IB 

Union Calendar No. 81 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1987 

[Report No. 114–115] 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 

2017, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 23, 2015 

Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. SHUSTER, and Mr. DEFAZIO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure 

MAY 15, 2015 

Additional sponsor: Mr. WEBSTER of Florida 

MAY 15, 2015 

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

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

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

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 23, 2015] 


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A BILL 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 

years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes. 


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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Authoriza5 tion Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

7 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. 

Sec. 102. Conforming amendments. 

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Vice Commandant. 

Sec. 202. Vice admirals. 

Sec. 203. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 

Sec. 204. Acquisition reform. 

Sec. 205. Auxiliary jurisdiction. 

Sec. 206. Long-term major acquisitions plan. 

Sec. 207. Coast Guard communities. 

Sec. 208. ‘‘Polar Sea’’ materiel condition assessment and service life extension decision. 

Sec. 209. Repeal. 

Sec. 210. Technical corrections to title 14. 

Sec. 211. Digital boat profile pilot program. 

Sec. 212. Discontinuance of an aid to navigation. 

Sec. 213. Mission performance measures. 

Sec. 214. Communications. 

Sec. 215. Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education. 

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Treatment of fishing permits. 

Sec. 302. Survival craft. 

Sec. 303. Enforcement. 

Sec. 304. Model years for recreational vessels. 

Sec. 305. Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization. 

Sec. 306. Marine event safety zones. 

Sec. 307. Technical corrections. 

Sec. 308. Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty reporting. 

Sec. 309. Recreational vessel engine weights. 

Sec. 310. Merchant mariner medical certification reform. 

Sec. 311. Atlantic Coast port access route study. 

Sec. 312. Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels. 


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Sec. 313. Program guidelines. 

Sec. 314. Repeals. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman. 

Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards. 

TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Marin County, California. 

Sec. 502. Elimination of reports. 

Sec. 503. Vessel documentation. 

Sec. 504. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska. 

Sec. 505. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes. 

Sec. 506. Use of vessel sale proceeds. 

Sec. 507. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification. 

Sec. 508. National Academy of Sciences cost comparison. 

Sec. 509. Penalty wages. 

Sec. 510. Recourse for noncitizens. 

1 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 

2 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 

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

4 amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND 

6 REPORTS TO CONGRESS 

‘‘Chap. Sec. 

‘‘27. Authorizations ................................................................................ 2701 

‘‘29. Reports ................................................................................................ 2901. 

7 ‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 

‘‘2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 

8 ‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 

9 ‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of 

10 fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of the 

11 Coast Guard as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

2 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for— 

3 ‘‘(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

4 and 

5 ‘‘(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

6 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova7 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

8 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

9 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

10 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment— 

11 ‘‘(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

14 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in15 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

16 personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv17 ices— 

18 ‘‘(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

19 ‘‘(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

20 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res21 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

22 19 of this title— 

23 ‘‘(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

24 ‘‘(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2017. 


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1 ‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for 

2 research, development, test, and evaluation of tech3 nologies, materials, and human factors directly re4 lated to improving the performance of the Coast 

5 Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 

6 aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ7 mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 

8 ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 

9 readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, 

10 and operation of facilities and equipment— 

11 ‘‘(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

12 ‘‘(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

13 ‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and 

14 training 

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

16 authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel 

17 of 43,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

18 ‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 

19 Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu20 dent loads for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as follows: 

21 ‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 stu22 dent years. 

23 ‘‘(2) For flight training, 165 student years. 

24 ‘‘(3) For professional training in military and 

25 civilian institutions, 350 student years. 


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

2 ‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘2904. Manpower requirements plan. 

3 ‘‘§ 2904. Manpower requirements plan 

4 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the Presi5 dent submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2017 

6 under section 1105 of title 31, on the date on which the 

7 President submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2019 

8 under such section, and every 4 years thereafter, the Com9 mandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

10 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

11 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

12 the Senate a manpower requirements plan. 

13 ‘‘(b) SCOPE.—A manpower requirements plan sub14 mitted under subsection (a) shall include for each mission 

15 of the Coast Guard— 

16 ‘‘(1) an assessment of all projected mission re17 quirements for the upcoming fiscal year and for each 

18 of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 

19 ‘‘(2) the number of active duty, reserve, and ci20 vilian personnel assigned or available to fulfill such 

21 mission requirements— 

22 ‘‘(A) currently; and 

23 ‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal 

24 year and each of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 


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1 ‘‘(3) the number of active duty, reserve, and ci2 vilian personnel required to fulfill such mission re3 quirements— 

4 ‘‘(A) currently; and 

5 ‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal 

6 year and each of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 

7 ‘‘(4) an identification of any capability gaps be8 tween mission requirements and mission performance 

9 caused by deficiencies in the numbers of personnel 

10 available— 

11 ‘‘(A) currently; and 

12 ‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal 

13 year and each of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 

14 and 

15 ‘‘(5) an identification of the actions the Com16 mandant will take to address capability gaps identi17 fied under paragraph (4). 

18 ‘‘(c) CONSIDERATION.—In composing a manpower re19 quirements plan for submission under subsection (a), the 

20 Commandant shall consider— 

21 ‘‘(1) the marine safety strategy required under 

22 section 2116 of title 46; 

23 ‘‘(2) information on the adequacy of the acquisi24 tion workforce included in the most recent report 

25 under section 2903 of this title; and 


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1 ‘‘(3) any other Federal strategic planning effort 

2 the Commandant considers appropriate.’’. 

3 (b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF AP4 PROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States 

5 Code, is amended— 

6 (1) by redesignating such section as section 2701; 

7 (2) by transferring such section to appear before 

8 section 2702 of such title (as added by subsection (a) 

9 of this section); and 

10 (3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and 

11 inserting the following: 

12 ‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

13 Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for. 

14 ‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova15 tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

16 facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 

17 related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 

18 lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 

19 ‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in20 cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 

21 personnel and training costs, equipment, and services. 

22 ‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res23 toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 

24 19 of this title. 


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1 ‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and evalua2 tion of technologies, materials, and human factors di3 rectly related to improving the performance of the 

4 Coast Guard. 

5 ‘‘(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over 

6 navigable waters of the United States constituting ob7 structions to navigation, and for personnel and ad8 ministrative costs associated with the Alteration of 

9 Bridges Program.’’. 

10 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERSONNEL END

11 STRENGTHS.—Section 661 of title 14, United States Code, 

12 is amended— 

13 (1) by redesignating such section as section 2703; 

14 and 

15 (2) by transferring such section to appear before 

16 section 2704 of such title (as added by subsection (a) 

17 of this section). 

18 (d) REPORTS.— 

19 (1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AU20 THORIZATION REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 14, 

21 United States Code, is amended— 

22 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

23 2901; 


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1 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

2 before section 2904 of such title (as added by 

3 subsection (a) of this section); and 

4 (C) in subsection (b)— 

5 (i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘de6 scribed in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘de7 scribed in section 2703’’; and 

8 (ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘de9 scribed in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘de10 scribed in section 2701’’. 

11 (2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 of 

12 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

13 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

14 2902; and 

15 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

16 after section 2901 of such title (as so redesig17 nated and transferred by paragraph (1) of this 

18 subsection). 

19 (3) MAJOR ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of title 

20 14, United States Code, is amended— 

21 (A) by redesignating such section as section 

22 2903; 

23 (B) by transferring such section to appear 

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1 nated and transferred by paragraph (2) of this 

2 subsection); and 

3 (C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this 

4 subchapter’’. 

5 (e) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For fiscal 

6 years 2016 and 2017, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

7 may use funds made available pursuant to section 2702(2) 

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

9 of this section) for the selection of a design for and the con10 struction of an icebreaker that is capable of buoy tending 

11 to enhance icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. 

12 (f) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant of 

13 the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Home14 land Security of the House of Representatives— 

15 (1) each plan required under section 2904 of title 

16 14, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of 

17 this section; 

18 (2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of 

19 title 14, United States Code, as added by section 206 

20 of this Act; 

21 (3) each plan required under section 2902 of title 

22 14, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection 

23 (d) of this section; and 

24 (4) each mission need statement required under 

25 section 569 of title 14, United States Code. 


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1 SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

2 (a) ANALYSIS FOR TITLE 14.—The analysis for title 

3 14, United States Code, is amended by adding after the 

4 item relating to part II the following: 

‘‘III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Congress .................................................................................. 2701’’. 

5 (b) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 15.—The analysis for 

6 chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

7 striking the item relating to section 569a. 

8 (c) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for 

9 chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

10 striking the items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, and 

11 663. 

12 (d) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 27.—The analysis for 

13 chapter 27 of title 14, United States Code, as added by sec14 tion 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting— 

15 (1) before the item relating to section 2702 the 

16 following: 

‘‘2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.’’; 

17 and 

18 (2) before the item relating to section 2704 the 

19 following: 

‘‘2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.’’. 

20 (e) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 29.—The analysis for 

21 chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, as added by sec22 tion 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting before the 

23 item relating to section 2904 the following: 


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‘‘2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 

‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 

‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 

1 (f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of 

2 title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 

4 569a(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 

5 (2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 

6 663(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 2902(a)(1)’’. 

7 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

8 SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 

9 (a) GRADES AND RATINGS.—Section 41 of title 14, 

10 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘admirals (two);’’. 

12 (b) VICE COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT.—Section 47 of 

13 title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘vice 

14 admiral’’ and inserting ‘‘admiral’’. 

15 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of title 14, 

16 United States Code, is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 

18 before ‘‘vice admiral,’’; 

19 (2) in subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 

20 before ‘‘vice admiral,’’ each place it appears; and 

21 (3) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 

22 before ‘‘vice admiral,’’. 

23 (d) APPLICATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi24 sion of law, the officer who, on the date of the enactment 


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1 of this Act, is serving as Vice Commandant of the Coast 

2 Guard— 

3 (1) shall have the grade of admiral, with the pay 

4 and allowances of that grade; and 

5 (2) shall not be required to be reappointed by 

6 reason of the enactment of this Act, including the 

7 amendments made by this Act. 

8 SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS. 

9 Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amend10 ed— 

11 (1) in subsection (a)— 

12 (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 

13 the following: 

14 ‘‘(1) The President may— 

15 ‘‘(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no more 

16 than 5 positions of importance and responsibility 

17 that shall be held by officers who, while so serving, 

18 shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the pay 

19 and allowances of that grade, and shall perform such 

20 duties as the Commandant may prescribe (if the 

21 President designates 5 such positions, 1 position shall 

22 be a Chief of Staff); and 

23 ‘‘(B) designate, within the executive branch, 

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1 cers who, while so serving, shall have the grade of vice 

2 admiral, with the pay and allowances of that grade.’’; 

3 and 

4 (B) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ‘‘under 

5 paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under paragraph 

6 (1)(A)’’; and 

7 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

8 (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ 

9 at the end; 

10 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 

11 subparagraph (D); and 

12 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 

13 following: 

14 ‘‘(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while 

15 awaiting orders after being relieved from the position, 

16 beginning on the day the officer is relieved from the 

17 position, but not for more than 60 days; and’’. 

18 SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 461 of title 14, United 

20 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 

22 ‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any 

23 part of a person’s indebtedness to the United States or any 

24 instrumentality of the United States if— 


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1 ‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the per2 son served on active duty as a member of the Coast 

3 Guard; and 

4 ‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or 

5 cancelling the indebtedness is in the best interest of 

6 the United States.’’. 

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

8 13 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking 

9 the item relating to section 461 and inserting the following: 

‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 

10 SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM. 

11 (a) MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Section 

12 572(d)(3) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 

13 (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through 

14 (H) as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively; 

15 (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub16 paragraph (C); 

17 (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(B) the performance data to be used to de20 termine whether the key performance parameters 

21 have been resolved;’’; and 

22 (4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as re23 designated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the 

24 following: 


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1 ‘‘(D) the results during test and evaluation 

2 that will be required to demonstrate that a capa3 bility, asset, or subsystem meets performance re4 quirements;’’. 

5 (b) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 2902(a)(1) 

6 of title 14, United States Code, as redesignated and other7 wise amended by this Act, is further amended— 

8 (1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘comple9 tion;’’ and inserting ‘‘completion based on the pro10 posed appropriations included in the budget;’’; and 

11 (2) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘at the pro12 jected funding levels;’’ and inserting ‘‘based on the 

13 proposed appropriations included in the budget;’’. 

14 (c) DAYS AWAY FROM HOMEPORT.—Not later than 1 

15 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com16 mandant of the Coast Guard shall— 

17 (1) implement a standard for tracking oper18 ational days at sea for Coast Guard cutters that does 

19 not include days during which such cutters are un20 dergoing maintenance or repair; and 

21 (2) notify the Committee on Transportation and 

22 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

23 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor24 tation of the Senate of the standard implemented 

25 under paragraph (1). 


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1 (d) FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FLEET MIX ANALYSIS.— 

2 Not later than September 30, 2015, the Commandant of the 

3 Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transpor4 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

5 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor6 tation of the Senate a revised fleet mix analysis of Coast 

7 Guard fixed wing aircraft. 

8 SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 822 of title 14, United 

10 States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ and inserting the 

12 following: 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The purpose’’; and 

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

15 ‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Auxiliary may conduct a pa16 trol of a waterway, or a portion thereof, only if— 

17 ‘‘(1) the Commandant has determined such wa18 terway, or portion thereof, is navigable for purposes 

19 of the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard; or 

20 ‘‘(2) a State or other proper authority has re21 quested such patrol pursuant to section 141 of this 

22 title or section 13109 of title 46.’’. 

23 (b) NOTIFICATION.—The Commandant of the Coast 

24 Guard shall— 


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1 (1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast 

2 Guard Auxiliary in the most recently completed fiscal 

3 year to determine whether such waterways are eligible 

4 or ineligible for patrol under section 822(b) of title 

5 14, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)); 

6 and 

7 (2) not later than 180 days after the date of the 

8 enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee on 

9 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

10 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

11 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written 

12 notification of— 

13 (A) any waterways determined ineligible for 

14 patrol under paragraph (1); and 

15 (B) the actions taken by the Commandant 

16 to ensure Auxiliary patrols do not occur on such 

17 waterways. 

18 SEC. 206. LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN. 

19 Section 2903 of title 14, United States Code, as redes20 ignated and otherwise amended by this Act, is further 

21 amended— 

22 (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 

23 (f); and 

24 (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol25 lowing: 


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1 ‘‘(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Each 

2 report under subsection (a) shall include a plan that de3 scribes for the upcoming fiscal year, and for each of the 

4 20 fiscal years thereafter— 

5 ‘‘(1) the numbers and types of cutters and air6 craft to be decommissioned; 

7 ‘‘(2) the numbers and types of cutters and air8 craft to be acquired to— 

9 ‘‘(A) replace the cutters and aircraft identi10 fied under paragraph (1); or 

11 ‘‘(B) address an identified capability gap; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(3) the estimated level of funding in each fiscal 

14 year required to— 

15 ‘‘(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft identi16 fied under paragraph (2); 

17 ‘‘(B) acquire related command, control, 

18 communications, computer, intelligence, surveil19 lance, and reconnaissance systems; and 

20 ‘‘(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shore21 side infrastructure.’’. 

22 SEC. 207. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 

23 Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

24 1998 (14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended by striking the sec25 ond sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘The ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 May 15, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1987.RH H1987

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1 mandant may recognize any other community in a similar 

2 manner if the Commandant determines that such commu3 nity has demonstrated enduring support of the Coast 

4 Guard, Coast Guard personnel, and the dependents of Coast 

5 Guard personnel.’’. 

6 SEC. 208. ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT 

7 AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION DECISION. 

8 Section 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans9 portation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 

10 1560) is amended— 

11 (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol12 lows: 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 

14 date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 

15 of 2015, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

16 Guard is operating shall— 

17 ‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment 

18 with respect to the Polar Sea; 

19 ‘‘(2) make a determination of whether it is cost 

20 effective to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with 

21 other options to provide icebreaking services as part 

22 of a strategy to maintain polar icebreaking services; 

23 and 

24 ‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transportation 

25 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 


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1 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans2 portation of the Senate— 

3 ‘‘(A) the assessment required under para4 graph (1); and 

5 ‘‘(B) written notification of the determina6 tion required under paragraph (2).’’; 

7 (2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 

9 (3) by striking subsection (c); 

10 (4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 

11 as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 

12 (5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para13 graph (4) of this section)— 

14 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

15 (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 

16 ‘‘based on the analysis required’’; and 

17 (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 

18 ‘‘analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘written notifica19 tion’’; 

20 (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

21 follows: 

22 ‘‘(2) DECOMMISSIONING.—If the Secretary makes 

23 a determination under subsection (a) that it is not 

24 cost effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, then, not 

25 later than 180 days after written notification of that 


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1 determination is submitted under that subsection, the 

2 Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission 

3 the Polar Sea.’’; and 

4 (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 

5 follows: 

6 ‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If the 

7 Secretary does not make a determination under sub8 section (a) regarding whether it is cost effective to re9 activate the Polar Sea, then the Commandant of the 

10 Coast Guard may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; 

11 (6) in subsection (d)(1) (as redesignated by 

12 paragraph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘written notification’’; and 

14 (7) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para15 graph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘in subsection 

16 (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (c)’’. 

17 SEC. 209. REPEAL. 

18 Section 225(b)(2) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 

19 and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 

20 113–281; 128 Stat. 3039) is repealed. 

21 SEC. 210. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14. 

22 Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, 

23 is further amended— 


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1 (1) in the analysis for part I by striking the 

2 item relating to chapter 19 and inserting the fol3 lowing: 

‘‘19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program ................................................................................. 690’’; 

4 (2) in section 46(a) by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and 

5 inserting ‘‘section’’; 

6 (3) in section 47 in the section heading by strik7 ing ‘‘commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘Com8 mandant’’; 

9 (4) in section 93(f) by striking paragraph (2) 

10 and inserting the following: 

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

12 submerged lands and tidelands under paragraph (1) 

13 only if— 

14 ‘‘(A) the lease is for cash exclusively; 

15 ‘‘(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair 

16 market value of the use of the leased submerged 

17 lands or tidelands for the period during which 

18 such lands are leased, as determined by the Com19 mandant; 

20 ‘‘(C) the lease does not provide authority to 

21 or commit the Coast Guard to use or support 

22 any improvements to such submerged lands and 

23 tidelands, or obtain goods and services from the 

24 lessee; and 


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1 ‘‘(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited 

2 in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established 

3 under section 687.’’; 

4 (5) in the analysis for chapter 9 by striking the 

5 item relating to section 199 and inserting the fol6 lowing: 

‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’; 

7 (6) in section 427(b)(2) by striking ‘‘this chap8 ter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 

9 (7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the item 

10 relating to section 571 by striking the following: 

‘‘Sec.’’; 

11 (8) in section 573(c)(3)(A) by inserting ‘‘and 

12 shall maintain such cutter in class’’ before the period 

13 at the end; 

14 (9) in section 581(5)(B) by striking 

15 ‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 

16 (10) in section 637(c)(3) in the matter preceding 

17 subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘it is’’ before ‘‘any’’; 

18 (11) in section 641(d)(3) by striking ‘‘Guard, in19 stallation’’ and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 

20 (12) in section 691(c)(3) by striking ‘‘state’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘State’’; 

22 (13) in the analysis for chapter 21— 

23 (A) by striking the item relating to section 

24 709 and inserting the following: 


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‘‘709. Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots; appointments in 

commissioned grade.’’; 

1 and 

2 (B) by striking the item relating to section 

3 740 and inserting the following: 

‘‘740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.’’; 

4 (14) in section 742(c) by striking ‘‘subsection’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘subsections’’; 

6 (15) in section 821(b)(1) by striking ‘‘Chapter 

7 26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’; and 

8 (16) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 

9 26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’. 

10 SEC. 211. DIGITAL BOAT PROFILE PILOT PROGRAM. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—If, during the 1-year period begin12 ning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

13 of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

14 determines that there are at least 2 digital boat profile tech15 nologies that are commercially available, the Secretary shall 

16 establish a pilot program, in accordance with this section, 

17 under which digital boat profiles are utilized for— 

18 (1) not less than 2 National Security Cutters; 

19 (2) not less than 4 Fast Response Cutters; and 

20 (3) not less than 4 Medium Endurance Cutters 

21 (270 foot). 

22 (b) TIMING.—With respect to the National Security 

23 Cutters and Fast Response Cutters participating in the 


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1 pilot program, a digital boat profile shall be established 

2 prior to the commissioning of the cutters. 

3 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the establish4 ment of the pilot program, and annually thereafter for the 

5 succeeding 4 years, the Secretary of the department in 

6 which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the 

7 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

8 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

9 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describ10 ing— 

11 (1) the implementation of the pilot program; and 

12 (2) the results of the use of digital boat profiles 

13 under the pilot program with respect to— 

14 (A) efficient maintenance of the cutters in15 volved; and 

16 (B) the post-delivery warranty management 

17 of equipment items, the repair and replacement 

18 of which are contractually obligated. 

19 (d) DIGITAL BOAT PROFILE DEFINED.—In this sec20 tion, the term ‘‘digital boat profile’’ means a commercially 

21 available off-the-shelf technology that creates an electronic 

22 data source with respect to a vessel that— 

23 (1) provides lifecycle management support, in24 cluding through the incorporation of systems manu25 als, schematics, and vessel documentation; 


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1 (2) incorporates all manufacturer recommenda2 tions and operator best practices; 

3 (3) incorporates the use of real-time analytics of 

4 deferred tasks, future tasks, readiness assessments, 

5 and budgetary planners; 

6 (4) provides advance electronic notification of 

7 upcoming maintenance and inspections to multi-level 

8 permission-based recipients on a daily, weekly, or 

9 monthly basis; 

10 (5) facilitates oversight for pre-delivery discrep11 ancy reporting and post-delivery warranty manage12 ment of equipment items, the repair and replacement 

13 of which are contractually obligated; and 

14 (6) is accessible by computing devices. 

15 SEC. 212. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION. 

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

17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the de18 partment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall estab19 lish a process for the discontinuance of an aid to navigation 

20 established, maintained, or operated by the Coast Guard. 

21 (b) REQUIREMENT.—The process established under 

22 subsection (a) shall include procedures to notify the public 

23 of any discontinuance of an aid to navigation described in 

24 that subsection. 


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1 (c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a process under 

2 subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and consider 

3 any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advisory 

4 Council. 

5 (d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after es6 tablishing a process under subsection (a), the Secretary 

7 shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra8 structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

9 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

10 of the process established. 

11 SEC. 213. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES. 

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

13 of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

14 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In15 frastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of 

16 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com17 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assess18 ment of the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s Standard Oper19 ational Planning Process with respect to annual mission 

20 performance measures. 

21 SEC. 214. COMMUNICATIONS. 

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

23 which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish and 

24 carry out a response capabilities pilot program to assess, 


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1 at not fewer than 2 Coast Guard command centers, the effec2 tiveness of a radio gateway that— 

3 (1) provides for— 

4 (A) multiagency collaboration and inter5 operability; and 

6 (B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation7 and-acceptance-based multimedia communica8 tions; 

9 (2) is certified by the Department of Defense 

10 Joint Interoperability Test Center; and 

11 (3) is composed of commercially available, off12 the-shelf technology. 

13 (b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

14 of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 

15 the succeeding 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to the 

16 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

17 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

18 Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment 

19 of the pilot program, including the impacts of the program 

20 with respect to interagency and Coast Guard response capa21 bilities. 

22 SEC. 215. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPER23 ATIONS EDUCATION. 

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

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


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1 Coast Guard is operating shall establish an education pro2 gram, for members and employees of the Coast Guard, 

3 that— 

4 (1) offers a master’s degree in maritime oper5 ations; 

6 (2) is relevant to the professional development of 

7 such members and employees; 

8 (3) provides resident and distant education op9 tions, including the ability to utilize both options; 

10 and 

11 (4) to the greatest extent practicable, is con12 ducted using existing academic programs at an ac13 credited public academic institution that— 

14 (A) is located near a significant number of 

15 Coast Guard, maritime, and other Department 

16 of Homeland Security law enforcement per17 sonnel; and 

18 (B) has an ability to simulate operations 

19 normally conducted at a command center. 

20 TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 

21 NAVIGATION 

22 SEC. 301. TREATMENT OF FISHING PERMITS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 313 of title 

24 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

25 the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 31310. Treatment of fishing permits 

2 ‘‘(a) LIMITATION ON MARITIME LIENS.—This chap3 ter— 

4 ‘‘(1) does not establish a maritime lien on a fish5 ing permit; and 

6 ‘‘(2) does not authorize any civil action to en7 force a maritime lien on a fishing permit. 

8 ‘‘(b) TREATMENT OF FISHING PERMITS UNDER STATE

9 AND FEDERAL LAW.—A fishing permit— 

10 ‘‘(1) is governed solely by the State or Federal 

11 law under which it is issued; and 

12 ‘‘(2) shall not be treated as part of a vessel, or 

13 as an appurtenance or intangible of a vessel, for any 

14 purpose under Federal law. 

15 ‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE NOT

16 AFFECTED.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as 

17 imposing any limitation upon the authority of the Sec18 retary of Commerce— 

19 ‘‘(1) to modify, suspend, revoke, or impose a 

20 sanction on any fishing permit issued by the Sec21 retary of Commerce; or 

22 ‘‘(2) to bring a civil action to enforce such a 

23 modification, suspension, revocation, or sanction. 

24 ‘‘(d) FISHING PERMIT DEFINED.—In this section the 

25 term ‘fishing permit’ means any authorization of a person 


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1 or vessel to engage in fishing that is issued under State 

2 or Federal law.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

4 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

5 the item relating to section 31309 the following: 

‘‘31310. Treatment of fishing permits.’’. 

6 SEC. 302. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United 

8 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 

10 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall 

11 require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival 

12 craft that ensures that no part of an individual is immersed 

13 in water, if— 

14 ‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major 

15 conversion after January 1, 2016; and 

16 ‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by the 

17 Secretary. 

18 ‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD OF SAFETY.—The Secretary 

19 may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal 

20 Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such 

21 revision provides a higher standard of safety than is pro22 vided by the regulations in effect on or before the date of 

23 the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 

24 2015. 


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1 ‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Sec2 retary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 

3 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in 

4 effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Au5 thorization Act of 2015, allow a passenger vessel to be 

6 equipped with a life saving appliance or arrangement of 

7 an innovative or novel design that— 

8 ‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is im9 mersed in water; and 

10 ‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of 

11 safety than is provided by such requirements as in ef12 fect before such date of the enactment. 

13 ‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘built’ 

14 has the meaning that term has under section 4503(e).’’. 

15 (b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 

16 (1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 2015, 

17 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

18 Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on 

19 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

20 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

21 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review 

22 of— 

23 (A) the number of casualties for individuals 

24 with disabilities, children, and the elderly as a 

25 result of immersion in water, reported to the 


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1 Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year period, 

2 by vessel type and area of operation; 

3 (B) the risks to individuals with disabil4 ities, children, and the elderly as a result of im5 mersion in water, by passenger vessel type and 

6 area of operation; 

7 (C) the effect that carriage of survival craft 

8 that ensure that no part of an individual is im9 mersed in water has on— 

10 (i) passenger vessel safety, including 

11 stability and safe navigation; 

12 (ii) improving the survivability of in13 dividuals, including individuals with dis14 abilities, children, and the elderly; and 

15 (iii) the costs, the incremental cost dif16 ference to vessel operators, and the cost effec17 tiveness of requiring the carriage of such 

18 survival craft to address the risks to indi19 viduals with disabilities, children, and the 

20 elderly; 

21 (D) the efficacy of alternative safety sys22 tems, devices, or measures in improving surviv23 ability of individuals with disabilities, children, 

24 and the elderly; and 


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1 (E) the number of small businesses and 

2 nonprofit vessel operators that would be affected 

3 by requiring the carriage of such survival craft 

4 on passenger vessels to address the risks to indi5 viduals with disabilities, children, and the elder6 ly. 

7 (2) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted 

8 under paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regu9 lations concerning the carriage of survival craft pur10 suant to section 3104(c) of title 46, United States 

11 Code. 

12 SEC. 303. ENFORCEMENT. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, United 

14 States Code, is amended— 

15 (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol16 lows: 

17 ‘‘(1) Each department or agency that has respon18 sibility for a program under this section shall admin19 ister that program consistent with this section and 

20 any regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary 

21 of Transportation concerning this section.’’; 

22 (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para23 graph (3), and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 

24 following: 


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1 ‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary, after consulting with the 

2 department, agency, organization, or person involved, 

3 shall have exclusive authority for determining the ap4 plicability of this section to a program of a Federal 

5 department or agency, after consulting with the de6 partment, agency, organization, or person involved. 

7 ‘‘(B) The head of a Federal department or agen8 cy shall request the Secretary to determine the appli9 cability of this section to a program of such depart10 ment or agency if the department or agency is uncer11 tain of such applicability. Not later than 30 days 

12 after receiving such a request, the Secretary shall 

13 make such determination. 

14 ‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not be construed to 

15 limit the authority of the Secretary to make a deter16 mination regarding the applicability of this section to 

17 a program administered by a Federal department or 

18 agency. 

19 ‘‘(D) A determination made by the Secretary 

20 under this paragraph regarding a program shall re21 main in effect until the Secretary determines that this 

22 section no longer applies to such program.’’; 

23 (3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 

24 amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(A) shall conduct an annual review of the 

2 administration of programs subject to the re3 quirements of this section to determine compli4 ance with the requirements of this section;’’; and 

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

6 ‘‘(4) On the date on which the President submits 

7 to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 

8 31, the Secretary shall make available on the Internet 

9 website of the Department of Transportation a report 

10 that— 

11 ‘‘(A) lists the programs that were subject to 

12 determinations made by the Secretary under 

13 paragraph (2) in the preceding year; and 

14 ‘‘(B) describes the results of the most recent 

15 annual review required by paragraph (3)(A), in16 cluding identification of the departments and 

17 agencies that transported cargo in violation of 

18 this section and any action the Secretary took 

19 under paragraph (3) with respect to each viola20 tion.’’. 

21 (b) DEADLINE FOR FIRST REVIEW.—The Secretary of 

22 Transportation shall complete the first review required 

23 under the amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(C) by not 

24 later than December 31, 2015. 


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1 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3511(c) of the 

2 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 

3 Fiscal Year 2009 (46 U.S.C. 55305 note) is repealed. 

4 SEC. 304. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4302 of title 46, United 

6 States Code is amended by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(e)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this section 

8 the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational ves9 sels and associated equipment, such model year shall, except 

10 as provided in paragraph (2)— 

11 ‘‘(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 

12 31 of the following year; and 

13 ‘‘(B) be designated by the year in which it ends. 

14 ‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manufac15 turer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may alter 

16 a model year for a model of recreational vessel of the manu17 facturer and associated equipment, by no more than 6 

18 months from the model year described in paragraph (1).’’. 

19 (b) APPLICATION.—This section shall only apply with 

20 respect to recreational vessels and associated equipment 

21 constructed or manufactured, respectively, on or after June 

22 1, 2015. 

23 (c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

24 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 

25 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall publish guidVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 May 15, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1987.RH H1987

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1 ance to implement section 4302(d)(2) of title 46, United 

2 States Code. 

3 SEC. 305. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION 

4 HARMONIZATION. 

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

6 (c) and not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 

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

8 Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process to har9 monize the expiration dates of merchant mariner creden10 tials, mariner medical certificates, and radar observer en11 dorsements for individuals applying to the Secretary for a 

12 new merchant mariner credential or for renewal of an exist13 ing merchant mariner credential. 

14 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

15 the process established under subsection (a)— 

16 (1) does not require an individual to renew a 

17 merchant mariner credential earlier than the date on 

18 which the individual’s current credential expires; and 

19 (2) results in harmonization of expiration dates 

20 for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical 

21 certificates, and radar observer endorsements for all 

22 individuals by not later than 6 years after the date 

23 of the enactment of this Act. 

24 (c) EXCEPTION.—The process established under sub25 section (a) does not apply to individuals— 


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1 (1) holding a merchant mariner credential 

2 with— 

3 (A) an active Standards of Training, Cer4 tification, and Watchkeeping endorsement; or 

5 (B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; or 

6 (2) who have been issued a time-restricted med7 ical certificate. 

8 SEC. 306. MARINE EVENT SAFETY ZONES. 

9 Section 6 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 

10 U.S.C. 1225) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(c) MARINE EVENT SAFETY ZONES.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para13 graph (2), the Secretary shall recover all costs the 

14 Coast Guard incurs to enforce a safety zone under 

15 this section if such safety zone is established for a ma16 rine event conducted under a permit or other author17 ization by the Coast Guard. 

18 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may not re19 cover costs under paragraph (1) from a State or local 

20 government. 

21 ‘‘(3) TREATMENT OF RECOVERED COSTS.—Costs 

22 recovered by the Secretary under this subsection shall 

23 be credited to the appropriation for operating ex24 penses of the Coast Guard. 


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1 ‘‘(4) MARINE EVENT DEFINED.—In this section 

2 the term ‘marine event’ means a planned activity of 

3 limited duration that by its nature, circumstances, or 

4 location, will introduce extra or unusual hazards to 

5 the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United 

6 States.’’. 

7 SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

8 (a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is 

9 amended— 

10 (1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 

11 151).’’ and inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 

12 (2) in section 2118— 

13 (A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre14 ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 

16 (B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘title’’ 

17 and inserting ‘‘subtitle’’; 

18 (3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 

19 (A) by adding a period at the end of the 

20 item relating to section 3507; and 

21 (B) by adding a period at the end of the 

22 item relating to section 3508; 

23 (4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

24 and inserting a semicolon; 


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1 (5) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking 

2 ‘‘Academy.’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; and 

3 (6) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking 

4 ‘‘under this Act’’. 

5 (b) GENERAL BRIDGE STATUTES.— 

6 (1) ACT OF MARCH 3, 1899.—The Act of March 

7 3, 1899, popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors 

8 Appropriations Act of 1899, is amended— 

9 (A) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by strik10 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 

11 appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart12 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

13 and 

14 (B) in section 18 (33 U.S.C. 502), by strik15 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 

16 appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart17 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

18 (2) ACT OF MARCH 23, 1906.—The Act of March 

19 23, 1906, popularly known as the Bridge Act of 1906, 

20 is amended— 

21 (A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by 

22 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in23 serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

24 the Coast Guard is operating’’; 


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1 (B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by strik2 ing ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each 

3 place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 

4 department in which the Coast Guard is oper5 ating’’; and 

6 (C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by strik7 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 

8 appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart9 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

10 (3) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the 

11 Act entitled ‘‘An Act making appropriations for the 

12 construction, repair, and preservation of certain pub13 lic works on rivers and harbors, and for other pur14 poses’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499) is 

15 amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ 

16 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 

17 department in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

18 (4) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 21, 

19 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is 

20 amended— 

21 (A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 511), by 

22 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in23 serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

24 the Coast Guard is operating’’; 


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1 (B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by strik2 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

4 Guard is operating’’; 

5 (C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by strik6 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 

7 appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart8 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 

9 and 

10 (D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by strik11 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

13 Guard is operating’’. 

14 (5) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The General 

15 Bridge Act of 1946 is amended— 

16 (A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by 

17 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in18 serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 

19 the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 

20 (B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by 

21 striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 

22 place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 

23 department in which the Coast Guard is oper24 ating’’. 


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1 (6) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The 

2 International Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 

3 (A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by strik4 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

6 Guard is operating’’; and 

7 (B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by strik8 ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 

9 appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart10 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 

11 SEC. 308. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MA12 RINE CASUALTY REPORTING. 

13 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

14 of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall notify 

15 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

16 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

17 Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the actions 

18 the Commandant will take to implement recommendations 

19 on improvements to the Coast Guard’s marine casualty re20 porting requirements and procedures included in— 

21 (1) the Department of Homeland Security Office 

22 of Inspector General report entitled ‘‘Marine Accident 

23 Reporting, Investigations, and Enforcement in the 

24 United States Coast Guard’’, released on May 23, 

25 2013; and 


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1 (2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee re2 port entitled ‘‘Recommendations for Improvement of 

3 Marine Casualty Reporting’’, released on March 26, 

4 2015. 

5 SEC. 309. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 

6 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

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

8 Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations amending 

9 Table 4 to Subpart H of Part 183–Weights (Pounds) of Out10 board Motor and Related Equipment for Various Boat 

11 Horsepower Ratings (33 C.F.R. 183) as appropriate to re12 flect ‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and Related Equip13 ment Weights’’ published by the American Boat and Yacht 

14 Council, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this 

15 Act. 

16 SEC. 310. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION 

17 REFORM. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United 

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

20 ‘‘§ 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents 

21 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi22 sion of law and pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 

23 Secretary, a trusted agent may issue a medical certificate 

24 to an individual who— 


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1 ‘‘(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a 

2 license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s 

3 document, or endorsement thereto under this part; 

4 and 

5 ‘‘(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and phys6 ical condition to perform the duties of such license, 

7 certificate, document, or endorsement, as determined 

8 by the trusted agent. 

9 ‘‘(b) TRUSTED AGENT DEFINED.—In this section the 

10 term ‘trusted agent’ means a medical practitioner certified 

11 by the Secretary to perform physical examinations of an 

12 individual for purposes of a license, certificate of registry, 

13 or merchant mariner’s document under this part.’’. 

14 (b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 

16 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final 

17 rule implementing section 7509 of title 46, United States 

18 Code, as added by this section. 

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

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

‘‘7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.’’. 

21 SEC. 311. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY. 

22 Not later than April 1, 2016, the Commandant of the 

23 Coast Guard shall conclude the Atlantic Coast Port Access 

24 Route Study and submit the results of such study to the 

25 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 


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1 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

2 Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

3 SEC. 312. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR REC4 REATIONAL VESSELS. 

5 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

6 of this Act, the Secretary of the Department in which the 

7 Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations that— 

8 (1) make certificates of documentation for rec9 reational vessels effective for 5 years; and 

10 (2) require the owner of such a vessel— 

11 (A) to notify the Coast Guard of each 

12 change in the information on which the issuance 

13 of the certificate of documentation is based, that 

14 occurs before the expiration of the certificate; and 

15 (B) apply for a new certificates of docu16 mentation for such a vessel if there is any such 

17 change. 

18 SEC. 313. PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 

19 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

20 this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 

21 (1) develop guidelines to implement the program 

22 authorized under section 304(a) of the Coast Guard 

23 and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Public 

24 Law 109–241), including specific actions to ensure 


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1 the future availability of able and credentialed United 

2 States licensed and unlicensed seafarers including— 

3 (A) incentives to encourage partnership 

4 agreements with operators of foreign-flag vessels 

5 that carry liquified natural gas, that provide no 

6 less than one training billet per vessel for United 

7 States merchant mariners in order to meet min8 imum mandatory sea service requirements; 

9 (B) development of appropriate training 

10 curricula for use by public and private maritime 

11 training institutions to meet all United States 

12 merchant mariner license, certification, and doc13 ument laws and requirements under the Inter14 national Convention on Standards of Training, 

15 Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 

16 1978; and 

17 (C) steps to promote greater outreach and 

18 awareness of additional job opportunities for sea 

19 service veterans of the United States Armed 

20 Forces; and 

21 (2) submit such guidelines to the Committee 

22 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

23 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

24 Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 


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1 SEC. 314. REPEALS. 

2 (a) REPEALS, MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.—Sec3 tions 601 through 606, 608 through 611, 613 through 616, 

4 802, and 809 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 

5 53101 note) are repealed. 

6 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 575 of title 

7 46, United States Code, is amended— 

8 (1) in section 57501, by striking ‘‘titles V and 

9 VI’’ and inserting ‘‘title V’’ ; and 

10 (2) in section 57531(a), by striking ‘‘titles V and 

11 VI’’ and inserting ‘‘title V’’. 

12 (c) TRANSFER FROM MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 

13 1936.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 801 of the Merchant 

15 Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) is— 

16 (A) redesignated as section 57522 of title 

17 46, United States Code, and transferred to ap18 pear after section 57521 of such title; and 

19 (B) as so redesignated and transferred, is 

20 amended— 

21 (i) by striking so much as precedes the 

22 first sentence and inserting the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and in2 spection and auditing’’; 

3 (ii) by striking ‘‘the provision of title 

4 VI or VII of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this 

5 chapter’’; 

6 (iii) by striking ‘‘That the provisions’’ 

7 and all that follows through ‘‘Commission; 

8 (2)’’ ; and 

9 (iv) by redesignating clauses (3) and 

10 (4) as clauses (2) and (3), respectively. 

11 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

12 chapter 575, of title 46, United States Code, is 

13 amended by inserting after the item relating to sec14 tion 57521 the following: 

‘‘57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection and auditing.’’. 

15 (d) REPEALS, TITLE 46, U.S.C..—Section 8103 of title 

16 46, United States Code, is amended in subsections (c) and 

17 (d) by striking ‘‘or operating’’ each place it appears. 

18 TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

19 COMMISSION 

20 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 46, United States 

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

23 ‘‘§ 308. Authorization of appropriations 

24 ‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

25 Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 


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1 2016 and 2017 for the activities of the Commission author2 ized under this chapter and subtitle IV.’’. 

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

4 3 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 

5 at the end the following: 

‘‘308. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

6 SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 

7 Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, 

8 is amended— 

9 (1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘units, but only 

10 after consultation with the other Commissioners;’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘units (with such appointments subject to 

12 the approval of the Commission);’’; 

13 (2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

14 (3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the 

15 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

17 ‘‘(vi) prepare and submit to the Presi18 dent and Congress requests for appropria19 tions for the Commission (with such re20 quests subject to the approval of the Com21 mission).’’. 

22 SEC. 403. PROHIBITION ON AWARDS. 

23 Section 307 of title 46, United States Code, is amend24 ed— 


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1 (1) by striking ‘‘The Federal Maritime Commis2 sion’’ and inserting the following: 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Maritime Commis4 sion’’; and 

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

6 ‘‘(b) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), 

7 the Federal Maritime Commission may not expend any 

8 funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it to 

9 issue an award, prize, commendation, or other honor to a 

10 non-Federal entity.’’. 

11 TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 

12 SEC. 501. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

13 MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 

14 (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of 

15 the Coast Guard may convey all right, title, and interest 

16 of the United States in and to the covered property, upon 

17 payment to the United States of the fair market value of 

18 the covered property. 

19 (b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The County of 

20 Marin, California shall have the right of first refusal with 

21 respect to purchase of the covered property under this sec22 tion. 

23 (c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description 

24 of the covered property shall be determined by a survey sat25 isfactory to the Commandant. 


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1 (d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of 

2 the covered property shall— 

3 (1) be determined by appraisal; and 

4 (2) be subject to the approval of the Com5 mandant. 

6 (e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all 

7 reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate trans8 action and environmental documentation costs, associated 

9 with a conveyance under this section shall be determined 

10 by the Commandant and the purchaser. 

11 (f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Com12 mandant may require such additional terms and conditions 

13 in connection with a conveyance under this section as the 

14 Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to pro15 tect the interests of the United States. 

16 (g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received 

17 by the United States in a conveyance under this section 

18 shall be deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund estab19 lished by section 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

20 (h) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.—In this section, 

21 the term ‘‘covered property’’ means the approximately 32 

22 acres of real property (including all improvements located 

23 on the property) that are— 

24 (1) located at Station Point Reyes in Marin 

25 County, California; 


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1 (2) under the administrative control of the Coast 

2 Guard; and 

3 (3) described as ‘‘Parcel A, Tract 1’’, ‘‘Parcel B, 

4 Tract 2’’, ‘‘Parcel C’’, and ‘‘Parcel D’’ in the Declara5 tion of Taking (Civil No. C–71–1245 SC) filed June 

6 28, 1971, in the United States District Court for the 

7 Northern District of California. 

8 SEC. 502. ELIMINATION OF REPORTS. 

9 (a) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.—Section 421 of the 

10 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (46 

11 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended by striking subsection (d). 

12 (b) ANNUAL UPDATES ON LIMITS TO LIABILITY.—Sec13 tion 603(c)(3) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor14 tation Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 2704 note) is amended by 

15 striking ‘‘on an annual basis.’’ and inserting ‘‘not later 

16 than January 30 of the year following each year in which 

17 occurs an oil discharge from a vessel or nonvessel source 

18 that results or is likely to result in removal costs and dam19 ages (as those terms are defined in section 1001 of the Oil 

20 Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) that exceed liabil21 ity limits established under section 1004 of the Oil Pollu22 tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704).’’. 

23 (c) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The Inter24 national Bridge Act of 1972 is amended by striking section 

25 11 (33 U.S.C. 535h). 


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1 SEC. 503. VESSEL DOCUMENTATION. 

2 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

3 this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 

4 submit to the Committee on Transportation and infrastruc5 ture of the House and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

6 and Transportation of the Senate, a description of actions 

7 that could be taken to— 

8 (1) improve the efficiency of performance of the 

9 functions currently carried out by the National Vessel 

10 Documentation Center, including by— 

11 (A) transferring such functions to Coast 

12 Guard headquarters; and 

13 (B) reassigning Coast Guard personnel to 

14 better meet the Coast Guard’s vessel documenta15 tion mission; and 

16 (2) strengthen the review of compliance with 

17 United States ownership requirements for vessels doc18 umented under the laws of the United States. 

19 SEC. 504. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

20 TOK, ALASKA. 

21 (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant of 

22 the Coast Guard may convey all right, title, and interest 

23 of the United States in and to the covered property, upon 

24 payment to the United States of the fair market value of 

25 the covered property. 


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1 (b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The Tanana Chiefs’ 

2 Conference shall have the right of first refusal with respect 

3 to purchase of the covered property under this section. 

4 (c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal description 

5 of the covered property shall be determined by a survey sat6 isfactory to the Commandant. 

7 (d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value of 

8 the covered property shall be— 

9 (1) determined by appraisal; and 

10 (2) subject to the approval of the Commandant. 

11 (e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for all 

12 reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate trans13 action and environmental documentation costs, associated 

14 with a conveyance under this section shall be determined 

15 by the Commandant and the purchaser. 

16 (f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Com17 mandant may require such additional terms and conditions 

18 in connection with a conveyance under this section as the 

19 Commandant considers appropriate and reasonable to pro20 tect the interests of the United States. 

21 (g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds received 

22 by the United States from a conveyance under this section 

23 shall be deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund estab24 lished under section 687 of title 14, United States Code. 

25 (h) COVERED PROPERTY DEFINED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘‘cov2 ered property’’ means the approximately 3.25 acres of 

3 real property (including all improvements located on 

4 the property) that are— 

5 (A) located in Tok, Alaska; 

6 (B) under the administrative control of the 

7 Coast Guard; and 

8 (C) described in paragraph (2). 

9 (2) DESCRIPTION.—The property described in 

10 this paragraph is the following: 

11 (A) Lots 11, 12 and 13, block ‘‘G’’, Second 

12 Addition to Hartsell Subdivision, Section 20, 

13 Township 18 North, Range 13 East, Copper 

14 River Meridian, Alaska as appears by Plat No. 

15 72-39 filed in the Office of the Recorder for the 

16 Fairbanks Recording District of Alaska, bearing 

17 seal dated 25 September 1972, all containing ap18 proximately 1.25 Acres and commonly known as 

19 2-PLEX – Jackie Circle, Units A and B. 

20 (B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the SE 1⁄4 of the SE 1 21 ⁄4 Section 24, Town22 ship 18 North, Range 12 East, Copper River Me23 ridian, Alaska; thence running westerly along 

the south line of said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1 24 ⁄4 260 

25 feet; thence northerly parallel to the east line of 


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said SE 1⁄4 of the NE 1 1 ⁄4 335 feet; thence easterly 

2 parallel to the south line 260 feet; then south 335 

3 feet along the east boundary of Section 24 to the 

4 point of beginning; all containing approximately 

5 2.0 acres and commonly known as 4-PLEX – 

6 West ‘‘C’’ and Willow, Units A, B, C and D. 

7 SEC. 505. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 

8 The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Trans9 portation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) is amended— 

10 (1) in section 610, by— 

11 (A) striking the section enumerator and 

12 heading and inserting the following: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT 

14 LAKES.’’; 

15 (B) striking ‘‘existing boundaries and any 

16 future expanded boundaries of the Thunder Bay 

17 National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater 

18 Preserve’’ and inserting ‘‘boundaries of any na19 tional marine sanctuary that preserves ship20 wrecks or maritime heritage in the Great Lakes’’; 

21 and 

22 (C) by inserting before the period at the end 

23 the following: ‘‘, unless the designation docu24 ments for such sanctuary do not allow taking up 


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1 or discharging ballast water in such sanctuary’’; 

2 and 

3 (2) in the table of contents in section 2, by strik4 ing the item relating to such section and inserting the 

5 following: 

‘‘Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.’’. 

6 SEC. 506. USE OF VESSEL SALE PROCEEDS. 

7 (a) AUDIT.—The Comptroller General of the United 

8 States shall conduct an audit of funds credited in each fis9 cal year after fiscal year 2004 to the Vessel Operations Re10 volving Fund that are attributable to the sale of obsolete 

11 vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet that were 

12 scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103, and 57104 

13 of title 46, United States Code, including— 

14 (1) a complete accounting of all vessel sale pro15 ceeds attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the 

16 National Defense Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or 

17 sold under sections 57102, 57103 and 57104 of title 

18 46, United States Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal 

19 year 2004; 

20 (2) the annual apportionment of proceeds ac21 counted for under paragraph (1) among the uses au22 thorized under section 308704 of title 54, United 

23 States Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal year 2004, 

24 including— 


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1 (A) for National Maritime Heritage Grants, 

2 including a list of all annual National Maritime 

3 Heritage Grant grant and subgrant awards that 

4 identifies the respective grant and subgrant re5 cipients and grant and subgrant amounts; 

6 (B) for the preservation and presentation to 

7 the public of maritime heritage property of the 

8 Maritime Administration; 

9 (C) to the United States Merchant Marine 

10 Academy and State maritime academies, includ11 ing a list of annual awards; and 

12 (D) for the acquisition, repair, recondi13 tioning, or improvement of vessels in the Na14 tional Defense Reserve Fleet; and 

15 (3) an accounting of proceeds, if any, attrib16 utable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National 

17 Defense Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold 

18 under sections 57102, 57103, and 57104 of title 46, 

19 United States Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal 

20 year 2004, that were expended for uses not authorized 

21 under section 308704 of title 54, United States Code. 

22 (b) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 

23 days after the date of enactment this Act, the Comptroller 

24 General shall submit the audit conducted in subsection (a) 

25 to the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on NatVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 May 15, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1987.RH H1987

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1 ural Resources, and the Committee on Transportation and 

2 Infrastructure of the House and the Committee on Com3 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

4 SEC. 507. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL CER5 TIFICATION. 

6 Section 4503 of title 46, United States Code, is amend7 ed— 

8 (1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 

9 following: ‘‘Subsection (a) does not apply to a fishing 

10 vessel or fish tender vessel described in subsection 

11 (d)(6), if the vessel complies with an alternative safe12 ty compliance program established under that sub13 section for such a vessel.’’; and 

14 (2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 

15 following: 

16 ‘‘(6) The Secretary shall establish an alternative safety 

17 compliance program for fishing vessels or fish tender vessels 

18 (or both) that are at least 50 feet overall in length, and 

19 not more than 79 feet overall in length, and built after July 

20 1, 2013.’’. 

21 SEC. 508. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES COST COM22 PARISON. 

23 (a) COST COMPARISON.—The Secretary of the depart24 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to 

25 enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of 


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1 Sciences under which the Academy, by no later than 180 

2 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall submit 

3 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

4 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com5 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a com6 parison of the costs incurred by the Federal Government 

7 for each of the following alternatives: 

8 (1) Transferring the Polar Sea to a non-govern9 mental entity at no cost, and leasing back the vessel 

10 beginning on the date on which the Coast Guard cer11 tifies that the vessel is capable of the breaking out and 

12 missions described in subsection (c)(1). 

13 (2) The reactivation and operation by the Coast 

14 Guard of the Polar Sea to an operational level at 

15 which the vessel is capable of such breaking out and 

16 missions. 

17 (3) Acquiring and operating a new icebreaker 

18 through the Coast Guard’s acquisition process that is 

19 capable of such breaking out and missions. 

20 (4) Construction by a non-Federal entity of an 

21 icebreaker capable of such breaking out and missions, 

22 that will be leased by the Federal Government and 

23 operated using a Coast Guard crew. 

24 (5) Construction by a non-Federal entity of an 

25 icebreaker capable of such breaking out and missions, 


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1 that will be leased by the Federal Government and 

2 operated by a crew of non-Federal employees. 

3 (6) The acquisition of services from a non-Fed4 eral entity to perform such breaking out and mis5 sions. 

6 (b) INCLUDED COSTS.—For purposes of subsection (a), 

7 the cost of each alternative includes costs incurred by the 

8 Federal Government for— 

9 (1) the lease or operation and maintenance of the 

10 vessel concerned; 

11 (2) disposal of such vessel at the end of the useful 

12 life of the vessel; 

13 (3) retirement and other benefits for Federal em14 ployees who operate such vessel; and 

15 (4) interest payments assumed to be incurred for 

16 Federal capital expenditures. 

17 (c) ASSUMPTIONS.—For purposes of comparing the 

18 costs of such alternatives, the Academy shall assume that— 

19 (1) each vessel under consideration is— 

20 (A) capable of breaking out of McMurdo 

21 Station, and conducting Coast Guard missions 

22 in the United States territory in the Arctic (as 

23 that term is defined in section 112 of the Arctic 

24 Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 

25 4111)); and 


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1 (B) operated for a period of 20 years; 

2 (2) the acquisition of services and the operation 

3 of each vessel begin on the same date; and 

4 (3) the periods for conducting Coast Guard mis5 sions in the Arctic are of equal lengths. 

6 SEC. 509. PENALTY WAGES. 

7 (a) FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES.—Section 

8 10313(g) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 

9 (1) in paragraph (2)— 

10 (A) by striking ‘‘all claims in a class action 

11 suit by seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘each claim by a 

12 seaman’’; and 

13 (B) by striking ‘‘the seamen’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘the seaman’’; and 

15 (2) in paragraph (3)— 

16 (A) by striking ‘‘class action’’; and 

17 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘, by 

18 a seaman who is a claimant in the suit,’’ and 

19 inserting ‘‘by the seaman’’. 

20 (b) COASTWISE VOYAGES.—Section 10504(c) of such 

21 title is amended— 

22 (1) in paragraph (2)— 

23 (A) by striking ‘‘all claims in a class action 

24 suit by seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘each claim by a 

25 seaman’’; and 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘the seamen’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘the seaman’’; and 

3 (2) in paragraph (3)— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘class action’’; and 

5 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘, by 

6 a seaman who is a claimant in the suit,’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘by the seaman’’. 

8 SEC. 510. RECOURSE FOR NONCITIZENS. 

9 Section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before the 

12 first sentence; and 

13 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub14 section: 

15 ‘‘(b) RESTRICTION ON RECOVERY FOR NONRESIDENT

16 ALIENS EMPLOYED ON FOREIGN PASSENGER VESSELS.— 

17 A claim for damages or expenses relating to personal in18 jury, illness, or death of a seaman who is a citizen of a 

19 foreign nation, arising during or from the engagement of 

20 the seaman by or for a passenger vessel duly registered 

21 under the laws of a foreign nation, may not be brought 

22 under the laws of the United States if— 

23 ‘‘(1) such seaman was not a permanent resident 

24 alien of the United States at the time the claim arose; 


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1 ‘‘(2) the injury, illness, or death arose outside the 

2 territorial waters of the United States; and 

3 ‘‘(3) the seaman or the seaman’s personal rep4 resentative has or had a right to seek compensation 

5 for the injury, illness, or death in, or under the laws 

6 of— 

7 ‘‘(A) the nation in which the vessel was reg8 istered at the time the claim arose; or 

9 ‘‘(B) the nation in which the seaman main10 tained citizenship or residency at the time the 

11 claim arose.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 81 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1987 

[Report No. 114–115] 

A BILL 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard 

purposes. for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for other 

MAY 15, 2015 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS