers of the Reserve serving in connec23 tion with organizing, administering, recruiting, in24 structing, or training the reserve components.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
113 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (3) Section 2126 of title 14, United States Code, 

2 is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘and 

3 as to officers designated by the Secretary pursuant to 

4 section 2132’’ after ‘‘reserve components’’. 

5 (4) Section 3736(a) of title 14, United States 

6 Code, is amended— 

7 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘pro8 motion list and the’’ and inserting ‘‘promotion 

9 list, officers designated by the Secretary pursu10 ant to section 2132, and the officers on the’’; and 

11 (B) in the second sentence by striking ‘‘pro12 motion list or the’’ and inserting ‘‘promotion 

13 list, officers designated by the Secretary pursu14 ant to section 2132, or the officers on the’’. 

15 SEC. 507. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PER16 SONNEL OF COAST GUARD. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 

18 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

19 the following: 

20 ‘‘§ 2517. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of 

21 Coast Guard 

22 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may appoint, 

23 without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 

24 33 of title 5 (other than section 3303 and 3328 of such chap25 ter), qualified candidates to any non-clinical specialist inVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
114 

•HR 7659 RH

1 tended to engage in the integrated primary prevention of 

2 harmful behaviors, including suicide, sexual assault, har3 assment, domestic abuse, and child abuse and qualified can4 didates to any criminal investigative law enforcement posi5 tion of the Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service in6 tended to engage in the primary response to such harmful 

7 behaviors. 

8 ‘‘(b) SUNSET.—Effective on September 30, 2034, the 

9 authority provided under subsection (a) shall cease.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

11 25 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

12 after the item related to section 2516 the following: 

‘‘2517. Direct hire authority for certain personnel of United States Coast Guard.’’. 

13 SEC. 508. SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY FOR COAST GUARD. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 19 of title 

15 14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 

16 the end the following: 

17 ‘‘§ 1908. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard 

18 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 

19 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall, in consultation 

20 with the Secretaries of the military departments, issue such 

21 regulations as are necessary to establish the safe-to-report 

22 policy described in subsection (b) that applies with respect 

23 to all members of the Coast Guard (including members of 

24 the reserve and auxiliary components of the Coast Guard) 

25 and cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
115 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(b) SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY.—The safe-to-report 

2 policy described in this subsection is a policy that prescribes 

3 the handling of minor collateral misconduct involving a 

4 member of the Coast Guard who is the alleged victim or 

5 reporting witness of a sexual assault. 

6 ‘‘(c) MITIGATING AND AGGRAVATING CIR7 CUMSTANCES.—In issuing regulations under subsection (a), 

8 the Secretary shall specify mitigating circumstances that 

9 decrease the gravity of minor collateral misconduct or the 

10 impact of such misconduct on good order and discipline and 

11 aggravating circumstances that increase the gravity of 

12 minor collateral misconduct or the impact of such mis13 conduct on good order and discipline for purposes of the 

14 safe-to-report policy. 

15 ‘‘(d) TRACKING OF COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT INCI16 DENTS.—In conjunction with the issuance of regulations 

17 under subsection (a), Secretary shall develop and imple18 ment a process to anonymously track incidents of minor 

19 collateral misconduct that are subject to the safe-to-report 

20 policy established under such regulations. 

21 ‘‘(e) MINOR COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT DEFINED.—In 

22 this section, the term ‘minor collateral misconduct’ means 

23 any minor misconduct that is punishable under chapter 47 

24 of title 10 that— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
116 

•HR 7659 RH

1 ‘‘(1) is committed close in time to or during a 

2 sexual assault and directly related to the incident 

3 that formed the basis of the sexual assault allegation; 

4 ‘‘(2) is discovered as a direct result of the report 

5 of sexual assault or the ensuing investigation into 

6 such sexual assault; and 

7 ‘‘(3) does not involve aggravating circumstances 

8 (as specified in the regulations issued under sub9 section (a)) that increase the gravity of the minor 

10 misconduct or the impact of such misconduct on good 

11 order and discipline.’’. 

12 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

13 19 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended by 

14 inserting after the item relating to section 1907 (as added 

15 by this Act) the following: 

‘‘1908. Safe-to-report policy for Coast Guard.’’. 

16 SEC. 509. MODIFICATION OF DELIVERY DATE OF COAST 

17 GUARD SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORT. 

18 Section 5112(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘January 15’’ and inserting ‘‘March 

20 1’’. 

21 SEC. 510. HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW OF BOARD OF DETER22 MINATION DECISIONS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2158 of title 14, United 

24 States Code, is amended— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
117 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (1) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘The Sec2 retary’’ and inserting the following: 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

4 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(b) HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

6 CASES.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a board convened under 

8 this section determines that the officer should be re9 tained when the officer’s record indicates that the offi10 cer has committed a sexual assault offense, the board 

11 shall forward the record of the proceedings and rec12 ommendation of the board for higher-level review, in 

13 accordance with regulations prescribed by the Sec14 retary. 

15 ‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The official exercising higher16 level review shall have authority to forward the case 

17 for consideration by a Board of Inquiry in accord18 ance with section 2159. 

19 ‘‘(c) SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENSE DEFINED.—In this 

20 section, the term ‘sexual assault offense’ means a violation 

21 of section 920 or 920b of title 10, United States Code (arti22 cle 120 or 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) 

23 or attempt to commit an offense specified under section 920 

24 or 920b as punishable under section 880 of such title (arti25 cle 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice).’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
118 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 511. REVIEW OF DISCHARGE OR DISMISSAL. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 

3 14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 

4 the end the following: 

5 ‘‘§ 2518. Review of discharge or dismissal 

6 ‘‘(a) DOWNGRADE.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the require8 ments of section 1553 of title 10, a board of review 

9 for a former member of the Coast Guard established 

10 pursuant to such section may, upon a motion of the 

11 board and subject to review by the Secretary of the de12 partment in which the Coast Guard is operating, 

13 downgrade an honorable discharge or dismissal to a 

14 general (under honorable conditions) discharge or dis15 missal upon a finding that a former member of the 

16 Coast Guard, while serving on active duty as a mem17 ber of the armed forces, committed sexual assault or 

18 sexual harassment in violation of section 920, 920b, 

19 or 934 of this title (article 120, 120b, or 134 of the 

20 Uniform Code of Military Justice). 

21 ‘‘(2) EVIDENCE.—Any downgrade under para22 graph (1) shall be supported by clear and convincing 

23 evidence. 

24 ‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The review board under 

25 paragraph (1) may not downgrade a discharge or dis26 missal of a former member of the Coast Guard if the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
119 

•HR 7659 RH

1 same action described in paragraph (1) was consid2 ered prior to separation from active duty by an ad3 ministrative board in determining the characteriza4 tion of discharge as otherwise provided by law and in 

5 accordance with regulations prescribed by the Sec6 retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 

7 is operating. 

8 ‘‘(b) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A review by a board estab10 lished under section 1553 of title 10 shall be based on 

11 the records of the armed forces concerned and such 

12 other evidence as may be presented to the board. 

13 ‘‘(2) EVIDENCE BY WITNESS.—A witness may 

14 present evidence to the board in person or by affi15 davit. 

16 ‘‘(3) APPEARANCE BEFORE BOARD.—A person 

17 who requests a review under this section may appear 

18 before the board in person or by counsel or an accred19 ited representative of an organization recognized by 

20 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 59 of 

21 title 38. 

22 ‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION.—A former member of the 

23 Coast Guard who is subject to a downgrade in dis24 charge characterization review under subsection (b)(3) 

25 shall be notified in writing of such proceedings, afVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 May 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7659.RH H7659

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
120 

•HR 7659 RH

1 forded the right to obtain copies of records and docu2 ments relevant to the proceedings, and the right to ap3 pear before the board in person or by counsel or an 

4 accredited representative of an organization recog5 nized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 

6 chapter 59 of title 38.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 

8 25 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended by 

9 inserting after the item relating to section 2517 (as added 

10 by this Act) the following: 

‘‘2518. Review of discharge or dismissal.’’. 

11 SEC. 512. CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER AS GROUNDS FOR DE12 NIAL. 

13 Section 7511(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘or’’; 

16 (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘State, local, or 

17 Tribal law’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal, State, local, or 

18 Tribal law’’; 

19 (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para20 graph (3); and 

21 (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(2) section 920 or 920b of title 10 (article 120 

24 and 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); 

25 or’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
121 

•HR 7659 RH

1 SEC. 513. COAST GUARD ACADEMY ROOM REASSIGNMENT. 

2 Section 1902 of title 14, United States Code, is further 

3 amended by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(g) ROOM REASSIGNMENT.—Coast Guard Academy 

5 Cadets may request room reassignment if experiencing dis6 comfort due to Coast Guard Academy rooming assign7 ments.’’ 

8 TITLE VI—AMENDMENTS 

9 SEC. 601. AMENDMENTS. 

10 (a) PROHIBITION ON ENTRY AND OPERATION.—Sec11 tion 70022(b)(1) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

12 by striking ‘‘Federal Register’’ and inserting ‘‘the Federal 

13 Register’’. 

14 (b) PORT, HARBOR, AND COASTAL FACILITY SECU15 RITY.—Section 70116(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 

16 amended— 

17 (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘terrorism 

18 cyber’’ and inserting ‘‘terrorism, cyber’’; and 

19 (2) in paragraph (2) by inserting a comma after 

20 ‘‘acts of terrorism’’. 

21 (c) ENFORCEMENT BY STATE AND LOCAL OFFICERS.— 

22 Section 70118(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amend23 ed— 

24 (1) by striking ‘‘section 1 of title II of the Act 

25 of June 15, 1917 (chapter 30; 50 U.S.C. 191)’’ and 

26 inserting ‘‘section 70051’’; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
122 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (2) by striking ‘‘section 7(b) of the Ports and 

2 Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1226(b))’’ and in3 serting ‘‘section 70116(b)’’. 

4 (d) CHAPTER 701 DEFINITIONS.—Section 70131(2) of 

5 title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

6 (1) by striking ‘‘section 1 of title II of the Act 

7 of June 15, 1917 (50 U.S.C. 191)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec8 tion 70051’’; and 

9 (2) by striking ‘‘section 7(b) of the Ports and 

10 Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1226(b))’’ and in11 serting ‘‘section 70116(b)’’. 

12 (e) NOTICE OF ARRIVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VESSELS

13 ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.— 

14 (1) PREPARATORY CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— 

15 Section 70001 of title 46, United States Code, is 

16 amended by redesignating subsections (l) and (m) as 

17 subsections (m) and (n), respectively. 

18 (2) TRANSFER OF PROVISION.—Section 704 of 

19 the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 

20 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 46 U.S.C. 70001 note) 

21 is— 

22 (A) amended by striking ‘‘of title 46, United 

23 States Code,’’; 

24 (B) transferred to appear after 70001(k) of 

25 title 46, United States Code; and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
123 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (C) redesignated as subsection (l). 

2 (f) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is amend3 ed as follows: 

4 (1) Section 2101(2) is amended by striking ‘‘sec5 tion 1’’ and inserting ‘‘section 101’’. 

6 (2) Section 2116(b)(1)(D) is amended by strik7 ing ‘‘section 93(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 504(c)’’. 

8 (3) In the analysis for subtitle VII by striking 

9 the period after ‘‘70001’’ in the item relating to chap10 ter 700. 

11 (4) In the analysis for chapter 700 by striking 

12 the item relating to section 70006 and inserting the 

13 following: 

‘‘70006. Establishment by Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

is operating of anchorage grounds and regulations generally.’’. 

14 (5) In the heading for subchapter IV in the anal15 ysis for chapter 700 by inserting a comma after 

16 ‘‘DEFINITIONS’’. 

17 (6) In the heading for subchapter VI in the anal18 ysis for chapter 700 by striking ‘‘OF THE 

19 UNITED’’and inserting ‘‘OF UNITED’’. 

20 (7) Section 70052(e)(1) is amended by striking 

21 ‘‘section 4197 of the Revised Statutes of the United 

22 States (46 U.S.C. App. 91)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

23 60105’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
124 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (g) OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990.—The Oil Pollution 

2 Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) is amended as follows: 

3 (1) Section 1001(32)(G) (33 U.S.C. 2701(32)(G)) 

4 is amended by striking ‘‘pipeline’’ and all that follows 

5 through ‘‘offshore facility’’ and inserting ‘‘pipeline, 

6 offshore facility’’. 

7 (2) Section 1016 (33 U.S.C. 2716) is amended— 

8 (A) by redesignating subsections (e) through 

9 (i) as subsections (d) through (h), respectively; 

10 and 

11 (B) in subsection (e)(1)(B), as redesignated 

12 by subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘subsection 

13 (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’. 

14 (3) Section 1012(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 2712(b)(2)) is 

15 amended by striking ‘‘section 1016(f)(1)’’ and insert16 ing ‘‘section 1016(e)(1)’’. 

17 (4) Section 1005(b)(5)(B) (33 U.S.C. 

18 2705(b)(5)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 

19 1016(g)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1016(f)’’. 

20 (5) Section 1018(c) (33 U.S.C. 2718(c)) is 

21 amended by striking ‘‘the Act of March 3, 1851 (46 

22 U.S.C. 183 et seq.)’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 305 of 

23 title 46, United States Code’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
125 

•HR 7659 RH

1 (6) Section 7001(h)(1) (33 U.S.C. 2761(h)(1)) is 

2 amended by striking ‘‘subsection (c)(4)’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘subsection (e)(4)’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 411 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7659 

[Report No. 118–495] 

A BILL 

To authorize and amend authorities, programs, and 

statutes administered by the Coast Guard. 

MAY 8, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS