116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3409 

AN ACT 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, and for 

other purposes. 

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

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Author3 ization Act of 2019’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

5 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

Sec. 101. Authorizations of appropriations. 

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

Sec. 103. Determination of budgetary effects. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Grade on retirement. 

Sec. 202. Congressional affairs; Director. 

Sec. 203. Limitations on claims. 

Sec. 204. Authority for officers to opt out of promotion board consideration. 

Sec. 205. Temporary promotion authority for officers in certain grades with 

critical skills. 

Sec. 206. Career intermission program. 

Sec. 207. Major acquisitions; operation and sustainment costs. 

Sec. 208. Employment assistance. 

Sec. 209. Reports on gender diversity in the Coast Guard. 

Sec. 210. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN. 

Sec. 211. Positions of importance and responsibility. 

Sec. 212. Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants. 

Sec. 213. Acquisition workforce authorities. 

Sec. 214. Report on Coast Guard defense readiness resources allocation. 

Sec. 215. Report on the feasibility of liquefied natural gas fueled vessels. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING 

Sec. 301. Electronic charts; equivalency. 

Sec. 302. Passenger vessel security and safety requirements; application. 

Sec. 303. Non-operating individual. 

Sec. 304. Small passenger vessels and uninspected passenger vessels. 

Sec. 305. Installation vessels. 

Sec. 306. Advisory committees. 

Sec. 307. Expired maritime liens. 

Sec. 308. Training; emergency response providers. 

Sec. 309. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel. 

Sec. 310. Maritime transportation assessment. 

Sec. 311. Safety of special activities. 

Sec. 312. Engine cut-off switches; use requirement. 

Sec. 313. Exemptions and equivalents. 

Sec. 314. Security plans; reviews. 

Sec. 315. Waiver of navigation and vessel inspection laws. 

Sec. 316. Requirement for small shipyard grantees. 
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Sec. 317. Independent study on the United States Merchant Marine Academy. 

Sec. 318. Centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and 

education. 

Sec. 319. Renewal of merchant mariner licenses and documents. 

TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 401. Coastwise trade. 

Sec. 402. Unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies. 

Sec. 403. Expedited transfer in cases of sexual assault; dependents of members 

of the Coast Guard. 

Sec. 404. Towing vessels; operation outside the boundary line. 

Sec. 405. Coast Guard authorities study. 

Sec. 406. Cloud computing strategy. 

Sec. 407. Report on effects of climate change on Coast Guard. 

Sec. 408. Shore infrastructure. 

Sec. 409. Physical access control system report. 

Sec. 410. Coastwise endorsements. 

Sec. 411. Polar security cutter acquisition report. 

Sec. 412. Sense of the Congress on the need for a new Great Lakes icebreaker. 

Sec. 413. Cargo preference study. 

Sec. 414. Insider Threat program. 

Sec. 415. Fishing safety grants. 

Sec. 416. Plans for demonstration programs. 

Sec. 417. Waters deemed not navigable waters of the United States for certain 

purposes. 

Sec. 418. Coast Guard housing; status and authorities briefing. 

Sec. 419. Conveyance of Coast Guard property at Point Spencer, Alaska. 

Sec. 420. Prohibition. 

Sec. 421. Certificate extensions. 

Sec. 422. Homeland security rotational cybersecurity research program at the 

Coast Guard Academy. 

Sec. 423. Towing vessel inspection fees. 

Sec. 424. Subrogated claims. 

Sec. 425. Loan provisions under Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 

Sec. 426. Liability limits. 

Sec. 427. Report on drug interdiction in the Caribbean basin. 

Sec. 428. Voting Requirement. 

Sec. 429. Transportation work identification card pilot program. 

Sec. 430. Plan for wing-in-ground demonstration plan. 

TITLE V—REORGANIZATION 

Sec. 501. Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels. 

Sec. 502. Transfers. 

Sec. 503. Repeals. 

TITLE VI—TECHNICAL, CONFORMING, AND CLARIFYING 

AMENDMENTS 

Sec. 601. Maritime transportation system. 

Sec. 602. References to ‘‘persons’’ and ‘‘seamen’’. 

Sec. 603. Common appropriation structure. 

Sec. 604. References to ‘‘himself’’ and ‘‘his’’. 

Sec. 605. References to ‘‘motorboats’’ and ‘‘yachts’’. 
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Sec. 606. Miscellaneous technical corrections. 

Sec. 607. Technical corrections relating to codification of Ports and Waterways 

Safety Act. 

TITLE VII—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 701. Short title. 

Sec. 702. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE VIII—COAST GUARD ACADEMY IMPROVEMENT ACT 

Sec. 801. Short title. 

Sec. 802. Coast Guard Academy study. 

Sec. 803. Annual report. 

Sec. 804. Assessment of Coast Guard Academy admission processes. 

Sec. 805. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program. 

Sec. 806. Coast Guard college student pre-commissioning initiative. 

Sec. 807. Annual board of visitors. 

1 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

2 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

3 Section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, is 

4 amended— 

5 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

6 striking ‘‘year 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘years 2020 and 

7 2021’’; 

8 (2) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘provided 

9 for, $7,914,195,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in10 serting ‘‘provided for— 

11 ‘‘(i) $8,122,912,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(ii) $8,538,324,000 for fiscal year 

14 2021.’’; 

15 (3) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘subpara16 graph (A)—’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)(i), 
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1 $17,035,000 shall be for environmental compliance 

2 and restoration.’’; 

3 (4) by striking paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and 

4 (1)(B)(ii); 

5 (5) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 

6 following: 

7 ‘‘(C) Of the amount authorized under subpara8 graph (A)(ii) $17,376,000 shall be for environmental 

9 compliance and restoration.’’; 

10 (6) in paragraph (2)— 

11 (A) by striking ‘‘For the procurement’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘(A) For the procurement’’; 

13 (B) by striking ‘‘and equipment, 

14 $2,694,745,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in15 serting ‘‘and equipment— 

16 ‘‘(i) $2,748,640,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

17 and 

18 ‘‘(ii) $2,803,613,000 for fiscal year 

19 2021.’’; and 

20 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

21 ‘‘(B) Of the amounts authorized under subpara22 graph (A), the following amounts shall be for the al23 teration of bridges: 

24 ‘‘(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 

25 ‘‘(ii) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’; 
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1 (7) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and equip2 ment, $29,141,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘and equipment— 

4 ‘‘(A) $13,834,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 

5 ‘‘(B) $14,111,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’; 

6 and 

7 (8) by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(4) For the Coast Guard’s Medicare-eligible 

9 retiree health care fund contribution to the Depart10 ment of Defense— 

11 ‘‘(A) $205,107,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(B) $209,209,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’. 

14 SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 

15 AND TRAINING. 

16 Section 4904 of title 14, United States Code, is 

17 amended— 

18 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘43,000 for 

19 fiscal year 2018 and 44,500 for fiscal year 2019’’ 

20 and inserting ‘‘44,500 for each of fiscal years 2020 

21 and 2021’’; and 

22 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 

23 2018 and 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2020 

24 and 2021’’. 
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1 SEC. 103. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

2 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

3 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

4 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

5 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

6 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

7 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro8 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

9 vote on passage. 

10 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

11 SEC. 201. GRADE ON RETIREMENT. 

12 (a) COMMANDANT OR VICE COMMANDANT.—Section 

13 303 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

14 (1) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ‘‘A’’ 

15 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Subject to sec16 tion 2501, a’’; and 

17 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘An’’ and in18 serting ‘‘Subject to section 2501, an’’. 

19 (b) OTHER OFFICERS.—Section 306 of title 14, 

20 United States Code, is amended— 

21 (1) by striking ‘‘An officer’’ each place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘Subject to section 2501, an of23 ficer’’; and 

24 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘his’’ and in25 serting ‘‘the officer’s’’. 
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1 (c) COMMISSIONED OR WARRANT OFFICER.—Section 

2 2501 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in subsection (a)— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘Any’’ and inserting ‘‘COM5 MISSIONED OFFICER.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any’’; 

7 (B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

8 officer’’; 

9 (C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 

10 officer’s’’; and 

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

12 ‘‘(2) CONDITIONAL DETERMINATION.—When an 

13 officer is under investigation for alleged misconduct 

14 at the time of retirement, the Secretary may condi15 tionally determine the highest grade of satisfactory 

16 service of the officer pending completion of the in17 vestigation. Such grade is subject to resolution 

18 under subsection (c)(2).’’; 

19 (2) in subsection (b)— 

20 (A) by striking ‘‘Any’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘WARRANT OFFICER.—Any’’; 

22 (B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

23 warrant officer’’; and 

24 (C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 

25 warrant officer’s’’; and 
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1 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(c) RETIREMENT IN LOWER GRADE.— 

3 ‘‘(1) MISCONDUCT IN LOWER GRADE.—In the 

4 case of an officer whom the Secretary determines 

5 committed misconduct in a lower grade, the Sec6 retary may determine the officer has not served sat7 isfactorily in any grade equal to or higher than that 

8 lower grade. 

9 ‘‘(2) CONDITIONAL DETERMINATION.—A deter10 mination of the retired grade of an officer shall be 

11 resolved following a conditional determination under 

12 subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) if the investigation of or 

13 personnel action against the officer or warrant offi14 cer, as applicable, results in adverse findings. 

15 ‘‘(3) RETIRED PAY; RECALCULATION.—If the 

16 retired grade of an officer is reduced, the retired pay 

17 of the officer under chapter 71 of title 10 shall be 

18 recalculated, and any modification of the retired pay 

19 of the officer shall go into effect on the effective date 

20 of the reduction in retired grade. 

21 ‘‘(d) FINALITY OF RETIRED GRADE DETERMINA22 TIONS.— 

23 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATIVE FINALITY.—Except as 

24 otherwise provided by law, a determination of the re25 tired grade of an officer pursuant to this section is 
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1 administratively final on the day the officer is re2 tired, and may not be reopened. 

3 ‘‘(2) REOPENING DETERMINATION.—A deter4 mination of the retired grade of an officer may be 

5 reopened as follows: 

6 ‘‘(A) If the retirement or retired grade of 

7 the officer was procured by fraud. 

8 ‘‘(B) If substantial evidence comes to light 

9 after the retirement that could have led to a 

10 lower retired grade under this section if known 

11 by competent authority at the time of retire12 ment. 

13 ‘‘(C) If a mistake of law or calculation was 

14 made in the determination of the retired grade. 

15 ‘‘(D) In the case of a retired grade fol16 lowing a conditional determination under sub17 section (a)(2) or (b)(2), if the investigation of 

18 or personnel action against the officer, as appli19 cable, results in an adverse finding. 

20 ‘‘(E) If the Secretary determines, pursuant 

21 to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, that 

22 good cause exists to reopen the determination 

23 or certification. 
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1 ‘‘(3) NOTIFICATION OF REOPENING.—If a de2 termination or certification of the retired grade of 

3 an officer is reopened, the Secretary— 

4 ‘‘(A) shall notify the officer of the reopen5 ing; and 

6 ‘‘(B) may not make an adverse determina7 tion on the retired grade of the officer until the 

8 officer has had a reasonable opportunity to re9 spond regarding the basis of the reopening. 

10 ‘‘(4) RETIRED PAY; RECALCULATION.—If the 

11 retired grade of an officer is reduced through the re12 opening of the officer’s or warrant officer’s retired 

13 grade, the retired pay of the officer under chapter 

14 71 of title 10 shall be recalculated, and any modi15 fication of the retired pay of the officer shall go into 

16 effect on the effective date of the reduction of the 

17 officer’s retired grade.’’. 

18 SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS; DIRECTOR. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 

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

21 by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘§ 320. Congressional affairs; Director 

23 ‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall appoint 

24 a Director of Congressional Affairs from among officers 

25 of the Coast Guard who are in a grade above captain.’’. 
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap2 ter 3 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 

3 Act, is further amended by adding at the end the fol4 lowing: 

‘‘320. Congressional affairs; Director.’’. 

5 SEC. 203. LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS. 

6 (a) ADMIRALTY CLAIMS.—Section 937 of title 14, 

7 United States Code, is amended in subsection (a) by strik8 ing ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$425,000’’. 

9 (b) CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF THE

10 UNITED STATES.—Section 938 of title 14, United States 

11 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘$425,000’’. 

13 SEC. 204. AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS TO OPT OUT OF PRO14 MOTION BOARD CONSIDERATION. 

15 (a) ELIGIBILITY OF OFFICERS FOR CONSIDERATION

16 FOR PROMOTION.—Section 2113 of title 14, United States 

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

18 ‘‘(g)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Com19 mandant may provide that an officer may, upon the offi20 cer’s request and with the approval of the Commandant, 

21 be excluded from consideration by a selection board con22 vened under section 2106(a). 

23 ‘‘(2) The Commandant shall approve a request under 

24 paragraph (1) only if— 
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1 ‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow the of2 ficer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced 

3 education, another assignment of significant value to 

4 the Coast Guard, a career progression requirement 

5 delayed by the assignment or education, or a quali6 fying personal or professional circumstance, as de7 termined by the Commandant; 

8 ‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the exclusion 

9 from consideration is in the best interest of the 

10 Coast Guard; and 

11 ‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of se12 lection for promotion to the grade for which the offi13 cer requests the exclusion from consideration.’’. 

14 (b) ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE OFFICER FOR PRO15 MOTION.—Section 3743 of title 14, United States Code, 

16 is amended to read as follows: 

17 ‘‘§ 3743. Eligibility for promotion 

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

19 (b), a Reserve officer is eligible for consideration for pro20 motion and for promotion under this subchapter, if that 

21 officer is in an active status. 

22 ‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—A Reserve officer who has been 

23 considered but not recommended for retention in an active 

24 status by a board convened under subsection 3752(a) of 

25 this title, is not eligible for consideration for promotion. 
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1 ‘‘(c) REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION.— 

2 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may pro3 vide that an officer may, upon the officer’s request 

4 and with the approval of the Commandant, be ex5 cluded from consideration by a selection board con6 vened under section 3740(b) of this title to consider 

7 officers for promotion to the next higher grade. 

8 ‘‘(2) APPROVAL OF REQUEST.—The Com9 mandant shall approve a request under paragraph 

10 (1) only if— 

11 ‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow 

12 an officer to complete a broadening assignment, 

13 advanced education, another assignment of sig14 nificant value to the Coast Guard, a career pro15 gression requirement delayed by the assignment 

16 or education, or a qualifying personal or profes17 sional circumstance, as determined by the Com18 mandant; 

19 ‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the ex20 clusion from consideration is in the best inter21 est of the Coast Guard; and 

22 ‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of 

23 selection for promotion to the grade for which 

24 the officer requests the exclusion from consider25 ation.’’. 
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1 SEC. 205. TEMPORARY PROMOTION AUTHORITY FOR OFFI2 CERS IN CERTAIN GRADES WITH CRITICAL 

3 SKILLS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of Chapter 21 of 

5 title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

6 end the following: 

7 ‘‘§ 2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with 

8 critical skills: captain, commander, lieu9 tenant commander, lieutenant 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An officer in the grade of lieu11 tenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, 

12 or commander, who is described in subsection (b) may be 

13 temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieuten14 ant commander, commander, or captain under regulations 

15 prescribed by the Secretary. Appointments under this sec16 tion shall be made by the President, by and with the advice 

17 and consent of the Senate. 

18 ‘‘(b) COVERED OFFICERS.—An officer described in 

19 this subsection is any officer in a grade specified in sub20 section (a) who— 

21 ‘‘(1) has a skill in which the Coast Guard has 

22 a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by 

23 the Secretary); and 

24 ‘‘(2) is serving in a position (as determined by 

25 the Secretary) that— 
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1 ‘‘(A) is designated to be held by a lieuten2 ant, lieutenant commander, commander, or cap3 tain; and 

4 ‘‘(B) requires that an officer serving in 

5 such position have the skill possessed by such 

6 officer. 

7 ‘‘(c) PRESERVATION OF POSITION AND STATUS OF

8 OFFICERS APPOINTED.— 

9 ‘‘(1) The temporary positions authorized under 

10 this section shall not be counted among or included 

11 in the list of positions on the active duty promotion 

12 list. 

13 ‘‘(2) An appointment under this section does 

14 not change the position on the active-duty list or the 

15 permanent, probationary, or acting status of the of16 ficer so appointed, prejudice the officer in regard to 

17 other promotions or appointments, or abridge the 

18 rights or benefits of the officer. 

19 ‘‘(d) BOARD RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED.—A tem20 porary promotion under this section may be made only 

21 upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened 

22 by the Secretary for the purpose of recommending officers 

23 for such promotions. 

24 ‘‘(e) ACCEPTANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF AP25 POINTMENT.—Each appointment under this section, un-
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1 less expressly declined, is, without formal acceptance, re2 garded as accepted on the date such appointment is made, 

3 and a member so appointed is entitled to the pay and al4 lowances of the grade of the temporary promotion under 

5 this section beginning on the date the appointment is 

6 made. 

7 ‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT.—Unless soon8 er terminated, an appointment under this section termi9 nates— 

10 ‘‘(1) on the date the officer who received the 

11 appointment is promoted to the permanent grade of 

12 lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 

13 captain; 

14 ‘‘(2) on the date the officer is detached from a 

15 position described in subsection (b)(2), unless the of16 ficer is on a promotion list to the permanent grade 

17 of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 

18 captain, in which case the appointment terminates 

19 on the date the officer is promoted to that grade; or 

20 ‘‘(3) when the appointment officer determines 

21 that the officer who received the appointment has 

22 engaged in misconduct or has displayed substandard 

23 performance. 

24 ‘‘(g) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE POSI25 TIONS.—An appointment under this section may only be 
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1 made for service in a position designated by the Secretary 

2 for the purposes of this section. The number of positions 

3 so designated may not exceed the following percentages 

4 of the respective grades: 

5 ‘‘(1) As lieutenant, 0.5 percent. 

6 ‘‘(2) As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent. 

7 ‘‘(3) As commander, 2.6 percent. 

8 ‘‘(4) As captain, 2.6 percent.’’. 

9 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

10 subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with critical skills: captain, commander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant.’’. 

11 SEC. 206. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 

13 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

14 the following: 

15 ‘‘§ 2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of 

16 members 

17 ‘‘(a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 

18 may carry out a program under which members of the 

19 Coast Guard may be inactivated from active service in 

20 order to meet personal or professional needs and returned 

21 to active service at the end of such period of inactivation 

22 from active service. 

23 ‘‘(b) PERIOD OF INACTIVATION FROM ACTIVE SERV24 ICE; EFFECT OF INACTIVATION.— 
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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The period of inactivation 

2 from active service under a program under this sec3 tion of a member participating in the program shall 

4 be such period as the Commandant shall specify in 

5 the agreement of the member under subsection (c), 

6 except that such period may not exceed 3 years. 

7 ‘‘(2) EXCLUSION FROM YEARS OF SERVICE.— 

8 Any service by a Reserve officer while participating 

9 in a program under this section shall be excluded 

10 from computation of the total years of service of 

11 that officer pursuant to section 14706(a) of title 10. 

12 ‘‘(3) EXCLUSION FROM RETIREMENT.—Any pe13 riod of participation of a member in a program 

14 under this section shall not count toward— 

15 ‘‘(A) eligibility for retirement or transfer 

16 to the Ready Reserve under either chapter 571 

17 or 1223 of title 10; or 

18 ‘‘(B) computation of retired or retainer 

19 pay under chapter 71 or 1223 of title 10. 

20 ‘‘(c) AGREEMENT.—Each member of the Coast 

21 Guard who participates in a program under this section 

22 shall enter into a written agreement with the Commandant 

23 under which that member shall agree as follows: 

24 ‘‘(1) To accept an appointment or enlist, as ap25 plicable, and serve in the Coast Guard Ready Re-
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1 serve during the period of the inactivation of the 

2 member from active service under the program. 

3 ‘‘(2) To undergo during the period of the inac4 tivation of the member from active service under the 

5 program such inactive service training as the Com6 mandant shall require in order to ensure that the 

7 member retains proficiency, at a level determined by 

8 the Commandant to be sufficient, in the military 

9 skills, professional qualifications, and physical readi10 ness of the member during the inactivation of the 

11 member from active service. 

12 ‘‘(3) Following completion of the period of the 

13 inactivation of the member from active service under 

14 the program, to serve 2 months as a member of the 

15 Coast Guard on active service for each month of the 

16 period of the inactivation of the member from active 

17 service under the program. 

18 ‘‘(d) CONDITIONS OF RELEASE.—The Commandant 

19 shall prescribe regulations specifying the guidelines re20 garding the conditions of release that must be considered 

21 and addressed in the agreement required by subsection 

22 (c). At a minimum, the Commandant shall prescribe the 

23 procedures and standards to be used to instruct a member 

24 on the obligations to be assumed by the member under 
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1 paragraph (2) of such subsection while the member is re2 leased from active service. 

3 ‘‘(e) ORDER TO ACTIVE SERVICE.—Under regula4 tions prescribed by the Commandant, a member of the 

5 Coast Guard participating in a program under this section 

6 may, in the discretion of the Commandant, be required 

7 to terminate participation in the program and be ordered 

8 to active service. 

9 ‘‘(f) PAY AND ALLOWANCES.— 

10 ‘‘(1) BASIC PAY.—During each month of par11 ticipation in a program under this section, a member 

12 who participates in the program shall be paid basic 

13 pay in an amount equal to two-thirtieths of the 

14 amount of monthly basic pay to which the member 

15 would otherwise be entitled under section 204 of title 

16 37 as a member of the uniformed services on active 

17 service in the grade and years of service of the mem18 ber when the member commences participation in 

19 the program. 

20 ‘‘(2) SPECIAL OR INCENTIVE PAY OR BONUS.— 

21 ‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—A member who par22 ticipates in such a program shall not, while par23 ticipating in the program, be paid any special 

24 or incentive pay or bonus to which the member 

25 is otherwise entitled under an agreement under 
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1 chapter 5 of title 37 or section 1925 of this title 

2 that is in force when the member commences 

3 participation in the program. 

4 ‘‘(B) NOT TREATED AS FAILURE TO PER5 FORM SERVICES.—The inactivation from active 

6 service of a member participating in a program 

7 shall not be treated as a failure of the member 

8 to perform any period of service required of the 

9 member in connection with an agreement for a 

10 special or incentive pay or bonus under chapter 

11 5 of title 37 that is in force when the member 

12 commences participation in the program. 

13 ‘‘(3) RETURN TO ACTIVE SERVICE.— 

14 ‘‘(A) SPECIAL OR INCENTIVE PAY OR

15 BONUS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), upon 

16 the return of a member to active service after 

17 completion by the member of participation in a 

18 program— 

19 ‘‘(i) any agreement entered into by 

20 the member under chapter 5 of title 37 for 

21 the payment of a special or incentive pay 

22 or bonus that was in force when the mem23 ber commenced participation in the pro24 gram shall be revived, with the term of 

25 such agreement after revival being the pe-
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1 riod of the agreement remaining to run 

2 when the member commenced participation 

3 in the program; and 

4 ‘‘(ii) any special or incentive pay or 

5 bonus shall be payable to the member in 

6 accordance with the terms of the agree7 ment concerned for the term specified in 

8 clause (i). 

9 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (A) 

11 shall not apply to any special or incentive 

12 pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 

13 subparagraph with respect to a member if, 

14 at the time of the return of the member to 

15 active service as described in that subpara16 graph— 

17 ‘‘(I) such pay or bonus is no 

18 longer authorized by law; or 

19 ‘‘(II) the member does not satisfy 

20 eligibility criteria for such pay or 

21 bonus as in effect at the time of the 

22 return of the member to active serv23 ice. 

24 ‘‘(ii) PAY OR BONUS CEASES BEING

25 AUTHORIZED.—Subparagraph (A) shall 
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1 cease to apply to any special or incentive 

2 pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 

3 subparagraph with respect to a member if, 

4 during the term of the revived agreement 

5 of the member under subparagraph (A)(i), 

6 such pay or bonus ceases being authorized 

7 by law. 

8 ‘‘(C) REPAYMENT.—A member who is in9 eligible for payment of a special or incentive 

10 pay or bonus otherwise covered by this para11 graph by reason of subparagraph (B)(i)(II) 

12 shall be subject to the requirements for repay13 ment of such pay or bonus in accordance with 

14 the terms of the applicable agreement of the 

15 member under chapter 5 of title 37. 

16 ‘‘(D) REQUIRED SERVICE IS ADDI17 TIONAL.—Any service required of a member 

18 under an agreement covered by this paragraph 

19 after the member returns to active service as 

20 described in subparagraph (A) shall be in addi21 tion to any service required of the member 

22 under an agreement under subsection (c). 

23 ‘‘(4) TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOW24 ANCE.— 
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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara2 graph (B), a member who participates in a pro3 gram is entitled, while participating in the pro4 gram, to the travel and transportation allow5 ances authorized by section 474 of title 37 

6 for— 

7 ‘‘(i) travel performed from the resi8 dence of the member, at the time of release 

9 from active service to participate in the 

10 program, to the location in the United 

11 States designated by the member as the 

12 member’s residence during the period of 

13 participation in the program; and 

14 ‘‘(ii) travel performed to the residence 

15 of the member upon return to active serv16 ice at the end of the participation of the 

17 member in the program. 

18 ‘‘(B) SINGLE RESIDENCE.—An allowance 

19 is payable under this paragraph only with re20 spect to travel of a member to and from a sin21 gle residence. 

22 ‘‘(5) LEAVE BALANCE.—A member who partici23 pates in a program is entitled to carry forward the 

24 leave balance existing as of the day on which the 

25 member begins participation and accumulated in ac-
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1 cordance with section 701 of title 10, but not to ex2 ceed 60 days. 

3 ‘‘(g) PROMOTION.— 

4 ‘‘(1) OFFICERS.— 

5 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An officer partici6 pating in a program under this section shall 

7 not, while participating in the program, be eligi8 ble for consideration for promotion under chap9 ter 21 or 37 of this title. 

10 ‘‘(B) RETURN TO SERVICE.—Upon the re11 turn of an officer to active service after comple12 tion by the officer of participation in a pro13 gram— 

14 ‘‘(i) the Commandant may adjust the 

15 date of rank of the officer in such manner 

16 as the Commandant shall prescribe in reg17 ulations for purposes of this section; and 

18 ‘‘(ii) the officer shall be eligible for 

19 consideration for promotion when officers 

20 of the same competitive category, grade, 

21 and seniority are eligible for consideration 

22 for promotion. 

23 ‘‘(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—An enlisted mem24 ber participating in a program shall not be eligible 
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1 for consideration for advancement during the period 

2 that— 

3 ‘‘(A) begins on the date of the inactivation 

4 of the member from active service under the 

5 program; and 

6 ‘‘(B) ends at such time after the return of 

7 the member to active service under the program 

8 that the member is treatable as eligible for pro9 motion by reason of time in grade and such 

10 other requirements as the Commandant shall 

11 prescribe in regulations for purposes of the pro12 gram. 

13 ‘‘(h) CONTINUED ENTITLEMENTS.—A member par14 ticipating in a program under this section shall, while par15 ticipating in the program, be treated as a member of the 

16 Armed Forces on active duty for a period of more than 

17 30 days for purposes of— 

18 ‘‘(1) the entitlement of the member and of the 

19 dependents of the member to medical and dental 

20 care under the provisions of chapter 55 of this title; 

21 and 

22 ‘‘(2) retirement or separation for physical dis23 ability under the provisions of chapter 61 of title 10 

24 and chapters 21 and 23 of this title.’’. 
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

2 chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

3 to section 2513 the following: 

‘‘2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of members.’’. 

4 SEC. 207. MAJOR ACQUISITIONS; OPERATION AND 

5 SUSTAINMENT COSTS. 

6 Section 5103(e)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 

7 is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 

9 (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D) respectively; and 

10 (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol11 lowing: 

12 ‘‘(B) operate and sustain the cutters and 

13 aircraft described under paragraph (2);’’. 

14 SEC. 208. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 27 of title 

16 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

17 the following: 

18 ‘‘§ 2713. Employment assistance 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to improve the accuracy 

20 and completeness of a certification or verification of job 

21 skills and experience required by section 1143(a)(1) of 

22 title 10, the Secretary shall— 

23 ‘‘(1) establish a database to record all training 

24 performed by members of the Coast Guard that may 
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1 have application to employment in the civilian sector; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(2) make unclassified information regarding 

4 such information available to States and other po5 tential employers referred to in section 1143(c) of 

6 title 10 so that State and other entities may allow 

7 military training to satisfy licensing or certification 

8 requirements to engage in a civilian profession. 

9 ‘‘(b) FORM OF CERTIFICATION OR VERIFICATION.— 

10 The Secretary shall ensure that a certification or 

11 verification of job skills and experience required by section 

12 1143(a)(1) of title 10 is rendered in such a way that 

13 States and other potential employers can confirm the ac14 curacy and authenticity of the certification or verification. 

15 ‘‘(c) REQUESTS BY STATES.—A State may request 

16 that the Secretary confirm the accuracy and authenticity 

17 of a certification or verification of jobs skills and experi18 ence provided under section 1143(c) of title 10.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

20 chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

21 to section 2712 the following: 

‘‘2713. Employment assistance.’’. 

22 SEC. 209. REPORTS ON GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE COAST 

23 GUARD. 

24 (a) ACTION PLAN.— 
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

3 Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 

4 (A) determine which recommendations in 

5 the RAND gender diversity report can prac6 ticably be implemented to promote gender di7 versity in the Coast Guard; and 

8 (B) submit a report to the Committee on 

9 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

10 of Representatives and the Committee on Com11 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen12 ate on the actions the Coast Guard has taken 

13 or plans to take to implement such rec14 ommendations. 

15 (2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

16 ‘‘RAND diversity report’’ means the RAND Cor17 poration’s Homeland Security Operational Analysis 

18 Center 2019 report entitled ‘‘Improving Gender Di19 versity in the U.S. Coast Guard: Identifying Bar20 riers to Female Retention’’. 

21 (b) RECURRING REPORT.—Chapter 51 of title 14, 

22 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

23 following: 
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1 ‘‘§ 5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast 

2 Guard 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 

4 2022, and biennially thereafter, the Commandant shall 

5 submit a report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard 

6 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

7 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

8 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

9 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub10 section (a) shall contain the following: 

11 ‘‘(1) GENDER DIVERSITY OVERVIEW.—An over12 view of Coast Guard active duty and Reserve mem13 bers, including the number of officers and enlisted 

14 members and the percentages of men and women in 

15 each. 

16 ‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.—(A) An 

17 analysis of the changes in the recruitment and reten18 tion of women over the previous 2 years. 

19 ‘‘(B) A discussion of any changes to Coast 

20 Guard recruitment and retention over the previous 2 

21 years that were aimed at increasing the recruitment 

22 and retention of female members. 

23 ‘‘(3) PARENTAL LEAVE.—(A) The number of 

24 men and women who took parental leave during each 

25 year covered by the report, including the average 

26 length of such leave periods. 
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1 ‘‘(B) A discussion of the ways in which the 

2 Coast Guard worked to mitigate the impacts of pa3 rental leave on Coast Guard operations and on the 

4 careers of the members taking such leave. 

5 ‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS.—An analysis of current 

6 gender-based limitations on Coast Guard career op7 portunities, including discussion of— 

8 ‘‘(A) shipboard opportunities; 

9 ‘‘(B) opportunities to serve at remote 

10 units; and 

11 ‘‘(C) any other limitations on the opportu12 nities of female members. 

13 ‘‘(5) PROGRESS UPDATE.—An update on the 

14 Coast Guard’s progress on the implementation of the 

15 action plan required under section 209 of the Coast 

16 Guard Authorization Act of 2019.’’. 

17 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

18 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard.’’. 

19 SEC. 210. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO 

20 E–LORAN. 

21 Section 914 of title 14, United States Code, is 

22 amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (a)— 

24 (A) by striking ‘‘date’’ and inserting ‘‘later 

25 of the date of the conveyance of the properties 
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1 directed under section 533(a) of the Coast 

2 Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public Law 

3 114–120) or the date’’; and 

4 (B) by striking ‘‘determination by the Sec5 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘determination by the 

6 Secretary of Transportation under section 

7 312(d) of title 49’’; and 

8 (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) 

9 and inserting the following: 

10 ‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF PROCEEDS.—The pro11 ceeds of such sales, less the costs of sale incurred by 

12 the General Services Administration, shall be depos13 ited into the Coast Guard Housing Fund for uses 

14 authorized under section 2946 of this title.’’. 

15 SEC. 211. POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSI16 BILITY. 

17 Section 2103(c)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 

18 is amended by striking ‘‘rear admiral (lower half)’’ and 

19 inserting ‘‘vice admiral’’. 

20 SEC. 212. RESEARCH PROJECTS; TRANSACTIONS OTHER 

21 THAN CONTRACTS AND GRANTS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 

23 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol24 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘§ 720. Research projects; transactions other than 

2 contracts and grants 

3 ‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL FORMS OF TRANSACTIONS AU4 THORIZED.—The Commandant may enter into trans5 actions (other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and 

6 grants) in carrying out basic, applied, and advanced re7 search projects. The authority under this subsection is in 

8 addition to the authority provided in section 717 to use 

9 contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants in carrying 

10 out such projects. 

11 ‘‘(b) ADVANCE PAYMENTS.—The authority under 

12 subsection (a) may be exercised without regard to section 

13 3324 of title 31. 

14 ‘‘(c) RECOVERY OF FUNDS.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (d), a 

16 cooperative agreement for performance of basic, ap17 plied, or advanced research authorized by section 

18 717, and a transaction authorized by subsection (a), 

19 may include a clause that requires a person or other 

20 entity to make payments to the Coast Guard or any 

21 other department or agency of the Federal Govern22 ment as a condition for receiving support under the 

23 agreement or transaction, respectively. 

24 ‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The amount of 

25 any payment received by the Federal Government 

26 pursuant to a requirement imposed under paragraph 
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1 (1) may be credited, to the extent authorized by the 

2 Commandant, to an appropriate appropriations ac3 count. Amounts so credited shall be merged with 

4 other funds in the account and shall be available for 

5 the same purposes and the same period for which 

6 other funds in such account are available. 

7 ‘‘(d) CONDITIONS.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall en9 sure that— 

10 ‘‘(A) to the extent that the Commandant 

11 determines practicable, no cooperative agree12 ment containing a clause described in sub13 section (c)(1), and no transaction entered into 

14 under subsection (a), provides for research that 

15 duplicates research being conducted under ex16 isting programs carried out by the Coast 

17 Guard; and 

18 ‘‘(B) to the extent that the Commandant 

19 determines practicable, the funds provided by 

20 the Federal Government under a cooperative 

21 agreement containing a clause described in sub22 section (c)(1), or under a transaction author23 ized by subsection (a), do not exceed the total 

24 amount provided by other parties to the cooper-
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1 ative agreement or other transaction, respec2 tively. 

3 ‘‘(2) OTHER AGREEMENTS NOT FEASIBLE.—A 

4 cooperative agreement containing a clause described 

5 in subsection (c)(1), or under a transaction author6 ized by subsection (a), may be used for a research 

7 project only if the use of a standard contract, grant, 

8 or cooperative agreement for such project is not fea9 sible or appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(e) EDUCATION AND TRAINING.—The Commandant 

11 shall— 

12 ‘‘(1) ensure that management, technical, and 

13 contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in 

14 the award or administration of transactions under 

15 this section or other innovative forms of contracting 

16 are afforded opportunities for adequate education 

17 and training; and 

18 ‘‘(2) establish minimum levels and requirements 

19 for continuous and experiential learning for such 

20 personnel, including levels and requirements for ac21 quisition certification programs. 

22 ‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of the depart23 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe 

24 regulations, as necessary, to carry out this section. 
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1 ‘‘(g) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM

2 DISCLOSURE.— 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Disclosure of information 

4 described in paragraph (2) is not required, and may 

5 not be compelled, under section 552 of title 5 for 5 

6 years after the date on which the information is re7 ceived by the Coast Guard. 

8 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) applies 

10 to information described in subparagraph (B) 

11 that is in the records of the Coast Guard only 

12 if the information was submitted to the Coast 

13 Guard in a competitive or noncompetitive proc14 ess having the potential for resulting in an 

15 award, to the party submitting the information, 

16 of a cooperative agreement for performance of 

17 basic, applied, or advanced research authorized 

18 by section 717 or another transaction author19 ized by subsection (a). 

20 ‘‘(B) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The in21 formation referred to in subparagraph (A) is 

22 the following: 

23 ‘‘(i) A proposal, proposal abstract, 

24 and supporting documents. 
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1 ‘‘(ii) A business plan submitted on a 

2 confidential basis. 

3 ‘‘(iii) Technical information submitted 

4 on a confidential basis. 

5 ‘‘(h) ANNUAL REPORT.—On the date on which the 

6 President submits to Congress a budget pursuant to sec7 tion 1105 of title 31, the Commandant shall submit to 

8 the Committees on Appropriations and Transportation 

9 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

10 the Committees on Appropriations and Commerce, 

11 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report de12 scribing each use of the authority provided under this sec13 tion during the most recently completed fiscal year, includ14 ing details of each use consisting of— 

15 ‘‘(1) the amount of each transaction; 

16 ‘‘(2) the entities or organizations involved; 

17 ‘‘(3) the product or service received; and 

18 ‘‘(4) the research project for which the product 

19 or service was required.’’. 

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap21 ter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add22 ing at the end the following: 

‘‘720. Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants.’’. 
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1 SEC. 213. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE AUTHORITIES. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 

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

4 by inserting after section 1110 the following: 

5 ‘‘§ 1111. Acquisition workforce authorities 

6 ‘‘(a) EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of section 

8 3304 of title 5, the Commandant may— 

9 ‘‘(A) designate any category of acquisition 

10 positions within the Coast Guard as shortage 

11 category positions; and 

12 ‘‘(B) use the authorities in such section to 

13 recruit and appoint highly qualified persons di14 rectly to positions so designated. 

15 ‘‘(2) REPORTS.—The Commandant shall in16 clude in reports under section 1102 information de17 scribed in that section regarding positions des18 ignated under this subsection. 

19 ‘‘(b) REEMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para21 graph (2), if an annuitant receiving an annuity from 

22 the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund be23 comes employed in any category of acquisition posi24 tions designated by the Commandant under sub25 section (a), the annuity of the annuitant so em26 ployed shall continue. The annuitant so reemployed 
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1 shall not be considered an employee for purposes of 

2 subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 

3 5. 

4 ‘‘(2)(A) ELECTION.—An annuitant retired 

5 under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, 

6 receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retire7 ment and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in 

8 any category of acquisition positions designated by 

9 the Commandant under subsection (a) after date of 

10 enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

11 2019, may elect to be subject to section 8344 or 

12 8468 of such title (as the case may be). 

13 ‘‘(i) DEADLINE.—An election for coverage 

14 under this subsection shall be filed not later 

15 than 90 days after the Commandant takes rea16 sonable actions to notify an employee who may 

17 file an election. 

18 ‘‘(ii) COVERAGE.—If an employee files an 

19 election under this subsection, coverage shall be 

20 effective beginning on the first day of the first 

21 applicable pay period beginning on or after the 

22 date of the filing of the election. 

23 ‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 

24 to an individual who is eligible to file an election 
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1 under such subparagraph and does not file a timely 

2 election under clause (i).’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

4 of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 

5 by inserting after the item relating to section 1110 the 

6 following: 

‘‘1111. Acquisition workforce authorities.’’. 

7 SEC. 214. REPORT ON COAST GUARD DEFENSE READINESS 

8 RESOURCES ALLOCATION. 

9 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

10 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp11 troller General of the United States shall submit to the 

12 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

13 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com14 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 

15 on the allocation of resources by the Coast Guard to sup16 port its defense readiness mission. 

17 (b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 

18 (a) shall include the following elements: 

19 (1) Funding levels allocated by the Coast Guard 

20 to support defense readiness missions for each of the 

21 past 10 fiscal years. 

22 (2) Funding levels transferred or otherwise pro23 vided by the Department of Defense to the Coast 

24 Guard in support of the Coast Guard’s defense read25 iness missions for each of the past 10 fiscal years. 
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1 (3) The number of Coast Guard detachments 

2 assigned in support of the Coast Guard’s defense 

3 readiness mission for each of the past 10 fiscal 

4 years. 

5 (c) ASSESSMENT.—In addition to the elements de6 tailed in subsection (b), the report shall include an assess7 ment of the impacts on the Coast Guard’s non-defense 

8 mission readiness and operational capabilities due to the 

9 annual levels of reimbursement provided by the Depart10 ment of Defense to compensate the Coast Guard for its 

11 expenses to fulfill its defense readiness mission. 

12 SEC. 215. REPORT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF LIQUEFIED NAT13 URAL GAS FUELED VESSELS. 

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

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

16 submit a report to the Committee on Transportation and 

17 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

18 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

19 the Senate on the following: 

20 (1) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 

21 of using liquefied natural gas to fuel new Coast 

22 Guard vessels. 

23 (2) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 

24 of converting existing vessels to run on liquefied nat25 ural gas fuels. 
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1 (3) The operational benefits of using liquefied 

2 natural gas to fuel Coast Guard vessels. 

3 TITLE III—SHIPPING 

4 SEC. 301. ELECTRONIC CHARTS; EQUIVALENCY. 

5 (a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3105(a)(1) of title 46, 

6 United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

7 ‘‘(1) ELECTRONIC CHARTS IN LIEU OF MARINE

8 CHARTS, CHARTS, AND MAPS.—Subject to paragraph 

9 (2), the following vessels, while operating on the 

10 navigable waters of the United States, shall be 

11 equipped with and operate electronic navigational 

12 charts conforming to a standard acceptable to the 

13 Secretary in lieu of any marine charts, charts, and 

14 maps required by titles 33 and 46, Code of Federal 

15 Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enact16 ment of this paragraph: 

17 ‘‘(A) A self-propelled commercial vessel of 

18 at least 65 feet overall length. 

19 ‘‘(B) A vessel carrying more than a num20 ber of passengers for hire determined by the 

21 Secretary. 

22 ‘‘(C) A towing vessel of more than 26 feet 

23 in overall length and 600 horsepower. 
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1 ‘‘(D) Any other vessel for which the Sec2 retary decides that electronic charts are nec3 essary for the safe navigation of the vessel.’’. 

4 (b) EXEMPTIONS AND WAIVERS.—Section 

5 3105(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

6 by— 

7 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘operates; 

8 and’’ and inserting ‘‘operates;’’; 

9 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘those 

10 waters.’’ and inserting ‘‘those waters; and’’; and 

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

12 ‘‘(C) permit vessels that operate solely 

13 landward of the baseline from which the terri14 torial sea of the United States is measured to 

15 utilize software-based, platform-independent 

16 electronic chart systems that the Secretary de17 termines are capable of displaying electronic 

18 navigational charts with necessary scale and de19 tail to ensure safe navigation for the intended 

20 voyage.’’. 

21 SEC. 302. PASSENGER VESSEL SECURITY AND SAFETY RE22 QUIREMENTS; APPLICATION. 

23 Section 3507(k)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 

24 is amended— 
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1 (1) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’ after 

2 the semicolon at the end; 

3 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

4 and inserting a period; and 

5 (3) by striking subparagraph (D). 

6 SEC. 303. NON-OPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 

7 (a) DEFINITION.—Section 2101 of title 46, United 

8 States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (23) 

9 the following: 

10 ‘‘(23a) ‘non-operating individual’ means an in11 dividual who— 

12 ‘‘(A) does not perform— 

13 ‘‘(i) with respect to the operation of a 

14 vessel, watchstanding, automated engine 

15 room duty watch, navigation, or personnel 

16 safety functions; 

17 ‘‘(ii) with respect to the loading and 

18 unloading of merchandise, cargo handling 

19 functions, including any activity relating to 

20 the loading or unloading of cargo, the op21 eration of cargo-related equipment (wheth22 er or not integral to the vessel), and the 

23 handling of mooring lines on the dock 

24 when the vessel is made fast or let go; 
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1 ‘‘(iii) vessel maintenance, including 

2 any repairs that can be performed by the 

3 vessel’s crew or a riding gang; or 

4 ‘‘(iv) safety, security, or environ5 mental protection activities directly related 

6 to the operation of the vessel and normally 

7 conducted by the vessel’s crew; 

8 ‘‘(B) does not serve as part of the crew 

9 complement required under section 8101; 

10 ‘‘(C) does not serve as a riding gang mem11 ber; 

12 ‘‘(D) is not a member of the steward’s de13 partment; 

14 ‘‘(E) is not a citizen or temporary or per15 manent resident of a country designated by the 

16 United States as a sponsor of terrorism or any 

17 other country that the Secretary, in consulta18 tion with the Secretary of State and the heads 

19 of other appropriate United States agencies, de20 termines to be a security threat to the United 

21 States; 

22 ‘‘(F) is not specifically exempted from the 

23 requirement to have a merchant mariner’s doc24 ument under section 8701(a); 
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1 ‘‘(G) has not been convicted in any juris2 diction of an offense described in paragraph (2) 

3 or (3) of section 7703; 

4 ‘‘(H) whose license, certificate of registry, 

5 or merchant mariner’s document has not been 

6 suspended or revoked under section 7704; and 

7 ‘‘(I) who does not otherwise constitute a 

8 threat to the safety of the vessel.’’. 

9 (b) CITIZENSHIP AND NAVY RESERVE REQUIRE10 MENTS.—Section 8103(j) of title 46, United States Code, 

11 is amended by— 

12 (1) striking ‘‘RIDING GANG MEMBER’’ and in13 serting ‘‘RIDING GANG MEMBER OR NON-OPER14 ATING INDIVIDUAL’’; and 

15 (2) inserting ‘‘or a non-operating individual’’ 

16 before the period. 

17 (c) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO NON-OPERATING

18 INDIVIDUALS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 46, 

20 United States Code, is amended— 

21 (A) by redesignating section 8107 as sec22 tion 8108; and 

23 (B) by inserting after section 8106 the fol24 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘§ 8107. Requirements relating to non-operating indi2 viduals 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The owner or managing operator 

4 of a merchant vessel of the United States of at least 100 

5 gross tons as measured under section 14502, or an alter6 nate tonnage measured under section 14302 as prescribed 

7 by the Secretary under section 14104, shall— 

8 ‘‘(1) ensure that— 

9 ‘‘(A) each non-operating individual on the 

10 vessel— 

11 ‘‘(i) is a United States citizen or an 

12 alien lawfully admitted to the United 

13 States for permanent residence; or 

14 ‘‘(ii) possesses a United States non15 immigrant visa for individuals desiring to 

16 enter the United States temporarily for 

17 business, employment-related and personal 

18 identifying information, and any other doc19 umentation required by the Secretary; 

20 ‘‘(B) all required documentation for such 

21 individual is kept on the vessel and available for 

22 inspection by the Secretary; and 

23 ‘‘(C) each non-operating individual is iden24 tified on the manifest; 

25 ‘‘(2) ensure that— 
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1 ‘‘(A) each non-operating individual pos2 sesses— 

3 ‘‘(i) a merchant mariner’s document; 

4 ‘‘(ii) a transportation worker identi5 fication credential under section 70105; or 

6 ‘‘(iii) a current security clearance 

7 issued by a Federal agency; or 

8 ‘‘(B) the employer of such an individual at9 tests in a certificate to the owner or managing 

10 operator that— 

11 ‘‘(i) the background of such individual 

12 has been examined and found to be free of 

13 any credible information indicating a mate14 rial risk to the security of the vessel, the 

15 vessel’s cargo, the ports the vessel visits, or 

16 other individuals onboard the vessel;; 

17 ‘‘(ii) such examination— 

18 ‘‘(I) met the requirements of sec19 tion 70105(d)(2), for persons de20 scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(i) of this 

21 subsection; or 

22 ‘‘(II) consisted of a search of all 

23 information reasonably available to 

24 the owner or managing operator in 

25 the individual’s country of citizenship 
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1 and any other country in which the 

2 individual works, receives employment 

3 referrals, or resides, for persons de4 scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) of this 

5 subsection; and 

6 ‘‘(iii) the information derived from 

7 any such examination is made available to 

8 the Secretary upon request; 

9 ‘‘(3) ensure that each non-operating individual 

10 of the vessel, while on board the vessel, is subject to 

11 the same random chemical testing and reporting re12 gimes as crew members; 

13 ‘‘(4) ensure that each such individual employed 

14 on the vessel receives basic safety familiarization and 

15 basic safety training approved by the Coast Guard; 

16 and 

17 ‘‘(5) ensure that every non-operating individual 

18 of the vessel is employed on board the vessel under 

19 conditions that meet or exceed the minimum inter20 national standards of all applicable international 

21 labor conventions to which the United States is a 

22 party, including all of the merchant seamen protec23 tion and relief provided under United States law. 

24 ‘‘(b) RECORDKEEPING.—In addition to the require25 ments of subsection (a), the owner or managing operator 
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1 of a vessel to which subsection (a) applies shall ensure that 

2 all information necessary to ensure compliance with this 

3 section, as determined by the Secretary, is entered into 

4 the vessel’s official logbook required by chapter 113. 

5 ‘‘(c) CIVIL PENALTY.—A person (including an indi6 vidual) violating this section is liable to the United States 

7 Government for a civil penalty of $1,250.’’. 

8 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for 

9 chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, is 

10 amended by striking the item relating to section 

11 8107 and inserting the following: 

‘‘8107. Requirements relating to non-operating individuals. 

‘‘8108. Use of force against piracy.’’. 

12 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

13 (A) MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS

14 REQUIRED.—Section 8701 of title 46, United 

15 States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

16 the following: 

17 ‘‘(e) This section does not apply to non-operating in18 dividuals.’’. 

19 (B) TRAINING FOR USE OF FORCE

20 AGAINST PIRACY.—Section 51705(4) of title 46, 

21 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘46 

22 U.S.C. 8107 note’’ and inserting ‘‘46 U.S.C. 

23 8108 note’’. 
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1 SEC. 304. SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS AND UNINSPECTED 

2 PASSENGER VESSELS. 

3 Section 12121 of title 46, United States Code, is 

4 amended— 

5 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking subpara6 graphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 

7 ‘‘(A) was built in the United States; 

8 ‘‘(B) was not built in the United States 

9 and is at least 3 years old; or 

10 ‘‘(C) if rebuilt, was rebuilt— 

11 ‘‘(i) in the United States; or 

12 ‘‘(ii) outside the United States at 

13 least 3 years before the certificate re14 quested under subsection (b) would take 

15 effect.’’; and 

16 (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘12132,’’ 

17 after ‘‘12113,’’. 

18 SEC. 305. INSTALLATION VESSELS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 551 of title 46, United 

20 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol21 lowing new section: 

22 ‘‘§ 55123. Installation vessels 

23 ‘‘(a) INITIAL DETERMINATION OF COASTWISE

24 QUALIFIED VESSEL.—No later than 180 days after the 

25 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of 

26 Transportation shall determine whether an installation 
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1 vessel exists for which a coastwise endorsement has been 

2 issued under section 12112. 

3 ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—If the Secretary of Transpor4 tation determines under subsection (a) that no such coast5 wise qualified vessel exists, then, after the date on which 

6 such determination is made, lifting operations between a 

7 vessel for which a coastwise endorsement has been issued 

8 under section 12112 and an installation vessel for which 

9 no such endorsement has been issued is not transportation 

10 of merchandise for the purposes of section 55102. 

11 ‘‘(c) REQUESTS FOR DETERMINATIONS OF COAST12 WISE QUALIFIED VESSELS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After the date on which the 

14 determination is made under subsection (a), an in15 stallation vessel for which a coastwise endorsement 

16 has been issued under section 12112, the owner or 

17 operator of such installation vessel may seek a new 

18 determination from the Secretary of Transportation 

19 that an installation vessel for which a coastwise en20 dorsement has been issued under section 12112 ex21 ists. 

22 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION TO NON-QUALIFIED VES23 SELS.—If the Secretary of Transportation makes a 

24 determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise 

25 qualified vessel exists, then— 
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1 ‘‘(A) the owner or operator of an installa2 tion vessel for which no coastwise endorsement 

3 has been issued under section 12112 shall seek 

4 a determination of the availability of a coast5 wise qualified vessel under paragraph (3) before 

6 using such non-coastwise qualified vessel for the 

7 transportation of a platform jacket; and 

8 ‘‘(B) after the date on which such deter9 mination is made, the owner or operator of an 

10 installation vessel for which no coastwise en11 dorsement has been issued under section 12112 

12 shall not use such non-coastwise qualified vessel 

13 for the transportation of a platform jacket un14 less the Secretary of Transportation determines 

15 a coastwise qualified is not available under 

16 paragraph (4). 

17 ‘‘(3) CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION OF AVAIL18 ABILITY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall de19 termine a coastwise qualified vessel is not available 

20 if— 

21 ‘‘(A) the owner or operator of a non-coast22 wise qualified vessel submits to the Secretary of 

23 Transportation an application for the use of a 

24 non-coastwise qualified installation vessel for 

25 transportation of a platform jacket under this 
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1 section that includes all relevant information, 

2 including engineering details and timing re3 quirements, and such application is submitted 

4 not less than 1 year before the date such vessel 

5 is required for such use; 

6 ‘‘(B) the Secretary provides the application 

7 made under subparagraph (A) to the owner of 

8 each coastwise qualified vessel listed as an in9 stallation vessel in the inventory under section 

10 12138(c) and promptly publishes in the Federal 

11 Register a notice— 

12 ‘‘(i) describing the project and the 

13 platform jacket involved; 

14 ‘‘(ii) advising that all relevant infor15 mation reasonably needed to assess the 

16 transportation and installation require17 ments for the platform jacket will be made 

18 available to an interested person on re19 quest; and 

20 ‘‘(iii) requesting that information on 

21 the availability of coastwise qualified ves22 sels be submitted within a 45-day period 

23 beginning on the date of such publication; 

24 and 
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1 ‘‘(C)(i) within such 45-day period no infor2 mation is submitted to the Secretary from own3 ers or operators of coastwise qualified installa4 tion vessels to meet the requirements of the ap5 plication required under paragraph (A); or 

6 ‘‘(ii) the owner or operator of a coastwise 

7 qualified installation vessel submits information 

8 to the Secretary asserting that the owner or op9 erator has a suitable coastwise qualified instal10 lation vessel available to meet the requirements 

11 of the application required under paragraph 

12 (A), but the Secretary determines, within 90 

13 days after the notice is first published, that the 

14 coastwise qualified installation vessel is not 

15 suitable or reasonably available for the trans16 portation. 

17 ‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 ‘‘(1) INSTALLATION VESSEL.—The term ‘instal19 lation vessel’ means a vessel using a crane suitable 

20 for offshore use that— 

21 ‘‘(A) is used to install platform jackets; 

22 ‘‘(B) has a slewing or luffing capability; 

23 ‘‘(C) has a lifting capacity of at least 

24 1,000 metric tons; and 
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1 ‘‘(D) conducts lifting operations to con2 struct or remove offshore facilities or subsea in3 frastructure or to install and uninstall compo4 nent parts or materials from offshore facilities 

5 or subsea infrastructure. 

6 ‘‘(2) LIFTING OPERATIONS.—The term ‘lifting 

7 operations’ means the lifting of platform jackets by 

8 crane from the time that the lifting activity begins 

9 when unlading from a vessel or removing offshore 

10 facilities or subsea infrastructure until the time that 

11 the lifting activities are terminated for a particular 

12 unlading, installation, or removal of offshore facili13 ties or subsea infrastructure. 

14 ‘‘(3) PLATFORM JACKET.—The term ‘platform 

15 jacket’ has the meaning given such term in section 

16 55108(a).’’. 

17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap18 ter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

19 adding at the end the following: 

‘‘55123. Installation vessels.’’. 

20 (c) INVENTORY.—Section 12138(b) of title 46, 

21 United States Code, is amended— 

22 (1) in the heading, by striking the period and 

23 inserting ‘‘, AND INSTALLATION.’’; 

24 (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol25 lows: 
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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor2 tation shall develop, maintain, and periodically up3 date an inventory of vessels that are— 

4 ‘‘(A) documented under this chapter; 

5 ‘‘(B) at least 200 feet in length; 

6 ‘‘(C) have the capability to lay, maintain, 

7 or repair a submarine cable, without regard to 

8 whether a particular vessel is classed as a cable 

9 ship or cable vessel; and 

10 ‘‘(D) installation vessels within the mean11 ing of such term in section 55123.’’; and 

12 (3) by amending paragraph (2)(B) to read as 

13 follows: 

14 ‘‘(B) the abilities and limitations of the 

15 vessel with respect to— 

16 ‘‘(i) in the case of a vessel required to 

17 be inventoried under paragraph (1)(A), 

18 laying, maintaining, and repairing a sub19 marine cable; and 

20 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a vessel required to 

21 be inventoried under paragraph (1)(B), in22 stalling platform jackets; and’’. 

23 (d) NOTICE OF MODIFICATION OR REVOCATION.—No 

24 later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act, the 

25 Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Com-
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1 missioner of Customs and Border Protection, shall issue 

2 a notice, including an opportunity for public comment, on 

3 the modification or revocation of Letter Rulings 101925, 

4 108442, 113841, 114435, 115185, 115218, 115311, 

5 115487, 115522, 115771, 115938, 116078, H004242 

6 with respect to the application of the section 55102 of title 

7 46, Shipping, United States Code, to certain offshore op8 erations. 

9 SEC. 306. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

10 (a) NATIONAL OFFSHORE SAFETY ADVISORY COM11 MITTEE; REPRESENTATION.—Section 15106(c)(3) of title 

12 46, United States Code, is amended— 

13 (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘mineral 

14 and oil operations, including geophysical services’’ 

15 and inserting ‘‘operations’’; 

16 (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘explo17 ration and recovery’’; 

18 (3) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘engaged 

19 in diving services related to offshore construction, 

20 inspection, and maintenance’’ and inserting ‘‘pro21 viding diving services to the offshore industry’’; 

22 (4) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘engaged 

23 in safety and training services related to offshore ex24 ploration and construction’’ and inserting ‘‘providing 
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1 safety and training services to the offshore indus2 try’’; 

3 (5) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘engaged 

4 in pipelaying services related to offshore construc5 tion’’ and inserting ‘‘providing subsea engineering, 

6 construction, or remotely operated vehicle support to 

7 the offshore industry’’; 

8 (6) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘mineral 

9 and energy’’; 

10 (7) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘national 

11 environmental entities’’ and inserting ‘‘entities pro12 viding environmental protection, compliance, or re13 sponse services to the offshore industry’’; and 

14 (8) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘deepwater 

15 ports’’ and inserting ‘‘entities engaged in offshore oil 

16 exploration and production on the Outer Continental 

17 Shelf adjacent to Alaska’’. 

18 (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEES; TESTIMONY.—Section 

19 15109(j)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 

20 by adding at the end the following: 

21 ‘‘(C) TESTIMONY.—The members of a 

22 committee shall be available to testify before 

23 appropriate committees of the Congress with re24 spect to the advice, reports, and recommenda25 tions submitted under paragraph (2).’’. 
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1 (c) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL

2 ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 555 of title 46, 

4 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

5 end the following: 

6 ‘‘§ 55502. Maritime Transportation System National 

7 Advisory Committee 

8 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Mari9 time Transportation System National Advisory Committee 

10 (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 

11 ‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 

12 Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to the 

13 United States maritime transportation system and its 

14 seamless integration with other segments of the transpor15 tation system, including the viability of the United States 

16 Merchant Marine. 

17 ‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con19 sist of 27 members appointed by the Secretary of 

20 Transportation in accordance with this section and 

21 section 15109. 

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

24 and experience in matters relating to the function of 

25 the Committee. 
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1 ‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com2 mittee shall be appointed as follows: 

3 ‘‘(A) At least one member shall represent 

4 the Environmental Protection Agency. 

5 ‘‘(B) At least one member shall represent 

6 the Department of Commerce. 

7 ‘‘(C) At least one member shall represent 

8 the Army Corps of Engineers. 

9 ‘‘(D) At least one member shall represent 

10 the Coast Guard. 

11 ‘‘(E) At least one member shall represent 

12 Customs and Border Protection. 

13 ‘‘(F) At least one member shall represent 

14 State and local governmental entities. 

15 ‘‘(G) Additional members shall represent 

16 private sector entities that reflect a cross-sec17 tion of maritime industries, including port and 

18 water stakeholders, academia, and labor. 

19 ‘‘(H) The Secretary may appoint addi20 tional representatives from other Federal agen21 cies as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

22 ‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATION.—For purposes of sec23 tion 15109— 

24 ‘‘(A) the Committee shall be treated as a 

25 committee established under chapter 151; and 
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1 ‘‘(B) the Secretary of Transportation shall 

2 fulfill all duties and responsibilities and have all 

3 authorities of the Secretary of Homeland Secu4 rity with regard to the Committee.’’. 

5 (2) TREATMENT OF EXISTING COMMITTEE.— 

6 Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 

7 (A) an advisory committee substantially 

8 similar to the Committee established by section 

9 55502 of title 46, United States Code, and that 

10 was in force or in effect on the day before the 

11 date of the enactment of this Act, including the 

12 charter, membership, and other aspects of such 

13 committee, may remain in force or in effect for 

14 the 2-year period beginning on the date of the 

15 enactment of this section; and 

16 (B) during such 2-year period— 

17 (i) requirements relating the Maritime 

18 Transportation System National Advisory 

19 Committee established by such section 

20 shall be treated as satisfied by such sub21 stantially similar advisory committee; and 

22 (ii) the enactment of this section shall 

23 not be the basis— 

24 (I) to deem, find, or declare such 

25 committee, including the charter, 
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1 membership, and other aspects there2 of, void, not in force, or not in effect; 

3 (II) to suspend the activities of 

4 such committee; or 

5 (III) to bar the members of such 

6 committee from a meeting. 

7 (3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

8 chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is 

9 amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘55502. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee.’’. 

10 (4) REPEAL.—Section 55603 of title 46, United 

11 States Code, and the item relating to that section in 

12 the analysis for chapter 556 of that title, are re13 pealed. 

14 (d) GREAT LAKES PILOTAGE ADVISORY COM15 MITTEE.— 

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

17 Code, is amended by striking section 9307 and in18 serting the following: 

19 ‘‘§ 9307. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee 

20 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Great 

21 Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (in this section re22 ferred to as the ‘Committee’). 

23 ‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee— 

24 ‘‘(1) may review proposed Great Lakes pilotage 

25 regulations and policies and make recommendations 
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1 to the Secretary that the Committee considers ap2 propriate; 

3 ‘‘(2) may advise, consult with, report to, and 

4 make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 

5 relating to Great Lakes pilotage; and 

6 ‘‘(3) may only make recommendations to the 

7 Secretary under paragraph (2) if such recommenda8 tions have been approved by all but one of the mem9 bers then serving on such Committee. 

10 ‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con12 sist of seven members appointed by the Secretary in 

13 accordance with this section and section 15109. 

14 ‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com15 mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 

16 and experience in matters relating to the function of 

17 the Committee. 

18 ‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com19 mittee shall be appointed as follows: 

20 ‘‘(A) The President of each of the three 

21 Great Lakes pilotage districts, or the Presi22 dent’s representative. 

23 ‘‘(B) At least one member shall represent 

24 the interests of vessel operators that contract 

25 for Great Lakes pilotage services. 
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1 ‘‘(C) At least one member shall represent 

2 the interests of Great Lakes ports. 

3 ‘‘(D) At least one member shall represent 

4 the interests of shippers whose cargoes are 

5 transported through Great Lakes ports. 

6 ‘‘(E) At least one member shall have a 

7 background in finance or accounting and must 

8 have been recommended to the Secretary by a 

9 unanimous vote of the other members of the 

10 Committee. 

11 ‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATION.—For purposes of sec12 tion 15109, the Committee shall be treated as a 

13 committee established under chapter 151.’’. 

14 (2) TREATMENT OF EXISTING COMMITTEE.— 

15 Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 

16 (A) an advisory committee substantially 

17 similar to the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory 

18 Committee established by section 9307 of title 

19 46, United States Code, as amended by this 

20 section, and that was in force or in effect on 

21 the day before the date of the enactment of this 

22 Act, including the charter, membership, and 

23 other aspects of the committee, may remain in 

24 force or in effect for a period of 2 years from 

25 the date of enactment of this Act; and 
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1 (B) during such 2-year period— 

2 (i) requirements relating to the Great 

3 Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee estab4 lished by section 9307 of title 46, United 

5 States Code, as amended by this section, 

6 shall be treated as satisfied by the substan7 tially similar advisory committee; and 

8 (ii) the enactment of this section and 

9 the amendments made by this section shall 

10 not be the basis— 

11 (I) to deem, find, or declare such 

12 committee, including the charter, 

13 membership, and other aspects there14 of, void, not in force, or not in effect; 

15 (II) to suspend the activities of 

16 such committee; or 

17 (III) to bar the members of such 

18 committee from a meeting. 

19 (e) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 15109 of 

20 title 46 is amended by inserting ‘‘or to which this chapter 

21 applies’’ after ‘‘committee established under this chapter’’ 

22 each place it appears. 

23 SEC. 307. EXPIRED MARITIME LIENS. 

24 Section 31343(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 

25 amended— 
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1 (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A notice’’; and 

2 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1), as so des3 ignated by this section, the following: 

4 ‘‘(2) On expiration of a notice of claim of lien under 

5 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall remove such expired no6 tice.’’. 

7 SEC. 308. TRAINING; EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS. 

8 (a) SECURITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 

9 Section 70107 of title 46, United States Code, is amend10 ed— 

11 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law enforce12 ment personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency response 

13 providers’’; 

14 (2) in subsection (b)(8), by striking ‘‘law en15 forcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency 

16 response providers—’’; and 

17 (3) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘law en18 forcement agency personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘emer19 gency response providers’’. 

20 (b) CREDENTIALING FOR STATE AND LOCAL SUP21 PORT.—Section 70132 of title 46, United States Code, is 

22 amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law enforce24 ment personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency re25 sponse providers—’’; 
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1 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘law enforce2 ment personnel’’ each place it appears and inserting 

3 ‘‘emergency response providers’’; and 

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

5 ‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 

6 the term ‘emergency response providers’ has the meaning 

7 given that term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act 

8 of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).’’. 

9 SEC. 309. AIMING A LASER POINTER AT A VESSEL. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 700 of 

11 title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

12 end the following: 

13 ‘‘§ 70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel 

14 ‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful to cause the 

15 beam of a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the 

16 navigable waters of the United States. 

17 ‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 

18 a member or element of the Department of Defense or 

19 Department of Homeland Security acting in an official ca20 pacity for the purpose of research, development, oper21 ations, testing, or training. 

22 ‘‘(c) LASER POINTER DEFINED.—In this section the 

23 term ‘laser pointer’ means any device designed or used to 

24 amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission 

25 that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator 
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1 as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify 

2 a specific position, place, item, or object.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

4 chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items re5 lating to such subchapter the following: 

‘‘70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel.’’. 

6 SEC. 310. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT. 

7 Section 55501(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an assess10 ment of the condition’’ and inserting ‘‘a conditions 

11 and performance analysis’’; 

12 (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 

13 inserting a semicolon; 

14 (3) in paragraph (5) by striking the period and 

15 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

16 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(6) a compendium of the Federal programs 

18 engaged in the maritime transportation system.’’. 

19 SEC. 311. SAFETY OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 46, United States Code, is 

21 amended by inserting after section 70005 the following: 

22 ‘‘§ 70006. Safety of special activities 

23 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish a 

24 safety zone to address special activities in the exclusive 

25 economic zone. 
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1 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

2 ‘‘(1) The term ‘safety zone’ has the meaning 

3 provided in section 165.20 of title 33, Code of Fed4 eral Regulations. 

5 ‘‘(2) The term ‘special activities’ includes— 

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

7 reentry, as those terms are defined in section 

8 50902 of title 51, carried out by United States 

9 citizens; and 

10 ‘‘(B) offshore energy development activi11 ties, as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the 

12 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 

13 1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near a fixed platform. 

14 ‘‘(3) The term ‘United States citizen’ has the 

15 meaning given the term ‘eligible owners’ in section 

16 12103. 

17 ‘‘(4) The term ‘fixed platform’ means an artifi18 cial island, installation, or structure permanently at19 tached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration 

20 or exploitation of resources or for other economic 

21 purposes.’’. 

22 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap23 ter 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

24 inserting after the item relating to section 70005 the fol25 lowing: 

‘‘70006. Safety of special activities.’’. 
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1 (c) REGULATIONS.— 

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

3 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

4 of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper5 ating shall establish regulations to implement this 

6 section. 

7 (2) ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER REGULATIONS.— 

8 Such regulations shall align with subchapter C of 

9 chapter III of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 

10 SEC. 312. ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES; USE REQUIREMENT. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4312 of title 46, United 

12 States Code, is amended— 

13 (1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 

14 (d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 

15 (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol16 lowing: 

17 ‘‘(b) USE REQUIREMENT.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual operating a 

19 covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut20 off switch link while operating on plane or above dis21 placement speed. 

22 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement under 

23 paragraph (1) shall not apply if— 

24 ‘‘(A) the main helm of the covered vessel 

25 is installed within an enclosed cabin; or 
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1 ‘‘(B) the vessel does not have an engine 

2 cut-off switch and is not required to have one 

3 under subsection (a).’’. 

4 (b) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 4311 of title 46, 

5 United States Code, is amended by— 

6 (1) redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), 

7 and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), re8 spectively; and 

9 (2) inserting after subsection (b) the following: 

10 ‘‘(c) A person violating section 4312(b) of this title 

11 is liable to the United States Government for a civil pen12 alty of not more than— 

13 ‘‘(1) $100 for the first offense; 

14 ‘‘(2) $250 for the second offense; and 

15 ‘‘(3) $500 for any subsequent offense.’’. 

16 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made in 

17 subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 90 days after the 

18 date of the enactment of this section, unless the Com19 mandant of the Coast Guard, prior to the date that is 90 

20 days after the date of the enactment of this section, deter21 mines that the use requirement enacted in subsection (a) 

22 would not promote recreational boating safety. 

23 SEC. 313. EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4305 of title 46, United 

25 States Code, is amended— 
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1 (1) by striking the heading and inserting the 

2 following: 

3 ‘‘§ 4305. Exemptions and equivalents’’; 

4 (2) by striking ‘‘If the Secretary’’ and inserting 

5 the following: 

6 ‘‘(a) EXEMPTIONS.—If the Secretary’’; and 

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

8 ‘‘(b) EQUIVALENTS.—The Secretary may accept a 

9 substitution for associated equipment performance or 

10 other safety standards for a recreational vessel if the sub11 stitution provides an equivalent level of safety.’’. 

12 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap13 ter 43 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

14 striking the item relating to section 4305 and inserting 

15 the following: 

‘‘4305. Exemptions and equivalents.’’. 

16 SEC. 314. SECURITY PLANS; REVIEWS. 

17 Section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, is 

18 amended— 

19 (1) by amending subsection (b)(3) to read as 

20 follows: 

21 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall review and approve 

22 Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and 

23 updates under this subsection.’’; and 

24 (2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting ‘‘or up25 date’’ after ‘‘plan’’ each place it appears. 
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1 SEC. 315. WAIVER OF NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPEC2 TION LAWS. 

3 Section 501(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 

4 amended— 

5 (1) by striking ‘‘On request’’ and inserting the 

6 following: 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request’’; and 

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

9 ‘‘(2) EXPLANATION.—Not later than 24 hours 

10 after making a request under paragraph (1), the 

11 Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 

12 on Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed 

13 Services of the House of Representatives and the 

14 Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transpor15 tation and Armed Services of the Senate a written 

16 explanation of the circumstances requiring such a 

17 waiver in the interest of national defense, including 

18 a confirmation that there are insufficient qualified 

19 vessels to meet the needs of national defense without 

20 such a waiver.’’. 

21 SEC. 316. REQUIREMENT FOR SMALL SHIPYARD GRANTEES. 

22 Section 54101(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 

23 amended— 

24 (1) by striking ‘‘Grants awarded’’ and inserting 

25 the following: 

26 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded’’; and 
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1 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(2) BUY AMERICA.— 

3 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara4 graph (B), no funds may be obligated by the 

5 Administrator of the Maritime Administration 

6 under this section, unless each product and ma7 terial purchased with those funds (including 

8 products and materials purchased by a grant9 ee), and including any commercially available 

10 off-the-shelf item, is— 

11 ‘‘(i) an unmanufactured article, mate12 rial, or supply that has been mined or pro13 duced in the United States; or 

14 ‘‘(ii) a manufactured article, material, 

15 or supply that has been manufactured in 

16 the United States substantially all from ar17 ticles, materials, or supplies mined, pro18 duced, or manufactured in the United 

19 States. 

20 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.— 

21 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 

22 subparagraph (A), the requirements of 

23 that subparagraph shall not apply with re24 spect to a particular product or material if 

25 such Administrator determines— 
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1 ‘‘(I) that the application of those 

2 requirements would be inconsistent 

3 with the public interest; 

4 ‘‘(II) that such product or mate5 rial is not available in the United 

6 States in sufficient and reasonably 

7 available quantities, of a satisfactory 

8 quality, or on a timely basis; or 

9 ‘‘(III) that inclusion of a domes10 tic product or material will increase 

11 the cost of that product or material by 

12 more than 25 percent, with respect to 

13 a certain contract between a grantee 

14 and that grantee’s supplier. 

15 ‘‘(ii) FEDERAL REGISTER.—A deter16 mination made by such Administrator 

17 under this subparagraph shall be published 

18 in the Federal Register. 

19 ‘‘(C) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 

20 ‘‘(i) COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE OFF21 THE-SHELF ITEM.—The term ‘commer22 cially available off-the-shelf item’ means— 

23 ‘‘(I) any item of supply (includ24 ing construction material) that is— 
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1 ‘‘(aa) a commercial item, as 

2 defined by section 2.101 of title 

3 48, Code of Federal Regulations; 

4 and 

5 ‘‘(bb) sold in substantial 

6 quantities in the commercial 

7 marketplace; and 

8 ‘‘(II) does not include bulk cargo, 

9 as that term is defined in section 

10 40102(4) of this title, such as agricul11 tural products and petroleum prod12 ucts. 

13 ‘‘(ii) PRODUCT OR MATERIAL.—The 

14 term ‘product or material’ means an arti15 cle, material, or supply brought to the site 

16 by the recipient for incorporation into the 

17 building, work, or project. The term also 

18 includes an item brought to the site 

19 preassembled from articles, materials, or 

20 supplies. However, emergency life safety 

21 systems, such as emergency lighting, fire 

22 alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that 

23 are discrete systems incorporated into a 

24 public building or work and that are pro25 duced as complete systems, are evaluated 
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1 as a single and distinct construction mate2 rial regardless of when or how the indi3 vidual parts or components of those sys4 tems are delivered to the construction site. 

5 ‘‘(iii) UNITED STATES.—The term 

6 ‘United States’ includes the District of Co7 lumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

8 the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 

9 American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.’’. 

10 SEC. 317. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON THE UNITED STATES 

11 MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY. 

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

13 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor14 tation shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Na15 tional Academy of Public Administration (referred to in 

16 this section as the ‘‘Academy’’) to carry out the activities 

17 described in this section. 

18 (b) STUDY ELEMENTS.—In accordance with the 

19 agreement described in subsection (a), the Academy shall 

20 conduct a study of the United States Merchant Marine 

21 Academy that consists of the following: 

22 (1) A comprehensive assessment of the United 

23 States Merchant Marine Academy’s systems, train24 ing, facilities, infrastructure, information technology, 

25 and stakeholder engagement. 
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1 (2) Identification of needs and opportunities for 

2 modernization to help the United States Merchant 

3 Marine Academy keep pace with more modern cam4 puses. 

5 (3) Development of an action plan for the 

6 United States Merchant Marine Academy with spe7 cific recommendations for— 

8 (A) improvements or updates relating to 

9 the opportunities described in paragraph (2); 

10 and 

11 (B) systemic changes needed to help the 

12 United States Merchant Marine Academy 

13 achieve its mission of inspiring and educating 

14 the next generation of the mariner workforce on 

15 a long-term basis. 

16 (c) DEADLINE AND REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 

17 after the date of the agreement described in subsection 

18 (a), the Academy shall prepare and submit to the Adminis19 trator of the Maritime Administration a report containing 

20 the action plan described in subsection (b)(3), including 

21 specific findings and recommendations. 
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1 SEC. 318. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR DOMESTIC MARI2 TIME WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDU3 CATION. 

4 Section 54102 of title 46, United States Code, is 

5 amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘or sub7 section (d)’’ after ‘‘designated under subsection (a)’’; 

8 and 

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

10 ‘‘(d) STATE MARITIME ACADEMY.—The Secretary of 

11 Transportation shall designate each State maritime acad12 emy, as defined in section 51102(4) of this title, as a cen13 ter of excellence under this section.’’. 

14 SEC. 319. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES 

15 AND DOCUMENTS. 

16 Section 7507 of title 46, United States Code, is 

17 amended by adding at the end the following: 

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

19 existing merchant mariner credential that is not an exten20 sion under subsection (a) or (b), such credential shall 

21 begin the day after the expiration of the credential holder’s 

22 existing credential.’’. 

23 TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 

24 SEC. 401. COASTWISE TRADE. 

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

26 Guard shall review the adequacy of and continuing need 
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1 for provisions in title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 

2 that require a United States vessel documented under 

3 chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, possessing 

4 a coastwise endorsement under that chapter, and engaged 

5 in coastwise trade, to comply with regulations for vessels 

6 engaged in an international voyage. 

7 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 

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

9 the Coast Guard shall provide to the Committee on Trans10 portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa11 tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

12 Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the findings 

13 of the review required under subsection (a) and a discus14 sion of how existing laws and regulations could be amend15 ed to ensure the safety of vessels described in subsection 

16 (a) while infringing as little as possible on commerce. 

17 SEC. 402. UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS AND SATELLITE 

18 VESSEL TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES. 

19 (a) ASSESSMENT.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the 

21 Coast Guard, acting through the Blue Technology 

22 Center of Expertise, shall regularly assess available 

23 unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel 

24 tracking technologies for potential use to support 

25 missions of the Coast Guard. 
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1 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Commandant shall 

2 make the assessment required under paragraph (1) 

3 after consultation with the Department of Defense, 

4 other Federal agencies, the academic sector, and de5 velopers and manufacturers of unmanned maritime 

6 systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies. 

7 (b) REPORT.— 

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

9 the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially 

10 thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the 

11 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

12 the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

13 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen14 ate a report on the actual and potential effects of 

15 the use of then-existing unmanned maritime systems 

16 and satellite vessel tracking technologies on the mis17 sion effectiveness of the Coast Guard. 

18 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

19 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

20 (A) An inventory of current unmanned 

21 maritime systems used by the Coast Guard, an 

22 overview of such usage, and a discussion of the 

23 mission effectiveness of such systems, including 

24 any benefits realized or risks or negative as25 pects of such usage. 
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1 (B) An inventory of satellite vessel track2 ing technologies, and a discussion of the poten3 tial mission effectiveness of such technologies, 

4 including any benefits or risks or negative as5 pects of such usage. 

6 (C) A prioritized list of Coast Guard mis7 sion requirements that could be met with addi8 tional unmanned maritime systems, or with sat9 ellite vessel tracking technologies, and the esti10 mated costs of accessing, acquiring, or oper11 ating such systems. 

12 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

13 (1) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘unmanned 

15 maritime systems’’ means remotely operated or 

16 autonomous vehicles produced by the commer17 cial sector designed to travel in the air, on or 

18 under the ocean surface, on land, or any com19 bination thereof, and that function without an 

20 on-board human presence. 

21 (B) EXAMPLES.—Such term includes the 

22 following: 

23 (i) Unmanned undersea vehicles. 

24 (ii) Unmanned surface vehicles. 

25 (iii) Unmanned aerial vehicles. 
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1 (iv) Autonomous underwater vehicles. 

2 (v) Autonomous surface vehicles. 

3 (vi) Autonomous aerial vehicles. 

4 (2) AVAILABLE UNMANNED MARITIME SYS5 TEMS.—The term ‘‘available unmanned maritime 

6 systems’’ includes systems that can be purchased 

7 commercially or are in use by the Department of 

8 Defense or other Federal agencies. 

9 (3) SATELLITE VESSEL TRACKING TECH10 NOLOGIES.—The term ‘‘satellite vessel tracking tech11 nologies’’ means shipboard broadcast systems that 

12 use satellites and terrestrial receivers to continually 

13 track vessels. 

14 SEC. 403. EXPEDITED TRANSFER IN CASES OF SEXUAL AS15 SAULT; DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE 

16 COAST GUARD. 

17 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

19 shall establish a policy to allow the transfer of a member 

20 of the Coast Guard whose dependent is the victim of sex21 ual assault perpetrated by a member of the Armed Forces 

22 who is not related to the victim. 
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1 SEC. 404. TOWING VESSELS; OPERATION OUTSIDE THE 

2 BOUNDARY LINE. 

3 (a) INTERIM EXEMPTION.—A towing vessel to which 

4 this section applies is exempt from any additional require5 ments of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, and 

6 chapter I of title 33 and chapter I of title 46, Code of 

7 Federal Regulations, that would result solely from such 

8 vessel operating outside the Boundary Line (as such term 

9 is defined in section 103 of title 46, United States Code) 

10 if such vessel— 

11 (1) is listed as a response vessel on a vessel re12 sponse plan and is operating outside the Boundary 

13 Line solely to perform duties of a response vessel; or 

14 (2) is operating outside the Boundary Line 

15 solely to perform operations necessary to escort a 

16 vessel with limited maneuverability. 

17 (b) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to a towing 

18 vessel— 

19 (1) that is subject to inspection under chapter 

20 33 of title 46, United States Code, and subchapter 

21 M of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; 

22 (2) with only ‘‘Lakes, Bays, and Sounds’’ or 

23 ‘‘Rivers’’ routes recorded on such vessel’s certificate 

24 of inspection under section 136.230 of title 46, Code 

25 of Federal Regulations; and 
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1 (3)(A) that, with respect to a vessel that is de2 scribed in subsection (a)(1), is listed— 

3 (i) on a vessel response plan under part 

4 155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, on 

5 the date of approval of the vessel response plan; 

6 or 

7 (ii) by name or reference in the vessel re8 sponse plan’s geographic-specific appendix on 

9 the date of approval of the vessel response plan; 

10 or 

11 (B) that, with respect to a vessel described in 

12 subsection (a)(2), is regularly engaged in harbor as13 sist operations, including the docking, undocking, 

14 mooring, unmooring, and escorting of vessels with 

15 limited maneuverability. 

16 (c) LIMITATIONS.—A vessel exempted under sub17 section (a) is subject to the following operating limitations: 

18 (1) RESPONSE VESSELS.—The voyage of a ves19 sel exempted under subsection (a)(1) shall— 

20 (A) be less than 12 hours, or in the case 

21 of a voyage in the territorial waters of Alaska, 

22 Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa, have suf23 ficient manning as determined by the Secretary; 

24 and 
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1 (B) originate and end in the inspection 

2 zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine In3 spection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of 

4 title 46, United States Code. 

5 (2) ESCORT VESSELS.—The voyage of a vessel 

6 exempted under subsection (a)(2) shall— 

7 (A) be less than 12 hours in total duration; 

8 (B) originate and end in the inspection 

9 zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine In10 spection, as such term is defined in section 

11 3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code; and 

12 (C) occur no further than 10 nautical 

13 miles from the Boundary Line. 

14 (d) TERMINATION.—The interim exemption provided 

15 under subsection (a) shall terminate on July 22, 2023. 

16 (e) RESTRICTION.—The Officer In-Charge, Marine 

17 Inspection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, 

18 United States Code, for an inspection zone may restrict 

19 operations under the exemptions provided under sub20 section (a) for safety purposes. 

21 (f) BRIEFING.—Not later than July 22, 2022, the 

22 Commandant of the Coast Guard shall brief the Com23 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

24 of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
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1 Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding the 

2 following: 

3 (1) The impacts of the interim exemptions pro4 vided under this section. 

5 (2) Any safety concerns regarding the expira6 tion of such interim exemptions. 

7 (3) Whether such interim exemptions should be 

8 extended or made permanent in the interests of safe9 ty. 

10 SEC. 405. COAST GUARD AUTHORITIES STUDY. 

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

12 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 

13 into an arrangement with the National Academy of 

14 Sciences not later than 60 days after the date of the enact15 ment of this Act under which the Academy shall prepare 

16 an assessment of Coast Guard authorities. 

17 (b) ASSESSMENT.—The assessment under subsection 

18 (a) shall provide— 

19 (1) an examination of emerging issues that may 

20 require Coast Guard oversight, regulation, or action; 

21 (2) a description of potential limitations and 

22 shortcomings of relying on current Coast Guard au23 thorities to address emerging issues; and 
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1 (3) an overview of adjustments and additions 

2 that could be made to existing Coast Guard authori3 ties to fully address emerging issues. 

4 (c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 

5 year after entering into an arrangement with the Sec6 retary under subsection (a), the National Academy of 

7 Sciences shall submit the assessment under this section 

8 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

9 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

10 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

11 (d) EMERGING ISSUES.—In this section, the term 

12 ‘‘emerging issues’’ means changes in the maritime indus13 try and environment that in the determination of the Na14 tional Academy of Sciences are reasonably likely to occur 

15 within 10 years after the date of the enactment of this 

16 Act, including— 

17 (1) the introduction of new technologies in the 

18 maritime domain; 

19 (2) the advent of new processes or operational 

20 activities in the maritime domain; and 

21 (3) changes in the use of navigable waterways. 

22 SEC. 406. CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGY. 

23 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact24 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

25 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
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1 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com2 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

3 Senate a detailed description of the Coast Guard’s strat4 egy to implement cloud computing for the entire Coast 

5 Guard, including— 

6 (1) the goals and acquisition strategies for all 

7 proposed enterprise-wide cloud computing service 

8 procurements; 

9 (2) a strategy to sustain competition and inno10 vation throughout the period of performance of each 

11 contract for procurement of cloud-computing goods 

12 and services for the Coast Guard, including defining 

13 opportunities for multiple cloud-service providers 

14 and insertion of new technologies; 

15 (3) an assessment of potential threats and secu16 rity vulnerabilities of the strategy, and plans to miti17 gate such risks; and 

18 (4) an estimate of the cost and timeline to im19 plement cloud computing service for all Coast Guard 

20 computing. 

21 SEC. 407. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON 

22 COAST GUARD. 

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

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

25 the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
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1 portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa2 tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

3 Transportation of the Senate a report on vulnerabilities 

4 of Coast Guard installations and requirements resulting 

5 from climate change over the next 20 years. 

6 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 

7 shall include the following: 

8 (1) A list of the 10 most vulnerable Coast 

9 Guard installations based on the effects of climate 

10 change, including rising sea tides, increased flooding, 

11 drought, desertification, wildfires, thawing perma12 frost, or any other categories the Commandant de13 termines necessary. 

14 (2) An overview of— 

15 (A) mitigations that may be necessary to 

16 ensure the continued operational viability and 

17 to increase the resiliency of the identified vul18 nerable installations; and 

19 (B) the cost of such mitigations. 

20 (3) A discussion of the climate-change-related 

21 effects on the Coast Guard, including— 

22 (A) the increase in the frequency of hu23 manitarian assistance and disaster relief mis24 sions; and 
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1 (B) campaign plans, contingency plans, 

2 and operational posture of the Coast Guard. 

3 (4) An overview of mitigations that may be nec4 essary to ensure mission resiliency and the cost of 

5 such mitigations. 

6 (c) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 

7 shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 

8 a classified annex. 

9 SEC. 408. SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE. 

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

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

12 the Coast Guard shall— 

13 (1) develop a plan to standardize Coast Guard 

14 facility condition assessments; 

15 (2) establish shore infrastructure performance 

16 goals, measures, and baselines to track the effective17 ness of maintenance and repair investments and pro18 vide feedback on progress made; 

19 (3) develop a process to routinely align the 

20 Coast Guard shore infrastructure portfolio with mis21 sion needs, including disposing of unneeded assets; 

22 (4) establish guidance for planning boards to 

23 document inputs, deliberations, and project 

24 prioritization decisions for infrastructure mainte25 nance projects; 
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1 (5) employ models for Coast Guard infrastruc2 ture asset lines for— 

3 (A) predicting the outcome of investments 

4 in shore infrastructure; 

5 (B) analyzing tradeoffs; and 

6 (C) optimizing decisions among competing 

7 investments; 

8 (6) include supporting details about competing 

9 project alternatives and report tradeoffs in congres10 sional budget requests and related reports; and 

11 (7) explore the development of real property 

12 management expertise within the Coast Guard work13 force, including members of the Senior Executive 

14 Service. 

15 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than December 31, 2020, 

16 the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall brief the Com17 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

18 of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

19 Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the status 

20 of the actions required under subsection (a). 

21 SEC. 409. PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM REPORT. 

22 Not later 180 days after the date of the enactment 

23 of this Act and annually for each of the 4 years thereafter, 

24 the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 

25 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
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1 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com2 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

3 regarding the status of the Coast Guard’s compliance with 

4 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD–12) 

5 and Federal Information Processing Standard 201 

6 (FIPS–201), including— 

7 (1) the status of Coast Guard efforts to field a 

8 comprehensive Physical Access Control System at 

9 Coast Guard installations and locations necessary to 

10 bring the Service into compliance with HSPD–12 

11 and FIPS–201B; 

12 (2) the status of the selection of a technological 

13 solution; 

14 (3) the estimated phases and timeframe to com15 plete the implementation of such a system; and 

16 (4) the estimated cost for each phase of the 

17 project. 

18 SEC. 410. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENTS. 

19 (a) ‘‘SAFARI VOYAGER’’.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 

21 12112 and 12132 of title 46, United States Code, 

22 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

23 Guard is operating shall issue a certificate of docu24 mentation with a coastwise endorsement for the ves-
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1 sel Safari Voyager (International Maritime Organi2 zation number 8963753). 

3 (2) REVOCATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CER4 TIFICATE.—A certificate of documentation issued 

5 under paragraph (1) is revoked on the date of the 

6 sale of the vessel or the entity that owns the vessel. 

7 (b) ‘‘PACIFIC PROVIDER’’.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 

9 12112 and 12132 of title 46, United States Code, 

10 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

11 Guard is operating may issue a certificate of docu12 mentation with a coastwise endorsement for the ves13 sel Pacific Provider (United States official number 

14 597967). 

15 (2) REVOCATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CER16 TIFICATE.—A certificate of documentation issued 

17 under paragraph (1) is revoked on the date of the 

18 sale of the vessel or the entity that owns the vessel. 

19 (c) DOCUMENTATION OF LNG TANKERS.—Section 

20 7(b)(3) of the America’s Cup Act of 2011 (Public Law 

21 112–61) is amended by— 

22 (1) striking ‘‘The coastwise endorsement 

23 issued’’ and inserting ‘‘No coastwise endorsement 

24 shall be issued’’; and 
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1 (2) striking ‘‘shall expire on’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘after’’. 

3 (d) REPLACEMENT VESSEL.—Notwithstanding sec4 tion 208(g)(5) of the American Fisheries Act (Public Law 

5 105–277; 16 U.S.C. 1851 note), a vessel eligible under 

6 section 208(e)(21) of such Act that is replaced under sec7 tion 208(g) of such Act shall be subject to a sideboard 

8 restriction catch limit of zero metric tons in the Bering 

9 Sea and Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska unless 

10 that vessel is also a replacement vessel under section 

11 679.4(o)(4) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, in 

12 which case such vessel shall not be eligible to be a catcher/ 

13 processor under section 206(b)(2) of such Act. 

14 SEC. 411. POLAR SECURITY CUTTER ACQUISITION REPORT. 

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

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

17 submit a report to the Committees on Transportation and 

18 Infrastructure and Armed Services of the House of Rep19 resentatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science 

20 and Transportation and Armed Services of the Senate 

21 on— 

22 (1) the extent to which specifications, key draw23 ings, and detail design for the Polar Security Cutter 

24 are complete before the start of construction; 
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1 (2) the extent to which Polar Security Cutter 

2 hulls numbers one, two, and three are science ready; 

3 and 

4 (3) what actions will be taken to ensure that 

5 Polar Security Cutter hull number four is science ca6 pable, as described in the National Academies of 

7 Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on 

8 Polar Icebreaker Cost Assessment letter report enti9 tled ‘‘Acquisition and Operation of Polar Ice10 breakers: Fulfilling the Nation’s Needs’’ and dated 

11 July 11, 2017. 

12 SEC. 412. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON THE NEED FOR A 

13 NEW GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER. 

14 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

15 (1) The Great Lakes shipping industry is cru16 cial to the American economy, including the United 

17 States manufacturing base, providing important eco18 nomic and national security benefits. 

19 (2) A recent study found that the Great Lakes 

20 shipping industry supports 237,000 jobs and tens of 

21 billions of dollars in economic activity. 

22 (3) United States Coast Guard icebreaking ca23 pacity is crucial to full utilization of the Great Lakes 

24 shipping system, as during the winter icebreaking 

25 season up to 15 percent of annual cargo loads are 
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1 delivered and many industries would have to reduce 

2 their production if Coast Guard icebreaking services 

3 were not provided. 

4 (4) Six of the Coast Guard’s nine icebreaking 

5 cutters in the Great Lakes are more than 30 years 

6 old and are frequently inoperable during the winter 

7 icebreaking season, including those that have com8 pleted a recent service life extension program. 

9 (5) During the previous 10 winters, Coast 

10 Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutters have been in11 operable for an average of 65 cutter-days during the 

12 winter icebreaking season, with this annual lost ca13 pability exceeding 100 cutter-days, with a high of 

14 246 cutter-days during the winter of 2017–2018. 

15 (6) The 2019 ice season provides further proof 

16 that current Coast Guard icebreaking capacity is in17 adequate for the needs of the Great Lakes shipping 

18 industry, as only six of the nine icebreaking cutters 

19 are operational and millions of tons of cargo was not 

20 loaded or was delayed due to inadequate Coast 

21 Guard icebreaking assets during a historically aver22 age winter for Great Lakes ice coverage. 

23 (7) The Congress has authorized the Coast 

24 Guard to acquire a new Great Lakes icebreaker as 

25 capable as Coast Guard Cutter MACKINAW 
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1 (WLBB–30), the most capable Great Lakes ice2 breaker, and $10 million has been appropriated to 

3 fund the design and initial acquisition work for this 

4 icebreaker. 

5 (8) The Coast Guard has not initiated a new 

6 acquisition program for this Great Lakes icebreaker. 

7 (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

8 the Congress of the United States that a new Coast Guard 

9 icebreaker as capable as Coast Guard Cutter MACKI10 NAW (WLBB–30) is needed on the Great Lakes and the 

11 Coast Guard should acquire this icebreaker as soon as pos12 sible. 

13 SEC. 413. CARGO PREFERENCE STUDY. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 

15 United States shall conduct an audit regarding the en16 forcement of the United States Cargo Preference Laws set 

17 forth in sections 55302, 55303, 55304, and 55305 of title 

18 46, United States Code, and section 2631 of title 10, 

19 United States Code (hereinafter in this section referred 

20 to as the ‘‘United States Cargo Preference Laws’’). 

21 (b) SCOPE.—The audit conducted under subsection 

22 (a) shall include, for the period from October 14, 2008, 

23 until the date of the enactment of this Act— 
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1 (1) a listing of the agencies and organizations 

2 required to comply with the United States Cargo 

3 Preference Laws; 

4 (2) an analysis of the compliance or noncompli5 ance of such agencies and organizations with such 

6 laws, including— 

7 (A) the total amount of oceangoing cargo 

8 that each such agency, organization, or con9 tractor procured for its own account or for 

10 which financing was in any way provided with 

11 Federal funds, including loan guarantees; 

12 (B) the percentage of such cargo shipped 

13 on privately owned commercial vessels of the 

14 United States; 

15 (C) an assessment of internal programs 

16 and controls used by each such agency or orga17 nization to monitor and ensure compliance with 

18 the United States Cargo Preference Laws, to 

19 include education, training, and supervision of 

20 its contracting personnel, and the procedures 

21 and controls used to monitor compliance with 

22 cargo preference requirements by contractors 

23 and subcontractors; and 

24 (D) instances in which cargoes are shipped 

25 on foreign-flag vessels under non-availability de-
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1 terminations but not counted as such for pur2 poses of calculating cargo preference compli3 ance; and 

4 (3) an overview of enforcement activities under5 taken by the Maritime Administration from October 

6 14, 2008, until the date of the enactment of this 

7 Act, including a listing of all bills of lading collected 

8 by the Maritime Administration during that period. 

9 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

10 of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 

11 submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra12 structure of the House of Representatives and the Com13 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

14 Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and pro15 viding recommendations related to such results, to in16 clude— 

17 (1) actions that should be taken by agencies 

18 and organizations to fully comply with the United 

19 States Cargo Preference Laws; and 

20 (2) Other measures that may compel agencies 

21 and organizations, and their contractors and sub22 contractors, to use United States flag vessels in the 

23 international transportation of ocean cargoes as 

24 mandated by the United States Cargo Preference 

25 Laws. 
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1 SEC. 414. INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. 

2 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

4 shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra5 structure of the House of Representatives and the Com6 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

7 Senate on a plan to expand the Coast Guard Insider 

8 Threat program to include the monitoring of all Coast 

9 Guard devices, including mobile devices. 

10 SEC. 415. FISHING SAFETY GRANTS. 

11 The cap on the Federal share of the cost of any activ12 ity carried out with a grant under subsections (i) and (j) 

13 of section 4502 of title 46, United States Code, as in effect 

14 prior to the date of enactment of the Frank LoBiondo 

15 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, shall apply to any 

16 funds appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations 

17 Act, 2017 (Public Law 115–31) for the purpose of making 

18 such grants. 

19 SEC. 416. PLANS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. 

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

21 Guard shall develop plans for demonstration programs 

22 that will assess the feasibility of using unmanned maritime 

23 systems for surveillance of marine protected areas, the 

24 transit zone, and the Arctic to— 
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1 (1) gather regular maritime domain awareness 

2 of marine protected areas, the transit zone, and the 

3 Arctic; and 

4 (2) ensure sufficient response to illegal activi5 ties in marine protected areas, the transit zone, and 

6 the Arctic. 

7 (b) COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES.— 

8 The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall collaborate 

9 with local, State, and Tribal authorities and international 

10 partners for surveillance permissions over their waters in 

11 conducting any demonstration program under subsection 

12 (a). 

13 (c) REQUIREMENTS.—The plans required under sub14 section (a) shall include— 

15 (1) discussion of the feasibility, safety, and cost 

16 effectiveness of using unmanned maritime systems 

17 for the purposes of enhancing maritime domain 

18 awareness in marine protected areas, the transit 

19 zone, and the Arctic; 

20 (2) coordination and communication plans to 

21 facilitate coordination with other relevant Federal, 

22 State, Tribal, and local agencies, and international 

23 partners; 
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1 (3) consideration of the potential impacts of 

2 such a demonstration program on the Coast Guard’s 

3 existing unmanned vehicle programs; 

4 (4) an overview of areas that could be surveilled 

5 under such program; 

6 (5) a timeline and technical milestones for the 

7 implementation of such a program; 

8 (6) resource requirements to implement and 

9 sustain such a program; and 

10 (7) the operational benefits of such a program. 

11 (d) CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS.—The 

12 Commandant of the Coast Guard shall consult with rel13 evant stakeholders including the Department of Defense, 

14 other agencies, the academic sector, and developers and 

15 manufacturers of unmanned maritime systems on the ap16 propriate technologies for successful implementation of 

17 any demonstration program under subsection (a). 

18 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

19 of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief 

20 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

21 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com22 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 

23 plans required under subsection (a). 

24 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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1 (1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean2 ing given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Re3 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

4 (2) MARINE PROTECTED AREA.—The term 

5 ‘‘marine protected area’’ means any discrete area of 

6 the marine environment under a Federal statute. 

7 (3) TRANSIT ZONE.—The term ‘‘transit zone’’ 

8 has the meaning given that term in section 

9 1092(a)(8) of the National Defense Authorization 

10 Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (6 U.S.C. 223(a)(8)). 

11 (4) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.—The term 

12 ‘‘unmanned maritime systems’’ has the meaning 

13 given such term in section 402(c)(1). 

14 SEC. 417. WATERS DEEMED NOT NAVIGABLE WATERS OF 

15 THE UNITED STATES FOR CERTAIN PUR16 POSES. 

17 The Coalbank Slough in Coos Bay, Oregon, is 

18 deemed to not be navigable waters of the United States 

19 for all purposes of subchapter J of Chapter I of title 33, 

20 Code of Federal Regulations. 

21 SEC. 418. COAST GUARD HOUSING; STATUS AND AUTHORI22 TIES BRIEFING. 

23 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact24 ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

25 shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and In-
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1 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com2 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

3 Senate a briefing on Coast Guard housing, including— 

4 (1) a description of the material condition of 

5 Coast Guard housing facilities; 

6 (2) the amount of current Coast Guard housing 

7 construction and deferred maintenance backlogs; 

8 (3) an overview of the manner in which the 

9 Coast Guard manages and maintains housing facili10 ties; 

11 (4) a discussion of whether reauthorizing hous12 ing authorities for the Coast Guard similar to those 

13 provided in section 208 of the Coast Guard Author14 ization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–324); and 

15 (5) recommendations regarding how the Con16 gress could adjust those authorities to prevent mis17 management of Coast Guard housing facilities. 

18 SEC. 419. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY AT 

19 POINT SPENCER, ALASKA. 

20 (1) Section 533 of the Coast Guard Authoriza21 tion Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–120) is amended 

22 by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(f) REMEDIAL ACTIONS.—For purposes of the 

24 transfers under this section, the remedial actions required 

25 under section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
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1 Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 

2 U.S.C. 9620(h)) may be completed by the United States 

3 Coast Guard after the date of such transfer and a deed 

4 entered into for such transfer shall include a clause grant5 ing the United States Coast Guard access to the property 

6 in any case in which remedial action or corrective action 

7 is found to be necessary after the date of such transfer.’’. 

8 (2) Section 534(a) of the Coast Guard Author9 ization Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–120) is 

10 amended by— 

11 (A) striking ‘‘Nothing’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘After the date on which the Secretary of the 

13 Interior conveys land under section 533 of this 

14 Act, nothing’’; and 

15 (B) by inserting ‘‘, with respect to con16 taminants on such land prior to the date on 

17 which the land is conveyed’’ before the period. 

18 SEC. 420. PROHIBITION. 

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

20 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall not establish 

21 anchorage grounds on the Hudson River between Yonkers, 

22 New York, and Kingston, New York, under section 7 of 

23 the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1915 (33 

24 U.S.C. 471) or chapter 700 of title 46, United States 
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1 Code, in addition to any anchorage grounds in effect in 

2 such area on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

3 (b) RESTRICTION.—The Commandant may not es4 tablish or expand any anchorage grounds outside of the 

5 reach on the Hudson River described in subsection (a) 

6 without first providing notice to the Committee on Trans7 portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa8 tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

9 Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days prior 

10 to the establishment or expansion of any such anchorage 

11 grounds. 

12 (c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section— 

13 (1) prevents the master or pilot of a vessel op14 erating on the reach of the Hudson River described 

15 in subsection (a) from taking emergency actions nec16 essary to maintain the safety of the vessel or to pre17 vent the loss of life or property; or 

18 (2) shall be construed as limiting the authority 

19 of the Secretary of the department in which the 

20 Coast Guard is operating to exercise authority over 

21 the movement of a vessel under section 70002 of 

22 title 46, United States Code, or any other applicable 

23 laws or regulations governing the safe navigation of 

24 a vessel. 
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1 (d) STUDY.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, 

2 in consultation with the Hudson River Safety, Navigation, 

3 and Operations Committee, shall conduct a study of the 

4 Hudson River north of Tarrytown, New York to exam5 ine— 

6 (1) the nature of vessel traffic including vessel 

7 types, sizes, cargoes, and frequency of transits; 

8 (2) the risks and benefits of historic practices 

9 for commercial vessels anchoring; and 

10 (3) the risks and benefits of establishing an11 chorage grounds on the Hudson River. 

12 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 

14 Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transpor15 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

16 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor17 tation of the Senate a report containing the findings, con18 clusions, and recommendations from the study required 

19 under subsection (b). 

20 SEC. 421. CERTIFICATE EXTENSIONS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 121 of 

22 title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

23 end the following: 
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1 ‘‘§ 12108. Authority to extend the duration of vessel 

2 certificates 

3 ‘‘(a) CERTIFICATES.—Provided a vessel is in compli4 ance with inspection requirements in section 3313, the 

5 Secretary of the Department in which in the Coast Guard 

6 is operating may, if he makes the determination described 

7 in subsection (b), extend for a period of not more than 

8 1 year an expiring— 

9 ‘‘(1) certificate of documentation issued for a 

10 vessel under chapter 121; or 

11 ‘‘(2) certificate of financial responsibility re12 quired for a vessel by section 1016(a) of the Oil Pol13 lution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2716(a)) or Section 

14 108 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

15 Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 

16 9608). 

17 ‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—The determination referred 

18 to in subsection (a) is a determination that such extension 

19 is required to enable the Coast Guard to— 

20 ‘‘(1) eliminate a backlog in processing applica21 tions for such certificates; or 

22 ‘‘(2) act in response to a national emergency or 

23 natural disaster. 

24 ‘‘(c) MANNER OF EXTENSION.—Any extension grant25 ed under this section may be granted to individual vessels 

26 or to a specifically identified group of vessels.’’. 
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

2 subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘12108. Authority to extend the duration of vessel certificates.’’. 

3 SEC. 422. HOMELAND SECURITY ROTATIONAL CYBERSECU4 RITY RESEARCH PROGRAM AT THE COAST 

5 GUARD ACADEMY. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title VIII of the 

7 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 411 et seq.) 

8 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 846. ROTATIONAL CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH PRO10 GRAM. 

11 ‘‘To enhance the Department’s cybersecurity capac12 ity, the Secretary may establish a rotational research, de13 velopment, and training program for— 

14 ‘‘(1) detail to the Cybersecurity and Infrastruc15 ture Security Agency (including the national cyber16 security and communications integration center au17 thorized by section 2209) of Coast Guard Academy 

18 graduates and faculty; and 

19 ‘‘(2) detail to the Coast Guard Academy, as 

20 faculty, of individuals with expertise and experience 

21 in cybersecurity who are employed by— 

22 ‘‘(A) the Agency (including the center); 

23 ‘‘(B) the Directorate of Science and Tech24 nology; or 
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1 ‘‘(C) institutions that have been designated 

2 by the Department as a Center of Excellence 

3 for Cyber Defense, or the equivalent.’’. 

4 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

5 in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the 

6 end of the items relating to such subtitle the following: 

‘‘Sec. 846. Rotational cybersecurity research program.’’. 

7 SEC. 423. TOWING VESSEL INSPECTION FEES. 

8 Notwithstanding section 9701 of title 31, United 

9 States Code, and section 2110 of title 46, United States 

10 Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

11 Guard is operating may not charge an inspection fee for 

12 towing vessels required to have a Certificate of Inspection 

13 under subchapter M of title 46, Code of Federal Regula14 tions, until— 

15 (1) the completion of the review required under 

16 section 815 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 

17 Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282); 

18 and 

19 (2) the promulgation of regulations to establish 

20 specific inspection fees for such vessels. 

21 SEC. 424. SUBROGATED CLAIMS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1012(b) of the Oil Pollu23 tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(b)) is amended— 

24 (1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting the fol25 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The’’; and 

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

3 ‘‘(2) SUBROGATED RIGHTS.—Except for a guar4 antor claim pursuant to a defense under section 

5 1016(f)(1), Fund compensation of any claim by an 

6 insurer or other indemnifier of a responsible party or 

7 injured third party is subject to the subrogated 

8 rights of that responsible party or injured third 

9 party to such compensation.’’. 

10 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend11 ments made by this section shall take effect 180 days after 

12 the date of enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 425. LOAN PROVISIONS UNDER OIL POLLUTION ACT 

14 OF 1990. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1013 of the Oil Pollution 

16 Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2713) is amended by striking sub17 section (f). 

18 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1012(a) 

19 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)) is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) in paragraph (4), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the 

22 semicolon at the end; 

23 (2) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

24 and inserting a period; and 

25 (3) by striking paragraph (6). 
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1 SEC. 426. LIABILITY LIMITS. 

2 Section 1004(d)(2) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

3 (33 U.S.C. 2704(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘(2) DEEPWATER PORTS AND ASSOCIATED VES5 SELS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary deter7 mines that the design and operation of a deep8 water port results in a lower risk of oil pollution 

9 than the design and operation of such deep10 water ports as existed on the date of the enact11 ment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

12 2019, the Secretary may initiate a rulemaking 

13 proceeding to lower the limitation of liability 

14 under subsection (a)(4) for such deepwater port 

15 and each other deepwater port which achieves 

16 such lower risk level through such port’s design 

17 and operation. 

18 ‘‘(B) RISK DETERMINATION.—In deter19 mining the risk of oil pollution, the Secretary 

20 shall take into account, as applicable— 

21 ‘‘(i) the size of the deepwater ports 

22 and associated vessels; 

23 ‘‘(ii) oil storage capacity of the deep24 water ports and associated vessels; 

25 ‘‘(iii) oil handling capacity of the 

26 deepwater ports and associated vessels; 
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1 ‘‘(iv) oil throughput; 

2 ‘‘(v) proximity to sensitive areas; 

3 ‘‘(vi) type of oil handled; 

4 ‘‘(vii) history of oil discharges; and 

5 ‘‘(viii) such other factors relevant to 

6 the oil pollution risks posed by the class or 

7 category of deepwater port and associated 

8 vessels as the Secretary determines appro9 priate. 

10 ‘‘(C) LIMIT OF LIABILITY; TRANSPOR11 TATION OF OIL.—For deepwater ports used in 

12 connection with the transportation of oil, the 

13 Secretary may establish a limitation of liability 

14 under subparagraph (A) of not more than 

15 $350,000,000 and not less than $50,000,000. 

16 ‘‘(D) LIMIT OF LIABILITY; TRANSPOR17 TATION OF NATURAL GAS.—For deepwater 

18 ports used in connection with the transportation 

19 of natural gas, the Secretary may establish a 

20 limitation of liability under subparagraph (A) of 

21 not more than $350,000,000 and not less than 

22 $1,000,000.’’. 
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1 SEC. 427. REPORT ON DRUG INTERDICTION IN THE CARIB2 BEAN BASIN. 

3 (a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

4 of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 

5 Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

6 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

7 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

8 of the Senate a report on drug interdiction in the Carib9 bean basin. 

10 (b) CONTENT.—Such report shall include— 

11 (1) a statement of the Coast Guard mission re12 quirements for drug interdiction in the Caribbean 

13 basin; 

14 (2) the number of maritime surveillance hours 

15 and Coast Guard assets used in each of fiscal years 

16 2017 through 2019 to counter the illicit trafficking 

17 of drugs and other related threats throughout the 

18 Caribbean basin; and 

19 (3) a determination of whether such hours and 

20 assets satisfied the Coast Guard mission require21 ments for drug interdiction in the Caribbean basin. 

22 SEC. 428. VOTING REQUIREMENT. 

23 Section 305(i)(1)(G)(iv) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

24 Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 

25 1855(i)(1)(G)(iv)) is amended to read as follows: 
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1 ‘‘(iv) VOTING REQUIREMENT.—The 

2 panel may act only by the affirmative vote 

3 of at least five of its members.’’. 

4 SEC. 429. TRANSPORTATION WORK IDENTIFICATION CARD 

5 PILOT PROGRAM. 

6 Section 70105(g) of title 46, United States Code, is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘shall concurrently’’ and all that fol8 lows and inserting the following: ‘‘shall— 

9 ‘‘(1) develop and, no later than 1 year after the 

10 date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization 

11 Act of 2019, implement a joint application for mer12 chant mariner’s documents under chapter 73 of title 

13 46, United States Code, and for a transportation se14 curity card issued under this section; and 

15 ‘‘(2) upon receipt of a joint application devel16 oped under paragraph (1) concurrently process an 

17 application from an individual for merchant mari18 ner’s documents under chapter 73 of title 46, United 

19 States Code, and an application from such individual 

20 for a transportation security card under this sec21 tion.’’. 

22 SEC. 430. PLAN FOR WING-IN-GROUND DEMONSTRATION 

23 PLAN. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Commandant of the 

25 Coast Guard, in coordination with the Administrator of 
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1 the Federal Aviation Administration with regard to any 

2 regulatory or safety matter regarding airspace, air space 

3 authorization, or aviation, shall develop plans for a dem4 onstration program that will determine whether wing-in5 ground craft, as that term is defined in section 2101 of 

6 title 46, United States Code, that is capable of carrying 

7 at least one individual, can— 

8 (A) provide transportation in areas in which en9 ergy exploration, development or production activity 

10 takes place on the Outer Continental Shelf; and 

11 (B) under the craft’s own power, safely reach 

12 helidecks or platforms located on offshore energy fa13 cilities. 

14 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The plans required under 

15 paragraph (1) shall— 

16 (A) examine and explain any safety issues with 

17 regard to the operation of the such craft as a vessel, 

18 or as an aircraft, or both; 

19 (B) include a timeline and technical milestones 

20 for the implementation of such a demonstration pro21 gram; 

22 (C) outline resource requirements needed to un23 dertake such a demonstration program; 

24 (D) describe specific operational circumstances 

25 under which the craft may be used, including dis-
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1 tance from United States land, altitude, number of 

2 individuals, amount of cargo, and speed and weight 

3 of vessel; 

4 (E) describe the operations under which Fed5 eral Aviation Administration statutes, regulations, 

6 circulars, or orders apply; and 

7 (F) describe the certifications, permits, or au8 thorizations required to perform any operations. 

9 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

10 of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant, along with 

11 the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 

12 with regard to any regulatory or safety matter regarding 

13 airspace, air space authorization, or aviation, shall brief 

14 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

15 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com16 merce, Science and Transportation of the Senate on the 

17 plan developed under subsection (a), including— 

18 (1) any regulatory changes needed regarding in19 spections and manning, to allow such craft to oper20 ate between onshore facilities and offshore energy 

21 facilities when such craft is operating as a vessel; 

22 (2) any regulatory changes that would be nec23 essary to address potential impacts to air traffic 

24 control, the National Airspace System, and other 

25 aircraft operations, and to ensure safe operations on 
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1 or near helidecks and platforms located on offshore 

2 energy facilities when such craft are operating as 

3 aircraft; and 

4 (3) any other statutory or regulatory changes 

5 related to authority of the Federal Aviation Admin6 istration over operations of the craft. 

7 TITLE V—REORGANIZATION 

8 SEC. 501. UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY 

9 VESSELS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle II of title 46, United 

11 States Code, is amended by striking chapter 45 and insert12 ing the following: 

13 ‘‘CHAPTER 45—UNINSPECTED 

14 COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY VESSELS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘4501. Application. 

‘‘4502. Definitions. 

‘‘4503. Safety standards. 

‘‘4504. Vessel construction. 

‘‘4505. Operating stability. 

‘‘4506. Training. 

‘‘4507. Vessel certification. 

‘‘4508. Alternate safety compliance program. 

‘‘4509. Substitute safety compliance program. 

‘‘4510. Enhanced substitute safety compliance program. 

‘‘4511. Prohibited acts. 

‘‘4512. Termination of unsafe operations. 

‘‘4513. Penalties. 

‘‘4514. Compliance; Secretary actions. 

‘‘4515. Exemptions. 

‘‘4516. Regulations; considerations and limitations. 

‘‘4517. Fishing safety grants. 

15 ‘‘§ 4501. Application 

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

17 (b), this chapter applies to an uninspected vessel that is 
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1 a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender ves2 sel. 

3 ‘‘(b) CARRIAGE OF BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES.— 

4 This chapter does not apply to the carriage of bulk dan5 gerous cargoes regulated under chapter 37. 

6 ‘‘§ 4502. Definitions 

7 ‘‘In this chapter: 

8 ‘‘(1) The term ‘accountable vessel’ means a ves9 sel to which this chapter applies that— 

10 ‘‘(A)(i) was built after December 31, 1988, 

11 or undergoes a major conversion completed 

12 after that date; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) operates with more than 16 individ14 uals on board; or 

15 ‘‘(B) in the case of a fish tender vessel, en16 gages in the Aleutian trade. 

17 ‘‘(2) The term ‘auxiliary craft’ means a vessel 

18 that is carried onboard a fishing vessel and is nor19 mally used to support fishing operations. 

20 ‘‘(3)(A) The term ‘built’ means, with respect to 

21 a vessel, that the vessel’s construction has reached 

22 any of the following stages: 

23 ‘‘(i) The vessel’s keel is laid. 

24 ‘‘(ii) Construction identifiable with the ves25 sel has begun and assembly of that vessel has 
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1 commenced comprising of at least 50 metric 

2 tons or one percent of the estimated mass of all 

3 structural material, whichever is less. 

4 ‘‘(B) In the case of a vessel greater than 79 

5 feet in overall length, for purposes of subparagraph 

6 (A)(i), a keel is deemed to be laid when a marine 

7 surveyor affirms that a structure adequate for serv8 ing as a keel for such vessel is in place and identi9 fied for use in the construction of such vessel. 

10 ‘‘(4) The term ‘subject vessel’ means a vessel to 

11 which this chapter applies that— 

12 ‘‘(A) operates beyond 3 nautical miles from 

13 the baseline from which the territorial sea of 

14 the United States is measured or beyond 3 nau15 tical miles from the coastline of the Great 

16 Lakes; 

17 ‘‘(B) operates with more than 16 individ18 uals on board; or 

19 ‘‘(C) in the case of a fish tender vessel, en20 gages in the Aleutian trade. 

21 ‘‘(5) The term ‘substitute-eligible vessel’ means 

22 a fishing vessel or fish tender vessel that is— 

23 ‘‘(A) a subject vessel; 

24 ‘‘(B) at least 50 feet overall in length, and 

25 not more than 180 feet overall in length as list-
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1 ed on the vessel’s certificate of documentation 

2 or certificate of number; and 

3 ‘‘(C) built after February 8, 2016. 

4 ‘‘§ 4503. Safety standards 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall prescribe 

6 regulations that require that each vessel to which this 

7 chapter applies shall be equipped with— 

8 ‘‘(1) readily accessible fire extinguishers capable 

9 of promptly and effectively extinguishing a flam10 mable or combustible liquid fuel fire; 

11 ‘‘(2) at least one readily accessible life preserver 

12 or other lifesaving device for each individual on 

13 board; 

14 ‘‘(3) an efficient flame arrestor, backfire trap, 

15 or other similar device on the carburetors of each in16 board engine that uses gasoline as fuel; 

17 ‘‘(4) the means to properly and efficiently venti18 late enclosed spaces, including engine and fuel tank 

19 compartments, so as to remove explosive or flam20 mable gases; 

21 ‘‘(5) visual distress signals; 

22 ‘‘(6) other equipment required to minimize the 

23 risk of injury to the crew during vessel operations, 

24 if the Secretary determines that a risk of serious in-
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1 jury exists that can be eliminated or mitigated by 

2 that equipment; and 

3 ‘‘(7) a placard as required by regulations pre4 scribed under section 10603(b). 

5 ‘‘(b) SUBJECT VESSELS.—In addition to the require6 ments of subsection (a), the Secretary shall prescribe reg7 ulations requiring that subject vessels install, maintain, 

8 and use the following equipment: 

9 ‘‘(1) Alerting and locating equipment, including 

10 emergency position indicating radio beacons. 

11 ‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a survival 

12 craft that— 

13 ‘‘(i) ensures that no part of an individual 

14 is immersed in water; and 

15 ‘‘(ii) is sufficient to accommodate all indi16 viduals on board. 

17 ‘‘(B) Except for a nonapplicable vessel, an aux18 iliary craft shall satisfy the equipment requirement 

19 under paragraph (2)(B) if such craft is— 

20 ‘‘(i) necessary for normal fishing oper21 ations; 

22 ‘‘(ii) readily accessible during an emer23 gency; and 

24 ‘‘(iii) capable, in accordance with the Coast 

25 Guard capacity rating, when applicable, of safe-
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1 ly holding all individuals on board the vessel to 

2 which the craft functions as an auxiliary. 

3 ‘‘(3) At least one readily accessible immersion 

4 suit for each individual on board the vessel when op5 erating on the waters described in section 3102. 

6 ‘‘(4) Marine radio communications equipment 

7 sufficient to effectively communicate with a land8 based search and rescue facility. 

9 ‘‘(5) Navigation equipment, including com10 passes, nautical charts, and publications. 

11 ‘‘(6) First aid equipment and medical supplies 

12 sufficient for the size and area of operation of the 

13 vessel. 

14 ‘‘(7) Ground tackle sufficient for the vessel. 

15 ‘‘(c) ACCOUNTABLE VESSELS.—In addition to the re16 quirements described in subsections (a) and (b), the Sec17 retary may prescribe regulations establishing minimum 

18 safety standards for accountable vessels, including stand19 ards relating to— 

20 ‘‘(1) navigation equipment, including radars 

21 and fathometers; 

22 ‘‘(2) lifesaving equipment, immersion suits, sig23 naling devices, bilge pumps, bilge alarms, life rails, 

24 and grab rails; 
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1 ‘‘(3) fire protection and firefighting equipment, 

2 including fire alarms and portable and semiportable 

3 fire extinguishing equipment; 

4 ‘‘(4) use and installation of insulation material; 

5 ‘‘(5) storage methods for flammable or combus6 tible material; and 

7 ‘‘(6) fuel, ventilation, and electrical systems. 

8 ‘‘§ 4504. Vessel construction 

9 ‘‘A vessel to which this chapter applies shall be con10 structed in a manner that provides a level of safety equiva11 lent to the minimum safety standards the Secretary may 

12 establish for recreational vessels under section 4302, if the 

13 vessel is— 

14 ‘‘(1) a subject vessel; 

15 ‘‘(2) less than 50 feet overall in length; and 

16 ‘‘(3) built after January 1, 2010. 

17 ‘‘§ 4505. Operating stability 

18 ‘‘(a) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 

19 regulations for the operating stability of a vessel to which 

20 this chapter applies— 

21 ‘‘(1) that was built after December 31, 1989; or 

22 ‘‘(2) the physical characteristics of which are 

23 substantially altered after December 31, 1989, in a 

24 manner that affects the vessel’s operating stability. 
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1 ‘‘(b) EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary 

2 may accept, as evidence of compliance with this section, 

3 a certification of compliance issued by the person pro4 viding insurance for the vessel or by another qualified per5 son approved by the Secretary. 

6 ‘‘§ 4506. Training 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The individual in charge of a 

8 subject vessel must pass a training program approved by 

9 the Secretary that meets the requirements of subsection 

10 (b) and hold a valid certificate issued under that program. 

11 ‘‘(b) TRAINING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The 

12 training program shall— 

13 ‘‘(1) be based on professional knowledge and 

14 skill obtained through sea service and hands-on 

15 training, including training in seamanship, stability, 

16 collision prevention, navigation, firefighting and pre17 vention, damage control, personal survival, emer18 gency medical care, emergency drills, and weather; 

19 ‘‘(2) require an individual to demonstrate abil20 ity to communicate in an emergency situation and 

21 understand information found in navigation publica22 tions; 

23 ‘‘(3) recognize and give credit for recent past 

24 experience in fishing vessel operation; and 
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1 ‘‘(4) provide for issuance of a certificate to an 

2 individual who has successfully completed the pro3 gram. 

4 ‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 

5 regulations implementing this section. The regulations 

6 shall require that an individual who is issued a certificate 

7 under subsection (b)(4) must complete refresher training 

8 at least once every 5 years as a condition of maintaining 

9 the validity of the certificate. 

10 ‘‘(d) ELECTRONIC DATABASE.—The Secretary shall 

11 establish an electronic database listing the names of indi12 viduals who have participated in and received a certificate 

13 confirming successful completion of a training program 

14 approved by the Secretary under this section. 

15 ‘‘§ 4507. Vessel certification 

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A vessel to which this section ap17 plies may not be operated unless the vessel— 

18 ‘‘(1) meets all survey and classification require19 ments prescribed by the American Bureau of Ship20 ping or another similarly qualified organization ap21 proved by the Secretary; and 

22 ‘‘(2) has on board a certificate issued by the 

23 American Bureau of Shipping or such other organi24 zation evidencing compliance with this subsection. 

25 ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.— 
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1 ‘‘(1) Except as provided in section 4509, this 

2 section applies to a fish processing vessel to which 

3 this chapter applies that— 

4 ‘‘(A) is built after July 27, 1990; or 

5 ‘‘(B) undergoes a major conversion com6 pleted after that date. 

7 ‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph 

8 (B), this section applies to a subject vessel that is 

9 at least 50 feet overall in length and is built after 

10 July 1, 2013. 

11 ‘‘(B) This section does not apply to a sub12 stitute-eligible vessel if such vessel complies with— 

13 ‘‘(i) the substitute safety compliance pro14 gram established under section 4509; or 

15 ‘‘(ii) the enhanced substitute safety compli16 ance program established by the Secretary 

17 under section 4510. 

18 ‘‘§ 4508. Alternate safety compliance program 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 

20 ‘‘(1) The Secretary shall establish an alternate 

21 safety compliance program developed in coordination 

22 with the commercial fishing industry. 

23 ‘‘(2) The program established under paragraph 

24 (1) may include requirements for— 
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1 ‘‘(A) a specific region or fishery (or both); 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(B) any combination of regions or fish4 eries (or both). 

5 ‘‘(b) VESSELS REQUIRED TO COMPLY.—Beginning 

6 on the date that is 3 years after the date the Secretary 

7 prescribes an alternate safety compliance program, the fol8 lowing vessels shall comply with such program: 

9 ‘‘(1) A subject vessel that is— 

10 ‘‘(A) at least 50 feet overall in length; 

11 ‘‘(B) built before July 1, 2013; and 

12 ‘‘(C) 25 years of age or older. 

13 ‘‘(2) A fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or 

14 fish tender vessel built before July 1, 2013, that un15 dergoes a major conversion completed after the date 

16 the Secretary prescribes an alternate safety compli17 ance program. 

18 ‘‘(c) EXEMPT VESSELS.— 

19 ‘‘(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), vessels 

20 owned by a person that owns more than 30 vessels 

21 subject to that subsection are not required to comply 

22 with alternate safety compliance program require23 ments until January 1, 2030, if that owner— 

24 ‘‘(A) enters into a compliance agreement 

25 with the Secretary that provides for a fixed 
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1 schedule for all such vessels owned by that per2 son to meet requirements of such paragraph by 

3 such date; and 

4 ‘‘(B) is meeting such schedule. 

5 ‘‘(2) A subject vessel that was classed before 

6 July 1, 2012, is exempt from the requirements of 

7 this section if such vessel— 

8 ‘‘(A) remains subject to the requirements 

9 of a classification society approved by the Sec10 retary; and 

11 ‘‘(B) has on board a certificate from that 

12 society. 

13 ‘‘§ 4509. Substitute safety compliance program 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

15 substitute safety compliance program for substitute-eligi16 ble vessels that includes the following requirements: 

17 ‘‘(1) A substitute-eligible vessel shall be de18 signed by an individual licensed by a State as a 

19 naval architect or marine engineer, and the design 

20 shall incorporate standards equivalent to those pre21 scribed by a classification society to which the Sec22 retary has delegated authority under section 3316 or 

23 another qualified organization approved by the Sec24 retary for purposes of this paragraph. 
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1 ‘‘(2) Construction of a substitute-eligible vessel 

2 shall be overseen and certified as being in accord3 ance with its design by a marine surveyor of an or4 ganization accepted by the Secretary. 

5 ‘‘(3) A substitute-eligible vessel shall— 

6 ‘‘(A) complete a stability test performed by 

7 a qualified individual; 

8 ‘‘(B) have written stability and loading in9 structions from a qualified individual that are 

10 provided to the owner or operator; and 

11 ‘‘(C) have an assigned loading mark. 

12 ‘‘(4) A substitute-eligible vessel shall not be 

13 substantially altered without the review and approval 

14 of an individual licensed by a State as a naval archi15 tect or marine engineer before the beginning of such 

16 substantial alteration. 

17 ‘‘(5) A substitute-eligible vessel shall undergo a 

18 condition survey at least twice in 5 years, with not 

19 more than 3 years between surveys, to the satisfac20 tion of a marine surveyor of an organization accept21 ed by the Secretary. 

22 ‘‘(6) A substitute-eligible vessel shall undergo 

23 an out-of-water survey at least once every 5 years to 

24 the satisfaction of a certified marine surveyor of an 

25 organization accepted by the Secretary. 
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1 ‘‘(7) Once every 5 years, and at the time of a 

2 substantial alteration to a substitute-eligible vessel, 

3 compliance of the vessel with the requirements of 

4 paragraph (3) is reviewed and updated as necessary. 

5 ‘‘(8) For the life of a substitute-eligible vessel, 

6 the owner of the vessel shall maintain records to 

7 demonstrate compliance with this subsection and 

8 make such records readily available for inspection by 

9 an official authorized to enforce this chapter. 

10 ‘‘(b) COMPLIANCE.—Section 4507 of this title shall 

11 not apply to a substitute-eligible vessel that complies with 

12 the requirements of the program established under this 

13 section. 

14 ‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than February 8, 2026, the 

15 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor16 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

17 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor18 tation of the Senate a report that provides an analysis of 

19 the adequacy of the substitute safety compliance program 

20 requirements established under subsection (a) in main21 taining the safety of substitute-eligible fishing vessels and 

22 fish tender vessels and that comply with such require23 ments. 
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1 ‘‘§ 4510. Enhanced substitute safety compliance pro2 gram 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If the report required under sec4 tion 4509(c) includes a determination that the substitute 

5 safety compliance program established under section 

6 4509(a) is not adequate or that additional safety measures 

7 are necessary, then the Secretary may establish an en8 hanced substitute safety compliance program for fishing 

9 vessels or fish tender vessels (or both) that are substitute10 eligible vessels and that comply with the requirements of 

11 section 4509. 

12 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The enhanced substitute 

13 safety compliance program established under this sub14 section shall include requirements for— 

15 ‘‘(1) vessel construction; 

16 ‘‘(2) a vessel stability test; 

17 ‘‘(3) vessel stability and loading instructions; 

18 ‘‘(4) an assigned vessel loading mark; 

19 ‘‘(5) a vessel condition survey at least twice in 

20 5 years, not more than 3 years apart; 

21 ‘‘(6) an out-of-water vessel survey at least once 

22 every 5 years; 

23 ‘‘(7) maintenance of records to demonstrate 

24 compliance with the program, and the availability of 

25 such records for inspection; and 
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1 ‘‘(8) such other aspects of vessel safety as the 

2 Secretary considers appropriate. 

3 ‘‘(c) COMPLIANCE.—Section 4507 shall not apply to 

4 a substitute-eligible vessel that complies with the require5 ments of the program established under this section. 

6 ‘‘§ 4511. Prohibited acts 

7 ‘‘A person may not operate a vessel in violation of 

8 this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter. 

9 ‘‘§ 4512. Termination of unsafe operations 

10 ‘‘An official authorized to enforce this chapter— 

11 ‘‘(1) may direct the individual in charge of a 

12 vessel to which this chapter applies to immediately 

13 take reasonable steps necessary for the safety of in14 dividuals on board the vessel if the official observes 

15 the vessel being operated in an unsafe condition that 

16 the official believes creates an especially hazardous 

17 condition, including ordering the individual in charge 

18 to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain 

19 there until the situation creating the hazard is cor20 rected or ended; and 

21 ‘‘(2) may order the individual in charge of an 

22 uninspected fish processing vessel that does not have 

23 on board the certificate required under section 4507 

24 to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain 

25 there until the vessel is in compliance with such sec-
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1 tion, unless the vessel is required to comply with sec2 tion 4508. 

3 ‘‘§ 4513. Penalties 

4 ‘‘(a) CIVIL PENALTY.—The owner, charterer, man5 aging operator, agent, master, and individual in charge of 

6 a vessel to which this chapter applies that is operated in 

7 violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under 

8 this chapter may each be assessed a civil penalty by the 

9 Secretary of not more than $10,260. Any vessel with re10 spect to which a penalty is assessed under this subsection 

11 is liable in rem for the penalty. 

12 ‘‘(b) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—An individual willfully 

13 violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this 

14 chapter shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned 

15 for not more than 1 year, or both. 

16 ‘‘§ 4514. Compliance; Secretary actions 

17 ‘‘To ensure compliance with the requirements of this 

18 chapter, the Secretary— 

19 ‘‘(1) shall require the individual in charge of a 

20 subject vessel to keep a record of equipment mainte21 nance and required instruction and drills; 

22 ‘‘(2) shall examine at dockside a subject vessel 

23 at least once every 5 years, but may require an exam 

24 at dockside every 2 years for certain subject vessels 

25 if requested by the owner or operator; and 
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1 ‘‘(3) shall issue a certificate of compliance to a 

2 vessel meeting the requirements of this chapter and 

3 satisfying the requirements of paragraph (2). 

4 ‘‘§ 4515. Exemptions 

5 ‘‘The Secretary may exempt a vessel from any part 

6 of this chapter if, under regulations prescribed by the Sec7 retary (including regulations on special operating condi8 tions), the Secretary finds that— 

9 ‘‘(1) good cause exists for granting an exemp10 tion; and 

11 ‘‘(2) the safety of the vessel and those on board 

12 will not be adversely affected. 

13 ‘‘§ 4516. Regulations; considerations and limitations 

14 ‘‘In prescribing a regulation under this chapter, the 

15 Secretary— 

16 ‘‘(1) shall consider the specialized nature and 

17 economics of the operations and the character, de18 sign, and construction of the vessel; and 

19 ‘‘(2) may not require the alteration of a vessel 

20 or associated equipment that was constructed or 

21 manufactured before the effective date of such regu22 lation. 

23 ‘‘§ 4517. Fishing safety grants 

24 ‘‘(a) SAFETY TRAINING GRANTS.— 
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1 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of 

2 Health and Human Services shall establish a Fish3 ing Safety Training Grant Program to provide fund4 ing to municipalities, port authorities, other appro5 priate public entities, not-for-profit organizations, 

6 and other qualified persons that provide commercial 

7 fishing safety training. 

8 ‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Entities receiving funds 

9 under this section may use such funds— 

10 ‘‘(A) to conduct fishing vessel safety train11 ing for vessel operators and crewmembers 

12 that— 

13 ‘‘(i) in the case of vessel operators, 

14 meets the requirements of section 4506; 

15 and 

16 ‘‘(ii) in the case of crewmembers, 

17 meets the requirements of sections 

18 4506(b)(1), 4506(b)(4), 4506(c), and 

19 4506(d), and such requirements of section 

20 4506(b)(2) as are appropriate for crew21 members; and 

22 ‘‘(B) for purchase of safety equipment and 

23 training aids for use in such fishing vessel safe24 ty training programs. 
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1 ‘‘(3) AWARD CRITERIA.—The Secretary of 

2 Health and Human Services, in consultation with 

3 and based on criteria established by the Com4 mandant of the Coast Guard, shall award grants 

5 under this subsection on a competitive basis. 

6 ‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL SHARE OF

7 COST.—The Federal share of the cost of any activity 

8 carried out with a grant under this subsection shall 

9 not exceed 50 percent. 

10 ‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

11 There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 

12 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for grants 

13 under this subsection. 

14 ‘‘(b) RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.— 

15 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of 

16 Health and Human Services shall establish a Fish17 ing Safety Research Grant Program to provide fund18 ing to individuals in academia, not-for-profit organi19 zations, businesses involved in fishing and maritime 

20 matters, and other persons with expertise in fishing 

21 safety, to conduct research on methods of improving 

22 the safety of the commercial fishing industry, includ23 ing vessel design, emergency and survival equipment, 

24 enhancement of vessel monitoring systems, commu-
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1 nications devices, de-icing technology, and severe 

2 weather detection. 

3 ‘‘(2) AWARD CRITERIA.—The Secretary of 

4 Health and Human Services, in consultation with 

5 and based on criteria established by the Com6 mandant of the Coast Guard, shall award grants 

7 under this subsection on a competitive basis. 

8 ‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL SHARE OF

9 COST.—The Federal share of the cost of any activity 

10 carried out with a grant under this subsection shall 

11 not exceed 50 percent. 

12 ‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

13 There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 

14 for each fiscal year 2020 and 2021 for activities 

15 under this subsection.’’. 

16 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3104(d) of 

17 title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 

18 ‘‘under section 4503(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 

19 4502(3)’’. 

20 (c) SAFETY STANDARDS.—Not later than 90 days 

21 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and without 

22 regard to the provisions of chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, 

23 United States Code, the Secretary of the department in 

24 which the Coast Guard is operating shall promulgate the 
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1 regulations required by section 4503(b) of title 46, United 

2 States Code, as amended by this section. 

3 SEC. 502. TRANSFERS. 

4 (a) TRANSFERS OF PROVISIONS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

6 (A) Section 215 of the Coast Guard and 

7 Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (Public 

8 Law 108–293; 14 U.S.C. 504 note) is redesig9 nated as section 321 of title 14, United States 

10 Code, transferred to appear after section 320 of 

11 that title, and amended so that the enumerator, 

12 section heading, typeface, and typestyle conform 

13 to those appearing in other sections in title 14, 

14 United States Code. 

15 (B) Section 406 of the Maritime Transpor16 tation Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107– 

17 295; 14 U.S.C. 501 note) is redesignated as 

18 section 719 of title 14, United States Code, 

19 transferred to appear after section 718 of that 

20 title, and amended so that the enumerator, sec21 tion heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to 

22 those appearing in other sections in title 14, 

23 United States Code. 

24 (C) Section 1110 of title 14, United States 

25 Code, is redesignated as section 5110 of that 
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1 title, and transferred to appear after section 

2 5109 of that title. 

3 (D) ELEVATION OF DISPUTES TO THE

4 CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICER.— 

5 (i) Section 401 of the Coast Guard 

6 Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 

7 111–281) is amended by striking sub8 section (e). 

9 (ii) Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 

10 14, United States Code, as amended by 

11 this Act, is amended by adding at the end 

12 the following: 

13 ‘‘§ 1110. Elevation of Disputes to the Chief Acquisi14 tion Officer 

15 ‘‘If, after 90 days following the elevation to the Chief 

16 Acquisition Officer of any design or other dispute regard17 ing level 1 or level 2 acquisition, the dispute remains unre18 solved, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate 

19 congressional committees a detailed description of the 

20 issue and the rationale underlying the decision taken by 

21 the Chief Acquisition Officer to resolve the issue.’’. 

22 (E) Section 217 of the Coast Guard Au23 thorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 

24 14 U.S.C. 504 note)— 
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1 (i) is redesignated as section 5111 of 

2 title 14, United States Code, transferred to 

3 appear after section 5110 of that title, and 

4 amended so that the enumerator, section 

5 heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to 

6 those appearing in other sections in title 

7 14, United States Code; and 

8 (ii) is amended— 

9 (I) by striking the heading and 

10 inserting the following: 

11 ‘‘§ 5111. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the 

12 Coast Guard’’; and 

13 (II) in subsection (b), by adding 

14 at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(5)(A) The number of instances in which a 

16 covered individual was accused of misconduct or 

17 crimes considered collateral to the investigation of a 

18 sexual assault committed against the individual. 

19 ‘‘(B) The number of instances in which adverse 

20 action was taken against a covered individual who 

21 was accused of collateral misconduct or crimes as 

22 described in subparagraph (A). 

23 ‘‘(C) The percentage of investigations of sexual 

24 assaults that involved an accusation or adverse ac-
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1 tion against a covered individual as described in sub2 paragraphs (A) and (B). 

3 ‘‘(D) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered indi4 vidual’ means an individual who is identified as a 

5 victim of a sexual assault in the case files of a mili6 tary criminal investigative organization.’’. 

7 (F) Section 305 of title 46, United States 

8 Code, is amended— 

9 (i) by striking ‘‘The Federal’’ and in10 serting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal’’; 

11 and 

12 (ii) by inserting after section (a) the 

13 following: 

14 ‘‘(b) TRANSPARENCY.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In conjunction with the 

16 transmittal by the President to the Congress of the 

17 Budget of the United States for fiscal year 2021 

18 and biennially there-after, the Federal Maritime 

19 Commission shall submit to the Committee on Com20 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

21 and the Committee on Transportation and Infra22 structure of the House of Representatives reports 

23 that describe the Commission’s progress toward ad24 dressing the issues raised in each unfinished regu25 latory proceeding, regardless of whether the pro-
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1 ceeding if subject to a statutory or regulatory dead2 line. 

3 ‘‘(2) FORMAT OF REPORTS.—Each report under 

4 paragraph (1) shall, among other things, clearly 

5 identify for each unfinished regulatory proceeding— 

6 ‘‘(A) the popular title; 

7 ‘‘(B) the current stage of the proceeding; 

8 ‘‘(C) an abstract of the proceeding; 

9 ‘‘(D) what prompted the action in ques10 tion; 

11 ‘‘(E) any applicable statutory, regulatory, 

12 or judicial deadline; 

13 ‘‘(F) the associated docket number; 

14 ‘‘(G) the date the rulemaking was initi15 ated; 

16 ‘‘(H) a date for the next action; and 

17 ‘‘(I) if a date for the next action identified 

18 in the previous report is not met, the reason for 

19 the delay.’’. 

20 (G) Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors 

21 Appropriations Act of 1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) is 

22 amended— 

23 (i) by transferring such section to ap24 pear after section 70006 of title 46, United 

25 States Code; 
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1 (ii) by striking ‘‘SEC. 7.’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘§70007. Establishment by Sec3 retary of Homeland Security of 

4 anchorage grounds and regula5 tions generally’’; and 

6 (iii) by adjusting the margins with re7 spect to subsections (a) and (b) for the 

8 presence of a section heading accordingly. 

9 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

10 (A) The analysis for chapter 3 of title 14, 

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

12 further amended by adding at the end the fol13 lowing: 

‘‘321. Redistricting notification requirement.’’. 

14 (B) The analysis for chapter 7 of title 14, 

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

16 further amended by adding at the end the fol17 lowing: 

‘‘719. VHF communication services.’’. 

18 (C) The analysis for chapter 11 of title 14, 

19 United States Code, is amended by striking the 

20 item relating to section 1110 and inserting the 

21 following: 

‘‘1110. Elevation of disputes to the Chief Acquisition Officer.’’. 
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1 (D) The analysis for chapter 51 of title 14, 

2 United States Code, is amended by adding at 

3 the end the following: 

‘‘5110. Mission need statement. 

‘‘5111. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Coast Guard.’’. 

4 (E) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 

5 46, United States Code, as amended by section 

6 311(b), is further amended by inserting after 

7 the item relating to section 70006 the following: 

‘‘70007. Establishment by the Secretary of Homeland Security of anchorage 

grounds and regulations generally.’’. 

8 (b) TRANSFERS.— 

9 (1) SECTION 204 OF THE MARINE TRANSPOR10 TATION SECURITY ACT.— 

11 (A) The Maritime Transportation Security 

12 Act of 2002 is amended by striking section 204 

13 (33 U.S.C. 1902a). 

14 (B) Section 3 of the Act to Prevent Pollu15 tion from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1902)— 

16 (i) is amended by redesignating sub17 sections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) 

18 through (j) respectively; and 

19 (ii) by inserting after subsection (d) 

20 the following: 

21 ‘‘(e) DISCHARGE OF AGRICULTURAL CARGO RES22 IDUE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 

23 discharge from a vessel of any agricultural cargo residue 
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1 material in the form of hold washings shall be governed 

2 exclusively by the provisions of the Act to Prevent Pollu3 tion from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) that implement 

4 Annex V to the International Convention for the Preven5 tion of Pollution from Ships.’’. 

6 (2) LNG TANKERS.— 

7 (A) The Coast Guard and Maritime Trans8 portation Act of 2006 is amended by striking 

9 section 304 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 

10 527). 

11 (B) Section 5 of the Deepwater Port Act 

12 of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504) is amended by add13 ing at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(j) LNG TANKERS.— 

15 ‘‘(1) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Transpor16 tation shall develop and implement a program to 

17 promote the transportation of liquefied natural gas 

18 to and from the United States on United States flag 

19 vessels. 

20 ‘‘(2) INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED.—When 

21 the Coast Guard is operating as a contributing agen22 cy in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 

23 shoreside licensing process for a liquefied natural 

24 gas or liquefied petroleum gas terminal located on 

25 shore or within State seaward boundaries, the Coast 
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1 Guard shall provide to the Commission the informa2 tion described in section 5(c)(2)(K) of the Deep3 water Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2)(K)) 

4 with respect to vessels reasonably anticipated to be 

5 servicing that port.’’. 

6 SEC. 503. REPEALS. 

7 (a) LICENSE EXEMPTIONS; REPEAL OF OBSOLETE

8 PROVISIONS.— 

9 (1) SERVICE UNDER LICENSES ISSUED WITH10 OUT EXAMINATION.— 

11 (A) REPEAL.—Section 8303 of title 46, 

12 United States Code, and the item relating to 

13 that section in the analysis for chapter 83 of 

14 that title, are repealed. 

15 (B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

16 14305(a)(10) of title 46, United States Code, is 

17 amended by striking ‘‘sections 8303 and 8304’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘section 8304’’. 

19 (2) STANDARDS FOR TANK VESSELS OF THE

20 UNITED STATES.—Section 9102 of title 46, United 

21 States Code, is amended— 

22 (A) by striking ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sen23 tence; and 

24 (B) by striking subsection (b). 
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1 (b) REPEAL.—Section 343 of the Maritime Transpor2 tation Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–295; 116 

3 Stat. 2106) is repealed. 

4 (c) ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT NOTIFICATION.—Sub5 section (c) of section 9 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory 

6 Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 

7 112–90; 125 Stat 1912)) is repealed and is deemed not 

8 to have been enacted. 

9 TITLE VI—TECHNICAL, CON10 FORMING, AND CLARIFYING 

11 AMENDMENTS 

12 SEC. 601. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. 

13 (a) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—Section 

14 312(b)(4) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

15 striking ‘‘marine transportation system’’ and inserting 

16 ‘‘maritime transportation system’’. 

17 (b) CLARIFICATION OF REFERENCE TO MARINE

18 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROGRAMS.—Section 

19 50307(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 

20 striking ‘‘marine transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘maritime 

21 transportation’’. 

22 SEC. 602. REFERENCES TO ‘‘PERSONS’’ AND ‘‘SEAMEN’’. 

23 (a) TECHNICAL CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO

24 ‘‘PERSONS’’.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 

25 as follows: 
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1 (1) In section 312(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

3 (2) In section 313(d)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘per4 son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

5 (3) In section 504— 

6 (A) in subsection (a)(19)(B), by striking 

7 ‘‘a person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 

8 (B) in subsection (c)(4), by striking ‘‘sea9 men;’’ and inserting ‘‘mariners;’’. 

10 (4) In section 521, by striking ‘‘persons’’ each 

11 place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

12 (5) In section 522— 

13 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘an individual’’; and 

15 (B) by striking ‘‘person’’ the second and 

16 third place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi17 vidual’’. 

18 (6) In section 525(a)(1)(C)(ii), by striking 

19 ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

20 (7) In section 526— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap24 pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 
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1 (C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per2 son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 

3 (8) In section 709— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘individuals’’; and 

6 (B) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in7 dividual’’. 

8 (9) In section 933(b), by striking ‘‘Every per9 son’’ and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 

10 (10) In section 1102(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

12 (11) In section 1902(b)(3)— 

13 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘per14 son or persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individual or in15 dividuals’’; and 

16 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘per17 son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

18 (12) In section 1941(b), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

20 (13) In section 2101(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

22 (14) In section 2102(c), by striking ‘‘A person’’ 

23 and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 

24 (15) In section 2104(b)— 
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘individuals’’; and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 

4 ‘‘An individual’’. 

5 (16) In section 2118(d), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

6 and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 

7 (17) In section 2147(d), by striking ‘‘a person’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

9 (18) In section 2150(f), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

10 and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 

11 (19) In section 2161(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

13 (20) In section 2317— 

14 (A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘individuals’’; 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap17 pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 

18 (C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘per19 son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 

20 (21) In section 2531— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap24 pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
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1 (22) In section 2709, by striking ‘‘persons’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

3 (23) In section 2710— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘individuals’’; and 

6 (B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap7 pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

8 (24) In section 2711(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

10 (25) In section 2732, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

12 (26) In section 2733— 

13 (A) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘An individual’’; and 

15 (B) by striking ‘‘that person’’ and insert16 ing ‘‘that individual’’. 

17 (27) In section 2734, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 

18 place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

19 (28) In section 2735, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 

20 and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

21 (29) In section 2736, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 

22 inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

23 (30) In section 2737, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
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1 (31) In section 2738, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

3 (32) In section 2739, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 

4 inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

5 (33) In section 2740— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in7 dividual’’; and 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘one’’ the second place it 

9 appears. 

10 (34) In section 2741— 

11 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a per12 son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

13 (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘per14 son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’; and 

15 (C) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘per16 son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

17 (35) In section 2743, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 

18 place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

19 (36) In section 2744— 

20 (A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a per21 son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 

22 (B) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking 

23 ‘‘person’’ each place it appears and inserting 

24 ‘‘individual’’. 
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1 (37) In section 2745, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

3 (38)(A) In section 2761— 

4 (i) in the section heading, by striking 

5 ‘‘Persons’’ and inserting ‘‘Individuals’’; 

6 (ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘individuals’’; and 

8 (iii) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘individual’’. 

10 (B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 

11 the item relating to section 2761 and inserting the 

12 following: 

‘‘2761. Individuals discharged as result of court-martial; allowances to.’’. 

13 (39)(A) In the heading for section 2767, by 

14 striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

15 (B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 

16 the item relating to section 2767 and inserting the 

17 following: 

‘‘2767. Reimbursement for medical-related travel expenses for certain individuals 

residing on islands in the continental United States.’’. 

18 (40) In section 2769— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’s’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘an individual’s’’; and 

21 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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1 (41) In section 2772(a)(2), by striking ‘‘per2 son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

3 (42) In section 2773— 

4 (A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per5 sons’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi6 viduals’’; and 

7 (B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘a per8 son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

9 (43) In section 2775, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 

10 place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

11 (44) In section 2776, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

13 (45)(A) In section 2777— 

14 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 

15 and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 

16 (ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap17 pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

18 (B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 

19 the item relating to in section 2777 and inserting 

20 the following: 

‘‘2777. Clothing for destitute shipwrecked individuals.’’. 

21 (46) In section 2779, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 

22 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 

23 (47) In section 2902(c), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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1 (48) In section 2903(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

3 (49) In section 2904(b)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘a 

4 person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

5 (50) In section 3706— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘an individual’’; and 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘individual’s’’. 

10 (51) In section 3707— 

11 (A) in subsection (c)— 

12 (i) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘individual’’; and 

14 (ii) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘individual’s’’; and 

16 (B) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a per17 son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

18 (52) In section 3708, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 

19 place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

20 (53) In section 3738— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 

22 appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘individual’s’’; and 
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1 (C) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘An individual’’. 

3 (b) CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO PERSONS AND

4 SEAMEN.— 

5 (1) Section 2303a(a) of title 46, United States 

6 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘persons’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘individuals’’. 

8 (2) Section 2306(a)(3) of title 46, United 

9 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(3) An owner, charterer, managing operator, or 

11 agent of a vessel of the United States notifying the Coast 

12 Guard under paragraph (1) or (2) shall— 

13 ‘‘(A) provide the name and identification num14 ber of the vessel, the names of individuals on board, 

15 and other information that may be requested by the 

16 Coast Guard; and 

17 ‘‘(B) submit written confirmation to the Coast 

18 Guard within 24 hours after nonwritten notification 

19 to the Coast Guard under such paragraphs.’’. 

20 (3) Section 7303 of title 46, United States 

21 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 

22 it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

23 (4) Section 7319 of title 46, United States 

24 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 

25 it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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1 (5) Section 7501(b) of title 46, United States 

2 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘holder’’. 

4 (6) Section 7508(b) of title 46, United States 

5 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘individual seamen or 

6 a specifically identified group of seamen’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘an individual or a specifically identified group 

8 of individuals’’. 

9 (7) Section 7510 of title 46, United States 

10 Code, is amended— 

11 (A) in subsection (c)(8)(B), by striking 

12 ‘‘merchant seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant 

13 mariner’’; and 

14 (B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘mer15 chant seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant mar16 iner’’. 

17 (8) Section 8103 of title 46, United States 

18 Code, is amended— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place it ap20 pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 

21 (B) by striking ‘‘seamen’’ each place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 

23 (C) in the headings for paragraphs (2) and 

24 (3) of subsection (k), by striking ‘‘SEAMEN’’ 
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1 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘INDIVID2 UALS’’; 

3 (D) in subsection (k)(3)(A)(iv)(II), by 

4 striking ‘‘seaman’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individ5 ual’s’’; and 

6 (E) in subsection (k)(3)(C), by striking 

7 ‘‘merchant mariners’’ each place it appears and 

8 inserting ‘‘merchant mariner’s’’. 

9 (9) Section 8104 of title 46, United States 

10 Code, is amended— 

11 (A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘a li12 censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘an 

13 individual’’; 

14 (B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘A li15 censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘An 

16 individual’’; 

17 (C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a sea18 man’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 

19 individual’’; and 

20 (D) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘seaman’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 

22 (10) Section 8302(d) of title 46, United States 

23 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3 persons’’ and in24 serting ‘‘3 individuals’’. 
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1 (11) Section 11201 of title 46, United States 

2 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place 

3 it appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

4 (12) Section 11202 of title 46, United States 

5 Code, is amended— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘an individual’’; and 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘the person’’ each place it 

9 appears and inserting ‘‘the individual’’. 

10 (13) Section 11203 of title 46, United States 

11 Code, is amended— 

12 (A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 

13 appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 

14 (B) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘that 

15 person’’ and inserting ‘‘that individual’’. 

16 (14) Section 15109(i)(2) of title 46, United 

17 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘additional per18 sons’’ and inserting ‘‘additional individuals’’. 

19 SEC. 603. COMMON APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE. 

20 (a) AMENDMENTS TO CONFORM TO COMMON APPRO21 PRIATIONS STRUCTURE.— 

22 (1) PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT OF FUNDS NEC23 ESSARY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE.—Section 506 

24 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
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1 (A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘es2 tablished under chapter 56 of title 10’’ after 

3 ‘‘Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund’’; 

4 and 

5 (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘oper6 ating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 

7 support’’. 

8 (2) USE OF CERTAIN APPROPRIATED FUNDS.— 

9 Section 903 of title 14, United States Code, is 

10 amended— 

11 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘acquisi12 tion, construction, and improvement of facili13 ties, for research, development, test, and eval14 uation;’’ and inserting ‘‘procurement, construc15 tion, and improvement of facilities and for re16 search and development’’; and 

17 (B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘oper18 ating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 

19 support’’. 

20 (3) CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE EX21 PENSES.—Section 944 of title 14, United States 

22 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘necessary expenses 

23 for the operation’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 

24 support’’. 
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1 (4) PROCUREMENT OF PERSONNEL.—Section 

2 2701 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

3 striking ‘‘operating expense’’ and inserting ‘‘oper4 ations and support’’. 

5 (5) COAST GUARD HOUSING FUND.—Section 

6 2946(b)(2) of title 14, United States Code, is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘acquisition’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘procurement’’. 

9 (6) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION

10 OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 4901 of title 14, 

11 United States Code, is amended— 

12 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘mainte13 nance’’ and inserting ‘‘support’’; 

14 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘acquisi15 tion’’ and inserting ‘‘procurement’’; 

16 (C) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), and 

17 (6); 

18 (D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 

19 paragraph (3); and 

20 (E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, 

21 by striking ‘‘research, development, test, and 

22 evaluation’’ and inserting ‘‘research and devel23 opment’’. 

24 (b) COMMON APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE.—Sec25 tions 3317(b), 7504, and 80505(b)(3) of title 46, United 
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1 States Code, are each amended by striking ‘‘operating ex2 penses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and support’’. 

3 (c) COMMON APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE.— 

4 (1) OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND.—Sec5 tion 1012(a)(5)(A) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

6 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)(A)) is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘operating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 

8 support’’. 

9 (2) HISTORIC LIGHT STATION SALES.—Section 

10 305106 of title 54, United States Code, is amend11 ed— 

12 (A) in subsection (b)(1)(B)(i) by striking 

13 ‘‘Operating Expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘Oper14 ations and Support’’; and 

15 (B) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ‘‘Oper16 ating Expense’’ and inserting ‘‘Operations and 

17 Support’’; 

18 (3) BRIDGE PERMITS.—Section 712(a)(2) of 

19 the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 

20 of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1582) is 

21 amended by striking ‘‘operating expenses’’ and in22 serting ‘‘operations and support’’. 

23 (4) CONTRACTS.—Section 557(a) of the Con24 solidated and Further Continuing Appropriations 

25 Act, 2013 (Public Law 113–6; 127 Stat. 377) is 
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1 amended by striking ‘‘Acquisition’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘Procurement’’. 

3 (5) CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.—Section 

4 214(d)(1) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 

5 Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 

6 113–281; 128 Stat. 3034) is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘operating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 

8 support’’. 

9 SEC. 604. REFERENCES TO ‘‘HIMSELF’’ AND ‘‘HIS’’. 

10 (a) Section 1927 of title 14, United States Code, is 

11 amended by— 

12 (1) striking ‘‘of his initial’’ and inserting ‘‘of an 

13 initial’’; and 

14 (2) striking ‘‘from his pay’’ and inserting ‘‘from 

15 the pay of such cadet’’. 

16 (b) Section 2108(b) of title 14, United States Code, 

17 is amended by striking ‘‘himself’’ and inserting ‘‘such offi18 cer’’. 

19 (c) Section 2732 of title 14, United States Code, as 

20 amended by this Act, is further amended— 

21 (1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself conspicu22 ously by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays conspicuous’’; and 

23 (2) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi24 vidual’s’’. 
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1 (d) Section 2736 of title 14, United States Code, as 

2 amended by this Act, is further amended by striking ‘‘dis3 tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘performs’’. 

4 (e) Section 2738 of title 14, United States Code, as 

5 amended by this Act is further amended by striking ‘‘dis6 tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 

7 (f) Section 2739 of title 14, United States Code, as 

8 amended by this Act, is further amended by striking ‘‘dis9 tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 

10 (g) Section 2742 of title 14, United States Code, is 

11 amended by striking ‘‘he distinguished himself’’ and in12 serting ‘‘of the acts resulting in the consideration of such 

13 award’’. 

14 (h) Section 2743 of title 14, United States Code, as 

15 amended by this Act, is further amended— 

16 (1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself’’; and 

17 (2) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi18 vidual’’. 

19 SEC. 605. REFERENCES TO ‘‘MOTORBOATS’’ AND ‘‘YACHTS’’. 

20 (a) CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO MOTORBOATS

21 AND YACHTS.— 

22 (1) Section 3901(d)(4) of title 14, United 

23 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motor boats, 

24 yachts,’’ and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 
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1 (2) Section 3903(1)(A) of title 14, United 

2 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboats, 

3 yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 

4 (3) Section 3907(a) of title 14, United States 

5 Code, is amended— 

6 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘MOTOR

7 BOATS, YACHTS,’’ and inserting ‘‘VESSELS,’’; 

8 and 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ and 

10 inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 

11 (4) Section 3908 of title 14, United States 

12 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat or yacht’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘vessel’’. 

14 (5) Section 3911(a) of title 14, United States 

15 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ 

16 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘vessel,’’. 

17 (6) Section 3912 of title 14, United States 

18 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘vessel,’’. 

20 (7) Section 4101 of title 14, United States 

21 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboats, yachts,’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 

23 (8) Section 4102 of title 14, United States 

24 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht, or 

25 any other vessel,’’ and inserting ‘‘or vessel,’’. 
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1 (b) CONFORMING REFERENCES TO YACHTS.—Title 

2 46, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in parts F and G of subtitle II, by striking 

4 ‘‘yacht’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘rec5 reational vessel’’; 

6 (2) in subtitle III— 

7 (A) in section 30506(a), by striking 

8 ‘‘pleasure yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘recreational 

9 vessels’’; and 

10 (B) in section 30508(a), by striking 

11 ‘‘pleasure yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘recreational 

12 vessels’’; and 

13 (3) in section 60504— 

14 (A) by striking ‘‘yachts’’ each place it ap15 pears and inserting ‘‘recreational vessels’’; and 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘yacht’’ and inserting ‘‘rec17 reational vessel’’. 

18 (c) VESSELS.—Section 352(a)(4) of the Communica19 tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 352(a)(4)) is amended by 

20 striking ‘‘Yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘Recreational vessels, as 

21 defined in section 2101(46) of title 46, United States 

22 Code,’’. 

23 SEC. 606. MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

24 (a) MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.— 
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1 (1) Section 3305(d)(3)(B) of title 46, United 

2 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard 

3 Authorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 

4 LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 

5 (2) Section 4312 of title 46, United States 

6 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Author7 ization Act of 2017’’ each place it appears and in8 serting ‘‘Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authoriza9 tion Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282)’’. 

10 (3) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 46, 

11 United States Code, is amended— 

12 (A) by striking the item relating to the 

13 heading for the first subchapter and inserting 

14 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—VESSEL OPERATIONS’’; 

15 (B) by striking the item relating to the 

16 heading for the second subchapter and inserting 

17 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY’’; 

18 (C) by striking the items relating to the 

19 heading for the third subchapter and inserting 

20 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CONDITION FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED

STATES

‘‘70021. Conditions for Entry Into Ports in the United States.’’; 
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1 (D) by striking the item relating to the 

2 heading for the fourth subchapter and inserting 

3 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—DEFINITIONS REGULATIONS, ENFORCEMENT, 

INVESTIGATORY POWERS, APPLICABILITY’’; 

4 (E) by striking the item relating to the 

5 heading for the fifth subchapter and inserting 

6 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—REGATTAS AND MARINE PARADES’’; 

7 and 

8 (F) by striking the item relating to the 

9 heading for the sixth subchapter and inserting 

10 the following: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—REGULATION OF VESSELS IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF

THE UNITED STATES’’. 

11 (4) Section 70031 of title 46, United States 

12 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in13 serting ‘‘I through III’’. 

14 (5) Section 70032 of title 46, United States 

15 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in16 serting ‘‘I through III’’. 

17 (6) Section 70033 of title 46, United States 

18 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in19 serting ‘‘I through III’’. 

20 (7) Section 70034 of title 46, United States 

21 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ each 

22 place it appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’. 
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1 (8) Section 70035(a) of title 46, United States 

2 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in3 serting ‘‘I through III’’. 

4 (9) Section 70036 of title 46, United States 

5 Code, is amended by— 

6 (A) striking ‘‘A through C’’ each place it 

7 appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’; and 

8 (B) striking ‘‘A, B, or C’’ each place it ap9 pears and inserting ‘‘I, II, or III’’. 

10 (b) ALTERATION OF BRIDGES; TECHNICAL

11 CHANGES.—The Act of June 21, 1940 (33 U.S.C. 511 

12 et seq.), popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is 

13 amended by striking section 12 (33 U.S.C. 522). 

14 (c) REPORT OF DETERMINATION; TECHNICAL COR15 RECTION.—Section 105(f)(2) of the Pribilof Islands Tran16 sition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562) 

17 is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a),’’ and inserting 

18 ‘‘paragraph (1),’’. 

19 (d) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO FRANK LOBIONDO

20 COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018.— 

21 (1) Section 408 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast 

22 Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 

23 282) and the item relating to such section in section 

24 2 of such Act are repealed, and the provisions of law 

25 redesignated, transferred, or otherwise amended by 
174 

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1 section 408 are amended to read as if such section 

2 were not enacted. 

3 (2) Section 514(b) of the Frank LoBiondo 

4 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 

5 115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Chapter 30’’ and 

6 inserting ‘‘Chapter 3’’. 

7 (3) Section 810(d) of the Frank LoBiondo 

8 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 

9 115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘within 30 days 

10 after receiving the notice under subsection (a)(1), 

11 the Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after 

12 transmitting such notice,’’ and inserting ‘‘in accord13 ance within subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall’’. 

14 (4) Section 820(a) of the Frank LoBiondo 

15 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 

16 115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘years 2018 and’’ 

17 and inserting ‘‘year’’. 

18 (5) Section 820(b)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 

19 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 

20 115–282) is amended by inserting ‘‘and the Consoli21 dated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115– 

22 141)’’ after ‘‘(Public Law 115–31)’’. 

23 (6) Section 821(a)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 

24 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 

25 115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Au-
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1 thorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 

2 LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 

3 (7) This section shall take effect on the date of 

4 the enactment of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 

5 Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282) 

6 and apply as if included therein. 

7 (e) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 533(d)(2)(A) 

8 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public 

9 Law 114–120) is amended by striking ‘‘Tract 6’’ and in10 serting ‘‘such Tract’’. 

11 (f) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET; TECHNICAL COR12 RECTIONS.—Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Mari13 time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241) 

14 is amended— 

15 (1) in subsection (a)— 

16 (A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and in17 serting the following: 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’; and 

19 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

21 ‘treaty area’ has the meaning given the term in the 

22 Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of 

23 Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of 

24 the United States of America as in effect on the 

25 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard and Mari-
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1 time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 

2 241).’’; and 

3 (2) in subsection (c)— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘12.6 or 12.7’’ and insert5 ing ‘‘13.6’’; and 

6 (B) by striking ‘‘and Maritime Transpor7 tation Act of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘Authoriza8 tion Act of 2019’’. 

9 SEC. 607. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO CODI10 FICATION OF PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFE11 TY ACT. 

12 Effective upon the enactment of section 401 of the 

13 Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 

14 (Public Law 115–282), and notwithstanding section 

15 402(e) of such Act— 

16 (1) section 16 of the Ports and Waterways 

17 Safety Act, as added by section 315 of the Coun18 tering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act 

19 (Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 947)— 

20 (A) is redesignated as section 70022 of 

21 title 46, United States Code, transferred to ap22 pear after section 70021 of that title, and 

23 amended so that the enumerator, section head24 ing, typeface, and typestyle conform to those 
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1 appearing in other sections in title 46, United 

2 States Code; and 

3 (B) as so redesignated and transferred, is 

4 amended— 

5 (i) in subsections (b) and (e), by strik6 ing ‘‘section 4(a)(5)’’ each place it appears 

7 and inserting ‘‘section 70001(a)(5)’’; 

8 (ii) in subsection (c)(2), by striking 

9 ‘‘not later than’’ and all that follows 

10 through ‘‘thereafter,’’ and inserting ‘‘peri11 odically’’; and 

12 (iii) by striking subsection (h); and 

13 (2) chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, 

14 is amended— 

15 (A) in section 70002(2), by inserting ‘‘or 

16 70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; 

17 (B) in section 70036(e), by inserting ‘‘or 

18 70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; and 

19 (C) in the analysis for such chapter— 

20 (i) by inserting ‘‘Sec.’’ above the sec21 tion items, in accordance with the style 

22 and form of such an entry in other chapter 

23 analyses of such title; and 

24 (ii) by striking the item relating to 

25 section 70021 and inserting the following: 
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‘‘70021. Conditions for entry to ports in the United States 

‘‘70022. Prohibition on entry and operation’’. 

1 TITLE VII—FEDERAL MARITIME 

2 COMMISSION 

3 SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This title may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Maritime 

5 Commission Authorization Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

7 Section 308 of title 46, United States Code, is 

8 amended by striking ‘‘$28,012,310 for fiscal year 2018 

9 and $28,544,543 for fiscal year 2019’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘$29,086,888 for fiscal year 2020 and $29,639,538 for 

11 fiscal year 2021’’. 

12 TITLE VIII—COAST GUARD 

13 ACADEMY IMPROVEMENT ACT 

14 SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 

15 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Academy 

16 Improvement Act’’. 

17 SEC. 802. COAST GUARD ACADEMY STUDY. 

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

19 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 

20 into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 

21 Administration not later than 60 days after the date of 

22 the enactment of the this Act under which the National 

23 Academy of Public Administration shall— 
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1 (1) conduct an assessment of the cultural com2 petence of the Coast Guard Academy as an organi3 zation and of individuals at the Coast Guard Acad4 emy to carry out effectively the primary duties of 

5 the United States Coast Guard listed in section 102 

6 of title 14, United States Code, when interacting 

7 with individuals of different races, ethnicities, gen8 ders, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic 

9 backgrounds, or from different geographic origins; 

10 and 

11 (2) issue recommendations based upon the find12 ings in such assessment. 

13 (b) ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE.— 

14 (1) CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF THE COAST

15 GUARD ACADEMY.—The arrangement described in 

16 subsection (a) shall require the National Academy of 

17 Public Administration to, not later than 1 year after 

18 entering into an arrangement with the Secretary 

19 under subsection (a), submit to the Committee on 

20 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

21 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

22 Science, and Transportation of the Senate the as23 sessment described under subsection (a)(1). 

24 (2) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment de25 scribed under subsection (a)(1) shall— 
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1 (A) describe the level of cultural com2 petence described in subsection (a)(1) based on 

3 the National Academy of Public Administra4 tion’s assessment of the Coast Guard Acad5 emy’s relevant practices, policies, and struc6 tures, including an overview of discussions with 

7 faculty, staff, students, and relevant Coast 

8 Guard Academy affiliated organizations; 

9 (B) examine potential changes which could 

10 be used to further enhance such cultural com11 petence by— 

12 (i) modifying institutional practices, 

13 policies, and structures; and 

14 (ii) any other changes deemed appro15 priate by the National Academy of Public 

16 Administration; and 

17 (C) make recommendations to enhance the 

18 cultural competence of the Coast Guard Acad19 emy described in subparagraph (A), including 

20 any specific plans, policies, milestones, perform21 ance measures, or other information necessary 

22 to implement such recommendations. 

23 (c) FINAL ACTION MEMORANDUM.—Not later than 

24 3 months after submission of the assessment under section 

25 802(b)(1), the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall sub-
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1 mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc2 ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

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

4 a final action memorandum in response to all rec5 ommendations contained in the assessment. The Final Ac6 tion Memorandum shall include the rationale for accept7 ing, accepting in part, or rejecting each recommendation, 

8 and shall specify, where applicable, actions to be taken to 

9 implement such recommendations, including an expla10 nation of how each action enhances the ability of the Coast 

11 Guard to carry out the primary duties of the United 

12 States Coast Guard listed in section 102 of title 14, 

13 United States Code. 

14 (d) PLAN.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 

16 after the date of the submission of the final action 

17 memorandum required under subsection (c), the 

18 Commandant of the Coast Guard, in coordination 

19 with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Depart20 ment of Homeland Security, shall submit a plan to 

21 carry out the recommendations or the parts of the 

22 recommendations accepted in the Final Action 

23 Memorandum to the Committee on Transportation 

24 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
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1 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

2 Transportation of the Senate. 

3 (2) STRATEGY WITH MILESTONES.—If any rec4 ommendation or parts of recommendations accepted 

5 in the Final Action Memorandum address any of the 

6 following actions, then the plan required in para7 graph (1) shall include a strategy with appropriate 

8 milestones to carry out such recommendations or 

9 parts of recommendations: 

10 (A) Improve outreach and recruitment of a 

11 more diverse Coast Guard Academy cadet can12 didate pool based on race, ethnicity, gender, re13 ligion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic back14 ground, and geographic origin. 

15 (B) Modify institutional structures, prac16 tices, and policies to foster a more diverse cadet 

17 corps body, faculty, and staff workforce based 

18 on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual ori19 entation, socioeconomic background, and geo20 graphic origin. 

21 (C) Modify existing or establish new poli22 cies and safeguards to foster the retention of 

23 cadets, faculty, and staff of different races, 

24 ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orienta-
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1 tions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geo2 graphic origins at the Coast Guard Academy. 

3 (D) Restructure the admissions office of 

4 the Coast Guard Academy to be headed by a ci5 vilian with significant relevant higher education 

6 recruitment experience. 

7 (3) IMPLEMENTATION.—Unless otherwise di8 rected by an Act of Congress, the Commandant of 

9 the Coast Guard shall begin implementation of the 

10 plan developed under this subsection not later than 

11 180 days after the submission of such plan to Con12 gress. 

13 (4) UPDATE.—The Commandant of the Coast 

14 Guard shall include in the first annual report re15 quired under chapter 51 of title 14, United States 

16 Code, as amended by this Act, submitted after the 

17 date of enactment of this section, the strategy with 

18 milestones required in paragraph (2) and shall re19 port annually thereafter on actions taken and 

20 progress made in the implementation of such plan. 

21 SEC. 803. ANNUAL REPORT. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United 

23 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol24 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘§ 5112. Report on diversity at the Coast Guard Acad2 emy 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 

4 2021, and annually thereafter, the Commandant shall sub5 mit a report on diversity at the Coast Guard Academy to 

6 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

7 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com8 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

9 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub10 section (a) shall include— 

11 ‘‘(1) the status of the implementation of the 

12 plan required section 802 of the Coast Guard Acad13 emy Improvement Act; 

14 ‘‘(2) specific information on outreach and re15 cruitment activities for the preceding year, including 

16 the effectiveness of the Coast Guard Academy Mi17 nority Outreach Team Program described under sec18 tion 1905 and of outreach and recruitment activities 

19 in the territories and other possessions of the United 

20 States; 

21 ‘‘(3) enrollment information about the incoming 

22 class, including the gender, race, ethnicity, religion, 

23 socioeconomic background, and State of residence of 

24 Coast Guard Academy cadets; 

25 ‘‘(4) information on class retention, outcomes, 

26 and graduation rates, including the race, gender, 
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1 ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, and 

2 State of residence of Coast Guard Academy cadets; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(5) information on efforts to retain diverse ca5 dets, including through professional development 

6 and professional advancement programs for staff 

7 and faculty.’’. 

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap9 ter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add10 ing at the end the following: 

‘‘5112. Report on diversity at the Coast Guard Academy.’’. 

11 SEC. 804. ASSESSMENT OF COAST GUARD ACADEMY ADMIS12 SION PROCESSES. 

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

14 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 

15 into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 

16 Administration under which the National Academy of 

17 Public Administration shall, not later than 1 year after 

18 submitting an assessment under section 802(a), submit an 

19 assessment of the Coast Guard Academy admissions proc20 ess to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc21 ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

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

23 (b) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment required 

24 to be sought under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, 

25 include— 
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1 (1) a study, or an audit if appropriate, of the 

2 process the Coast Guard Academy uses to— 

3 (A) identify candidates for recruitment; 

4 (B) recruit applicants; 

5 (C) assist applicants in the application 

6 process; 

7 (D) evaluate applications; and 

8 (E) make admissions decisions; 

9 (2) discussion of the consideration during the 

10 admissions process of diversity, including— 

11 (A) race; 

12 (B) ethnicity; 

13 (C) gender; 

14 (D) religion; 

15 (E) sexual orientation; 

16 (F) socioeconomic background; and 

17 (G) geographic origin; 

18 (3) an overview of the admissions processes at 

19 other Federal service academies, including— 

20 (A) discussion of consideration of diversity, 

21 including any efforts to attract a diverse pool of 

22 applicants, in those processes; and 

23 (B) an analysis of how the congressional 

24 nominations requirement in current law related 

25 to military service academies and the Merchant 
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1 Marine Academy impacts those processes and 

2 the overall demographics of the student bodies 

3 at those academies; 

4 (4) a determination regarding how a congres5 sional nominations requirement for Coast Guard 

6 Academy admissions could impact diversity among 

7 the student body and the ability of the Coast Guard 

8 to carry out effectively the Service’s primary duties 

9 described in section 102 of title 14, United States 

10 Code; and 

11 (5) recommendations for improving Coast 

12 Guard Academy admissions processes, including 

13 whether a congressional nominations process should 

14 be integrated into such processes. 

15 SEC. 805. COAST GUARD ACADEMY MINORITY OUTREACH 

16 TEAM PROGRAM. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 of title 14, United 

18 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1904 

19 the following: 

20 ‘‘§ 1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach 

21 program 

22 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the 

23 Coast Guard Academy a minority outreach team program 

24 (in this section referred to as the ‘Program’ ) under which 

25 officers, including minority officers and officers from terri-
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1 tories and other possessions of the United States, who are 

2 Academy graduates may volunteer their time to recruit 

3 minority students and strengthen cadet retention through 

4 mentorship of cadets. 

5 ‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Not later than July 15, 

6 2020, the Commandant, in consultation with Program vol7 unteers and Academy alumni that participated in prior 

8 programs at the Academy similar to the Program, shall 

9 appoint a permanent civilian position at the Academy to 

10 administer the Program by, among other things— 

11 ‘‘(1) overseeing administration of the Program; 

12 ‘‘(2) serving as a resource to volunteers and 

13 outside stakeholders; 

14 ‘‘(3) advising Academy leadership on recruit15 ment and retention efforts based on recommenda16 tions from volunteers and outside stakeholders; 

17 ‘‘(4) establishing strategic goals and perform18 ance metrics for the Program with input from active 

19 volunteers and Academy leadership; and 

20 ‘‘(5) reporting annually to the Commandant on 

21 academic year and performance outcomes of the 

22 goals for the Program before the end of each aca23 demic year.’’. 

24 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap25 ter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
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1 serting after the item relating to section 1904 the fol2 lowing: 

‘‘1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program.’’. 

3 SEC. 806. COAST GUARD COLLEGE STUDENT PRE-COMMIS4 SIONING INITIATIVE. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 

6 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

7 the following: 

8 ‘‘§ 2131. College student pre-commissioning initiative 

9 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized within the 

10 Coast Guard the College Student Pre-Commissioning Ini11 tiative program (in this section referred to as the ‘pro12 gram’) for eligible undergraduate students to enlist and 

13 receive a guaranteed commission as an officer in the Coast 

14 Guard. 

15 ‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.—To be eligible for 

16 the program a student must meet the following require17 ments upon submitting an application: 

18 ‘‘(1) AGE.—A student must be not less than 19 

19 years old and not more than 27 years old as of Sep20 tember 30 of the fiscal year in which the program 

21 selection panel selecting such student convenes. 

22 ‘‘(2) CHARACTER.— 

23 ‘‘(A) ALL APPLICANTS.—All applicants 

24 must be of outstanding moral character and 
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1 meet other character requirements as set forth 

2 by the Commandant. 

3 ‘‘(B) COAST GUARD APPLICANTS.—An ap4 plicant serving in the Coast Guard may not be 

5 commissioned if in the 36 months prior to the 

6 first Officer Candidate School class convening 

7 date in the selection cycle, such applicant was 

8 convicted by a court-martial or awarded non-ju9 dicial punishment, or did not meet performance 

10 or character requirements set forth by the Com11 mandant. 

12 ‘‘(3) CITIZENSHIP.—A student must be a 

13 United States citizen. 

14 ‘‘(4) CLEARANCE.—A student must be eligible 

15 for a secret clearance. 

16 ‘‘(5) DEPENDENCY.— 

17 ‘‘(A) A student may not have more than 

18 two dependents; and 

19 ‘‘(B) A student who is single may not have 

20 sole or primary custody of dependents. 

21 ‘‘(6) EDUCATION.— 

22 ‘‘(A) INSTITUTION.—A student must be an 

23 undergraduate sophomore or junior— 

24 ‘‘(i) at a historically Black college or 

25 university described in section 322(2) of 
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1 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

2 U.S.C. 1061(2)) or an institution of higher 

3 education described in section 371(a) of 

4 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

5 U.S.C. 1067q(a)); or 

6 ‘‘(ii) who is active in minority-serving 

7 organizations and pursuing a degree in 

8 science, technology, engineering, or mathe9 matics at an institution of higher edu10 cation described in section 101 of the 

11 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

12 1001) that is not a historically Black col13 lege or university or institution of higher 

14 education referred to in clause (i) of this 

15 subparagraph. 

16 ‘‘(B) LOCATION.—The institution at which 

17 such student is an undergraduate must be with18 in 100 miles of a Coast guard unit or Coast 

19 Guard Recruiting Office unless otherwise ap20 proved by the Commandant. 

21 ‘‘(C) RECORDS.—A student must meet 

22 credit and grade point average requirements set 

23 forth by the Commandant. 
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1 ‘‘(7) MEDICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.—A stu2 dent must meet other medical and administrative re3 quirements as set forth by the Commandant. 

4 ‘‘(c) ENLISTMENT AND OBLIGATION.—Individuals 

5 selected and accept to participate in the program shall en6 list in the Coast Guard in pay grade E–3 with a 4-year 

7 duty obligation and 4-year inactive Reserve obligation. 

8 ‘‘(d) MILITARY ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO OFFICER CAN9 DIDATE SCHOOL.—Individuals enrolled in the program 

10 shall participate in military activities each month, as re11 quired by the Commandant, prior to attending Officer 

12 Candidate School. 

13 ‘‘(e) PARTICIPATION IN OFFICER CANDIDATE

14 SCHOOL.—Each graduate of the program shall attend the 

15 first enrollment of Officer Candidate School that com16 mences after the date of such graduate’s graduation. 

17 ‘‘(f) COMMISSIONING.—Upon graduation from Offi18 cer Candidate School, program graduates shall be dis19 charged from enlisted status and commissioned as an O– 

20 1 with an initial 3-year duty obligation. 

21 ‘‘(g) BRIEFING.— 

22 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than August 15 

23 of each year, the Commandant shall provide a brief24 ing to the Committee on Transportation and Infra25 structure of the House of Representatives and the 
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1 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor2 tation of the Senate on the College Student Pre3 Commissioning Initiative. 

4 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The briefing required under 

5 paragraph (1) shall describe— 

6 ‘‘(A) outreach and recruitment efforts over 

7 the previous year; and 

8 ‘‘(B) demographic information of enrollees 

9 including— 

10 ‘‘(i) race; 

11 ‘‘(ii) ethnicity; 

12 ‘‘(iii) gender; 

13 ‘‘(iv) geographic origin; and 

14 ‘‘(v) educational institution.’’. 

15 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub16 chapter I of chapter 21 of title 14, United States Code, 

17 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘2131. College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative.’’. 

18 SEC. 807. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS. 

19 Section 1903(d) of title 14, United States Code, is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 

22 (6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; and 
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1 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(2) recruitment and retention;’’. 

Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2019. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3409 

AN ACT 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, 

and for other purposes.