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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2444 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2444

 To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 
                 through 2016, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 5, 2014

Mr. Begich (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Thune, and Ms. 
   Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 
                 through 2016, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                         TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training.
                         TITLE II--ORGANIZATION

Sec. 201. Commandant; appointment.
Sec. 202. Prevention and response workforces.
Sec. 203. Clarification of Coast Guard ice operations mission.
Sec. 204. Coast Guard centers of expertise.
Sec. 205. Research, development, testing, and evaluation.
Sec. 206. Arctic maritime domain awareness.
Sec. 207. Annual Board of Visitors.
                          TITLE III--PERSONNEL

Sec. 301. Flag officers; determination of unfitness.
Sec. 302. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.
Sec. 303. Post-service maritime employment opportunities.
Sec. 304. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness.
Sec. 305. Coast Guard family support and child care.
Sec. 306. Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces.
Sec. 307. Expedited reimbursement for medical goods and services.
                        TITLE IV--ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 401. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.
Sec. 402. Recovery of travel and subsistence costs for prevention 
                            services.
Sec. 403. Retired servicemembers and family members serving on advisory 
                            committees.
Sec. 404. Housing choices for Coast Guard families with special medical 
                            needs.
Sec. 405. Authority to construct Coast Guard child development center 
                            facilities.
Sec. 406. Heavy polar icebreaker design and construction.
Sec. 407. Forward operating facilities.
Sec. 408. Enhanced national response capability.
Sec. 409. Updates to fines and penalties.
Sec. 410. Technical amendment; Coast Guard Academy charges and fees for 
                            attendance.
                    TITLE V--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION

Sec. 501. Prompt intergovernmental notice of marine casualties.
Sec. 502. Drug testing reporting.
Sec. 503. Protection and fair treatment of seafarers.
Sec. 504. Vessel requirements for notices of arrival and departure and 
                            automatic identification system.
Sec. 505. Improved safety information for vessels.
Sec. 506. Prompt publication of oil spill information.
Sec. 507. Area contingency plans.
Sec. 508. Coast Guard response plan requirements.
                        TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 601. Waivers.
Sec. 602. Inflationary adjustment for Regional Citizens' Advisory 
                            Council.

                         TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 
2015 and 2016 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as follows:
            (1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
        $6,981,036,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016, of which 
        $24,500,000 is authorized each fiscal year to be derived from 
        the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of 
        section 1012(a)(5) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
        2712(a)(5)).
            (2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and 
        improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore 
        facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment related 
        thereto, $1,545,312,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016 
        to remain available until expended, of which--
                    (A) $20,000,000 is authorized each fiscal year to 
                be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to 
                carry out the purposes of section 1012(a)(5) of the Oil 
                Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)); and
                    (B) $55,000,000 is authorized each fiscal year for 
                a service life extension of 7 to 10 years for the Coast 
                Guard Cutter POLAR SEA (WAGB 11).
            (3) For operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard 
        Reserve program, including personnel and training costs, 
        equipment, and services, $140,016,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2015 and 2016.
            (4) For research, development, testing, and evaluation of 
        technologies, materials, and human factors directly related to 
        improving the performance of the Coast Guard's mission in 
        support of search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine 
        safety, marine environmental protection, enforcement of laws 
        and treaties, ice operations, and defense readiness, 
        $19,890,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016.
            (5) For retired pay (including the payment of obligations 
        otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for this 
        purpose), payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family 
        Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical 
        and dental care of retired personnel and their dependents under 
        chapter 55 or title 10, United States Code, $1,460,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016, to remain available until 
        expended.
            (6) For alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 
        waters of the United States constituting obstructions to 
        navigation, and for personnel and administrative costs 
        associated with the Alteration of Bridges Program, $16,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016.
            (7) For environmental compliance and restoration functions 
        under chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, $16,701,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016, to remain available 
        until expended.

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND TRAINING.

    (a) Active Duty Strength.--The Coast Guard is authorized an end-of-
year strength for active duty personnel of 47,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2015 and 2016.
    (b) Military Training Student Loads.--The Coast Guard is authorized 
average military training student loads for each of fiscal years 2015 
and 2016 as follows:
            (1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student years.
            (2) For flight training, 165 student years.
            (3) For professional training in military and civilian 
        institutions, 350 student years.
            (4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years.

                         TITLE II--ORGANIZATION

SEC. 201. COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT.

    Section 44 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the first sentence the following: ``The term of an appointment, 
and any reappointment, shall begin on June 1 of the current year and 
end 4 years later on May 31, except that, in the event of death, 
retirement, resignation, or reassignment, or when the needs of the 
Service demand, the Secretary may alter the date on which the term 
begins or ends as long as the term is no longer than 4 years.''.

SEC. 202. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE WORKFORCES.

    Section 57 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``or'' at the end;
                    (B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) waterways operations manager shall have knowledge, 
        skill, and practical experience with respect to marine 
        transportation system management; or
            ``(5) port and facility safety and security specialist 
        shall have knowledge, skill, and practical experience with 
        respect to the safety, security, and environmental protection 
        responsibilities associated with maritime ports and 
        facilities.'';
            (2) in subsection (c) by striking ``or marine safety 
        engineer'' and inserting ``marine safety engineer, waterways 
        operations manager, or port and facility safety and security 
        specialist''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking ``investigator or 
        marine safety engineer.'' and inserting ``investigator, marine 
        safety engineer, waterways operations manager, or port and 
        facility safety and security specialist.''.

SEC. 203. CLARIFICATION OF COAST GUARD ICE OPERATIONS MISSION.

    (a) Coast Guard Provision of Federal Icebreaking Services.--Chapter 
5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 86 the following:
``Sec. 87. Provision of icebreaking services
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
except as provided in subsection (b), the Coast Guard shall be the sole 
supplier of icebreaking services, on an advance payment or reimbursable 
basis, to each Federal agency that requires icebreaking services.
    ``(b) Exception.--In the event that a Federal agency requires 
icebreaking services and the Coast Guard is unable to provide the 
services, the Federal agency may acquire icebreaking services from 
another entity.''.
    (b) Priority of Coast Guard Missions in Polar Regions.--
            (1) Section 110.--Section 110(b)(2) of the Arctic Research 
        and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4109(b)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``to execute the statutory 
                missions of the Coast Guard and'' after ``needed''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and all budget authority related 
                to such operations'' after ``projects,''.
            (2) Section 312.--Section 312(c) of the Antarctic Marine 
        Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 2441(c)) is 
        amended by inserting ``to execute the statutory missions of the 
        Coast Guard and'' after ``needed''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 5 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 86 the following:

``87. Provision of icebreaking services.''.

SEC. 204. COAST GUARD CENTERS OF EXPERTISE.

    Section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Missions.--A center shall--
            ``(1) promote, facilitate, and conduct education, training, 
        and research programs;
            ``(2) develop and maintain a repository of information on 
        operations, practices, and resources; and
            ``(3) perform and support any mission of the Coast Guard 
        that the Commandant may specify.''.

SEC. 205. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND EVALUATION.

    (a) Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.--Section 93 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``agencies and with 
        private agencies;'' and inserting ``agencies, private agencies, 
        and, through the Secretary with the concurrence of the 
        Secretary of State, with foreign government agencies;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Equipment, Technology, and Techniques.--For the purposes of 
subsection (a)(4), the Commandant is authorized to possess, use, and 
consume any personal property or materials of another government agency 
or a private agency, or a foreign government agency, subject to the 
conditions regarding foreign government agencies imposed by that 
subsection, for the purpose of conducting research, development, 
testing, evaluation, and demonstration of equipment, technology, or a 
technique.''.
    (b) Tuition Assistance Program Coverage of Textbooks and Other 
Educational Materials.--Section 93(a)(7) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``and those textbooks, manuals, and other 
materials required as a part of such training or courses of 
instruction'' after ``correspondence courses,''.
    (c) Lease of Tidelands and Submerged Lands Under Control of the 
Coast Guard.--Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 
subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(g) Lease of Tidelands and Submerged Lands.--
            ``(1) Exception from maximum lease term.--Notwithstanding 
        subsection (a)(13), a lease described in paragraph (2) may be 
        for such term in excess of 5 years as the Commandant considers 
        appropriate.
            ``(2) Lease described.--A lease referred to in paragraph 
        (1) is a lease of the following:
                    ``(A) Tidelands under the control of the Coast 
                Guard.
                    ``(B) Submerged lands under the control of the 
                Coast Guard.''.

SEC. 206. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 154. Interagency Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to establish 
        an Interagency Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness Committee 
        (referred to in this section as the `Committee'). The 
        Commandant shall chair the Committee.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Committee shall be to 
        improve maritime domain awareness in the Arctic--
                    ``(A) by promoting interagency cooperation and 
                coordination;
                    ``(B) by employing joint, interagency, and 
                international capabilities; and
                    ``(C) by facilitating the sharing of information, 
                intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 
                domain between the participating agencies and 
                departments under paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Participating agencies and departments.--The 
        Committee shall coordinate the participation by and sharing of 
        information, intelligence, and data related to the Arctic 
        maritime domain between the following:
                    ``(A) the Department of Homeland Security;
                    ``(B) the Department of Defense;
                    ``(C) the Department of Transportation;
                    ``(D) the Department of State;
                    ``(E) the Department of the Interior;
                    ``(F) the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration;
                    ``(G) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration;
                    ``(H) the Environmental Protection Agency; and
                    ``(I) the National Science Foundation.
    ``(b) Organization.--The Secretary and the head of an agency or a 
department under subsection (a)(3) may--
            ``(1) by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, 
        provide representation on the Committee;
            ``(2) by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, 
        share personnel, services, equipment, and facilities with the 
        Committee for the purpose under subsection (a)(2); and
            ``(3) to the extent possible, and consistent with 
        applicable law, extend the authorities provided under their 
        enabling statutes to the other participating departments and 
        agencies in furtherance of the purpose under subsection (a)(2).
    ``(c) Information Sharing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary and the head of each 
        participating agency and department under subsection (a)(3), to 
        the maximum extent permissible under law, shall share through 
        the Committee all applicable information, intelligence, and 
        data related to maritime domain awareness in the Arctic.
            ``(2) Collection and use.--Subject to applicable 
        confidentiality and privacy laws, the Secretary, through the 
        Committee, shall oversee and coordinate the collection, 
        storage, analysis, and use of all applicable information, 
        intelligence, and data shared under paragraph (1).
    ``(d) 5-Year Strategic Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date that the Committee is established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall develop a 5-year strategic plan to guide interagency 
and international intergovernmental cooperation and coordination for 
the purpose of improving maritime domain awareness in the Arctic. The 
Secretary shall update the plan periodically.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) Arctic.--The term `Arctic' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 
        1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
            ``(2) Maritime domain awareness.--The term `maritime domain 
        awareness' means the effective understanding of anything 
        associated with the maritime domain that could impact the 
        safety, security, economy, or environment of the United 
        States.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 7 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 153 the following:

``154. Interagency Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness Committee.''.

SEC. 207. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS.

    Section 194 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 194. Annual Board of Visitors
    ``(a) In General.--A Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard Academy 
is established to review and make recommendations on the operation of 
the Academy.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The membership of the Board shall 
        consist of the following:
                    ``(A) The chairman of the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation of the Senate, or the 
                chairman's designee.
                    ``(B) The chairman of the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives, or the chairman's designee.
                    ``(C) 3 Members of the Senate designated by the 
                Vice President.
                    ``(D) 4 Members of the House of Representatives 
                designated by the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives.
                    ``(E) 6 individuals designated by the President.
            ``(2) Length of service.--
                    ``(A) Members of congress.--A Member of Congress 
                designated under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph 
                (1) as a member of the Board shall be designated as a 
                member in the first session of a Congress and serve for 
                the duration of that Congress.
                    ``(B) Individuals designated by the president.--
                Each individual designated by the President under 
                subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) shall serve as a 
                member of the Board for 3 years, except that any such 
                member whose term of office has expired shall continue 
                to serve until a successor is appointed.
            ``(3) Death or resignation of a member.--If a member of the 
        Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for any 
        unexpired portion of the term of the member by the official who 
        designated the member.
    ``(c) Academy Visits.--
            ``(1) Annual visit.--The Board shall visit the Academy 
        annually to review the operation of the Academy.
            ``(2) Additional visits.--With the approval of the 
        Secretary, the Board or individual members of the Board may 
        make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties 
        of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of the 
        Academy.
    ``(d) Scope of Review.--The Board shall review, with respect to the 
Academy--
            ``(1) the state of morale and discipline;
            ``(2) the curriculum;
            ``(3) the instruction;
            ``(4) the physical equipment;
            ``(5) the fiscal affairs; and
            ``(6) other matters relating to the Academy that the Board 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of an annual 
visit of the Board under subsection (c)(1), the Board shall submit to 
the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives a report on the actions of the Board 
during such visit and the recommendations of the Board pertaining to 
the Academy.
    ``(f) Advisors.--If approved by the Secretary, the Board may 
consult with advisors in carrying out this section.
    ``(g) Reimbursement.--Each member of the Board and each adviser 
consulted by the Board under subsection (f) shall be reimbursed, to the 
extent permitted by law, by the Coast Guard for actual expenses 
incurred while engaged in duties as a member or an adviser.''.

                          TITLE III--PERSONNEL

SEC. 301. FLAG OFFICERS; DETERMINATION OF UNFITNESS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter D of chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 316. Flag officers; determination of unfitness
    ``When the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy--
            ``(1) section 1216(d) of title 10 shall not apply with 
        respect to any member who is a flag officer being processed for 
        retirement by reason of age or length of service; and
            ``(2) the Secretary may, with respect to any member who is 
        a flag officer being processed for retirement by reason of age 
        or length of service--
                    ``(A) retire such member under section 1201 of 
                title 10;
                    ``(B) place such member on the temporary disability 
                retired list under section 1202 of title 10; or
                    ``(C) separate such member from the Coast Guard 
                under section 1203 of title 10;
        by reason of unfitness to perform the duties of the flag 
        officer's office, grade, rank, or rating without approval by 
        the Secretary of Defense or the recommendation of the Assistant 
        Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for subchapter D 
of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end, the following:

``316. Flag officers; determination of unfitness.''.

SEC. 302. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.

    Section 404(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (124 
Stat. 2951), as amended by section 218 of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2012 (126 Stat. 1558), is amended by striking 
``2015'' and inserting ``2017''.

SEC. 303. POST-SERVICE MARITIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

    (a) Merchant Marine Post-Service Career Opportunities.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard shall take steps to promote better awareness, on an 
ongoing basis, among Coast Guard personnel regarding post-service use 
of Coast Guard training, education, and practical experience as 
qualifying experience in satisfaction of requirements for merchant 
mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    (b) Timely Provision of Sea Service Letters.--Chapter 11 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 427 the 
following:
``Sec. 428. Timely provision of sea service letters
    ``A member of the Coast Guard who will retire or separate from the 
Service and who is eligible to receive a sea service letter shall be 
provided such sea service letter, at the member's request, not later 
than 90 days after making such request.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 11 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 427 the following:

``428. Timely provision of sea service letters.''.

SEC. 304. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS.

    (a) In General.--Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 461. Remission of indebtedness
    ``The Secretary or the Secretary's designee may have remitted or 
cancelled any part of an individual's indebtedness to the United States 
or any instrumentality of the United States if--
            ``(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the individual 
        served on active duty as a member of the Coast Guard; and
            ``(2) the Secretary or the Secretary's designee considers 
        remitting or cancelling any part of the indebtedness to be in 
        the best interest of the United States.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 13 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 461 and inserting the following:

``461. Remission of indebtedness.''.

SEC. 305. COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND CHILD CARE.

    (a) Section Redesignations.--
            (1) Reimbursement for adoption expenses.--Chapter 13 of 
        part I of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
        redesignating section 514 as section 541.
            (2) Child development services.--Chapter 13 of part I of 
        title 14, United States Code, is amended by redesignating 
        section 515 as section 552.
    (b) General Provisions.--Part I of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting before section 541, as redesignated, the 
following:

  ``CHAPTER 14--COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND CHILD CARE AUTHORITIES

                   ``SUBCHAPTER A--GENERAL PROVISIONS

``Sec. 531. Work-life policies and programs
    ``The Commandant is authorized--
            ``(1) to establish a program for the purpose of developing 
        and promulgating policies that promote or support the well-
        being of Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and civilian 
        personnel, and their families;
            ``(2) to implement and oversee the policies under paragraph 
        (1) as the Commandant considers necessary; and
            ``(3) to perform such other duties as the Commandant 
        considers necessary to promote or support the well-being of 
        Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel, and 
        their families.
``Sec. 532. Surveys of Coast Guard families
    ``(a) Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Commandant, in order to determine the effectiveness of Federal programs 
that promote or support the well-being of Coast Guard active duty, 
reserve, and civilian personnel, and their families, may survey--
            ``(1) any Coast Guard active duty, reserve, or civilian 
        personnel;
            ``(2) any retired Coast Guard member or civilian personnel;
            ``(3) the immediate family of any member or personnel 
        described under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2); and
            ``(4) any survivor of a deceased member.
    ``(b) Voluntary Participation.--Participation in any survey 
conducted under this section shall be voluntary.
    ``(c) Federal Recordkeeping.--With respect to a survey authorized 
under subsection (a) that includes a person referred to in that 
subsection who is not an employee of the United States or is not 
otherwise considered an employee of the United States for the purposes 
of section 3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44, the person shall be considered an 
employee of the United States for the purposes of that section.

             ``SUBCHAPTER B--COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT''.

    (c) Coast Guard Family Support.--Part I of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 541, as redesignated, the 
following:
``Sec. 542. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard 
              spouses
    ``(a) Tuition Assistance; Education and Training.--The Commandant 
may provide, subject to the availability of appropriations, tuition 
assistance to an eligible spouse of a member of the Coast Guard in 
achieving--
            ``(1) the education and training required for a degree or 
        credential, that expands employment and portable career 
        opportunities for the spouse, at an accredited college, 
        university, or technical school in the United States; or
            ``(2) the education prerequisites and professional 
        licensure or credentialing required by a government or 
        government-sanctioned licensing body for an occupation that 
        expands employment and portable career opportunities for the 
        spouse.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Eligible spouse.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible spouse' means 
                the spouse of a member of the Coast Guard who is 
                serving on active duty, including a spouse who receives 
                transitional support in the case of such a member who 
                is discharged due to domestic violence.
                    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `eligible spouse' does 
                not include--
                            ``(i) a person who is married to, but 
                        legally separated from, a member of the Coast 
                        Guard under court order or statute of any State 
                        or territorial possession of the United States; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) a person who is eligible for tuition 
                        assistance as a member of the armed forces.
            ``(2) Portable career opportunities.--The term `portable 
        career opportunities' includes an occupation requiring 
        education, training, or both, that results in a credential that 
        is recognized by an industry, profession, or specific type of 
        business.
``Sec. 543. Youth sponsorship initiatives
    ``(a) In General.--The Commandant is authorized to establish, 
within any Coast Guard unit, an initiative to help integrate into new 
communities the dependent children of members of the Coast Guard when 
the members receive permanent change of station orders.
    ``(b) Description of Initiative.--A youth sponsorship initiative 
under this section shall--
            ``(1) apply to a dependent child who resides in the new 
        community due to a permanent change of station order;
            ``(2) provide for the involvement of a dependent child of a 
        member of the Coast Guard in the dependent child's new Coast 
        Guard community; and
            ``(3) primarily focus on children in their preteen and 
        teenage years.''.
    (d) Coast Guard Child Care.--
            (1) In general; definitions.--Part I of title 14, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting before section 552, as 
        redesignated, the following:

                 ``SUBCHAPTER C--COAST GUARD CHILD CARE

``Sec. 551. Definitions
    ``In this subchapter:
            ``(1) Child abuse and neglect.--The term `child abuse and 
        neglect' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
        Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note).
            ``(2) Child development center employee.--The term `child 
        development center employee' means a civilian employee of the 
        Coast Guard who is employed to work in a Coast Guard child 
        development center regardless of whether the employee is paid 
        from appropriated or nonappropriated funds.
            ``(3) Coast guard child development center.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `Coast Guard child 
                development center' means a facility on Coast Guard 
                property or on property under the jurisdiction of the 
                commander of a Coast Guard unit, at which child care 
                services are provided for members of the Coast Guard.
                    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `Coast Guard child 
                development center' does not include a child care 
                services facility for which space is allotted under 
                section 590 of title 40.
            ``(4) Competitive service position.--The term `competitive 
        service position' means a position in the competitive service 
        (as defined in section 2102(a)(1) of title 5).
            ``(5) Family home daycare.--The term `family home daycare' 
        means home-based child care services provided for a member of 
        the Coast Guard by an individual who--
                    ``(A) is certified by the Commandant as qualified 
                to provide home-based child care services; and
                    ``(B) provides home-based child care services on a 
                regular basis in exchange for monetary compensation.''.
            (2) Child development services.--
                    (A) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of the 
                Congress that the amount of appropriated funds 
                available during a fiscal year for operating expenses 
                for Coast Guard child development services should be, 
                at a minimum, not less than the amount of child 
                development center fee receipts that are estimated to 
                be collected by the Coast Guard during that fiscal 
                year. In this subparagraph, the term ``child 
                development center fee receipts'' means those 
                nonappropriated funds derived from fees paid by members 
                of the Coast Guard for child care services provided at 
                Coast Guard child development centers.
                    (B) Headings.--Section 552 of title 14, United 
                States Code, as redesignated, is amended--
                            (i) in subsection (a), by inserting ``In 
                        General.--'' before ``The Commandant'';
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting 
                        ``Funding for child development services.--'' 
                        before ``The Commandant'';
                            (iii) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting 
                        ``Parent fees.--'' before ``The Commandant'';
                            (iv) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting 
                        ``Waiver authority.--'' before ``Fees to be 
                        charged''; and
                            (v) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting 
                        ``Fee collection and use.--'' before ``The 
                        Commandant''.
            (3) Child development center standards and inspections.--
        Part I of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in section 552, as redesignated--
                            (i) by striking subsections (c) and (e); 
                        and
                            (ii) by redesignating subsection (d) as 
                        subsection (c); and
                    (B) by adding after section 552, as redesignated, 
                the following:
``Sec. 553. Child development center standards and inspections
    ``(a) Early Childhood Development Standards.--The Commandant shall 
require that each child development center meets applicable health and 
safety standards.
    ``(b) Safety Standards.--The Commandant shall require that each 
child development center under this subchapter meets such safety 
standards as the Commandant considers appropriate to ensure the health, 
safety, and welfare of the children and employees at the child 
development center.
    ``(c) Inspections.--The Commandant shall provide for regular and 
unannounced inspections of each child development center under this 
subchapter to ensure compliance with this section.
    ``(d) National Reporting.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commandant shall maintain and 
        publicize a means by which an individual can report--
                    ``(A) any suspected violation of--
                            ``(i) standards of operation;
                            ``(ii) health or safety standards; or
                            ``(iii) other law or standards;
                    ``(B) any suspected child abuse or neglect; or
                    ``(C) any other deficiency at a Coast Guard child 
                development center or in family home daycare.
            ``(2) Anonymous reporting.--The Commandant shall ensure 
        that a report under paragraph (1) can be made anonymously if so 
        desired by the individual making the report.
            ``(3) Procedures.--The Commandant shall establish 
        procedures for investigating a report under paragraph (1).''.
            (4) Additional child care provisions.--Part I is amended by 
        adding after section 553 the following:
``Sec. 554. Child development center employees
    ``(a) Training.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commandant shall prescribe a 
        training program for Coast Guard child development center 
        employees. Satisfactory completion of the training program 
        shall be a condition of employment for an employee of a Coast 
        Guard child development center. The Commandant shall require 
        each employee complete the training program not later than 6 
        months after the date that the employee is employed as a Coast 
        Guard child development center employee.
            ``(2) Minimum requirements.--The training program shall 
        include, at a minimum, instruction in the following:
                    ``(A) Early childhood development.
                    ``(B) Activities and disciplinary techniques 
                appropriate to children of different ages.
                    ``(C) Child abuse and neglect prevention and 
                detection.
                    ``(D) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other 
                emergency medical procedures.
            ``(3) Use of department of defense programs.--The 
        Commandant may use Department of Defense training programs on a 
        reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, for purposes of 
        complying with the requirements of this subsection.
    ``(b) Training and Curriculum Specialists.--
            ``(1) Specialist required.--The Commandant shall require 
        that at least 1 employee at each Coast Guard child development 
        center be a specialist in training and curriculum development 
        with appropriate credentials and experience.
            ``(2) Duties.--The duties of the employee under paragraph 
        (1) shall include the following:
                    ``(A) Special teaching activities at the Coast 
                Guard child development center.
                    ``(B) Daily oversight and instruction of other 
                child care employees at the Coast Guard child 
                development center.
                    ``(C) Daily assistance in the preparation of lesson 
                plans.
                    ``(D) Assisting with child abuse and neglect 
                prevention and detection at the Coast Guard child 
                development center.
                    ``(E) Advising the director of the Coast Guard 
                child development center on the performance of the 
                other child care employees.
            ``(3) Competitive service.--Each employee under paragraph 
        (1) shall be an employee in a competitive service position.
``Sec. 555. Parent partnerships with child development centers
    ``(a) Parent Boards.--
            ``(1) Formation.--The Commandant shall require that there 
        be formed at each Coast Guard child development center a board 
        of parents, to be composed of parents of children attending the 
        center.
            ``(2) Functions.--Each parent board shall--
                    ``(A) meet periodically with the staff and the 
                commander of the unit served by the center at which the 
                parent board is formed, for the purpose of discussing 
                problems and concerns; and
                    ``(B) be responsible, together with the staff of 
                that center, for coordinating the parent participation 
                initiative required under subsection (b).
            ``(3) FACA.--A board of parents under this subsection shall 
        not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.).
    ``(b) Parent Participation Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commandant is authorized to 
        establish a parent participation initiative at each Coast Guard 
        child development center to encourage and facilitate parent 
        participation in educational and related activities at the 
        center.
            ``(2) Fee reduction authority.--The Commandant, in the case 
        of a parent who participates in an initiative adopted under 
        paragraph (1), may establish fees at a lower rate than charged 
        under section 552(b)(2)(A) for that parent.''.
    (e) Commandant; General Powers.--Section 93(a)(7) of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by section 205 of this Act, is further 
amended by inserting ``, and to eligible spouses under section 542,'' 
after ``Coast Guard''.
    (f) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 652 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 1993 (14 U.S.C. 514 note) is amended by 
        striking ``section 514'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``section 541''.
            (2) The table of contents for part I of title 14, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to section 514;
                    (B) by striking the item relating to section 515; 
                and
                    (C) by adding after the item relating to section 
                518 the following:

  ``Chapter 14. Coast Guard Family Support and Child Care Authorities

                   ``subchapter a. general provisions

``531. Work-life policies and programs.
``532. Surveys of Coast Guard families
               ``subchapter b. coast guard family support

``541. Reimbursement for adoption expenses.
``542. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses.
``543. Youth sponsorship initiatives.
                 ``subchapter c. coast guard child care

``551. Definitions.
``552. Child development services.
``553. Child development center standards and inspections.
``554. Child development center employees.
``555. Parent partnerships with child development centers.''.

SEC. 306. ACTIVE DUTY FOR EMERGENCY AUGMENTATION OF REGULAR FORCES.

    Section 712(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``another'' and inserting ``any other'';
            (2) by striking ``prevention of'' and inserting 
        ``prevention of--'';
            (3) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``an imminent'' and 
        indenting accordingly;
            (4) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``unit.'' and inserting ``unit; and''; and
            (5) by inserting at the end the following:
            ``(2) a major disaster or emergency (as defined in section 
        102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or a discharge (as defined in 
        section 311(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
        U.S.C. 1321(a))) that the Commandant has classified as a spill 
        of national significance under the National Oil and Hazardous 
        Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (part 300 of title 40, 
        Code of Federal Regulations), the Secretary may, without the 
        consent of the member affected, order to active duty for a 
        continuous period of not more than 120 days an organized 
        training unit of the Coast Guard Ready Reserve, a member 
        thereof, or a member not assigned to a unit organized to serve 
        as a unit.''.

SEC. 307. EXPEDITED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL GOODS AND SERVICES.

    Notwithstanding section 1085 of title 10, United States Code, or 
any other requirements under chapter 55 of that title providing for the 
reimbursement of inpatient or outpatient medical or dental care that 
the Department of Defense or a military department has provided to a 
member or former member of the Coast Guard or a dependent thereof, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in 
lieu of such reimbursement, shall transfer from funds appropriated for 
the operating expenses of the Coast Guard an amount determined by the 
Board of Actuaries to represent the value of care that the Department 
of Defense or a military department shall provide, during the fiscal 
year in which funds are made available, to a member or former member of 
the Coast Guard or a dependent thereof.

                        TITLE IV--ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 401. TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION REQUEST.

    (a) In General.--Title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 662 the following:
``Sec. 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
the President submits to Congress a budget request for a fiscal year 
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a Coast Guard authorization request with respect to 
that fiscal year.
    ``(b) Coast Guard Authorization Request Defined.--In this section, 
the term `Coast Guard authorization request' means proposed legislation 
that, with respect to the Coast Guard for the relevant fiscal year, 
includes--
            ``(1) recommended end-of-year strengths for active duty 
        personnel and military training student loads for that fiscal 
        year, as described in section 661;
            ``(2) recommended authorizations of appropriations for that 
        fiscal year, including with respect to matters described in 
        section 662; and
            ``(3) any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate 
        for inclusion in a Coast Guard authorization bill.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 17 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 662 the following:

``662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.''.

SEC. 402. RECOVERY OF TRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCE COSTS FOR PREVENTION 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Title 46, United States Code.--Section 2110 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by inserting ``appropriate travel 
        and subsistence costs incurred providing a service or thing of 
        value under this subtitle and'' after ``recover''; and
            (2) in subsection (d), by inserting at the end the 
        following:
            ``(3) Amounts received as reimbursement for appropriate 
        travel and subsistence costs incurred providing a service or 
        thing of value under this section may be credited to the 
        account from which expended.
            ``(4) Reimbursement for services provided under this 
        section may include in kind reimbursement for transportation, 
        travel, and subsistence.''.
    (b) Title 14, United States Code.--Section 664 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by inserting ``appropriate travel 
        and subsistence costs incurred by the Coast Guard in providing 
        a service or thing of value,'' after ``for the fee or charge 
        the'';
            (2) in subsection (e), by inserting ``and, as appropriate, 
        for travel and subsistence costs incurred when providing a 
        service or thing of value'' after ``charge''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Reimbursement for services provided by the Coast Guard may 
include in-kind reimbursement for transportation, travel, and 
subsistence.''.

SEC. 403. RETIRED SERVICEMEMBERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS SERVING ON ADVISORY 
              COMMITTEES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 679. Retired servicemembers and family members serving on 
              advisory committees
    ``A committee within the Coast Guard that advises or assists the 
Coast Guard in the performance of any function that affects members of 
military families and includes in its membership a retired Coast Guard 
member or a member of a military family shall not be considered an 
advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) solely because of such membership.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 17 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 678 the following:

``679. Retired servicemembers and family members serving on advisory 
                            committees.''.

SEC. 404. HOUSING CHOICES FOR COAST GUARD FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL 
              NEEDS.

    (a) Section Redesignations.--Chapter 18 of part I of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 685 as section 682;
            (2) by redesignating section 687 as section 683; and
            (3) by redesignating section 688 as section 684.
    (b) Housing Choices for Coast Guard Families With Special Medical 
Needs.--Chapter 18 of part I of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 685. Housing choices for Coast Guard families with special 
              medical needs
    ``The remoteness or driving distance from a hospital of an area 
shall not be the basis, in policy, for preventing a member of the Coast 
Guard with a dependent with special medical needs, such as diabetes, 
asthma, or moderate disabilities, from requesting and being granted 
assignment to a particular area, unless the Commandant has determined 
that such needs cannot be sufficiently met with appropriate services 
while residing in that area.''.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 682(b) of title 14, United States Code, as 
        redesignated, is amended by striking ``section 687'' and 
        inserting ``section 683''.
            (2) The table of contents for part I of title 14, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to section 685;
                    (B) by striking the item relating to section 687;
                    (C) by striking the item relating to section 688; 
                and
                    (D) by adding after the item relating to section 
                681 the following:

``682. Conveyance of real property.
``683. Coast Guard Housing Fund.
``684. Reports.
``685. Housing choices for Coast Guard families with special medical 
                            needs.''.

SEC. 405. AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT COAST GUARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) General Authority.--Section 681 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``housing or military unaccompanied 
                housing,'' and inserting ``housing, military 
                unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development 
                center facilities,''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Coast Guard child development center facilities.''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``housing or military 
        unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, military 
        unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities''.
    (b) Conveyance of Real Property.--Section 682 of title 14, United 
States Code, as redesignated under section 404 of this Act, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``housing and military 
        unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, military 
        unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``housing and 
        military unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, 
        military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child 
        development center facilities''; and
            (3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``housing or military 
        unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, military 
        unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities''.
    (c) Coast Guard Housing Fund.--Section 683 of title 14, United 
States Code, as redesignated under section 404 of this Act, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``housing or military 
        unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, military 
        unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``housing and 
        military unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, 
        military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child 
        development center facilities''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``housing and military 
        unaccompanied housing'' and inserting ``housing, military 
        unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities''.
    (d) Definitions.--Section 680 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(1) The term `Coast Guard child development center 
        facilities' means buildings and ancillary supporting facilities 
        constructed and maintained by the Coast Guard to provide child 
        care services for members of the Coast Guard.'';
            (3) in paragraph (2), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``housing and military unaccompanied housing'' and inserting 
        ``housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard 
        child development center facilities''; and
            (4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``housing and military unaccompanied housing'' and inserting 
        ``housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard 
        child development center facilities''.

SEC. 406. HEAVY POLAR ICEBREAKER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Competitive Bidding Authority.--Notwithstanding the requirement 
of section 3316(a) of title 46, United States Code regarding 
classification services for vessels owned by the United States 
Government, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, consistent with the 
requirements of chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, and other 
applicable Federal law, as a part of any project or program established 
for the acquisition of 1 or more new heavy polar icebreakers for the 
Coast Guard, may solicit bids and proposals and enter into contracts 
that include the provision of classification services by any 
classification society to which the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating has delegated the authority to 
provide those services for vessels not owned by the United States 
Government.
    (b) Limitation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the department in which 
        the Coast Guard is operating may not expend amounts 
        appropriated for the Coast Guard for any of fiscal years 2015 
        through 2024, for--
                    (A) design activities related to a capability of a 
                Polar-Class Icebreaker that is based solely on an 
                operational requirement of another Federal department 
                or agency, except for amounts appropriated for design 
                activities for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016; 
                or
                    (B) long-lead-time materials, production, or post-
                delivery activities related to such a capability.
            (2) Other amounts.--Amounts made available to the Secretary 
        under an agreement with another Federal department or agency 
        and expended on a capability of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that 
        is based solely on an operational requirement of that or 
        another Federal department or agency shall not be treated as 
        amounts expended by the Secretary for purposes of the 
        limitation established under paragraph (1).

SEC. 407. FORWARD OPERATING FACILITIES.

    The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating is authorized to construct or lease hangar, berthing, and 
messing facilities in the Arctic Region and Bering Sea-Aleutian Islands 
operating area. The facilities shall--
            (1) support aircraft maintenance, including exhaust 
        ventilation, heat, engine wash system, head facilities, fuel, 
        ground support services, and electrical power;
            (2) provide shelter for both current helicopter assets and 
        those projected to be located at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, 
        for at least 20 years; and
            (3) provide berthing and messing facilities for maintenance 
        and aircrew personnel.

SEC. 408. ENHANCED NATIONAL RESPONSE CAPABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(23)--
                    (A) by striking ``Unit'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``Functions''; and
                    (B) by striking ``established'' and inserting 
                ``maintained'';
            (2) in subsection (j)(2), by striking ``National response 
        unit'' through ``acting through the National Response Unit'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``National response functions.--The Secretary of the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating--''; and
            (3) in subsection (j)(4)(C)(vi), by striking ``, and into 
        operating procedures of the National Response Unit''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4202(b) of the Oil Pollution Act 
of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 1321 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively.

SEC. 409. UPDATES TO FINES AND PENALTIES.

    (a) Aids to Navigation and False Distress Messages.--Chapter 5 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 83, by striking ``$100'' and inserting 
        ``$1,500'';
            (2) in section 84, by striking ``$500'' and inserting 
        ``$5,000'';
            (3) in section 85, by striking ``$100'' and inserting 
        ``$1,500''; and
            (4) in section 88(c)(2), by striking ``$5,000'' and 
        inserting ``$10,000''.
    (b) Coast Guard Ensigns and Pennants.--Section 638(b) of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting 
``$50,000''.
    (c) Unauthorized Use of Words ``Coast Guard''.--Section 639 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,000'' and 
inserting ``$10,000''.

SEC. 410. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT; COAST GUARD ACADEMY CHARGES AND FEES FOR 
              ATTENDANCE.

    Section 197(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``of Homeland Security''.

                    TITLE V--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION

SEC. 501. PROMPT INTERGOVERNMENTAL NOTICE OF MARINE CASUALTIES.

    Section 6101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Notice to State and Tribal Governments.--
            ``(1) Requirement to notify.--Not later than 24 hours after 
        receiving notice of a reportable marine casualty under this 
        section, the Secretary shall report the marine casualty to the 
        designated official of--
                    ``(A) each appropriate State agency of a State; and
                    ``(B) each tribal government of an Indian tribe (as 
                defined in section 102 of the Federally Recognized 
                Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a)) that 
                has jurisdiction concurrent with the United States or 
                is adjacent to waters in which the marine casualty 
                occurred.
            ``(2) Designated official.--Each State and tribal 
        government referred to in paragraph (1) shall identify for the 
        Secretary the designated official to receive a report under 
        paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 502. DRUG TESTING REPORTING.

    Section 7706 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``an applicant for 
        employment by a Federal agency,'' after ``Federal agency,''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (c), by--
                    (A) inserting ``or an applicant for employment by a 
                Federal agency'' after ``an employee''; and
                    (B) striking ``the employee.'' and inserting ``the 
                employee or the applicant.''.

SEC. 503. PROTECTION AND FAIR TREATMENT OF SEAFARERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 111 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 11113. Protection and fair treatment of seafarers
    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section shall be to ensure the 
protection and fair treatment of seafarers.
    ``(b) Special Fund.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury 
        a special fund known as the Support of Seafarers Fund.
            ``(2) Use of amounts in fund.--The amounts deposited into 
        the Fund shall be available to the Secretary, without fiscal 
        year limitation--
                    ``(A) to pay necessary support under subsection 
                (c)(1); and
                    ``(B) to reimburse a shipowner for necessary 
                support for the duration of a seafarer's involvement in 
                an investigation under subsection (c)(2).
            ``(3) Amounts credited to fund.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Fund may receive--
                    ``(A) any moneys ordered to be paid to the Fund in 
                the form of community service under section 8B1.3 of 
                the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual or to 
                the extent permitted under paragraph (4); and
                    ``(B) amounts reimbursed or recovered under 
                subsection (e).
            ``(4) Prerequisite for community service credits.--The Fund 
        may receive credits under paragraph (3)(A) if the unobligated 
        balance of the Fund is less than $5,000,000.
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriation.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated, from the Fund, for each fiscal year such 
        sums as may be necessary for the purposes set forth in 
        paragraph (2).
            ``(6) Report required.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress, concurrent with the President's budget 
                submission for a given fiscal year, a report that 
                describes--
                            ``(i) the amounts credited to the Fund 
                        under paragraph (3) for the preceding fiscal 
                        year;
                            ``(ii) in detail, the activities for which 
                        amounts were charged; and
                            ``(iii) the projected level of expenditures 
                        from the Fund for the upcoming fiscal year, 
                        based on--
                                    ``(I) on-going activities; and
                                    ``(II) new cases, derived from 
                                historic data.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply 
                to obligations during the first fiscal year during 
                which amounts are credited to the Fund.
            ``(7) Fund manager.--The Secretary shall designate a Fund 
        manager who shall--
                    ``(A) ensure the visibility and accountability of 
                transactions utilizing the Fund;
                    ``(B) prepare the report under paragraph (6);
                    ``(C) monitor the unobligated balance of the Fund; 
                and
                    ``(D) provide notice to the Secretary and the 
                Attorney General whenever the unobligated balance of 
                the Fund is less than $5,000,000.
    ``(c) Authority.--The Secretary may--
            ``(1) pay, from amounts appropriated from the Fund, 
        necessary support of--
                    ``(A) a seafarer that--
                            ``(i) enters, remains, or is paroled into 
                        the United States; and
                            ``(ii) is involved in an investigation, 
                        reporting, documentation, or adjudication of 
                        any matter that is related to the 
                        administration or enforcement of any treaty, 
                        law, or regulation by the Coast Guard; and
                    ``(B) a seafarer that the Secretary determines was 
                abandoned in the United States; and
            ``(2) reimburse, from amounts appropriated from the Fund, a 
        shipowner that has provided necessary support of a seafarer who 
        has been paroled into the United States to facilitate an 
        investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any 
        matter that is related to the administration or enforcement of 
        any treaty, law, or regulation by the Coast Guard, for the 
        costs of necessary support if the Secretary determines that 
        reimbursement is necessary to avoid serious injustice.
    ``(d) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed--
            ``(1) to create a right, benefit, or entitlement to 
        necessary support; or
            ``(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reimburse the cost 
        of necessary support.
    ``(e) Reimbursement; Recovery.--
            ``(1) In general.--A shipowner shall reimburse the Fund an 
        amount equal to the total amount paid from the Fund for 
        necessary support of a seafarer plus a surcharge of 25 percent 
        of the total amount if--
                    ``(A) the shipowner--
                            ``(i) during the course of an 
                        investigation, reporting, documentation, or 
                        adjudication of any matter that the Coast Guard 
                        referred to a United States Attorney or the 
                        Attorney General, fails to provide necessary 
                        support of a seafarer who was paroled into the 
                        United States to facilitate the investigation, 
                        reporting, documentation, or adjudication; and
                            ``(ii) subsequently receives a criminal 
                        penalty; or
                    ``(B) the shipowner, under any circumstance, 
                abandons a seafarer in the United States, as determined 
                by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Enforcement.--If a shipowner fails to reimburse the 
        Fund under paragraph (1), the Secretary may--
                    ``(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on which 
                the affected seafarer served in the Federal district 
                court for the district in which the vessel is found; 
                and
                    ``(B) withhold or revoke the clearance required 
                under section 60105 of any vessel of the shipowner 
                wherever the vessel is found.
            ``(3) Remedy.--A vessel may obtain clearance from the 
        Secretary after it is withheld or revoked under paragraph 
        (2)(B) if the shipowner reimburses the Fund the amount required 
        under paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Bond and Surety.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary may require a bond or a 
        surety satisfactory as an alternative to withholding or 
        revoking clearance under subsection (e) if, in the opinion of 
        the Secretary, the bond or surety satisfactory is necessary to 
        facilitate an investigation, reporting, documentation, or 
        adjudication of any matter that is related to the 
        administration or enforcement of any treaty, law, or regulation 
        by the Coast Guard.
            ``(2) Surety corporations.--A surety corporation may 
        provide a bond or surety satisfactory under paragraph (1) if 
        the surety corporation is authorized by the Secretary of the 
        Treasury under section 9305 of title 31 to provide surety bonds 
        under section 9304 of title 31.
            ``(3) Application.--The authority to require a bond or 
        surety satisfactory or to request the withholding or revocation 
        of the clearance under subsection (e) applies to any 
        investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any 
        matter that is related to the administration or enforcement of 
        any treaty, law, or regulation by the Coast Guard.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Abandons; abandoned.--The term `abandons' or 
        `abandoned' means--
                    ``(A) a shipowner's unilateral severance of ties 
                with a seafarer; or
                    ``(B) a shipowner's failure to provide necessary 
                support of a seafarer.
            ``(2) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Support of Seafarers 
        Fund established under this section.
            ``(3) Necessary support.--The term `necessary support' 
        means normal wages, lodging, subsistence, clothing, medical 
        care (including hospitalization), repatriation, and any other 
        expense the Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(4) Seafarer.--The term `seafarer' means an alien crewman 
        who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board a vessel 
        subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. A seafarer is 
        a claimant for the purposes of section 30509 of this title.
            ``(5) Shipowner.--The term `shipowner' means an individual 
        or entity that owns, has an ownership interest in, or operates 
        a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
            ``(6) Vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the united 
        states.--The term `vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the 
        United States' has the meaning given the term in section 
        70502(c), except that it excludes--
                    ``(A) a vessel--
                            ``(i) that is owned by the United States, a 
                        State or political subdivision thereof, or a 
                        foreign nation; and
                            ``(ii) that is not engaged in commerce; and
                    ``(B) a bareboat--
                            ``(i) that is chartered and operated by the 
                        United States, a State or political subdivision 
                        thereof, or a foreign nation; and
                            ``(ii) that is not engaged in commerce.
    ``(h) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe regulations to 
implement this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 111 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 11112 the following:

``11113. Protection and fair treatment of seafarers.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Support of Seafarers Fund $1,500,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

SEC. 504. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICES OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE AND 
              AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall publish a final rule implementing the 
proposed rule ``Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival and 
Departure, and Automatic Identification System'' (73 Fed. Reg. 76295).
    (b) Rule of Construction.--The Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall ensure, with respect to a final rule 
issued under subsection (a), that any notice of arrival or notice of 
departure requirement in the final rule applies to vessels in a manner 
consistent with the regulations promulgated under section 109(a) of the 
Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 1223 
note) and with section 704 of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2012 (126 Stat. 1580).

SEC. 505. IMPROVED SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VESSELS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
establish a permitting process by which an operator of a marine 
exchange or other non-Federal vessel traffic information service may 
apply for permission to use the automatic identification system to 
transmit weather, ice, and other important navigation safety 
information to vessels.

SEC. 506. PROMPT PUBLICATION OF OIL SPILL INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--In any response to an oil spill in which the Coast 
Guard serves as the Federal on-scene coordinator leading a unified 
command, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall publish, on a publicly 
accessible website, all written incident action plans prepared and 
approved as a part of the response to the oil spill.
    (b) Timeliness and Duration.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall--
            (1) publish each incident action plan under subsection (a) 
        promptly after the incident action plan is approved for 
        implementation by the unified command, but not later than 12 
        hours after the beginning of the operational period for which 
        the plan is prepared; and
            (2) ensure that each incident action plan under subsection 
        (a) remains publicly accessible on the website under subsection 
        (a) for the duration of the response to the applicable oil 
        spill.
    (c) Redaction of Personal Information.--The Commandant may redact 
information from an incident action plans published under subsection 
(a) to the extent necessary to comply with applicable privacy laws and 
other laws regarding the protection of personal information.

SEC. 507. AREA CONTINGENCY PLANS.

    Section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1321(j)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, and of tribal 
        governments of Indian tribes (as defined in section 102 of the 
        Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 
        479a))'' after ``and local agencies'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)--
                    (A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, 
                local, and tribal''; and
                    (B) by striking ``wildlife;'' and inserting 
                ``wildlife, including advance planning with respect to 
                the closing and reopening of fishing grounds following 
                a discharge;'';
            (3) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ``and local'' and 
        inserting ``, local, and tribal''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (iv), by inserting ``and tribal 
                governments of Indian tribes'' after ``local 
                agencies,'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) as 
                clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
                            ``(vii) develop a framework for advance 
                        planning and decisionmaking with respect to the 
                        closing and reopening of fishing grounds 
                        following a discharge, including protocols and 
                        standards for the closing and reopening of 
                        fishing areas;''.

SEC. 508. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Vessel Response Plan Contents.--The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require that each vessel 
response plan prepared for a mobile offshore drilling unit include 
information from the facility response plan prepared for the mobile 
offshore drilling unit regarding the planned response to a worst case 
discharge, and to a threat of such a discharge.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Mobile offshore drilling unit.--The term ``mobile 
        offshore drilling unit'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701).
            (2) Response plan.--The term ``response plan'' means a 
        response plan prepared under section 311(j) of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)).
            (3) Worst case discharge.--The term ``worst case 
        discharge'' has the meaning given the term under section 311(a) 
        of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)).
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require the Coast Guard to review or approve a facility 
response plan for a mobile offshore drilling unit.

                        TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 601. WAIVERS.

    (a) F/V Western Challenger.--Notwithstanding sections 12112 and 
12132 and chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue a 
license under chapter 121 for the F/V WESTERN CHALLENGER (IMO number 
5388108).
    (b) John Craig.--
            (1) Exemption.--Section 8902 of title 46, United States 
        Code, shall not apply to the vessel JOHN CRAIG (United States 
        official number 1110613) when such vessel is operating on the 
        portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, located at 
        approximately mile point 158, in Pool Number 9, between Lock 
        and Dam Number 9 and Lock and Dam Number 10.
            (2) Application.--The exemption under paragraph (1) shall 
        apply on and after the date on which the Secretary of the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines 
        that a licensing requirement has been established under 
        Kentucky State law that applies to an operator of the vessel 
        JOHN CRAIG.

SEC. 602. INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT FOR REGIONAL CITIZENS' ADVISORY 
              COUNCIL.

    Section 5002(k)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
2732(k)(3)) is amended by striking ``not more than $1,000,000'' and 
inserting ``not less than $1,400,000''.
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