Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014

To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 through 2016, and for other purposes. 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. I Authorization 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 19 102. 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. II Organization 201. Commandant; appointment Section 44 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. 202. Prevention and response workforces Section 57 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2) by striking or (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 marine safety engineer, waterways operations manager, or port and facility safety and security specialist (3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking investigator or marine safety engineer. investigator, marine safety engineer, waterways operations manager, or port and facility safety and security specialist. 203. Clarification of Coast Guard ice operations mission (a) Coast Guard provision of Federal icebreaking services Chapter 5 section 86 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) (A) by inserting to execute the statutory missions of the Coast Guard and needed (B) by inserting and all budget authority related to such operations projects, (2) Section 312 Section 312(c) of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 ( 16 U.S.C. 2441(c) to execute the statutory missions of the Coast Guard and needed (c) Conforming amendment The table of contents for chapter 5 87. Provision of icebreaking services. . 204. Coast Guard centers of expertise Section 58(b) (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. . 205. Research, development, testing, and evaluation (a) Research, development, testing, and evaluation Section 93 (1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking agencies and with private agencies; agencies, private agencies, and, through the Secretary with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, with foreign government agencies; (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) and those textbooks, manuals, and other materials required as a part of such training or courses of instruction correspondence courses, (c) Lease of tidelands and submerged lands under control of the Coast Guard Section 93 (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. . 206. Arctic maritime domain awareness (a) In general Chapter 7 154. 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 (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 (2) Maritime domain awareness The term maritime domain awareness . (b) Conforming amendment The table of contents for chapter 7 154. Interagency Arctic Maritime Domain Awareness Committee. . 207. Annual Board of Visitors Section 194 194. 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. . III Personnel 301. Flag officers; determination of unfitness (a) In general Subchapter D of chapter 11 316. 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 (B) place such member on the temporary disability retired list under section 1202 (C) separate such member from the Coast Guard under section 1203 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 11 316. Flag officers; determination of unfitness. . 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 2017 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 section 427 428. 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 11 428. Timely provision of sea service letters. . 304. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness (a) In general Section 461 461. 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 13 461. Remission of indebtedness. . 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: 14 Coast Guard family support and child care authorities A General provisions 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. 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. 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: 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 (B) Exclusions The term eligible spouse (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 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: C Coast Guard child care 551. Definitions In this subchapter: (1) Child abuse and neglect The term child abuse and neglect (2) Child development center employee The term child development center employee (3) Coast Guard child development center (A) In general The term Coast Guard child development center (B) Exclusions The term Coast Guard child development center (4) Competitive service position The term competitive service position section 2102(a)(1) (5) Family home daycare The term family home daycare (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 (B) Headings Section 552 (i) in subsection (a), by inserting In general The Commandant (ii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting Funding for child development services The Commandant (iii) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting Parent fees The Commandant (iv) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting Waiver authority Fees to be charged (v) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting Fee collection and use 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: 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: 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. 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) , and to eligible spouses under section 542, 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 section 514 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. . 306. Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces Section 712(a) (1) by striking another any other (2) by striking prevention of prevention of— (3) by inserting (1) an imminent (4) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking unit. unit; 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 . 307. Expedited reimbursement for medical goods and services Notwithstanding section 1085 IV Administration 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: 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 (b) Coast Guard authorization request defined In this section, the term Coast Guard authorization request (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 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. . 402. Recovery of travel and subsistence costs for prevention services (a) Title 46, United States Code Section 2110 (1) in subsection (c), by inserting appropriate travel and subsistence costs incurred providing a service or thing of value under this subtitle and recover (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 (1) in subsection (c), by inserting appropriate travel and subsistence costs incurred by the Coast Guard in providing a service or thing of value, 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 charge (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. . 403. Retired servicemembers and family members serving on advisory committees (a) In general Chapter 17 679. 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 17 679. Retired servicemembers and family members serving on advisory committees. . 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: 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) section 687 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. . 405. Authority to construct Coast Guard child development center facilities (a) General authority Section 681 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking housing or military unaccompanied housing, housing, military unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center facilities, (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 housing, military unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center facilities (b) Conveyance of real property Section 682 (1) in subsection (a), by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities (3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking housing or military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center facilities (c) Coast Guard housing fund Section 683 (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking housing or military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, or Coast Guard child development center facilities (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities (3) in subsection (c), by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities (d) Definitions Section 680 (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 ; (3) in paragraph (2), as redesignated, by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities (4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by striking housing and military unaccompanied housing housing, military unaccompanied housing, and Coast Guard child development center facilities 406. Heavy polar icebreaker design and construction (a) Competitive bidding authority Notwithstanding the requirement of section 3316(a) chapter 15 (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). 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. 408. Enhanced national response capability (a) In general Section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1321 (1) in subsection (a)(23)— (A) by striking Unit Functions (B) by striking established maintained (2) in subsection (j)(2), by striking National response unit acting through the National Response Unit 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 (1) by striking paragraph (2); and (2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. 409. Updates to fines and penalties (a) Aids to navigation and false distress messages Chapter 5 (1) in section 83, by striking $100 $1,500 (2) in section 84, by striking $500 $5,000 (3) in section 85, by striking $100 $1,500 (4) in section 88(c)(2), by striking $5,000 $10,000 (b) Coast Guard ensigns and pennants Section 638(b) $5,000 $50,000 (c) Unauthorized use of words Coast Guard Section 639 $1,000 $10,000 410. Technical amendment; Coast Guard Academy charges and fees for attendance Section 197(b) of Homeland Security V Shipping and navigation 501. Prompt intergovernmental notice of marine casualties Section 6101 (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 (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). . 502. Drug testing reporting Section 7706 (1) in subsection (a), by inserting an applicant for employment by a Federal agency, Federal agency, (2) in subsection (c), by— (A) inserting or an applicant for employment by a Federal agency an employee (B) striking the employee. the employee or the applicant. 503. Protection and fair treatment of seafarers (a) In general Chapter 111 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 (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 abandoned (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 (3) Necessary support The term necessary support (4) Seafarer The term seafarer (5) Shipowner The term shipowner (6) Vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States The term vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States (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 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. 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 (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 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. 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. 507. Area contingency plans Section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(4) (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 and local agencies (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— (A) by striking and local , local, and tribal (B) by striking wildlife; 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 , local, and tribal (4) in subparagraph (C)— (A) in clause (iv), by inserting and tribal governments of Indian tribes 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; . 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 (2) Response plan The term response plan (3) Worst case discharge The term worst case discharge (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. VI Miscellaneous 601. Waivers (a) F/V Western Challenger Notwithstanding sections 12112 and 12132 and chapter 551 (b) John Craig (1) Exemption Section 8902 (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. 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) not more than $1,000,000 not less than $1,400,000

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 10, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 - Title I: Authorization - (Sec. 101) Authorizes FY2015 appropriations for the Coast Guard for: operation and maintenance; the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; the Coast Guard Reserve program; environmental compliance and restoration of Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and facilities; research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, and human factors related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense readiness; and 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. (Sec. 102) Authorizes for FY2015 end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 and military training student loads. Title II: Coast Guard - (Sec. 201) Reduces from 7,200 to 6,000 the number of commissioned officers on the active duty promotion list, subject to current exceptions. (Sec. 202) Designates the date on which the term for the Commandant of the Coast Guard begins and ends. (Sec. 203) Identifies the skills and qualifications necessary for a career as a waterways operations manager or a facility safety and security specialist. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Coast Guard&rsquo;s centers of expertise for prevention and response to conduct experiments and investigate plans, devices, and inventions relating to the performance of Coast Guard functions. (Sec. 205) Increases the amount of certain fines and penalties for tampering with aids to navigation and making false distress calls. (Sec. 206) Authorizes the Coast Guard to enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities and foreign nations for conducting experiments and investigating plans, devices, and inventions relating to the performance of Coast Guard functions. Authorizes the Coast Guard to impose and collect a fee from those entities for expenses incurred in carrying out the agreements. (Sec. 208) Permits proceeds received from the lease of lighthouse properties under the Coast Guard&rsquo;s administrative control to be deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund for the construction and renovation of servicemember housing. (Currently, the proceeds are deposited in the Treasury.) (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Coast Guard to lease submerged lands and tidelands under its control for periods longer than five years. (Sec. 210) Requires the Coast Guard to provide notification to the public, governors of affected states, and Congress 90 days in advance of a determination that a waterway is subject to Coast Guard jurisdiction. (Sec. 211) Modifies the membership and duties of the Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard Academy. Establishes the terms for Academy members. Directs the Board to report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Congress after each annual Academy visit. (Sec. 212) Authorizes DHS to retire Coast Guard flag officers without the review of the Department of Defense (DOD) unless the Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy. (Sec. 213) Repeals a limitation on issuing more than one medal of honor to any one person. (Sec. 214) Authorizes the Coast Guard to: establish an office for developing, promulgating, and coordinating policies, programs, and activities related to Coast Guard members&rsquo; families; provide tuition assistance to eligible spouses of servicemembers; and establish within any Coast Guard unit an initiative to help servicemembers&rsquo; children integrate into new surroundings. Requires the Coast Guard to direct each of its child development centers to meet standards that ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the centers&rsquo; children and employees and employee training requirements. Directs the Coast Guard to require that each center has a board of parents of children attending the center. Authorizes the Coast Guard to establish a parent participation initiative at each center. Expresses the sense of Congress that the amount of funds appropriated for operating expenses related to Coast Guard child development services should not be less than the amount of the child development center fee receipts estimated to be collected by the Coast Guard. (Sec. 215) Requires the Coast Guard to submit to Congress an integrated major acquisition mission need statement on the date the President submits a budget for FY2016, FY2019 and every four years thereafter. Requires the statement to: (1) identify current and projected gaps in Coast Guard mission capabilities, (2) explain how each major acquisition program (an ongoing acquisition with a cost estimate of at least $300 million) addresses the gaps if funded at the levels provided for the program in the Coast Guard&rsquo;s most recently submitted capital investment plan, and (3) describe the missions the Coast Guard will not be able to achieve for each gap. (Sec. 216) Requires DHS to submit each fiscal year a Coast Guard authorization request that recommends end strengths for personnel and authorizations of appropriations. (Sec. 217) Requires the Coast Guard to: (1) establish, maintain, and update an inventory of property under its control, including submerged lands; (2) assess the condition of each property; and (3) make recommendations on divesting and consolidating any of those properties to Congress every five years. (Sec. 219) Modifies the limitation on the number of days within a specified period that an organized training unit or member of the Coast Guard Ready Reserve may be ordered to serve in active duty for an emergency augmentation of regular forces. (Sec. 220) Extends through FY2017 the Coast Guards authority to hire acquisition workforce on an expedited basis. (Sec. 221) Revises, repeals, and consolidates various reporting requirements. (Sec. 223) Authorizes DHS to enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of Offshore Patrol Cutters (vessels that are 65 feet or greater) and associated equipment. (Sec. 224) Directs DHS to submit to Congress a schedule and plan for enhancing the maintenance or extending the service life of medium endurance cutter mission capability. (Sec. 225) Authorizes DHS to request and accept a miltary-to-military transfer and conversion of H-60 helicopters for year round use in the Coast Guard&rsquo;s Ninth District (the Great Lakes region). Prohibits the Coast Guard from: (1) closing an air facility that was in operation on November 30, 2014; or (2) retiring, transfering, relocating, or deploying an aviation asset from those air facility for the purpose of closing such facility. Terminates this prohibition on January 1, 2016. (Sec. 226) Requires the Coast Guard to report on any gaps that exist in writing on the history of the Coast Guard. (Sec. 227) Requires the Coast Guard to assess the Coast Guard&rsquo;s officer evaluation reporting system. (Sec. 228) Requires DHS to establish a process that allows an operator of a nonfederal vessel traffic information service to use the automatic identification system to transmit weather, ice, and important navigation safety information to vessels. (Sec. 229) Prohibits DHS from dismantling or disposing of infrastructure that supported the former LORAN system (long range radio aid to navigation system) until the later of: (1) one year after this Act&rsquo;s enactment; or (2) the date on which DHS notifies Congress that the infrastructure is not required to provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system as a redundant capability in the event Global Positioning System signals are disrupted. Provides an exception for activities necessary for the safety of human life. Permits DHS to enter agreements with entities to develop another system to provide such redundant capability, including an enhanced LORAN system. (Sec. 230) Requires the Coast Guard to analyze and report on any deficiencies that exist in Coast Guard resources with respect to maritime border security in the Great Lakes, the coastal areas in the Southeast and Southwest, and the Western Hemisphere Drug Transit Zone. (Sec. 231) Requires DHS to report on efforts to modernize the National Distress and Response System in the Rescue 21 project in Alaska and in Coast Guard sectors of the Upper Mississippi River, Lower Mississippi River, and Ohio River Valley. (Sec. 232) Requires the Coast Guard to outline and report on a course of action to reconcile general maintenance priorities for cutters with operations priorities on the Missouri River. (Sec. 233) Requires the Coast Guard to assess and report on the Maritime Search and Rescue Assistance policy as it related to state and local responders. Title III: Shipping and Navigation - (Sec. 301) Repeals a requirement that the Department of Commerce promote the development and use of mobile trade fairs to show and sell products of U.S. business and agriculture at foreign ports and commercial centers. (Sec. 302) Authorizes Department of Transportation (DOT) to donate government property administered by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for historical purposes, except real estate or vessels, to nonprofit organizations, states, or political subdivisions. (Sec. 303) Reauthorizes through FY2017 appropriations to MARAD for a program that provides assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities. (Sec. 304) Directs federal agencies that operate vessels to report drug test violations by employment applicants to the Coast Guard. (Sec. 305) Requires DHS to provide veterans with documentation of their sea service. Directs the Coast Guard to promote awareness among its personnel of post-service use of Coast Guard training, education, and practical experience in satisfaction of requirements for merchant mariner credentials. (Sec. 306) Redefines &ldquo;high-risk waters,&rdquo; for purposes of determining when owners or operators of U.S. vessels carrying government-impelled cargo are to be reimbursed for the cost of providing armed on-board safety personnel, as waters: (1) so designated by the Coast Guard in the appropriate maritime security directive, and (2) in which DOT determines an act of piracy is likely to occur based on documented acts of piracy that occurred in such waters during the 12-month period preceding the applicable voyage. (Sec. 308) Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the number of jobs that would be created in the U.S. maritime industry in each of years 2015-2025 if liquefied natural gas exported from the United States were required to be carried: (1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels documented under the laws of the United States; and (2) after such date, on vessels documented under U.S. laws and constructed in the United States. (Sec. 309) Reauthorizes the Fishing Safety Grant Program through FY2017. (Sec. 310) Directs DHS to establish a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee to advise DHS on matters relation to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine and comment on proposed Coast Guard regulations relating to those personnel. Authorizes the Committee to conduct studies and make its recommendations available to Congress. Terminates the Committee on September 30, 2020. (Sec. 311) Authorizes DHS to accept in-kind reimbursement for transportation, travel, and subsistence when inspecting certain vessels. (Sec. 312) Requires DHS to provide notice of major marine casualties to state and tribal governments within 24 hours of it being reported to DHS. (Sec. 313) Amends provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) related to area contingency plans for the discharge of oil and hazardous substances, by authorizing Indian tribes to participate in area committees established to plan for responses to spills and requiring the plans to include a framework for advance planning and decision making with respect to the closing and reopening of fishing areas following a discharge. (Sec. 314) Prohibits the Coast Guard from disseminating data it collected in an ice patrol about iceberg locations and dangerous ice conditions in the North Atlantic Ocean to vessels of nations that failed to reimburse the Coast Guard for this service as required. (Sec. 315) Establishes a process for DHS to delegate to classification societies (non-governmental organizations that act on the Coast Guard's behalf in caring out certification and inspection activities) the authority to inspect offshore supply vessels. Requires DHS to report to Congress within specified periods regarding: (1) the number of vessels for which a delegation was made, (2) any savings in personnel and operational costs incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted from the delegation, and (3) any impacts of the delegations on the operational safety of vessels and vessel crews. (Sec. 317) Directs DHS to require that each vessel response plan prepared for a mobile offshore drilling unit include information from the facility response plan prepared for the unit regarding the planned response to a worst case discharge and to a threat of those discharges. (Sec. 318) Revises the amount owners or operators of terminal facilities, offshore facilities, or crude oil tankers are required to provide to Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council in Alaska each year. (Sec. 319) Increases the number of passengers (from 6 to 12) that a U.S. owned, uninspected, passenger vessels that is less than 24 meters in length and is operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands may carry if certain safety requirements are met. (Sec. 320) Establishes an Abandoned Seafarers Fund to provide support for foreign seafarers who are required to remain in the United States because they are either paroled or and are involved in an investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any matter relating to the administration or enforcement of laws by the Coast Guard. (Sec. 321) Moves the responsibility of maintaining a website concerning crimes on cruise vessels from DHS to DOT. (Sec. 322) Prohibits DHS from finalizing a regulation relating to safety and environmental management system requirements for vessels on the United States Outer Continental Shelf that was proposed on September 10, 2013, until six months after it has submitted an analysis of the proposed regulation and the impact of the rule. Title IV: Federal Maritime Commission - (Sec. 401) Authorizes appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for FY2015. (Sec. 402) Authorizes reasonable attorney fees to be awarded to prevailing parties in actions filed with FMC concerning a violation of ocean shipping law. (Sec. 403) Revises terms of office requirements for FMC Commissioners. Prohibits Commissioners from serving more than one year after their five year term expires and from serving more than two terms. Establishes conflict of interest requirements applicable to FMC Commissioners. Title V: Artic Maritime Transportation - (Sec. 501) Encourages DHS to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to conclude and execute agreements to promote coordinated action among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic nations to ensure, in the Arctic: placement and maintenance of aids to navigation; appropriate marine safety, tug, and salvage capabilities; oil spill prevention and response capability; maritime domain awareness, including long-range vessel tracking; and search and rescue. Directs the Committee on the Maritime Transportation System to coordinate the establishment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic necessary to ensure safe and secure maritime shipping. Authorizes DHS to enter into agreements with, or make grants to, individuals and governments to ensure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic. Requires DHS to promote safe maritime navigation by means of icebreaking where necessary, feasible, and effective. (Sec. 502) Requires the Coast Guard to improve maritime domain awareness in the Arctic and submit a five-year strategic plan every five years to guide interagency and international intergovernmental cooperation and coordination for improving this awareness. (Sec. 503) Requires DHS to report on the status of the negotiations at the International Maritime Organization regarding the establishment of a draft international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters, popularly known as the Polar Code. Directs the report to address the impacts of the Code for coastal communities located in the Arctic on the costs of delivering fuel and freight and maritime transportation safety. (Sec. 504) Authorizes DHS to construct facilities in the Arctic to: support aircraft maintenance; provide shelter for both current helicopter assets and those projected to be located at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, for at least 20 years; and include accommodations for personnel. (Sec. 505) Amends the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 to authorize the Coast Guard to decommission the icebreaker cutter named the Polar Sea if DHS does not make a determination regarding whether it is cost-effective to reactivate the icebreaker. Requires the Coast Guard to submit to Congress: a strategy to meet the Coast Guard's Arctic ice operations needs through September 30, 2050; and a bridging strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard's polar icebreaking services until at least September 30, 2024, unless DHS determines that it is cost-effective to reactivate the Polar Sea. Authorizes the Coast Guard to conduct a service life extension of seven to ten years for the Polar Sea cutter upon the submission of a service life extension plan. (Sec. 506) Requires the President to facilitate planning for the design, procurement, maintenance, deployment, and operation of icebreakers as needed to support the statutory missions of the Coast Guard in the polar regions by allocating all funds to support icebreaking operations in those regions, except for recurring incremental costs associated with specific projects, to the Coast Guard. Title VI: Miscellaneous - (Sec. 601) Revises manning requirements relating to certain U.S. purse seine fishing vessels (commonly referred to as the distant water tuna fleet) engaging foreign citizens. (Manning requirements include regulations that govern the nationality of the crew, the required number of crew, and crew qualifications on ships.) (Sec. 602) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to extend for three years a provision which prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for a vessel that is less than 79 feet in length or a fishing vessel for any discharge: (1) of effluent from properly functioning marine engines; (2) of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (3) that is incidental to the normal operation of those vessels. (This prohibition does not apply with respect to garbage discharged overboard, other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation, discharges of ballast water held in ships to increase stability, or any discharge that contributes to a violation of a water quality standard or poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.) (Sec. 603) Directs DOT to submit to Congress a national maritime strategy that: identifies federal regulations that reduce the competitiveness of U.S. flag vessels in international markets; identifies the impact of reduced cargo flow due to reductions in the number of Armed Forces members stationed or deployed outside the United States; and includes recommendations to make U.S. flag vessels more competitive in shipping routes, and to enhance U.S. shipbuilding capability. Requires DOT to recommend strategies to increase the use of U.S. flag vessels to carry imports and exports, third-party inspection and certification authorities, and short sea transportation routes. (Sec. 604) Exempts the vessel &quot;John Craig&quot; (United States official number D1110613) from a requirement that passenger vessel operators be licensed by DHS, provided that Kentucky has implemented a similar licensing requirement and the vessel is operating on a specified portion of the River. Authorizes DHS to issue a coastwise endorsement to the &ldquo;F/V Western Challenger&rdquo; (IMO number 5388108). (A coastwise endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in unrestricted coastwise trade, dredging, towing, and any other employment for which a registry or fishery endorsement is not required.) (Sec. 605) Directs the Coast Guard to arrange for an assessment by the National Academy of Sciences of authorities concerning vessels and seamen that have been delegated to the Coast Guard and impact the ability of vessels documented under U.S. laws to effectively compete in international transportation markets. Requires the Coast Guard to report on the assessment. (Sec. 606) Requires DHS to report on the status of the final rule that relates to the Coast Guard&rsquo;s Notice of Arrival and Departure (NOAD) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) requirements. (Sec. 607) Authorizes the Coast Guard to convey 0.2 acres of property at 527 River Street in Rochester, New York to Rochester, New York. (Sec. 608) Authorizes the Department of the Interior to convey 0.86 acres of fast lands in the narrows of Puget Sound, Washington to Gig Harbor, Washington upon the Coast Guard's relinquishment of the property. (Sec. 609) Deems the vessel assigned U.S. official number 1205366 (rebuilt after a fire) to be a new vessel on the date of delivery of the vessel after January 1, 2012, from a privately owned U.S. shipyard if no encumbrances are on record with the Coast Guard at the time of the issuance of the new certificate of documentation. (Sec. 610) Bars DHS and EPA from prohibiting a vessel operating within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve from taking up or discharging ballast water to allow for safe and efficient vessel operation if the uptake or discharge meets all federal and state ballast water management requirements that would apply if the area were not a marine sanctuary. (Sec. 611) Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to allocate and assign a specified number of parking spaces at DHS' St. Elizabeth Campus to Coast Guard personnel assigned to the Campus based on a schedule.