113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2444 

AN ACT 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 

year 2015, 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 ‘‘Howard Coble Coast 

3 Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

5 The table of contents for this Act is the following: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 

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

TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

Sec. 201. Commissioned officers. 

Sec. 202. Commandant; appointment. 

Sec. 203. Prevention and response workforces. 

Sec. 204. Centers of expertise. 

Sec. 205. Penalties. 

Sec. 206. Agreements. 

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

Sec. 208. Coast Guard housing. 

Sec. 209. Lease authority. 

Sec. 210. Notification of certain determinations. 

Sec. 211. Annual Board of Visitors. 

Sec. 212. Flag officers. 

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

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

Sec. 215. Mission need statement. 

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

Sec. 217. Inventory of real property. 

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

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

Sec. 220. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority. 

Sec. 221. Coast Guard administrative savings. 

Sec. 222. Technical corrections to title 14. 

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

Sec. 224. Maintaining Medium Endurance Cutter mission capability. 

Sec. 225. Aviation capability. 

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

Sec. 227. Officer evaluation reports. 

Sec. 228. Improved safety information for vessels. 

Sec. 229. E–LORAN. 

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

Sec. 231. Modernization of National Distress and Response System. 
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Sec. 232. Report reconciling maintenance and operational priorities on the Missouri River. 

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

TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 

Sec. 301. Repeal. 

Sec. 302. Donation of historical property. 

Sec. 303. Small shipyards. 

Sec. 304. Drug testing reporting. 

Sec. 305. Opportunities for sea service veterans. 

Sec. 306. Clarification of high-risk waters. 

Sec. 307. Technical corrections. 

Sec. 308. Report. 

Sec. 309. Fishing safety grant programs. 

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

Sec. 311. Travel and subsistence. 

Sec. 312. Prompt intergovernmental notice of marine casualties. 

Sec. 313. Area Contingency Plans. 

Sec. 314. International ice patrol reform. 

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

Sec. 316. Watches. 

Sec. 317. Coast Guard response plan requirements. 

Sec. 318. Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. 

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

Sec. 320. Treatment of abandoned seafarers. 

Sec. 321. Website. 

Sec. 322. Coast Guard regulations. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 402. Award of reparations. 

Sec. 403. Terms of Commissioners. 

TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 

Sec. 501. Arctic maritime transportation. 

Sec. 502. Arctic maritime domain awareness. 

Sec. 503. IMO Polar Code negotiations. 

Sec. 504. Forward operating facilities. 

Sec. 505. Icebreakers. 

Sec. 506. Icebreaking in polar regions. 

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 601. Distant water tuna fleet. 

Sec. 602. Extension of moratorium. 

Sec. 603. National maritime strategy. 

Sec. 604. Waivers. 

Sec. 605. Competition by United States flag vessels. 

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

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

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

Sec. 609. Vessel determination. 
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Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in Thunder Bay. 

Sec. 611. Parking facilities. 

1 TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 

2 SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

3 Funds are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 

4 year 2015 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as 

5 follows: 

6 (1) For the operation and maintenance of the 

7 Coast Guard, $6,981,036,000. 

8 (2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuild9 ing, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 

10 and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, includ11 ing equipment related thereto, $1,546,448,000, to 

12 remain available until expended. 

13 (3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in14 cluding personnel and training costs, equipment, and 

15 services, $140,016,000. 

16 (4) For environmental compliance and restora17 tion of Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and facilities 

18 (other than parts and equipment associated with op19 eration and maintenance), $16,701,000, to remain 

20 available until expended. 

21 (5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for 

22 research, development, test, and evaluation of tech23 nologies, materials, and human factors directly re24 lated to improving the performance of the Coast 
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1 Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 

2 aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ3 mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 

4 ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 

5 readiness, $19,890,000. 

6 (6) For alteration or removal of bridges over 

7 navigable waters of the United States constituting 

8 obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 

9 administrative costs associated with the Alteration of 

10 Bridges Program, $16,000,000. 

11 SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 

12 AND TRAINING. 

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

14 authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty per15 sonnel of 43,000 for fiscal year 2015. 

16 (b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 

17 Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu18 dent loads for fiscal year 2015 as follows: 

19 (1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 stu20 dent years. 

21 (2) For flight training, 165 student years. 

22 (3) For professional training in military and ci23 vilian institutions, 350 student years. 

24 (4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years. 
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1 TITLE II—COAST GUARD 

2 SEC. 201. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

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

4 amended by striking ‘‘7,200’’ and inserting ‘‘6,900’’. 

5 SEC. 202. COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT. 

6 Section 44 of title 14, United States Code, is amend7 ed by inserting after the first sentence the following: ‘‘The 

8 term of an appointment, and any reappointment, shall 

9 begin on June 1 of the appropriate year and end on May 

10 31 of the appropriate year, except that, in the event of 

11 death, retirement, resignation, or reassignment, or when 

12 the needs of the Service demand, the Secretary may alter 

13 the date on which a term begins or ends if the alteration 

14 does not result in the term exceeding a period of 4 years.’’. 

15 SEC. 203. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE WORKFORCES. 

16 Section 57 of title 14, United States Code, is amend17 ed— 

18 (1) in subsection (b)— 

19 (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘or’’ at 

20 the end; 

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

22 at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

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

24 ‘‘(4) waterways operations manager shall have 

25 knowledge, skill, and practical experience with re-
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1 spect to marine transportation system management; 

2 or 

3 ‘‘(5) port and facility safety and security spe4 cialist shall have knowledge, skill, and practical ex5 perience with respect to the safety, security, and en6 vironmental protection responsibilities associated 

7 with maritime ports and facilities.’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘or marine 

9 safety engineer’’ and inserting ‘‘marine safety engi10 neer, waterways operations manager, or port and fa11 cility safety and security specialist’’; and 

12 (3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking ‘‘investigator 

13 or marine safety engineer.’’ and inserting ‘‘investi14 gator, marine safety engineer, waterways operations 

15 manager, or port and facility safety and security 

16 specialist.’’. 

17 SEC. 204. CENTERS OF EXPERTISE. 

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

19 amended to read as follows: 

20 ‘‘(b) MISSIONS.—Any center established under sub21 section (a) shall— 

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

23 ‘‘(A) education; 

24 ‘‘(B) training; and 
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1 ‘‘(C) activities authorized under section 

2 93(a)(4); 

3 ‘‘(2) be a repository of information on oper4 ations, practices, and resources related to the mis5 sion for which the center was established; and 

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

7 the center was established.’’. 

8 SEC. 205. PENALTIES. 

9 (a) AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND FALSE DISTRESS

10 MESSAGES.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, 

11 is amended— 

12 (1) in section 83 by striking ‘‘$100’’ and insert13 ing ‘‘$1,500’’; 

14 (2) in section 84 by striking ‘‘$500’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘$1,500’’; 

16 (3) in section 85 by striking ‘‘$100’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘$1,500’’; and 

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

19 and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’. 

20 (b) UNAUTHORIZED USE OF WORDS ‘‘COAST

21 GUARD’’.—Section 639 of title 14, United States Code, 

22 is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘$10,000’’. 
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1 SEC. 206. AGREEMENTS. 

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

3 United States Code, is amended— 

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

5 ‘‘and investigate’’; and 

6 (2) by striking ‘‘, and cooperate and coordinate 

7 such activities with other Government agencies and 

8 with private agencies’’. 

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

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

11 by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘§ 102. Agreements 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 93(a)(4), 

14 the Commandant may— 

15 ‘‘(1) enter into cooperative agreements, con16 tracts, and other agreements with— 

17 ‘‘(A) Federal entities; 

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

19 United States, including academic entities; and 

20 ‘‘(C) foreign governments with the concur21 rence of the Secretary of State; and 

22 ‘‘(2) impose on and collect from an entity sub23 ject to an agreement or contract under paragraph 

24 (1) a fee to assist with expenses incurred in carrying 

25 out such section. 
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1 ‘‘(b) DEPOSIT AND USE OF FEES.—Fees collected 

2 under this section shall be deposited in the general fund 

3 of the Treasury as offsetting receipts. The fees may be 

4 used, to the extent provided in advance in an appropria5 tion law, only to carry out activities under section 

6 93(a)(4).’’. 

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

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

‘‘102. Agreements.’’. 

9 SEC. 207. TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COVERAGE OF 

10 TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MA11 TERIALS. 

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

13 amended by inserting ‘‘and the textbooks, manuals, and 

14 other materials required as part of such training or course 

15 of instruction’’ after ‘‘correspondence courses’’. 

16 SEC. 208. COAST GUARD HOUSING. 

17 (a) COMMANDANT; GENERAL POWERS.—Section 

18 93(a)(13) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

19 striking ‘‘the Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘the fund estab20 lished under section 687’’. 

21 (b) LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY.—Section 672a(b) of 

22 title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the 

23 Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘the fund established under sec24 tion 687’’. 
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1 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 687(b) of 

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

3 end the following: 

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

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

6 SEC. 209. LEASE AUTHORITY. 

7 Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amend8 ed by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(f) LEASING OF TIDELANDS AND SUBMERGED

10 LANDS.— 

11 ‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant may lease 

12 under subsection (a)(13) submerged lands and tide13 lands under the control of the Coast Guard without 

14 regard to the limitation under that subsection with 

15 respect to lease duration. 

16 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may 

17 lease submerged lands and tidelands under para18 graph (1) only if— 

19 ‘‘(A) lease payments are— 

20 ‘‘(i) received exclusively in the form of 

21 cash; 

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

23 the use of the leased submerged lands or 

24 tidelands for the period during which such 
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1 lands are leased, as determined by the 

2 Commandant; and 

3 ‘‘(iii) deposited in the fund established 

4 under section 687; and 

5 ‘‘(B) the lease does not provide authority 

6 to or commit the Coast Guard to use or support 

7 any improvements to such submerged lands or 

8 tidelands, or obtain goods or services from the 

9 lessee.’’. 

10 SEC. 210. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS. 

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

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

13 by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘§ 103. Notification of certain determinations 

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

16 a final determination that a waterway, or a portion there17 of, is navigable for purposes of the jurisdiction of the 

18 Coast Guard, the Commandant shall provide notification 

19 regarding the proposed determination to— 

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

21 waterway, or portion thereof, is located; 

22 ‘‘(2) the public; and 

23 ‘‘(3) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

24 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
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1 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

2 Representatives. 

3 ‘‘(b) CONTENT REQUIREMENT.—Each notification 

4 provided under subsection (a) to an entity specified in 

5 paragraph (3) of that subsection shall include— 

6 ‘‘(1) an analysis of whether vessels operating on 

7 the waterway, or portion thereof, subject to the pro8 posed determination are subject to inspection or 

9 similar regulation by State or local officials; 

10 ‘‘(2) an analysis of whether operators of com11 mercial vessels on such waterway, or portion thereof, 

12 are subject to licensing or similar regulation by 

13 State or local officials; and 

14 ‘‘(3) an estimate of the annual costs that the 

15 Coast Guard may incur in conducting operations on 

16 such waterway, or portion thereof.’’. 

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

18 chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 

19 adding at the end the following: 

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

20 SEC. 211. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS. 

21 Section 194 of title 14, United States Code, is 

22 amended to read as follows: 
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1 ‘‘§ 194. Annual Board of Visitors 

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

3 Guard Academy is established to review and make rec4 ommendations on the operation of the Academy. 

5 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The membership of the 

7 Board shall consist of the following: 

8 ‘‘(A) The chairman of the Committee on 

9 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

10 Senate, or the chairman’s designee. 

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

12 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

13 of Representatives, or the chairman’s designee. 

14 ‘‘(C) 3 Members of the Senate designated 

15 by the Vice President. 

16 ‘‘(D) 4 Members of the House of Rep17 resentatives designated by the Speaker of the 

18 House of Representatives. 

19 ‘‘(E) 6 individuals designated by the Presi20 dent. 

21 ‘‘(2) LENGTH OF SERVICE.— 

22 ‘‘(A) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—A Member 

23 of Congress designated under subparagraph (C) 

24 or (D) of paragraph (1) as a member of the 

25 Board shall be designated as a member in the 
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1 First Session of a Congress and serve for the 

2 duration of that Congress. 

3 ‘‘(B) INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED BY THE

4 PRESIDENT.—Each individual designated by the 

5 President under subparagraph (E) of para6 graph (1) shall serve as a member of the Board 

7 for 3 years, except that any such member whose 

8 term of office has expired shall continue to 

9 serve until a successor is appointed. 

10 ‘‘(3) DEATH OR RESIGNATION OF A MEMBER.— 

11 If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a suc12 cessor shall be designated for any unexpired portion 

13 of the term of the member by the official who des14 ignated the member. 

15 ‘‘(c) ACADEMY VISITS.— 

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

17 Academy annually to review the operation of the 

18 Academy. 

19 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL VISITS.—With the approval 

20 of the Secretary, the Board or individual members 

21 of the Board may make other visits to the Academy 

22 in connection with the duties of the Board or to con23 sult with the Superintendent of the Academy. 

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

25 with respect to the Academy— 
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1 ‘‘(1) the state of morale and discipline; 

2 ‘‘(2) the curriculum; 

3 ‘‘(3) instruction; 

4 ‘‘(4) physical equipment; 

5 ‘‘(5) fiscal affairs; and 

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

7 the Board determines appropriate. 

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

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

10 the Board shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee 

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

12 and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

13 of the House of Representatives a report on the actions 

14 of the Board during such visit and the recommendations 

15 of the Board pertaining to the Academy. 

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

17 Board may consult with advisors in carrying out this sec18 tion. 

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

20 and each adviser consulted by the Board under subsection 

21 (f) shall be reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, 

22 by the Coast Guard for actual expenses incurred while en23 gaged in duties as a member or adviser.’’. 
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1 SEC. 212. FLAG OFFICERS. 

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

3 amended by inserting after section 295 the following: 

4 ‘‘§ 296. Flag officers 

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

6 operating as a service in the Navy, section 1216(d) of title 

7 10 does not apply with respect to flag officers of the Coast 

8 Guard.’’. 

9 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap10 ter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in11 serting after the item relating to section 295 the following: 

‘‘296. Flag officers.’’. 

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

13 Section 494 of title 14, United States Code, is 

14 amended by striking ‘‘medal of honor,’’ each place it ap15 pears. 

16 SEC. 214. COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND CHILD 

17 CARE. 

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

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

20 chapter 13 the following: 

21 ‘‘CHAPTER 14—COAST GUARD FAMILY 

22 SUPPORT AND CHILD CARE 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘531. Work-life policies and programs. 

‘‘532. Surveys of Coast Guard families. 
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT

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

‘‘543. Youth sponsorship initiatives. 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE

‘‘551. Definitions. 

‘‘553. Child development center standards and inspections. 

‘‘554. Child development center employees. 

‘‘555. Parent partnerships with child development centers. 

1 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

2 ‘‘§ 531. Work-life policies and programs 

3 ‘‘The Commandant is authorized— 

4 ‘‘(1) to establish an office for the purpose of de5 veloping, promulgating, and coordinating policies, 

6 programs, and activities related to the families of 

7 Coast Guard members; 

8 ‘‘(2) to implement and oversee policies, pro9 grams, and activities described in paragraph (1) as 

10 the Commandant considers necessary; and 

11 ‘‘(3) to perform such other duties as the Com12 mandant considers necessary. 

13 ‘‘§ 532. Surveys of Coast Guard families 

14 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant, in order to de15 termine the effectiveness of Federal policies, programs, 

16 and activities related to the families of Coast Guard mem17 bers, may survey— 

18 ‘‘(1) any Coast Guard member; 

19 ‘‘(2) any retired Coast Guard member; 
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1 ‘‘(3) the immediate family of any Coast Guard 

2 member or retired Coast Guard member; and 

3 ‘‘(4) any survivor of a deceased Coast Guard 

4 member. 

5 ‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Participation in 

6 any survey conducted under subsection (a) shall be vol7 untary. 

8 ‘‘(c) FEDERAL RECORDKEEPING.—Each person sur9 veyed under subsection (a) shall be considered an em10 ployee of the United States for purposes of section 

11 3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44. 

12 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY 

13 SUPPORT 

14 ‘‘§ 542. Education and training opportunities for 

15 Coast Guard spouses 

16 ‘‘(a) TUITION ASSISTANCE.—The Commandant may 

17 provide, subject to the availability of appropriations, tui18 tion assistance to an eligible spouse to facilitate the acqui19 sition of— 

20 ‘‘(1) education and training required for a de21 gree or credential at an accredited college, univer22 sity, or technical school in the United States that ex23 pands employment and portable career opportunities 

24 for the spouse; or 
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1 ‘‘(2) education prerequisites and a professional 

2 license or credential required, by a government or 

3 government-sanctioned licensing body, for an occu4 pation that expands employment and portable career 

5 opportunities for the spouse. 

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

7 definitions apply: 

8 ‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE SPOUSE.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible 

10 spouse’ means the spouse of a member of the 

11 Coast Guard who is serving on active duty and 

12 includes a spouse who receives transitional com13 pensation under section 1059 of title 10. 

14 ‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘eligible 

15 spouse’ does not include a person who— 

16 ‘‘(i) is married to, but legally sepa17 rated from, a member of the Coast Guard 

18 under a court order or statute of any State 

19 or territorial possession of the United 

20 States; or 

21 ‘‘(ii) is eligible for tuition assistance 

22 as a member of the Armed Forces. 

23 ‘‘(2) PORTABLE CAREER.—The term ‘portable 

24 career’ includes an occupation that requires edu25 cation, training, or both that results in a credential 
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1 that is recognized by an industry, profession, or spe2 cific type of business. 

3 ‘‘§ 543. Youth sponsorship initiatives 

4 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant is authorized 

5 to establish, within any Coast Guard unit, an initiative 

6 to help integrate into new surroundings the dependent 

7 children of members of the Coast Guard who received per8 manent change of station orders. 

9 ‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION OF INITIATIVE.—An initiative es10 tablished under subsection (a) shall— 

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

12 child of a member of the Coast Guard in the de13 pendent child’s new Coast Guard community; and 

14 ‘‘(2) primarily focus on preteen and teenaged 

15 children. 

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

17 under subsection (a), the Commandant may— 

18 ‘‘(1) provide to a dependent child of a member 

19 of the Coast Guard information on youth programs 

20 and activities available in the dependent child’s new 

21 Coast Guard community; and 

22 ‘‘(2) enter into agreements with nonprofit enti23 ties to provide youth programs and activities to such 

24 child. 
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1 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE 

2 ‘‘§ 551. Definitions 

3 ‘‘In this subchapter, the following definitions apply: 

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

5 ‘child abuse and neglect’ has the meaning given that 

6 term in section 3 of the Child Abuse Prevention and 

7 Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note). 

8 ‘‘(2) CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER EM9 PLOYEE.—The term ‘child development center em10 ployee’ means a civilian employee of the Coast 

11 Guard who is employed to work in a Coast Guard 

12 child development center without regard to whether 

13 the employee is paid from appropriated or non14 appropriated funds. 

15 ‘‘(3) COAST GUARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CEN16 TER.—The term ‘Coast Guard child development 

17 center’ means a facility on Coast Guard property or 

18 on property under the jurisdiction of the commander 

19 of a Coast Guard unit at which child care services 

20 are provided for members of the Coast Guard. 

21 ‘‘(4) COMPETITIVE SERVICE POSITION.—The 

22 term ‘competitive service position’ means a position 

23 in the competitive service (as defined in section 2102 

24 of title 5). 
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1 ‘‘(5) FAMILY HOME DAYCARE.—The term ‘fam2 ily home daycare’ means home-based child care serv3 ices provided for a member of the Coast Guard by 

4 an individual who— 

5 ‘‘(A) is certified by the Commandant as 

6 qualified to provide home-based child care serv7 ices; and 

8 ‘‘(B) provides home-based child care serv9 ices on a regular basis in exchange for mone10 tary compensation. 

11 ‘‘§ 553. Child development center standards and in12 spections 

13 ‘‘(a) STANDARDS.—The Commandant shall require 

14 each Coast Guard child development center to meet stand15 ards that the Commandant considers appropriate to en16 sure the health, safety, and welfare of the children and 

17 employees at the center. 

18 ‘‘(b) INSPECTIONS.—The Commandant shall provide 

19 for regular and unannounced inspections of each Coast 

20 Guard child development center to ensure compliance with 

21 this section. 

22 ‘‘(c) NATIONAL REPORTING.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 

24 maintain and publicize a means by which an indi-
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1 vidual can report, with respect to a Coast Guard 

2 child development center or a family home daycare— 

3 ‘‘(A) any suspected violation of— 

4 ‘‘(i) standards established under sub5 section (a); or 

6 ‘‘(ii) any other applicable law or 

7 standard; 

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

9 ‘‘(C) any other deficiency. 

10 ‘‘(2) ANONYMOUS REPORTING.—The Com11 mandant shall ensure that an individual making a 

12 report pursuant to paragraph (1) may do so anony13 mously if so desired by the individual. 

14 ‘‘(3) PROCEDURES.—The Commandant shall 

15 establish procedures for investigating reports made 

16 pursuant to paragraph (1). 

17 ‘‘§ 554. Child development center employees 

18 ‘‘(a) TRAINING.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall es20 tablish a training program for Coast Guard child de21 velopment center employees and satisfactory comple22 tion of the training program shall be a condition of 

23 employment for each employee of a Coast Guard 

24 child development center. 
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1 ‘‘(2) TIMING FOR NEW HIRES.—The Com2 mandant shall require each employee of a Coast 

3 Guard child development center to complete the 

4 training program established under paragraph (1) 

5 not later than 6 months after the date on which the 

6 employee is hired. 

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

8 program established under paragraph (1) shall in9 clude, at a minimum, instruction with respect to— 

10 ‘‘(A) early childhood development; 

11 ‘‘(B) activities and disciplinary techniques 

12 appropriate to children of different ages; 

13 ‘‘(C) child abuse and neglect prevention 

14 and detection; and 

15 ‘‘(D) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 

16 other emergency medical procedures. 

17 ‘‘(4) USE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PRO18 GRAMS.—The Commandant may use Department of 

19 Defense training programs, on a reimbursable or 

20 nonreimbursable basis, for purposes of this sub21 section. 

22 ‘‘(b) TRAINING AND CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS.— 

23 ‘‘(1) SPECIALIST REQUIRED.—The Com24 mandant shall require that at least 1 employee at 

25 each Coast Guard child development center be a spe-
26 

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1 cialist in training and curriculum development with 

2 appropriate credentials and experience. 

3 ‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The duties of the specialist de4 scribed in paragraph (1) shall include— 

5 ‘‘(A) special teaching activities; 

6 ‘‘(B) daily oversight and instruction of 

7 other child care employees; 

8 ‘‘(C) daily assistance in the preparation of 

9 lesson plans; 

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

11 prevention and detection; and 

12 ‘‘(E) advising the director of the center on 

13 the performance of the other child care employ14 ees. 

15 ‘‘(3) COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—Each specialist 

16 described in paragraph (1) shall be an employee in 

17 a competitive service position. 

18 ‘‘§ 555. Parent partnerships with child development 

19 centers 

20 ‘‘(a) PARENT BOARDS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) FORMATION.—The Commandant shall re22 quire that there be formed at each Coast Guard 

23 child development center a board of parents, to be 

24 composed of parents of children attending the cen25 ter. 
27 

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1 ‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—Each board of parents 

2 formed under paragraph (1) shall— 

3 ‘‘(A) meet periodically with the staff of the 

4 center at which the board is formed and the 

5 commander of the unit served by the center, for 

6 the purpose of discussing problems and con7 cerns; and 

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

9 of the center, for coordinating any parent par10 ticipation initiative established under subsection 

11 (b). 

12 ‘‘(3) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee 

13 Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to a board of 

14 parents formed under paragraph (1). 

15 ‘‘(b) PARENT PARTICIPATION INITIATIVE.—The 

16 Commandant is authorized to establish a parent participa17 tion initiative at each Coast Guard child development cen18 ter to encourage and facilitate parent participation in edu19 cational and related activities at the center.’’. 

20 (b) TRANSFER OF PROVISIONS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

22 (A) REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADOPTION EX23 PENSES.—Section 514 of title 14, United 

24 States Code, is redesignated as section 541 and 
28 

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1 transferred to appear before section 542 of such 

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

3 (B) CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.— 

4 Section 515 of title 14, United States Code— 

5 (i) is redesignated as section 552 and 

6 transferred to appear after section 551 of 

7 such title, as added by subsection (a) of 

8 this section; and 

9 (ii) is amended— 

10 (I) in subsection (b)(2)(B) by in11 serting ‘‘and whether a family is par12 ticipating in an initiative established 

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

14 income’’; 

15 (II) by striking subsections (c) 

16 and (e); and 

17 (III) by redesignating subsection 

18 (d) as subsection (c). 

19 (C) DEPENDENT SCHOOL CHILDREN.— 

20 Section 657 of title 14, United States Code— 

21 (i) is redesignated as section 544 and 

22 transferred to appear after section 543 of 

23 such title, as added by subsection (a) of 

24 this section; and 
29 

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

2 striking ‘‘Except as otherwise’’ and all that 

3 follows through ‘‘the Secretary may’’ and 

4 inserting ‘‘The Secretary may’’. 

5 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

6 (A) PART I.—The analysis for part I of 

7 title 14, United States Code, is amended by in8 serting after the item relating to chapter 13 the 

9 following: 

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

10 (B) CHAPTER 13.—The analysis for chap11 ter 13 of title 14, United States Code, is 

12 amended— 

13 (i) by striking the item relating to sec14 tion 514; and 

15 (ii) by striking the item relating to 

16 section 515. 

17 (C) CHAPTER 14.—The analysis for chap18 ter 14 of title 14, United States Code, as added 

19 by subsection (a) of this section, is amended by 

20 inserting— 

21 (i) before the item relating to section 

22 542 the following: 

‘‘541. Reimbursement for adoption expenses.’’; 
30 

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1 (ii) after the item relating to section 

2 551 the following: 

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

3 (iii) after the item relating to section 

4 543 the following: 

‘‘544. Dependent school children.’’. 

5 (D) CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chap6 ter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is 

7 amended by striking the item relating to section 

8 657. 

9 (c) COMMANDANT; GENERAL POWERS.—Section 

10 93(a)(7) of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 

11 this Act, is further amended by inserting ‘‘, and to eligible 

12 spouses as defined under section 542,’’ after ‘‘Coast 

13 Guard’’. 

14 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 

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

16 that the amount of funds appropriated for a fiscal 

17 year for operating expenses related to Coast Guard 

18 child development services should not be less than 

19 the amount of the child development center fee re20 ceipts estimated to be collected by the Coast Guard 

21 during that fiscal year. 

22 (2) CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FEE RE23 CEIPTS DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term 

24 ‘‘child development center fee receipts’’ means fees 
31 

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1 paid by members of the Coast Guard for child care 

2 services provided at Coast Guard child development 

3 centers. 

4 SEC. 215. MISSION NEED STATEMENT. 

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

6 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

7 ‘‘§ 569. Mission need statement 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the Presi9 dent submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2016 

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

11 President submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 

12 2019 under such section, and every 4 years thereafter, the 

13 Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor14 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

15 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor16 tation of the Senate an integrated major acquisition mis17 sion need statement. 

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

19 definitions apply: 

20 ‘‘(1) INTEGRATED MAJOR ACQUISITION MISSION

21 NEED STATEMENT.—The term ‘integrated major ac22 quisition mission need statement’ means a document 

23 that— 
32 

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1 ‘‘(A) identifies current and projected gaps 

2 in Coast Guard mission capabilities using mis3 sion hour targets; 

4 ‘‘(B) explains how each major acquisition 

5 program addresses gaps identified under sub6 paragraph (A) if funded at the levels provided 

7 for such program in the most recently sub8 mitted capital investment plan; and 

9 ‘‘(C) describes the missions the Coast 

10 Guard will not be able to achieve, by fiscal year, 

11 for each gap identified under subparagraph (A). 

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

13 ‘major acquisition program’ has the meaning given 

14 that term in section 569a(e). 

15 ‘‘(3) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—The term 

16 ‘capital investment plan’ means the plan required 

17 under section 663(a)(1).’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap19 ter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 

20 striking the item relating to section 569 and inserting the 

21 following: 

‘‘569. Mission need statement.’’. 
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1 SEC. 216. TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AU2 THORIZATION REQUEST. 

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

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

5 section 662 the following: 

6 ‘‘§ 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard author7 ization request 

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

9 date on which the President submits to Congress a budget 

10 for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the 

11 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor12 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

13 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor14 tation of the Senate a Coast Guard authorization request 

15 with respect to such fiscal year. 

16 ‘‘(b) COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION REQUEST DE17 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘Coast Guard authoriza18 tion request’ means a proposal for legislation that, with 

19 respect to the Coast Guard for the relevant fiscal year— 

20 ‘‘(1) recommends end strengths for personnel 

21 for that fiscal year, as described in section 661; 

22 ‘‘(2) recommends authorizations of appropria23 tions for that fiscal year, including with respect to 

24 matters described in section 662; and 
34 

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1 ‘‘(3) addresses any other matter that the Sec2 retary determines is appropriate for inclusion in a 

3 Coast Guard authorization bill.’’. 

4 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap5 ter 17 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 

6 Act, is further amended by inserting after the item relat7 ing to section 662 the following: 

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

8 SEC. 217. INVENTORY OF REAL PROPERTY. 

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

10 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol11 lowing: 

12 ‘‘§ 679. Inventory of real property 

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

14 2015, the Commandant shall establish an inventory of all 

15 real property, including submerged lands, under the con16 trol of the Coast Guard, which shall include— 

17 ‘‘(1) the size, the location, and any other appro18 priate description of each unit of such property; 

19 ‘‘(2) an assessment of the physical condition of 

20 each unit of such property, excluding lands; 

21 ‘‘(3) a determination of whether each unit of 

22 such property should be— 

23 ‘‘(A) retained to fulfill a current or pro24 jected Coast Guard mission requirement; or 

25 ‘‘(B) subject to divestiture; and 
35 

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1 ‘‘(4) other information the Commandant con2 siders appropriate. 

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

4 shall— 

5 ‘‘(1) maintain the inventory required under sub6 section (a) on an ongoing basis; and 

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

8 property included in such inventory not later than 

9 30 days after any change relating to the control of 

10 such property. 

11 ‘‘(c) RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.—Not later 

12 than March 30, 2016, and every 5 years thereafter, the 

13 Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor14 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

15 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor16 tation of the Senate a report that includes— 

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

18 of the Coast Guard and the location of such prop19 erty by property type; 

20 ‘‘(2) recommendations for divestiture with re21 spect to any units of such property; and 

22 ‘‘(3) recommendations for consolidating any 

23 units of such property, including— 
36 

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

2 associated with each recommended consolida3 tion; and 

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

5 consolidation would have on Coast Guard mis6 sion effectiveness.’’. 

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

8 chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 

9 adding at the end the following: 

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

10 SEC. 218. RETIRED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS 

11 SERVING ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

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

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

14 by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘§ 680. Retired service members and dependents 

16 serving on advisory committees 

17 ‘‘A committee that— 

18 ‘‘(1) advises or assists the Coast Guard with re19 spect to a function that affects a member of the 

20 Coast Guard or a dependent of such a member; and 

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

22 Guard member or a dependent of such a retired 

23 member; 
37 

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1 shall not be considered an advisory committee under the 

2 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) solely 

3 because of such membership.’’. 

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

5 chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 

6 inserting after the item relating to section 679 the fol7 lowing: 

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

8 SEC. 219. ACTIVE DUTY FOR EMERGENCY AUGMENTATION 

9 OF REGULAR FORCES. 

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

11 amended by striking ‘‘not more than 60 days in any 4- 

12 month period and’’. 

13 SEC. 220. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING 

14 AUTHORITY. 

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

16 of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 2951) is amend17 ed by striking ‘‘2015’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

18 SEC. 221. COAST GUARD ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS. 

19 (a) ELIMINATION OF OUTDATED AND DUPLICATIVE

20 REPORTS.— 

21 (1) MARINE INDUSTRY TRAINING.—Section 59 

22 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
38 

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

2 Commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘The Com3 mandant’’; and 

4 (B) by striking subsection (b). 

5 (2) OPERATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.—Section 

6 651 of title 14, United States Code, and the item re7 lating to such section in the analysis for chapter 17 

8 of such title, are repealed. 

9 (3) DRUG INTERDICTION.—Section 103 of the 

10 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (14 U.S.C. 

11 89 note), and the item relating to that section in the 

12 table of contents in section 2 of that Act, are re13 pealed. 

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

15 Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (14 

16 U.S.C. 2 note), and the item relating to that section 

17 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of that Act, 

18 are repealed. 

19 (5) LIVING MARINE RESOURCES.—Section 4(b) 

20 of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 

21 (16 U.S.C. 1828 note) is amended by adding at the 

22 end the following: ‘‘No report shall be required 

23 under this subsection, including that no report shall 

24 be required under section 224 of the Coast Guard 

25 and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 or section 
39 

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1 804 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor2 tation Act of 2006, for fiscal years beginning after 

3 fiscal year 2014.’’. 

4 (b) CONSOLIDATION AND REFORM OF REPORTING

5 REQUIREMENTS.— 

6 (1) MARINE SAFETY.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 2116(d)(2)(B) 

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

9 read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(B) on the program’s mission perform11 ance in achieving numerical measurable goals 

12 established under subsection (b), including— 

13 ‘‘(i) the number of civilian and mili14 tary Coast Guard personnel assigned to 

15 marine safety positions; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) an identification of marine safety 

17 positions that are understaffed to meet the 

18 workload required to accomplish each ac19 tivity included in the strategy and plans 

20 under subsection (a); and’’. 

21 (B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

22 57 of title 14, United States Code, as amended 

23 by this Act, is further amended— 

24 (i) by striking subsection (e); and 
40 

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1 (ii) by redesignating subsections (f), 

2 (g), and (h) as subsections (e), (f), and (g) 

3 respectively. 

4 (2) MINOR CONSTRUCTION.—Section 656(d)(2) 

5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read 

6 as follows: 

7 ‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than the date on 

8 which the President submits to Congress a budget 

9 under section 1105 of title 31 each year, the Sec10 retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor11 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent12 atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

13 and Transportation of the Senate a report describ14 ing each project carried out under paragraph (1), in 

15 the most recently concluded fiscal year, for which 

16 the amount expended under such paragraph for such 

17 project was more than $1,000,000. If no such 

18 project was carried out during a fiscal year, no re19 port under this paragraph shall be required with re20 spect to that fiscal year.’’. 

21 SEC. 222. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14. 

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

23 is further amended— 
41 

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1 (1) in section 93(b)(1) by striking ‘‘Notwith2 standing subsection (a)(14)’’ and inserting ‘‘Not3 withstanding subsection (a)(13)’’; and 

4 (2) in section 197(b) by striking ‘‘of Homeland 

5 Security’’. 

6 SEC. 223. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR 

7 OFFSHORE PATROL CUTTERS. 

8 In fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, 

9 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

10 is operating may enter into, in accordance with section 

11 2306b of title 10, United States Code, multiyear contracts 

12 for the procurement of Offshore Patrol Cutters and associ13 ated equipment. 

14 SEC. 224. MAINTAINING MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTER MIS15 SION CAPABILITY. 

16 Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 

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

18 Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee 

19 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

20 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

21 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that 

22 includes— 

23 (1) a schedule and plan for decommissioning, 

24 not later than September 30, 2029, each of the 210- 
42 

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1 foot, Reliance-Class Cutters operated by the Coast 

2 Guard on the date of enactment of this Act; 

3 (2) a schedule and plan for enhancing the 

4 maintenance or extending the service life of each of 

5 the 270-foot, Famous-Class Cutters operated by the 

6 Coast Guard on the date of enactment of this Act— 

7 (A) to maintain the capability of the Coast 

8 Guard to carry out sea-going missions with re9 spect to such Cutters at the level of capability 

10 existing on September 30, 2013; and 

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

12 enactment of this Act and ending on the date 

13 on which the final Offshore Patrol Cutter is 

14 scheduled to be commissioned under paragraph 

15 (4); 

16 (3) an identification of the number of Offshore 

17 Patrol Cutters capable of sea state 5 operations 

18 that, if 8 National Security Cutters are commis19 sioned, are necessary to return the sea state 5 oper20 ating capability of the Coast Guard to the level of 

21 capability that existed prior to the decommissioning 

22 of the first High Endurance Cutter in fiscal year 

23 2011; 
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1 (4) a schedule and plan for commissioning the 

2 number of Offshore Patrol Cutters identified under 

3 paragraph (3); and 

4 (5) a schedule and plan for commissioning, not 

5 later than September 30, 2034, a number of Off6 shore Patrol Cutters not capable of sea state 5 oper7 ations that is equal to— 

8 (A) 25; less 

9 (B) the number of Offshore Patrol Cutters 

10 identified under paragraph (3). 

11 SEC. 225. AVIATION CAPABILITY. 

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

13 in which the Coast Guard is operating may— 

14 (1) request and accept through a direct mili15 tary-to-military transfer under section 2571 of title 

16 10, United States Code, such H–60 helicopters as 

17 may be necessary to establish a year-round oper18 ational capability in the Coast Guard’s Ninth Dis19 trict; and 

20 (2) use funds provided under section 101 of 

21 this Act to convert such helicopters to Coast Guard 

22 MH–60T configuration. 

23 (b) PROHIBITION.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Coast Guard may not— 
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1 (A) close a Coast Guard air facility that 

2 was in operation on November 30, 2014; or 

3 (B) retire, transfer, relocate, or deploy an 

4 aviation asset from an air facility described in 

5 subparagraph (A) for the purpose of closing 

6 such facility. 

7 (2) SUNSET.—This subsection is repealed effec8 tive January 1, 2016. 

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

10 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

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

12 submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

13 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

14 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep15 resentatives a report on any gaps that exist in writings 

16 on the history of the Coast Guard. The report shall ad17 dress, at a minimum, operations, broad topics, and biog18 raphies with respect to the Coast Guard. 

19 SEC. 227. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORTS. 

20 (a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 

21 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com22 mandant of the Coast Guard shall provide to the Com23 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

24 Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra25 structure of the House of Representatives a written as-
45 

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1 sessment of the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation reporting 

2 system. 

3 (b) CONTENTS OF ASSESSMENT.—The assessment 

4 required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, 

5 an analysis of— 

6 (1) the extent to which the Coast Guard’s offi7 cer evaluation reports differ in length, form, and 

8 content from the officer fitness reports used by the 

9 Navy and other branches of the Armed Forces; 

10 (2) the extent to which differences determined 

11 pursuant to paragraph (1) are the result of inherent 

12 differences between— 

13 (A) the Coast Guard and the Navy; and 

14 (B) the Coast Guard and other branches of 

15 the Armed Forces; 

16 (3) the feasibility of more closely aligning and 

17 conforming the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation re18 ports with the officer fitness reports of the Navy and 

19 other branches of the Armed Forces; and 

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

21 conformity described in paragraph (3), including 

22 with respect to— 

23 (A) Coast Guard administrative efficiency; 

24 (B) fairness and equity for Coast Guard 

25 officers; and 
46 

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1 (C) carrying out the Coast Guard’s statu2 tory mission of defense readiness, including 

3 when operating as a service in the Navy. 

4 SEC. 228. IMPROVED SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VESSELS. 

5 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

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

7 Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process that al8 lows an operator of a marine exchange or other non-Fed9 eral vessel traffic information service to use the automatic 

10 identification system to transmit weather, ice, and other 

11 important navigation safety information to vessels. 

12 SEC. 229. E–LORAN. 

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

14 in which the Coast Guard is operating may not carry out 

15 activities related to the dismantling or disposal of infra16 structure that supported the former LORAN system until 

17 the later of— 

18 (1) the date that is 1 year after the date of en19 actment of this Act; or 

20 (2) the date on which the Secretary provides to 

21 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

22 of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

23 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

24 Senate notice of a determination by the Secretary 

25 that such infrastructure is not required to provide a 
47 

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1 positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide 

2 redundant capability in the event GPS signals are 

3 disrupted. 

4 (b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to 

5 activities necessary for the safety of human life. 

6 (c) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into co7 operative agreements, contracts, and other agreements 

8 with Federal entities and other public or private entities, 

9 including academic entities, to develop a positioning, navi10 gation, and timing system, including an enhanced LORAN 

11 system, to provide redundant capability in the event GPS 

12 signals are disrupted. 

13 SEC. 230. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE DEFICIENCIES WITH RE14 SPECT TO MARITIME BORDER SECURITY. 

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

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

17 Coast Guard shall provide to the Committee on Com18 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 

19 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 

20 Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep21 resentatives a report describing any Coast Guard resource 

22 deficiencies related to— 

23 (1) securing maritime borders with respect to 

24 the Great Lakes and the coastal areas of the South25 eastern and Southwestern United States, including 
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1 with respect to Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and 

2 the United States Virgin Islands; 

3 (2) patrolling and monitoring maritime ap4 proaches to the areas described in paragraph (1); 

5 and 

6 (3) patrolling and monitoring relevant portions 

7 of the Western Hemisphere Drug Transit Zone. 

8 (b) SCOPE.—In preparing the report under sub9 section (a), the Commandant shall consider, at a min10 imum— 

11 (1) the Coast Guard’s statutory missions with 

12 respect to migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, 

13 defense readiness, living marine resources, and 

14 ports, waterways, and coastal security; 

15 (2) whether Coast Guard missions are being ex16 ecuted to meet national performance targets set 

17 under the National Drug Control Strategy; 

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

19 vessels required to effectively execute Coast Guard 

20 missions; 

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

22 unmanned aircraft, required to effectively execute 

23 Coast Guard missions; 
49 

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1 (5) the number of assets that require upgraded 

2 sensor and communications systems to effectively 

3 execute Coast Guard missions; 

4 (6) the Deployable Specialized Forces required 

5 to effectively execute Coast Guard missions; and 

6 (7) whether additional shoreside facilities are 

7 required to accommodate Coast Guard personnel 

8 and assets in support of Coast Guard missions. 

9 SEC. 231. MODERNIZATION OF NATIONAL DISTRESS AND 

10 RESPONSE SYSTEM. 

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

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

13 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the 

14 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

15 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com16 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

17 on the implementation of the Rescue 21 project in Alaska 

18 and in Coast Guard sectors Upper Mississippi River, 

19 Lower Mississippi River, and Ohio River Valley. 

20 (b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub21 section (a) shall— 

22 (1) describe what improvements are being made 

23 to the distress response system in the areas specified 

24 in subsection (a), including information on which 
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1 areas will receive digital selective calling and direc2 tion finding capability; 

3 (2) describe the impediments to installing dig4 ital selective calling and direction finding capability 

5 in areas where such technology will not be installed; 

6 (3) identify locations in the areas specified in 

7 subsection (a) where communication gaps will con8 tinue to present a risk to mariners after completion 

9 of the Rescue 21 project; 

10 (4) include a list of all reported marine acci11 dents, casualties, and fatalities occurring in the loca12 tions identified under paragraph (3) since 1990; and 

13 (5) provide an estimate of the costs associated 

14 with installing the technology necessary to close 

15 communication gaps in the locations identified under 

16 paragraph (3). 

17 SEC. 232. REPORT RECONCILING MAINTENANCE AND 

18 OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES ON THE MISSOURI 

19 RIVER. 

20 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

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

22 submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

23 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

24 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep25 resentatives a report that outlines a course of action to 
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1 reconcile general maintenance priorities for cutters with 

2 operational priorities on the Missouri River. 

3 SEC. 233. MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSISTANCE 

4 POLICY ASSESSMENT. 

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

6 Guard shall assess the Maritime Search and Rescue As7 sistance Policy as it relates to State and local responders. 

8 (b) SCOPE.—The assessment under subsection (a) 

9 shall consider, at a minimum— 

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

11 rescue coordinators have entered into domestic 

12 search and rescue agreements with State and local 

13 responders under the National Search and Rescue 

14 Plan; 

15 (2) whether the domestic search and rescue 

16 agreements include the Maritime Search and Rescue 

17 Assistance Policy; and 

18 (3) the extent to which Coast Guard sectors co19 ordinate with 911 emergency centers, including en20 suring the dissemination of appropriate maritime 

21 distress check-sheets. 

22 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

23 of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 

24 Guard shall submit a report on the assessment under sub25 section (a) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
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1 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

2 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep3 resentatives. 

4 TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 

5 NAVIGATION 

6 SEC. 301. REPEAL. 

7 Chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) by repealing section 55501; 

10 (2) by redesignating section 55502 as section 

11 55501; and 

12 (3) in the analysis by striking the items relating 

13 to sections 55501 and 55502 and inserting the fol14 lowing: 

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

15 SEC. 302. DONATION OF HISTORICAL PROPERTY. 

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

17 amended by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(e) DONATION FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may convey 

20 the right, title, and interest of the United States 

21 Government in any property administered by the 

22 Maritime Administration, except real estate or ves23 sels, if— 
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1 ‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that such 

2 property is not needed by the Maritime Admin3 istration; and 

4 ‘‘(B) the recipient— 

5 ‘‘(i) is a nonprofit organization, a 

6 State, or a political subdivision of a State; 

7 ‘‘(ii) agrees to hold the Government 

8 harmless for any claims arising from expo9 sure to hazardous materials, including as10 bestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead 

11 paint, after conveyance of the property; 

12 ‘‘(iii) provides a description and expla13 nation of the intended use of the property 

14 to the Secretary for approval; 

15 ‘‘(iv) has provided to the Secretary 

16 proof, as determined by the Secretary, of 

17 resources sufficient to accomplish the in18 tended use provided under clause (iii) and 

19 to maintain the property; 

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

21 longer requires the property, the recipient 

22 shall— 

23 ‘‘(I) return the property to the 

24 Secretary, at the recipient’s expense 
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1 and in the same condition as received 

2 except for ordinary wear and tear; or 

3 ‘‘(II) subject to the approval of 

4 the Secretary, retain, sell, or other5 wise dispose of the property in a man6 ner consistent with applicable law; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(vi) agrees to any additional terms 

9 the Secretary considers appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(2) REVERSION.—The Secretary shall include 

11 in any conveyance under this subsection terms under 

12 which all right, title, and interest conveyed by the 

13 Secretary shall revert to the Government if the Sec14 retary determines the property has been used other 

15 than as approved by the Secretary under paragraph 

16 (1)(B)(iii).’’. 

17 SEC. 303. SMALL SHIPYARDS. 

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

19 amended by striking ‘‘2009 through 2013’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

21 SEC. 304. DRUG TESTING REPORTING. 

22 Section 7706 of title 46, United States Code, is 

23 amended— 
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1 (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘an applicant 

2 for employment by a Federal agency,’’ after ‘‘Fed3 eral agency,’’; and 

4 (2) in subsection (c), by— 

5 (A) inserting ‘‘or an applicant for employ6 ment by a Federal agency’’ after ‘‘an em7 ployee’’; and 

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

9 ‘‘the employee or the applicant.’’. 

10 SEC. 305. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEA SERVICE VETERANS. 

11 (a) ENDORSEMENTS FOR VETERANS.—Section 7101 

12 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 

13 the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(j) The Secretary may issue a license under this sec15 tion in a class under subsection (c) to an applicant that— 

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

17 on vessels of the uniformed services (as that term is 

18 defined in section 101(a) of title 10) of appropriate 

19 tonnage or horsepower within the 7-year period im20 mediately preceding the date of application; and 

21 ‘‘(2) satisfies all other requirements for such a 

22 license.’’. 

23 (b) SEA SERVICE LETTERS.— 
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States 

2 Code, is amended by inserting after section 427 the 

3 following: 

4 ‘‘§ 428. Sea service letters 

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

6 sea service letter to a member or former member of the 

7 Coast Guard who— 

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

9 armed forces (as such term is defined in section 

10 101(a) of title 10); and 

11 ‘‘(2) requests such letter. 

12 ‘‘(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after re13 ceiving a request for a sea service letter from a member 

14 or former member of the Coast Guard under subsection 

15 (a), the Secretary shall provide such letter to such member 

16 or former member if such member or former member sat17 isfies the requirement under subsection (a)(1).’’. 

18 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

19 chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is 

20 amended by inserting after the item relating to sec21 tion 427 the following: 

‘‘428. Sea service letters.’’. 

22 (c) CREDITING OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

23 SERVICE, TRAINING, AND QUALIFICATIONS.— 

24 (1) MAXIMIZING CREDITABILITY.—The Sec25 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
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1 is operating, in implementing United States mer2 chant mariner license, certification, and document 

3 laws and the International Convention on Standards 

4 of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Sea5 farers, 1978, shall maximize the extent to which 

6 United States Armed Forces service, training, and 

7 qualifications are creditable toward meeting the re8 quirements of such laws and such Convention. 

9 (2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days 

10 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec11 retary shall notify the Committee on Transportation 

12 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

13 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

14 Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to 

15 implement this subsection. 

16 (d) MERCHANT MARINE POST-SERVICE CAREER OP17 PORTUNITIES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

18 enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 

19 Guard shall take steps to promote better awareness, on 

20 an ongoing basis, among Coast Guard personnel regarding 

21 post-service use of Coast Guard training, education, and 

22 practical experience in satisfaction of requirements for 

23 merchant mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 

24 46, Code of Federal Regulations. 
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1 SEC. 306. CLARIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK WATERS. 

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

3 amended— 

4 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

5 (A) by striking ‘‘provide armed personnel 

6 aboard’’ and inserting ‘‘reimburse, subject to 

7 the availability of appropriations, the owners or 

8 operators of’’; and 

9 (B) by inserting ‘‘for the cost of providing 

10 armed personnel aboard such vessels’’ before 

11 ‘‘if’’; and 

12 (2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and in13 serting the following: 

14 ‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk 

15 waters’ means waters so designated by the Com16 mandant of the Coast Guard in the maritime secu17 rity directive issued by the Commandant and in ef18 fect on the date on which an applicable voyage be19 gins, if the Secretary of Transportation— 

20 ‘‘(A) determines that an act of piracy oc21 curred in the 12-month period preceding the 

22 date the voyage begins; or 

23 ‘‘(B) in such period, issued an advisory 

24 warning that an act of piracy is possible in such 

25 waters.’’. 
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1 SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

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

3 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 

4 93(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 93(c) of title 14’’. 

5 (b) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

6 ACT OF 2006.—Section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and 

7 Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 

8 241; 33 U.S.C. 1503 note) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 

9 from’’ before ‘‘the United States’’. 

10 (c) DEEPWATER PORT ACT OF 1974.—Section 4(i) 

11 of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503(i)) 

12 is amended by inserting ‘‘or that will supply’’ after ‘‘be 

13 supplied with’’. 

14 SEC. 308. REPORT. 

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

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

17 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In18 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com19 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

20 Senate a report on the number of jobs, including vessel 

21 construction and vessel operating jobs, that would be cre22 ated in the United States maritime industry each year in 

23 2015 through 2025 if liquified natural gas exported from 

24 the United States were required to be carried— 

25 (1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels docu26 mented under the laws of the United States; and 
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1 (2) on and after such date, on vessels docu2 mented under the laws of the United States and 

3 constructed in the United States. 

4 SEC. 309. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS. 

5 (a) FISHING SAFETY TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.— 

6 Section 4502(i)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

9 (b) FISHING SAFETY RESEARCH GRANT PRO10 GRAM.—Section 4502(j)(4) of title 46, United States 

11 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 

13 SEC. 310. ESTABLISHMENT OF MERCHANT MARINE PER14 SONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

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

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

17 following: 

18 ‘‘§ 8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Com19 mittee 

20 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab21 lish a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in 

22 this section referred to as ‘the Committee’). The Com23 mittee— 

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

25 the Secretary through the Commandant of the Coast 
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1 Guard on matters relating to personnel in the 

2 United States merchant marine, including training, 

3 qualifications, certification, documentation, and fit4 ness standards, and other matters as assigned by 

5 the Commandant; 

6 ‘‘(2) shall review and comment on proposed 

7 Coast Guard regulations and policies relating to per8 sonnel in the United States merchant marine, in9 cluding training, qualifications, certification, docu10 mentation, and fitness standards; 

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

12 Secretary and may conduct studies, inquiries, work13 shops, and fact finding in consultation with individ14 uals and groups in the private sector and with State 

15 or local governments; 

16 ‘‘(4) shall advise, consult with, and make rec17 ommendations reflecting its independent judgment 

18 to the Secretary; 

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

20 and 

21 ‘‘(6) may make available to Congress rec22 ommendations that the Committee makes to the Sec23 retary. 

24 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con2 sist of not more than 19 members who are appointed 

3 by and serve terms of a duration determined by the 

4 Secretary. Before filling a position on the Com5 mittee, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 

6 Federal Register soliciting nominations for member7 ship on the Committee. 

8 ‘‘(2) REQUIRED MEMBERS.—Subject to para9 graph (3), the Secretary shall appoint as members 

10 of the Committee— 

11 ‘‘(A) 9 United States citizens with active 

12 licenses or certificates issued under chapter 71 

13 or merchant mariner documents issued under 

14 chapter 73, including— 

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

16 viewpoint of merchant marine deck offi17 cers, of whom— 

18 ‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans 

19 any gross tons; 

20 ‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed for in21 land river route with a limited or un22 limited tonnage; 

23 ‘‘(III) 2 shall have a master’s li24 cense or a master of towing vessels li25 cense; 
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1 ‘‘(IV) 1 shall have significant 

2 tanker experience; and 

3 ‘‘(V) to the extent practicable— 

4 ‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent the 

5 viewpoint of labor; and 

6 ‘‘(bb) another shall rep7 resent a management perspective; 

8 ‘‘(ii) 3 engineering officers who rep9 resent the viewpoint of merchant marine 

10 engineering officers, of whom— 

11 ‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief 

12 engineer any horsepower; 

13 ‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed as either 

14 a limited chief engineer or a des15 ignated duty engineer; and 

16 ‘‘(III) to the extent practicable— 

17 ‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent a 

18 labor viewpoint; and 

19 ‘‘(bb) another shall rep20 resent a management perspective; 

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

22 ‘‘(I) 1 shall represent the view23 point of able-bodied seamen; and 
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1 ‘‘(II) another shall represent the 

2 viewpoint of qualified members of the 

3 engine department; and 

4 ‘‘(iv) 1 pilot who represents the view5 point of merchant marine pilots; 

6 ‘‘(B) 6 marine educators, including— 

7 ‘‘(i) 3 marine educators who represent 

8 the viewpoint of maritime academies, in9 cluding— 

10 ‘‘(I) 2 who represent the view11 point of State maritime academies 

12 and are jointly recommended by such 

13 State maritime academies; and 

14 ‘‘(II) 1 who represents either the 

15 viewpoint of the State maritime acad16 emies or the United States Merchant 

17 Marine Academy; and 

18 ‘‘(ii) 3 marine educators who rep19 resent the viewpoint of other maritime 

20 training institutions, 1 of whom shall rep21 resent the viewpoint of the small vessel in22 dustry; 

23 ‘‘(C) 2 individuals who represent the view24 point of shipping companies employed in ship 

25 operation management; and 
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1 ‘‘(D) 2 members who are appointed from 

2 the general public. 

3 ‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall con4 sult with the Secretary of Transportation in making 

5 an appointment under paragraph (2)(B)(i)(II). 

6 ‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Sec7 retary shall designate one member of the Committee as 

8 the Chairman and one member of the Committee as the 

9 Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman 

10 in the absence or incapacity of the Chairman, or in the 

11 event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman. 

12 ‘‘(d) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Committee may estab13 lish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups 

14 for any purpose consistent with this section, subject to 

15 conditions imposed by the Committee. Members of the 

16 Committee and additional persons drawn from the general 

17 public may be assigned to such subcommittees and work18 ing groups. Only Committee members may chair sub19 committee or working groups. 

20 ‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate 

21 on September 30, 2020.’’. 

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

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

‘‘8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.’’. 
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1 SEC. 311. TRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCE. 

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

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

4 (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol5 lows: 

6 ‘‘(b)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and 

7 charges established under subsection (a), in providing a 

8 service or thing of value under this subtitle the Secretary 

9 may accept in-kind transportation, travel, and subsistence. 

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

11 subsistence accepted under this paragraph may not exceed 

12 applicable per diem rates set forth in regulations pre13 scribed under section 464 of title 37.’’; and 

14 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘subsections 

15 (a) and (b),’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a),’’. 

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

17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by redesig18 nating subsections (e) though (g) as subsections (f) 

19 through (h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection 

20 (d) the following: 

21 ‘‘(e)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and 

22 charges established under this section, in the provision of 

23 a service or thing of value by the Coast Guard the Sec24 retary may accept in-kind transportation, travel, and sub25 sistence. 
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1 ‘‘(2) The value of in-kind transportation, travel, and 

2 subsistence accepted under this paragraph may not exceed 

3 applicable per diem rates set forth in regulations pre4 scribed under section 464 of title 37.’’. 

5 (c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Department 

6 in which the Coast Guard is operating may not accept in7 kind transportation, travel, or subsistence under section 

8 664(e) of title 14, United States Code, or section 

9 2110(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code, as amended 

10 by this section, until the Commandant of the Coast 

11 Guard— 

12 (1) amends the Standards of Ethical Conduct 

13 for members and employees of the Coast Guard to 

14 include regulations governing the acceptance of in15 kind reimbursements; and 

16 (2) notifies the Committee on Commerce, 

17 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 

18 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

19 the House of Representatives of the amendments 

20 made under paragraph (1). 

21 SEC. 312. PROMPT INTERGOVERNMENTAL NOTICE OF MA22 RINE CASUALTIES. 

23 Section 6101 of title 46, United States Code, is 

24 amended— 
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1 (1) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(c) NOTICE TO STATE AND TRIBAL GOVERN4 MENTS.—Not later than 24 hours after receiving a notice 

5 of a major marine casualty under this section, the Sec6 retary shall notify each State or federally recognized In7 dian tribe that is, or may reasonably be expected to be, 

8 affected by such marine casualty.’’; 

9 (2) in subsection (h)— 

10 (A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and 

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

12 subsection (i) of section 6101, and in such sub13 section— 

14 (i) by striking ‘‘paragraph,’’ and in15 serting ‘‘section,’’; and 

16 (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 

17 (A) through (D) as paragraphs (1) 

18 through (4); and 

19 (3) by redesignating the last subsection as sub20 section (j). 

21 SEC. 313. AREA CONTINGENCY PLANS. 

22 Section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution 

23 Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(4)) is amended— 
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1 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘qualified 

2 personnel of Federal, State, and local agencies.’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘qualified— 

4 ‘‘(i) personnel of Federal, State, and local 

5 agencies; and 

6 ‘‘(ii) members of federally recognized In7 dian tribes, where applicable.’’; 

8 (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— 

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

10 ‘‘, local, and tribal’’; and 

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

12 ‘‘wildlife, including advance planning with re13 spect to the closing and reopening of fishing 

14 areas following a discharge;’’; 

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

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

17 (4) in subparagraph (C)— 

18 (A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and Fed19 eral, State, and local agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, 

20 Federal, State, and local agencies, and tribal 

21 governments’’; 

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

23 as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and 

24 (C) by inserting after clause (vi) the fol25 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘(vii) include a framework for advance 

2 planning and decisionmaking with respect to 

3 the closing and reopening of fishing areas fol4 lowing a discharge, including protocols and 

5 standards for the closing and reopening of fish6 ing areas;’’. 

7 SEC. 314. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL REFORM. 

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

9 States Code, is amended— 

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

11 following: 

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

13 subsection (b)(1) shall be credited to the appropriation for 

14 operating expenses of the Coast Guard.’’; 

15 (2) in section 80302— 

16 (A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘An ice 

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

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

19 ice patrol vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice pa20 trol’’; and 

21 (C) in the first sentence of subsection (d), 

22 by striking ‘‘vessels’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft’’; 

23 and 

24 (3) by adding at the end the following: 
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1 ‘‘§ 80304. Limitation on ice patrol data 

2 ‘‘Notwithstanding sections 80301 and 80302, data 

3 collected by an ice patrol conducted by the Coast Guard 

4 under this chapter may not be disseminated to a vessel 

5 unless such vessel is— 

6 ‘‘(1) documented under the laws of the United 

7 States; or 

8 ‘‘(2) documented under the laws of a foreign 

9 country that made the payment or contribution re10 quired under section 80301(b) for the year pre11 ceding the year in which the data is collected.’’. 

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

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

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

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

15 on January 1, 2017. 

16 SEC. 315. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY IN17 SPECTION. 

18 Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 

19 amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), 

20 and by inserting after subsection (e) the following: 

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

22 offshore supply vessel, the Secretary shall delegate the au23 thorities set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) with 

24 respect to such vessel to a classification society to which 

25 a delegation is authorized under that paragraph. A delega-
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1 tion by the Secretary under this subsection shall be used 

2 for any vessel inspection and examination function carried 

3 out by the Secretary, including the issuance of certificates 

4 of inspection and all other related documents. 

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

6 inspection or related document issued under authority del7 egated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect 

8 to a vessel has reduced the operational safety of that ves9 sel, the Secretary may terminate the certificate or docu10 ment, respectively. 

11 ‘‘(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the en12 actment of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 

13 Transportation Act of 2014, and for each year of the sub14 sequent 2-year period, the Secretary shall provide to the 

15 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

16 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com17 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

18 describing— 

19 ‘‘(A) the number of vessels for which a delega20 tion was made under paragraph (1); 

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

22 costs incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted 

23 from the delegations; and 

24 ‘‘(C) based on measurable marine casualty and 

25 other data, any impacts of the delegations on the 
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1 operational safety of vessels for which the delega2 tions were made, and on the crew on those vessels.’’. 

3 SEC. 316. WATCHES. 

4 Section 8104 of title 46, United States Code, is 

5 amended— 

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

7 firemen, oilers, and water tenders’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘and oilers’’; and 

9 (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘(except 

10 the coal passers, firemen, oilers, and water 

11 tenders)’’. 

12 SEC. 317. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 

13 (a) VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN CONTENTS.—The Sec14 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op15 erating shall require that each vessel response plan pre16 pared for a mobile offshore drilling unit includes informa17 tion from the facility response plan prepared for the mo18 bile offshore drilling unit regarding the planned response 

19 to a worst case discharge, and to a threat of such a dis20 charge. 

21 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNIT.—The 

23 term ‘‘mobile offshore drilling unit’’ has the meaning 

24 given that term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution 

25 Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701). 
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1 (2) RESPONSE PLAN.—The term ‘‘response 

2 plan’’ means a response plan prepared under section 

3 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 

4 (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). 

5 (3) WORST CASE DISCHARGE.—The term 

6 ‘‘worst case discharge’’ has the meaning given that 

7 term under section 311(a) of the Federal Water Pol8 lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)). 

9 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec10 tion shall be construed to require the Coast Guard to re11 view or approve a facility response plan for a mobile off12 shore drilling unit. 

13 SEC. 318. REGIONAL CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL. 

14 Section 5002(k)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

15 (33 U.S.C. 2732(k)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘not more 

16 than $1,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘not less than 

17 $1,400,000’’. 

18 SEC. 319. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE 

19 UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. 

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

21 States Code, is amended— 

22 (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub23 section (c); and 

24 (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol25 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘(b)(1) In applying this title with respect to an 

2 uninspected vessel of less than 24 meters overall in length 

3 that carries passengers to or from a port in the United 

4 States Virgin Islands, the Secretary shall substitute ‘12 

5 passengers’ for ‘6 passengers’ each place it appears in sec6 tion 2101(42) if the Secretary determines that the vessel 

7 complies with, as applicable to the vessel— 

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

9 Small Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly re10 ferred to as the ‘Yellow Code’), as published by 

11 the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency and 

12 in effect on January 1, 2014; or 

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

14 Small Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly 

15 referred to as the ‘Blue Code’), as published by 

16 such agency and in effect on such date. 

17 ‘‘(2) If the Secretary establishes standards to 

18 carry out this subsection— 

19 ‘‘(A) such standards shall be identical to 

20 those established in the Codes of Practice re21 ferred to in paragraph (1); and 

22 ‘‘(B) on any dates before the date on 

23 which such standards are in effect, the Codes of 

24 Practice referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
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1 apply with respect to the vessels referred to in 

2 paragraph (1).’’. 

3 (b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 4105(c) of 

4 title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection 

5 (a)(1) of this section, is amended by striking ‘‘Within 

6 twenty-four months of the date of enactment of this sub7 section, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 

8 SEC. 320. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 

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

10 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol11 lowing: 

12 ‘‘§ 11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers 

13 ‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— 

14 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 

15 the Treasury a separate account to be known as the 

16 Abandoned Seafarers Fund. 

17 ‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED USES.—Amounts in the 

18 Fund may be appropriated to the Secretary for 

19 use— 

20 ‘‘(A) to pay necessary support of a sea21 farer— 

22 ‘‘(i) who— 

23 ‘‘(I) was paroled into the United 

24 States under section 212(d)(5) of the 

25 Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
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1 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)), or for whom the 

2 Secretary has requested parole under 

3 such section; and 

4 ‘‘(II) is involved in an investiga5 tion, reporting, documentation, or ad6 judication of any matter that is re7 lated to the administration or enforce8 ment of law by the Coast Guard; or 

9 ‘‘(ii) who— 

10 ‘‘(I) is physically present in the 

11 United States; 

12 ‘‘(II) the Secretary determines 

13 was abandoned in the United States; 

14 and 

15 ‘‘(III) has not applied for asylum 

16 under the Immigration and Nation17 ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 

18 ‘‘(B) to reimburse a vessel owner or oper19 ator for the costs of necessary support of a sea20 farer who has been paroled into the United 

21 States to facilitate an investigation, reporting, 

22 documentation, or adjudication of any matter 

23 that is related to the administration or enforce24 ment of law by the Coast Guard, if— 
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1 ‘‘(i) the vessel owner or operator is 

2 not convicted of a criminal offense related 

3 to such matter; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that re5 imbursement is appropriate. 

6 ‘‘(3) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 

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

8 subparagraph (B), there shall be credited to the 

9 Fund the following: 

10 ‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund 

11 under section 9 of the Act to Prevent Pol12 lution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908). 

13 ‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recov14 ered under subsection (c). 

15 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be cred16 ited to the Fund under subparagraph (A) only 

17 if the unobligated balance of the Fund is less 

18 than $5,000,000. 

19 ‘‘(4) REPORT REQUIRED.—On the date on 

20 which the President submits each budget for a fiscal 

21 year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Sec22 retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor23 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent24 atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
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1 and Transportation of the Senate a report that de2 scribes— 

3 ‘‘(A) the amounts credited to the Fund 

4 under paragraph (2) for the preceding fiscal 

5 year; and 

6 ‘‘(B) amounts in the Fund that were ex7 pended for the preceding fiscal year. 

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

9 construed— 

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

11 other right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary sup12 port for any person; or 

13 ‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reim14 burse the cost of necessary support. 

15 ‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT; RECOVERY.— 

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

17 shall reimburse the Fund an amount equal to the 

18 total amount paid from the Fund for necessary sup19 port of a seafarer, if— 

20 ‘‘(A) the vessel owner or operator— 

21 ‘‘(i) during the course of an investiga22 tion, reporting, documentation, or adju23 dication of any matter under this Act that 

24 the Coast Guard referred to a United 

25 States attorney or the Attorney General, 
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1 fails to provide necessary support of a sea2 farer who was paroled into the United 

3 States to facilitate the investigation, re4 porting, documentation, or adjudication; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(ii) subsequently is— 

7 ‘‘(I) convicted of a criminal of8 fense related to such matter; or 

9 ‘‘(II) required to reimburse the 

10 Fund pursuant to a court order or ne11 gotiated settlement related to such 

12 matter; or 

13 ‘‘(B) the vessel owner or operator aban14 dons a seafarer in the United States, as deter15 mined by the Secretary based on substantial 

16 evidence. 

17 ‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT.—If a vessel owner or op18 erator fails to reimburse the Fund under paragraph 

19 (1) within 60 days after receiving a written, itemized 

20 description of reimbursable expenses and a demand 

21 for payment, the Secretary may— 

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

23 which the seafarer served in the Federal district 

24 court for the district in which the vessel is 

25 found; and 
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1 ‘‘(B) withhold or revoke the clearance re2 quired under section 60105 for the vessel and 

3 any other vessel operated by the same operator 

4 (as that term is defined in section 2(9)(a) of 

5 the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 

6 U.S.C. 1901(9)(a)) as the vessel on which the 

7 seafarer served. 

8 ‘‘(3) OBTAINING CLEARANCE.—A vessel may 

9 obtain clearance from the Secretary after it is with10 held or revoked under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel 

11 owner or operator— 

12 ‘‘(A) reimburses the Fund the amount re13 quired under paragraph (1); or 

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

15 financial responsibility, sufficient to meet the 

16 amount required to be reimbursed under para17 graph (1). 

18 ‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary 

19 shall notify the vessel at least 72 hours before taking 

20 any action under paragraph (2)(B). 

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

22 ‘‘(1) ABANDONS; ABANDONED.—Each of the 

23 terms ‘abandons’ and ‘abandoned’ means— 

24 ‘‘(A) a vessel owner’s or operator’s unilat25 eral severance of ties with a seafarer; or 
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1 ‘‘(B) a vessel owner’s or operator’s failure 

2 to provide necessary support of a seafarer. 

3 ‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the 

4 Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under this 

5 section. 

6 ‘‘(3) NECESSARY SUPPORT.—The term ‘nec7 essary support’ means normal wages and expenses 

8 the Secretary considers reasonable for lodging, sub9 sistence, clothing, medical care (including hos10 pitalization), repatriation, and any other support the 

11 Secretary considers to be appropriate. 

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

13 alien crew member who is employed or engaged in 

14 any capacity on board a vessel subject to the juris15 diction of the United States. 

16 ‘‘(5) VESSEL SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION

17 OF THE UNITED STATES.—The term ‘vessel subject 

18 to the jurisdiction of the United States’ has the 

19 meaning given that term in section 70502(c), except 

20 that it does not include a vessel that is— 

21 ‘‘(A) owned, or operated under a bareboat 

22 charter, by the United States, a State or polit23 ical subdivision thereof, or a foreign nation; and 

24 ‘‘(B) not engaged in commerce.’’. 
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 

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

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

3 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the 

4 Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908) is 

5 amended by adding at the end the following: 

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

7 that is not paid under that subsection to the person giving 

8 information leading to the conviction or assessment of 

9 such penalties shall be deposited in the Abandoned Sea10 farers Fund established under section 11113 of title 46, 

11 United States Code.’’. 

12 SEC. 321. WEBSITE. 

13 (a) REPORTS TO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION; 

14 INCIDENTS AND DETAILS.—Section 3507(g)(3)(A) of title 

15 46, United States Code, is amended— 

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

17 Internet based portal maintained by the Secretary’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘each incident specified in clause (i) to 

19 the Internet website maintained by the Secretary of 

20 Transportation under paragraph (4)(A)’’; and 

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

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

23 maintained by the Secretary of Transportation 

24 under paragraph (4)(A)’’. 
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1 (b) AVAILABILITY OF INCIDENT DATA ON INTER2 NET.—Section 3507(g)(4) of title 46, United States Code, 

3 is amended— 

4 (1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 

5 the following: 

6 ‘‘(A) WEBSITE.— 

7 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

8 Transportation shall maintain a statistical 

9 compilation of all incidents on board a 

10 cruise vessel specified in paragraph 

11 (3)(A)(i) on an Internet website that pro12 vides a numerical accounting of the miss13 ing persons and alleged crimes reported 

14 under that paragraph without regard to 

15 the investigative status of the incident. 

16 ‘‘(ii) UPDATES AND OTHER REQUIRE17 MENTS.—The compilation under clause (i) 

18 shall— 

19 ‘‘(I) be updated not less fre20 quently than quarterly; 

21 ‘‘(II) be able to be sorted by 

22 cruise line; 

23 ‘‘(III) identify each cruise line by 

24 name; 
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1 ‘‘(IV) identify each crime or al2 leged crime committed or allegedly 

3 committed by a passenger or crew4 member; 

5 ‘‘(V) identify the number of indi6 viduals alleged overboard; and 

7 ‘‘(VI) include the approximate 

8 number of passengers and crew car9 ried by each cruise line during each 

10 quarterly reporting period. 

11 ‘‘(iii) USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT.—The 

12 Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 

13 that the compilation, data, and any other 

14 information provided on the Internet 

15 website maintained under this subpara16 graph are in a user-friendly format. The 

17 Secretary shall, to the greatest extent 

18 practicable, use existing commercial off the 

19 shelf technology to transfer and establish 

20 the website, and shall not independently 

21 develop software, or acquire new hardware 

22 in operating the site.’’; and 

23 (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘Sec24 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’. 
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1 SEC. 322. COAST GUARD REGULATIONS. 

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

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

4 department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 

5 submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

6 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

7 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep8 resentatives an analysis of the Coast Guard’s proposed 

9 promulgation of safety and environmental management 

10 system requirements for vessels engaged in Outer Conti11 nental Shelf activities. The analysis shall include— 

12 (1) a discussion of any new operational, man13 agement, design and construction, financial, and 

14 other mandates that would be imposed on vessel 

15 owners and operators; 

16 (2) an estimate of all associated direct and indi17 rect operational, management, personnel, training, 

18 vessel design and construction, record keeping, and 

19 other costs; 

20 (3) an identification and justification of any of 

21 such proposed requirements that exceed those in 

22 international conventions applicable to the design, 

23 construction, operation, and management of vessels 

24 engaging in United States Outer Continental Shelf 

25 activities; and 
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1 (4) an identification of exemptions to the pro2 posed requirements, that are based upon vessel clas3 sification, tonnage, offshore activity or function, al4 ternative certifications, or any other appropriate cri5 teria. 

6 (b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not issue pro7 posed regulations relating to safety and environmental 

8 management system requirements for vessels on the 

9 United States Outer Continental Shelf for which noticed 

10 was published on September 10, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 

11 55230) earlier than 6 months after the submittal of the 

12 analysis required by subsection (a). 

13 TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 

14 COMMISSION 

15 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

17 Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for fiscal year 2015. 

18 SEC. 402. AWARD OF REPARATIONS. 

19 Section 41305 of title 46, United States Code, is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, plus reason22 able attorney fees’’; and 

23 (2) by adding at the end the following: 
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1 ‘‘(e) ATTORNEY FEES.—In any action brought under 

2 section 41301, the prevailing party may be awarded rea3 sonable attorney fees.’’. 

4 SEC. 403. TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(b) of title 46, United 

6 States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol8 lows: 

9 ‘‘(2) TERMS.—The term of each Commissioner 

10 is 5 years. When the term of a Commissioner ends, 

11 the Commissioner may continue to serve until a suc12 cessor is appointed and qualified, but for a period 

13 not to exceed one year. Except as provided in para14 graph (3), no individual may serve more than 2 

15 terms.’’; and 

16 (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para17 graph (5), and inserting after paragraph (2) the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy shall be filled in 

20 the same manner as the original appointment. An 

21 individual appointed to fill a vacancy is appointed 

22 only for the unexpired term of the individual being 

23 succeeded. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy 

24 may serve 2 terms in addition to the remainder of 
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1 the term for which the predecessor of that individual 

2 was appointed. 

3 ‘‘(4) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 

4 ‘‘(A) LIMITATION ON RELATIONSHIPS

5 WITH REGULATED ENTITIES.—A Commissioner 

6 may not have a pecuniary interest in, hold an 

7 official relation to, or own stocks or bonds of 

8 any entity the Commission regulates under 

9 chapter 401 of this title. 

10 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON OTHER ACTIVI11 TIES.—A Commissioner may not engage in an12 other business, vocation, or employment.’’. 

13 (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub14 section (a)(1) does not apply with respect to a Commis15 sioner of the Federal Maritime Commission appointed and 

16 confirmed by the Senate before the date of the enactment 

17 of this Act. 

18 TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME 

19 TRANSPORTATION 

20 SEC. 501. ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION. 

21 (a) ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION.—Chapter 

22 5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

23 after section 89 the following: 
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1 ‘‘§ 90. Arctic maritime transportation 

2 ‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en3 sure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic in4 cluding the availability of aids to navigation, vessel es5 corts, spill response capability, and maritime search and 

6 rescue in the Arctic. 

7 ‘‘(b) INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

8 AGREEMENTS.—To carry out the purpose of this section, 

9 the Secretary is encouraged to enter into negotiations 

10 through the International Maritime Organization to con11 clude and execute agreements to promote coordinated ac12 tion among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, 

13 Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic na14 tions to ensure, in the Arctic— 

15 ‘‘(1) placement and maintenance of aids to 

16 navigation; 

17 ‘‘(2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and sal18 vage capabilities; 

19 ‘‘(3) oil spill prevention and response capability; 

20 ‘‘(4) maritime domain awareness, including 

21 long-range vessel tracking; and 

22 ‘‘(5) search and rescue. 

23 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION BY COMMITTEE ON THE MARI24 TIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—The Committee on the 

25 Maritime Transportation System established under section 

26 55501 of title 46, United States Code, shall coordinate 
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1 the establishment of domestic transportation policies in 

2 the Arctic necessary to carry out the purpose of this sec3 tion. 

4 ‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary 

5 may, subject to the availability of appropriations, enter 

6 into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agree7 ments with, or make grants to, individuals and govern8 ments to carry out the purpose of this section or any 

9 agreements established under subsection (b). 

10 ‘‘(e) ICEBREAKING.—The Secretary shall promote 

11 safe maritime navigation by means of icebreaking where 

12 necessary, feasible, and effective to carry out the purposes 

13 of this section. 

14 ‘‘(f) ARCTIC DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 

15 ‘Arctic’? has the meaning given such term in section 112 

16 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 

17 4111).’’. 

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

19 chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

20 to section 89 the following: 

‘‘90. Arctic maritime transportation’’. 

21 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 307 of the 

22 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 

23 281; 14 U.S.C. 92 note) is repealed. 
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1 SEC. 502. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. 

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

3 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘§ 154. Arctic maritime domain awareness 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall improve 

7 maritime domain awareness in the Arctic— 

8 ‘‘(1) by promoting interagency cooperation and 

9 coordination; 

10 ‘‘(2) by employing joint, interagency, and inter11 national capabilities; and 

12 ‘‘(3) by facilitating the sharing of information, 

13 intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 

14 domain between the Coast Guard and departments 

15 and agencies listed in subsection (b). 

16 ‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Commandant shall seek 

17 to coordinate the collection, sharing, and use of informa18 tion, intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 

19 domain between the Coast Guard and the following: 

20 ‘‘(1) The Department of Homeland Security. 

21 ‘‘(2) The Department of Defense. 

22 ‘‘(3) The Department of Transportation. 

23 ‘‘(4) The Department of State. 

24 ‘‘(5) The Department of the Interior. 

25 ‘‘(6) The National Aeronautics and Space Ad26 ministration. 
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1 ‘‘(7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

2 Administration. 

3 ‘‘(8) The Environmental Protection Agency. 

4 ‘‘(9) The National Science Foundation. 

5 ‘‘(10) The Arctic Research Commission. 

6 ‘‘(11) Any Federal agency or commission or 

7 State the Commandant determines is appropriate. 

8 ‘‘(c) COOPERATION.—The Commandant and the head 

9 of a department or agency listed in subsection (b) may 

10 by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, share 

11 personnel, services, equipment, and facilities to carry out 

12 the requirements of this section. 

13 ‘‘(d) 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than Jan14 uary 1, 2016 and every 5 years thereafter, the Com15 mandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

16 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com17 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

18 of Representatives a 5-year strategic plan to guide inter19 agency and international intergovernmental cooperation 

20 and coordination for the purpose of improving maritime 

21 domain awareness in the Arctic 

22 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section the term ‘Arctic’ 

23 has the meaning given that term in section 112 of the 

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

25 4111).’’. 
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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 153 the following: 

‘‘154. Arctic maritime domain awareness.’’. 

4 SEC. 503. IMO POLAR CODE NEGOTIATIONS. 

5 Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act, and thereafter with the submission of 

7 the budget proposal submitted for each of fiscal years 

8 2016, 2017, and 2018 under section 1105 of title 31, 

9 United States Code, the Secretary of the department in 

10 which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the 

11 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

12 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com13 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 

14 on— 

15 (1) the status of the negotiations at the Inter16 national Maritime Organization regarding the estab17 lishment of a draft international code of safety for 

18 ships operating in polar waters, popularly known as 

19 the Polar Code, and any amendments proposed by 

20 such a code to be made to the International Conven21 tion for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Inter22 national Convention for the Prevention of Pollution 

23 from Ships; 
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1 (2) the coming into effect of such a code and 

2 such amendments for nations that are parties to 

3 those conventions; 

4 (3) impacts, for coastal communities located in 

5 the Arctic (as that term is defined in the section 112 

6 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 

7 U.S.C. 4111)) of such a code or such amendments, 

8 on— 

9 (A) the costs of delivering fuel and freight; 

10 and 

11 (B) the safety of maritime transportation; 

12 and 

13 (4) actions the Secretary must take to imple14 ment the requirements of such a code and such 

15 amendments. 

16 SEC. 504. FORWARD OPERATING FACILITIES. 

17 The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

18 Guard is operating may construct facilities in the Arctic 

19 (as that term is defined in section 112 of the Arctic Re20 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). The fa21 cilities shall— 

22 (1) support aircraft maintenance, including ex23 haust ventilation, heat, an engine wash system, fuel, 

24 ground support services, and electrical power; 
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1 (2) provide shelter for both current helicopter 

2 assets and those projected to be located at Air Sta3 tion Kodiak, Alaska, for at least 20 years; and 

4 (3) include accommodations for personnel. 

5 SEC. 505. ICEBREAKERS. 

6 (a) COAST GUARD POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—Section 

7 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 

8 of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amend9 ed— 

10 (1) in subsection (d)(2)— 

11 (A) in the paragraph heading by striking 

12 ‘‘; BRIDGING STRATEGY’’; and 

13 (B) by striking ‘‘Commandant of the Coast 

14 Guard’’ and all that follows through the period 

15 at the end and inserting ‘‘Commandant of the 

16 Coast Guard may decommission the Polar 

17 Sea.’’; 

18 (2) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the 

19 following: 

20 ‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If in 

21 the analysis submitted under this section the Sec22 retary does not make a determination under sub23 section (a)(5) regarding whether it is cost effective 

24 to reactivate the Polar Sea, then— 
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1 ‘‘(A) the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

2 may decommission the Polar Sea; or 

3 ‘‘(B) the Secretary may make such deter4 mination, not later than 90 days after the date 

5 of the enactment of Howard Coble Coast Guard 

6 and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, and 

7 take actions in accordance with this subsection 

8 as though such determination was made in the 

9 analysis previously submitted.’’; 

10 (3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and 

11 (g) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and 

12 (4) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol13 lowing: 

14 ‘‘(e) STRATEGIES.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

16 after the date on which the analysis required under 

17 subsection (a) is submitted, the Commandant of the 

18 Coast Guard 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— 

22 ‘‘(A) unless the Secretary makes a deter23 mination under this section that it is cost effec24 tive to reactivate the Polar Sea, a bridging 

25 strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard’s 
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1 polar icebreaking services until at least Sep2 tember 30, 2024; 

3 ‘‘(B) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s 

4 Arctic ice operations needs through September 

5 30, 2050; and 

6 ‘‘(C) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s 

7 Antarctic ice operations needs through Sep8 tember 30, 2050 

9 ‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—The strategies required 

10 under paragraph (1) shall include a business case 

11 analysis comparing the leasing and purchasing of 

12 icebreakers to maintain the needs and services de13 scribed in that paragraph.’’. 

14 (b) CUTTER ‘‘POLAR SEA’’.—Upon the submission of 

15 a service life extension plan in accordance with section 

16 222(d)(1)(C) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor17 tation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560), 

18 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

19 is operating may use funds authorized under section 101 

20 of this Act to conduct a service life extension of 7 to 10 

21 years for the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea (WAGB 11) 

22 in accordance with such plan. 

23 (c) LIMITATION.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the depart25 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may not 
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1 expend amounts appropriated for the Coast Guard 

2 for any of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, for— 

3 (A) design activities related to a capability 

4 of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that is based solely 

5 on an operational requirement of another Fed6 eral department or agency, except for amounts 

7 appropriated for design activities for a fiscal 

8 year before fiscal year 2016; or 

9 (B) long-lead-time materials, production, 

10 or post-delivery activities related to such a ca11 pability. 

12 (2) OTHER AMOUNTS.—Amounts made avail13 able to the Secretary under an agreement with an14 other Federal department or agency and expended 

15 on a capability of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that is 

16 based solely on an operational requirement of that or 

17 another Federal department or agency shall not be 

18 treated as amounts expended by the Secretary for 

19 purposes of the limitation established under para20 graph (1). 

21 SEC. 506. ICEBREAKING IN POLAR REGIONS. 

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

23 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 86 the 

24 following: 
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1 ‘‘§ 87. Icebreaking in polar regions 

2 ‘‘The President shall facilitate planning for the de3 sign, procurement, maintenance, deployment, and oper4 ation of icebreakers as needed to support the statutory 

5 missions of the Coast Guard in the polar regions by allo6 cating all funds to support icebreaking operations in such 

7 regions, except for recurring incremental costs associated 

8 with specific projects, to the Coast Guard.’’. 

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

10 chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

11 to section 86 the following: 

‘‘87. Icebreaking in polar regions.’’. 

12 TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 

13 SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 

14 Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans15 portation Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amend16 ed— 

17 (1) by striking subsections (c) and (e); and 

18 (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (f) as 

19 subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 

20 SEC. 602. EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM. 

21 Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 

22 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘2017’’. 
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1 SEC. 603. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans4 portation, in consultation with the Secretary of the depart5 ment in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall submit 

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 a 

9 national maritime strategy. 

10 (b) CONTENTS.—The strategy required under sub11 section (a) shall— 

12 (1) identify— 

13 (A) Federal regulations and policies that 

14 reduce the competitiveness of United States flag 

15 vessels in international transportation markets; 

16 and 

17 (B) the impact of reduced cargo flow due 

18 to reductions in the number of members of the 

19 United States Armed Forces stationed or de20 ployed outside of the United States; and 

21 (2) include recommendations to— 

22 (A) make United States flag vessels more 

23 competitive in shipping routes between United 

24 States and foreign ports; 
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1 (B) increase the use of United States flag 

2 vessels to carry cargo imported to and exported 

3 from the United States; 

4 (C) ensure compliance by Federal agencies 

5 with chapter 553 of title 46, United States 

6 Code; 

7 (D) increase the use of third-party inspec8 tion and certification authorities to inspect and 

9 certify vessels; 

10 (E) increase the use of short sea transpor11 tation routes, including routes designated under 

12 section 55601(c) of title 46, United States 

13 Code, to enhance intermodal freight movements; 

14 and 

15 (F) enhance United States shipbuilding ca16 pability. 

17 SEC. 604. WAIVERS. 

18 (a) ‘‘JOHN CRAIG’’.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8902 of title 46, 

20 United States Code, shall not apply to the vessel 

21 John Craig (United States official number 

22 D1110613) when such vessel is operating on the 

23 portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, located at 

24 approximately mile point 158, in Pool Number 9, be-
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1 tween Lock and Dam Number 9 and Lock and Dam 

2 Number 10. 

3 (2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 

4 on and after the date on which the Secretary of the 

5 department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

6 determines that a licensing requirement has been es7 tablished under Kentucky State law that applies to 

8 an operator of the vessel John Craig. 

9 (b) ‘‘F/V WESTERN CHALLENGER’’.—Notwith10 standing section 12132 of title 46, United States Code, 

11 the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 

12 is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with 

13 a coastwise endorsement for the F/V Western Challenger 

14 (IMO number 5388108). 

15 SEC. 605. COMPETITION BY UNITED STATES FLAG VESSELS. 

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

17 Guard shall enter into an arrangement with the National 

18 Academy of Sciences to conduct an assessment of authori19 ties under subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, that 

20 have been delegated to the Coast Guard and that impact 

21 the ability of vessels documented under the laws of the 

22 United States to effectively compete in international trans23 portation markets. 

24 (b) REVIEW OF DIFFERENCES WITH IMO STAND25 ARDS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall include 
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1 a review of differences between United States laws, poli2 cies, regulations, and guidance governing the inspection 

3 of vessels documented under the laws of the United States 

4 and standards set by the International Maritime Organi5 zation governing the inspection of vessels. 

6 (c) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after the 

7 date on which the Commandant enters into an arrange8 ment with the National Academy of Sciences under sub9 section (a), the Commandant shall submit to the Com10 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

11 of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

12 Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment 

13 required under such subsection. 

14 SEC. 606. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICES OF AR15 RIVAL AND DEPARTURE AND AUTOMATIC 

16 IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. 

17 Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 

19 the Coast Guard is operating shall notify the Committee 

20 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

21 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 

22 Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the status 

23 of the final rule that relates to the notice of proposed rule24 making titled ‘‘Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival 

25 and Departure, and Automatic Identification System’’ and 
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1 published in the Federal Register on December 16, 2008 

2 (73 Fed. Reg. 76295). 

3 SEC. 607. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 

4 ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. 

5 (a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 

6 of the Coast Guard is authorized to convey, at fair market 

7 value, all right, title, and interest of the United States in 

8 and to a parcel of real property, consisting of approxi9 mately 0.2 acres, that is under the administrative control 

10 of the Coast Guard and located at 527 River Street in 

11 Rochester, New York. 

12 (b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The City of Roch13 ester, New York, shall have the right of first refusal with 

14 respect to the purchase, at fair market value, of the real 

15 property described in subsection (a). 

16 (c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal descrip17 tion of the property described in subsection (a) shall be 

18 determined by a survey satisfactory to the Commandant. 

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

20 of the property described in subsection (a) shall— 

21 (1) be determined by appraisal; and 

22 (2) be subject to the approval of the Com23 mandant. 

24 (e) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—The responsibility for 

25 all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate 
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1 transaction and environmental documentation costs, asso2 ciated with a conveyance under subsection (a) shall be de3 termined by the Commandant and the purchaser. 

4 (f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The 

5 Commandant may require such additional terms and con6 ditions in connection with a conveyance under subsection 

7 (a) as the Commandant considers appropriate and reason8 able to protect the interests of the United States. 

9 (g) DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS.—Any proceeds from a 

10 conveyance under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the 

11 fund established under section 687 of title 14, United 

12 States Code. 

13 SEC. 608. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY IN GIG 

14 HARBOR, WASHINGTON. 

15 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi16 nitions apply: 

17 (1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of 

18 Gig Harbor, Washington. 

19 (2) PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘Property’’ means 

20 the parcel of real property, together with any im21 provements thereon, consisting of approximately 

22 0.86 acres of fast lands commonly identified as tract 

23 65 of lot 1 of section 8, township 21 north, range 

24 2 east, Willamette Meridian, on the north side of the 
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1 entrance of Gig Harbor, narrows of Puget Sound, 

2 Washington. 

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

4 the Secretary of the Interior. 

5 (b) CONVEYANCE.— 

6 (1) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.—Not later than 

7 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of the 

8 department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

9 relinquishes the reservation of the Property for light10 house purposes, at the request of the City and sub11 ject to the requirements of this section, the Sec12 retary shall convey to the City all right, title, and in13 terest of the United States in and to the Property, 

14 notwithstanding the land use planning requirements 

15 of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy 

16 and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 

17 1713). 

18 (2) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.—A conveyance 

19 made under paragraph (1) shall be made— 

20 (A) subject to valid existing rights; 

21 (B) at the fair market value as described 

22 in subsection (c); and 

23 (C) subject to any other condition that the 

24 Secretary may consider appropriate to protect 

25 the interests of the United States. 
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1 (3) COSTS.—The City shall pay any transaction 

2 or administrative costs associated with a conveyance 

3 under paragraph (1), including the costs of the ap4 praisal, title searches, maps, and boundary and ca5 dastral surveys. 

6 (4) CONVEYANCE IS NOT A MAJOR FEDERAL

7 ACTION.—A conveyance under paragraph (1) shall 

8 not be considered a major Federal action for pur9 poses of section 102(2) of the National Environ10 mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)). 

11 (c) FAIR MARKET VALUE.— 

12 (1) DETERMINATION.—The fair market value 

13 of the Property shall be— 

14 (A) determined by an appraisal conducted 

15 by an independent appraiser selected by the 

16 Secretary; and 

17 (B) approved by the Secretary in accord18 ance with paragraph (3). 

19 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—An appraisal conducted 

20 under paragraph (1) shall— 

21 (A) be conducted in accordance with na22 tionally recognized appraisal standards, includ23 ing— 

24 (i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards 

25 for Federal Land Acquisitions; and 
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1 (ii) the Uniform Standards of Profes2 sional Appraisal Practice; and 

3 (B) shall reflect the equitable consider4 ations described in paragraph (3). 

5 (3) EQUITABLE CONSIDERATIONS.—In approv6 ing the fair market value of the Property under this 

7 subsection, the Secretary shall take into consider8 ation matters of equity and fairness, including the 

9 City’s past and current lease of the Property, any 

10 maintenance or improvements by the City to the 

11 Property, and such other factors as the Secretary 

12 considers appropriate. 

13 (d) REVOCATION; REVERSION.—Effective on and 

14 after the date on which a conveyance of the Property is 

15 made under subsection (b)(1)— 

16 (1) Executive Order 3528, dated August 9, 

17 1921, is revoked; and 

18 (2) the use of the tide and shore lands belong19 ing to the State of Washington and adjoining and 

20 bordering the Property, that were granted to the 

21 Government of the United States pursuant to the 

22 Act of the Legislature, State of Washington, ap23 proved March 13, 1909, the same being chapter 110 

24 of the Session Laws of 1909, shall revert to the 

25 State of Washington. 
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1 SEC. 609. VESSEL DETERMINATION. 

2 The vessel assigned United States official number 

3 1205366 is deemed a new vessel effective on the date of 

4 delivery of the vessel after January 1, 2012, from a pri5 vately owned United States shipyard, if no encumbrances 

6 are on record with the Coast Guard at the time of the 

7 issuance of the new certificate of documentation for the 

8 vessel. 

9 SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THUNDER BAY. 

10 The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

11 Guard is operating and the Administrator of the Environ12 mental Protection Agency may not prohibit a vessel oper13 ating within the existing boundaries and any future ex14 panded boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine 

15 Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve from taking up or 

16 discharging ballast water to allow for safe and efficient 

17 vessel operation if the uptake or discharge meets all Fed18 eral and State ballast water management requirements 

19 that would apply if the area were not a marine sanctuary. 

20 SEC. 611. PARKING FACILITIES. 

21 (a) ALLOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements 

23 of this section, the Administrator of General Serv24 ices, in coordination with the Commandant of the 

25 Coast Guard, shall allocate and assign the spaces in 

26 parking facilities at the Department of Homeland 
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1 Security St. Elizabeths Campus to allow any mem2 ber or employee of the Coast Guard, who is assigned 

3 to the Campus, to use such spaces. 

4 (2) TIMING.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 

5 and in addition to the parking spaces allocated and 

6 assigned to Coast Guard members and employees in 

7 fiscal year 2014, the Administrator shall allocate 

8 and assign not less than— 

9 (A) 300 parking spaces not later than Sep10 tember 30, 2015; 

11 (B) 700 parking spaces not later than Sep12 tember 30, 2016; and 

13 (C) 1,042 parking spaces not later than 

14 September 30, 2017. 

15 (b) TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT REPORT.—Not 

16 later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

17 Act, and each fiscal year thereafter in which spaces are 

18 allocated and assigned under subsection (a)(2), the Ad19 ministrator shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, 

20 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com21 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

22 of Representatives a report on— 

23 (1) the impact of assigning and allocating park24 ing spaces under subsection (a) on the congestion of 

25 roads connecting the St. Elizabeths Campus to the 
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1 portions of Suitland Parkway and I–295 located in 

2 the Anacostia section of the District of Columbia; 

3 and 

4 (2) progress made toward completion of essen5 tial transportation improvements identified in the 

6 Transportation Management Program for the St. 

7 Elizabeths Campus. 

8 (c) REALLOCATION.—Notwithstanding subsection 

9 (a), the Administrator may revise the allocation and as10 signment of spaces to members and employees of the 

11 Coast Guard made under subsection (a) as necessary to 

12 accommodate employees of the Department of Homeland 

13 Security, other than the Coast Guard, when such employ14 ees are assigned to the St. Elizabeths Campus. 

Passed the Senate December 10, 2014. 

Attest: 

Secretary. 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2444 

AN ACT 

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard 

for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes.