Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015

To amend certain maritime programs of the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015 2. Cadet commitment agreements Section 51306(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking must shall (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2) obtain a merchant mariner license, unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage, issued by the United States Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation, before graduation from the Academy; ; (3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) for at least 6 years after graduation from the Academy, maintain— (A) a valid merchant mariner license, unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage, issued by the United States Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation; (B) a valid transportation worker identification credential; and (C) a United States Coast Guard medical certificate; ; and (4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: (4) apply for, and accept if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve (including the Strategic Sealift Officer Program, Navy Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve component of an armed force of the United States, and, if tendered the appointment, to serve, meet the participation requirements, and maintain active status in good standing, as determined by the program manager of the appropriate military service, for at least 8 years after the date of commissioning; . 3. Student incentive payment agreements Section 51509 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by inserting (3) Authorized uses (B) in the matter preceding paragraph (3), by striking Payments (1) In general (C) by inserting after paragraph (1), the following: (2) Exception The Secretary may modify the payments made to an individual under paragraph (1), but the total amount of payments to that individual may not exceed $32,000. ; (2) in subsection (c), by striking Merchant Marine Reserve Strategic Sealift Officer Program (3) in subsection (d)— (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2) obtain a merchant mariner license, without limitation as to tonnage or horsepower, from the United States Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation, within three months of completion of the course of instruction at the academy the individual is attending; ; (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) for at least 6 years after graduation from the academy, maintain— (A) a valid merchant mariner license, unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage, issued by the United States Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation; (B) a valid transportation worker identification credential; and (C) a United States Coast Guard medical certificate; and (C) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: (4) apply for, and accept, if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve (including the Strategic Sealift Officer Program, Navy Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve component of an armed force of the United States, and, if tendered the appointment, to serve and meet the participation requirements and to maintain active status in good standing, as determined by the program manager of the appropriate military service, for at least 8 years after the date of commissioning; ; (4) by amending subsection (e)(1) to read as follows: (1) Active duty (A) In general The Secretary of Defense may order an individual to serve on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of not more than 2 years if— (i) the individual has attended an academy under this section for more than 2 academic years, but less than 3 academic years; (ii) the individual has accepted the payments described in subsection (b) in an amount totaling at least $8,000; and (iii) the Secretary of Transportation has determined that the individual has failed to fulfill the part of the agreement described in subsection (d)(1). (B) 3 or more years The Secretary of Defense may order an individual to serve on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of not more than 3 years if— (i) the individual has attended an academy under this section for 3 or more academic years; (ii) the individual has accepted the payments described in subsection (b) in an amount totaling at least $16,000; and (iii) the Secretary of Transportation has determined that the individual has failed to fulfill the part of the agreement described in subsection (d)(1). (C) Hardship waiver In cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Transportation may waive this paragraph in whole or in part. ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (h) Alternative service (1) Service as commissioned officer An individual who, for the 5-year period following graduation from an academy, serves as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed force of the United States or as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service shall be excused from the requirements of paragraphs (3) through (5) of subsection (d). (2) Modification or waiver The Secretary may modify or waive any of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection (d) through the imposition of alternative service requirements. . 4. Federal Unemployment Tax Act Section 3305 26 U.S.C. 3305 Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Transportation 5. Short sea transportation defined Paragraph (1) of section 55605 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking or (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking and (3) by adding at the end the following: (C) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation; or (D) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats; and . 6. Authorization of appropriations for national security aspects of the Merchant Marine for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (a) Fiscal year 2016 Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2016, to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided in appropriations Acts, for the use of the Department of Transportation for Maritime Administration programs associated with maintaining national security aspects of the merchant marine, as follows: (1) For expenses necessary for operations of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, $80,000,000, of which— (A) $65,000,000 shall remain available until expended for Academy operations; and (B) $15,000,000 shall remain available until expended for capital asset management at the Academy. (2) For expenses necessary to support the State maritime academies, $22,200,000, of which— (A) $2,300,000 shall remain available until expended for student incentive payments; (B) $2,400,000 shall remain available until expended for direct payments to such academies; (C) $15,000,000 shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of State maritime academy training vessels; and (D) $2,500,000 shall remain available until expended for a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Design Program. (3) For expenses necessary to support Maritime Administration operations and programs, $50,400,000. (4) For expenses necessary to dispose of vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, $4,000,000 to remain available until expended. (5) For expenses to maintain and preserve a United States-flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the United States under chapter 531 (6) For administrative expenses of the loan guarantees authorized by chapter 537 (b) Fiscal year 2017 Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2017, to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided in appropriations Acts, for the use of the Department of Transportation for Maritime Administration programs associated with maintaining national security aspects of the merchant marine, as follows: (1) For expenses necessary for operations of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, $80,000,000, of which— (A) $65,000,000 shall remain available until expended for Academy operations; and (B) $15,000,000 shall remain available until expended for capital asset management at the Academy. (2) For expenses necessary to support the State maritime academies, $22,200,000, of which— (A) $2,300,000 shall remain available until expended for student incentive payments; (B) $2,400,000 shall remain available until expended for direct payments to such academies; (C) $15,000,000 shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of State maritime academy training vessels; and (D) $2,500,000 shall remain available until expended for a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Design Program. (3) For expenses necessary to support Maritime Administration operations and programs, $50,400,000. (4) For expenses necessary to dispose of vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, $4,000,000 to remain available until expended. (5) For expenses to maintain and preserve a United States-flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the United States under chapter 531 (6) For administrative expenses of the loan guarantees authorized by chapter 537

Summary: Maritime Administration Enhancement Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill revises: the licensing and service requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet commitment agreements, and requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy student incentive payment agreements related to licensing, the service commitment, and the circumstances under which an individual may be ordered to active duty. (Sec. 3) Payments to individuals may be modified if the total amount of payments to an individual does not exceed $32,000. (Sec. 4) The Internal Revenue Code is amended to reflect the transfer of the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. (Sec. 5) The definition of "short sea transportation" shall include carriage by a documented vessel of cargo that is: (1) shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized, or unitized for purposes of transportation; or (2) freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats. (Sec. 6) The national security aspects of the U.S. Merchant Marine are reauthorized through FY2017.