SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorizations of appropriations. 
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 
Sec. 103. Determination of budgetary effects. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
Sec. 201. Grade on retirement. 
Sec. 202. Congressional affairs; Director. 
Sec. 203. Limitations on claims. 
Sec. 204. Authority for officers to opt out of promotion board consideration. 
Sec. 205. Temporary promotion authority for officers in certain grades with 
critical skills. 
Sec. 206. Career intermission program. 
Sec. 207. Major acquisitions; operation and sustainment costs. 
Sec. 208. Employment assistance. 
Sec. 209. Reports on gender diversity in the Coast Guard. 
Sec. 210. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN. 
Sec. 211. Positions of importance and responsibility. 
Sec. 212. Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants. 
Sec. 213. Acquisition workforce authorities. 
Sec. 214. Report on Coast Guard defense readiness resources allocation. 
Sec. 215. Report on the feasibility of liquefied natural gas fueled vessels. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING 
Sec. 301. Electronic charts; equivalency. 
Sec. 302. Passenger vessel security and safety requirements; application. 
Sec. 303. Non-operating individual. 
Sec. 304. Small passenger vessels and uninspected passenger vessels. 
Sec. 305. Installation vessels. 
Sec. 306. Advisory committees. 
Sec. 307. Expired maritime liens. 
Sec. 308. Training; emergency response providers. 
Sec. 309. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel. 
Sec. 310. Maritime transportation assessment. 
Sec. 311. Safety of special activities. 
Sec. 312. Engine cut-off switches; use requirement. 
Sec. 313. Exemptions and equivalents. 
Sec. 314. Security plans; reviews. 
Sec. 315. Waiver of navigation and vessel inspection laws. 
Sec. 316. Requirement for small shipyard grantees.
Sec. 317. Independent study on the United States Merchant Marine Academy. 
Sec. 318. Centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and 
education. 
Sec. 319. Renewal of merchant mariner licenses and documents. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 401. Coastwise trade. 
Sec. 402. Unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking tech-
nologies. 
Sec. 403. Expedited transfer in cases of sexual assault; dependents of members 
of the Coast Guard. 
Sec. 404. Towing vessels; operation outside the boundary line. 
Sec. 405. Coast Guard authorities study. 
Sec. 406. Cloud computing strategy. 
Sec. 407. Report on effects of climate change on Coast Guard. 
Sec. 408. Shore infrastructure. 
Sec. 409. Physical access control system report. 
Sec. 410. Coastwise endorsements. 
Sec. 411. Polar security cutter acquisition report. 
Sec. 412. Sense of the Congress on the need for a new Great Lakes icebreaker. 
Sec. 413. Cargo preference study. 
Sec. 414. Insider Threat program. 
Sec. 415. Fishing safety grants. 
Sec. 416. Plans for demonstration programs. 
Sec. 417. Waters deemed not navigable waters of the United States for certain 
purposes. 
Sec. 418. Coast Guard housing; status and authorities briefing. 
Sec. 419. Conveyance of Coast Guard property at Point Spencer, Alaska. 
Sec. 420. Prohibition. 
Sec. 421. Certificate extensions. 
Sec. 422. Homeland security rotational cybersecurity research program at the 
Coast Guard Academy. 
Sec. 423. Towing vessel inspection fees. 
Sec. 424. Subrogated claims. 
Sec. 425. Loan provisions under Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 
Sec. 426. Liability limits. 
Sec. 427. Report on drug interdiction in the Caribbean basin. 
Sec. 428. Voting Requirement. 
Sec. 429. Transportation work identification card pilot program. 
Sec. 430. Plan for wing-in-ground demonstration plan. 
TITLE V—REORGANIZATION 
Sec. 501. Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels. 
Sec. 502. Transfers. 
Sec. 503. Repeals. 
TITLE VI—TECHNICAL, CONFORMING, AND CLARIFYING 
AMENDMENTS 
Sec. 601. Maritime transportation system. 
Sec. 602. References to ‘‘persons’’ and ‘‘seamen’’. 
Sec. 603. Common appropriation structure. 
Sec. 604. References to ‘‘himself’’ and ‘‘his’’. 
Sec. 605. References to ‘‘motorboats’’ and ‘‘yachts’’.
Sec. 606. Miscellaneous technical corrections. 
Sec. 607. Technical corrections relating to codification of Ports and Waterways 
Safety Act. 
TITLE VII—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
Sec. 701. Short title. 
Sec. 702. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE VIII—COAST GUARD ACADEMY IMPROVEMENT ACT 
Sec. 801. Short title. 
Sec. 802. Coast Guard Academy study. 
Sec. 803. Annual report. 
Sec. 804. Assessment of Coast Guard Academy admission processes. 
Sec. 805. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program. 
Sec. 806. Coast Guard college student pre-commissioning initiative. 
Sec. 807. Annual board of visitors. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘year 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘years 2020 and 
2021’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘provided 
for, $7,914,195,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘provided for— 
‘‘(i) $8,122,912,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(ii) 
$8,538,324,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘subpara-
graph (A)—’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)(i),
$17,035,000 shall be for environmental compliance 
and restoration.’’; 
(4) by striking paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and 
(1)(B)(ii); 
(5) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(C) Of the amount authorized under subpara-
graph (A)(ii) $17,376,000 shall be for environmental 
compliance and restoration.’’; 
(6) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘For the procurement’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(A) For the procurement’’; 
(B) 
by 
striking 
‘‘and 
equipment, 
$2,694,745,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and equipment— 
‘‘(i) $2,748,640,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(ii) 
$2,803,613,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) Of the amounts authorized under subpara-
graph (A), the following amounts shall be for the al-
teration of bridges: 
‘‘(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(ii) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’;
(7) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and equip-
ment, $29,141,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘and equipment— 
‘‘(A) $13,834,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(B) $14,111,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’; 
and 
(8) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) For the Coast Guard’s Medicare-eligible 
retiree health care fund contribution to the Depart-
ment of Defense— 
‘‘(A) $205,107,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(B) $209,209,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 
AND TRAINING. 
Section 4904 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘43,000 for 
fiscal year 2018 and 44,500 for fiscal year 2019’’ 
and inserting ‘‘44,500 for each of fiscal years 2020 
and 2021’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 
2018 and 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2020 
and 2021’’.
(c) COMMISSIONED OR WARRANT OFFICER.—Section 
2501 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Any’’ and inserting ‘‘COM-
MISSIONED OFFICER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
officer’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
officer’s’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONAL DETERMINATION.—When an 
officer is under investigation for alleged misconduct 
at the time of retirement, the Secretary may condi-
tionally determine the highest grade of satisfactory 
service of the officer pending completion of the in-
vestigation. Such grade is subject to resolution 
under subsection (c)(2).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Any’’ and inserting 
‘‘WARRANT OFFICER.—Any’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
warrant officer’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
warrant officer’s’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) RETIREMENT IN LOWER GRADE.— 
‘‘(1) MISCONDUCT IN LOWER GRADE.—In the 
case of an officer whom the Secretary determines 
committed misconduct in a lower grade, the Sec-
retary may determine the officer has not served sat-
isfactorily in any grade equal to or higher than that 
lower grade. 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONAL DETERMINATION.—A deter-
mination of the retired grade of an officer shall be 
resolved following a conditional determination under 
subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) if the investigation of or 
personnel action against the officer or warrant offi-
cer, as applicable, results in adverse findings. 
‘‘(3) RETIRED
PAY; RECALCULATION.—If the 
retired grade of an officer is reduced, the retired pay 
of the officer under chapter 71 of title 10 shall be 
recalculated, and any modification of the retired pay 
of the officer shall go into effect on the effective date 
of the reduction in retired grade. 
‘‘(d) FINALITY
OF RETIRED GRADE DETERMINA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATIVE
FINALITY.—Except as 
otherwise provided by law, a determination of the re-
tired grade of an officer pursuant to this section is
administratively final on the day the officer is re-
tired, and may not be reopened. 
‘‘(2) REOPENING
DETERMINATION.—A deter-
mination of the retired grade of an officer may be 
reopened as follows: 
‘‘(A) If the retirement or retired grade of 
the officer was procured by fraud. 
‘‘(B) If substantial evidence comes to light 
after the retirement that could have led to a 
lower retired grade under this section if known 
by competent authority at the time of retire-
ment. 
‘‘(C) If a mistake of law or calculation was 
made in the determination of the retired grade. 
‘‘(D) In the case of a retired grade fol-
lowing a conditional determination under sub-
section (a)(2) or (b)(2), if the investigation of 
or personnel action against the officer, as appli-
cable, results in an adverse finding. 
‘‘(E) If the Secretary determines, pursuant 
to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, that 
good cause exists to reopen the determination 
or certification.
‘‘(3) NOTIFICATION OF REOPENING.—If a de-
termination or certification of the retired grade of 
an officer is reopened, the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall notify the officer of the reopen-
ing; and 
‘‘(B) may not make an adverse determina-
tion on the retired grade of the officer until the 
officer has had a reasonable opportunity to re-
spond regarding the basis of the reopening. 
‘‘(4) RETIRED
PAY; RECALCULATION.—If the 
retired grade of an officer is reduced through the re-
opening of the officer’s or warrant officer’s retired 
grade, the retired pay of the officer under chapter 
71 of title 10 shall be recalculated, and any modi-
fication of the retired pay of the officer shall go into 
effect on the effective date of the reduction of the 
officer’s retired grade.’’. 
SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS; DIRECTOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 320. Congressional affairs; Director 
‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall appoint 
a Director of Congressional Affairs from among officers 
of the Coast Guard who are in a grade above captain.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 3 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘320. Congressional affairs; Director.’’. 
SEC. 203. LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS. 
(a) ADMIRALTY CLAIMS.—Section 937 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended in subsection (a) by strik-
ing ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$425,000’’. 
(b) CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF THE 
UNITED STATES.—Section 938 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$425,000’’. 
SEC. 204. AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS TO OPT OUT OF PRO-
MOTION BOARD CONSIDERATION. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY OF OFFICERS FOR CONSIDERATION 
FOR PROMOTION.—Section 2113 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Com-
mandant may provide that an officer may, upon the offi-
cer’s request and with the approval of the Commandant, 
be excluded from consideration by a selection board con-
vened under section 2106(a). 
‘‘(2) The Commandant shall approve a request under 
paragraph (1) only if—
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow the of-
ficer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced 
education, another assignment of significant value to 
the Coast Guard, a career progression requirement 
delayed by the assignment or education, or a quali-
fying personal or professional circumstance, as de-
termined by the Commandant; 
‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the exclusion 
from consideration is in the best interest of the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of se-
lection for promotion to the grade for which the offi-
cer requests the exclusion from consideration.’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE OFFICER FOR PRO-
MOTION.—Section 3743 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3743. Eligibility for promotion 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), a Reserve officer is eligible for consideration for pro-
motion and for promotion under this subchapter, if that 
officer is in an active status. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—A Reserve officer who has been 
considered but not recommended for retention in an active 
status by a board convened under subsection 3752(a) of 
this title, is not eligible for consideration for promotion.
SEC. 205. TEMPORARY PROMOTION AUTHORITY FOR OFFI-
CERS IN CERTAIN GRADES WITH CRITICAL 
SKILLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of Chapter 21 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with 
critical skills: captain, commander, lieu-
tenant commander, lieutenant 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An officer in the grade of lieu-
tenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, 
or commander, who is described in subsection (b) may be 
temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieuten-
ant commander, commander, or captain under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary. Appointments under this sec-
tion shall be made by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) COVERED OFFICERS.—An officer described in 
this subsection is any officer in a grade specified in sub-
section (a) who— 
‘‘(1) has a skill in which the Coast Guard has 
a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by 
the Secretary); and 
‘‘(2) is serving in a position (as determined by 
the Secretary) that—
‘‘(A) is designated to be held by a lieuten-
ant, lieutenant commander, commander, or cap-
tain; and 
‘‘(B) requires that an officer serving in 
such position have the skill possessed by such 
officer. 
‘‘(c) PRESERVATION OF POSITION AND STATUS OF 
OFFICERS APPOINTED.— 
‘‘(1) The temporary positions authorized under 
this section shall not be counted among or included 
in the list of positions on the active duty promotion 
list. 
‘‘(2) An appointment under this section does 
not change the position on the active-duty list or the 
permanent, probationary, or acting status of the of-
ficer so appointed, prejudice the officer in regard to 
other promotions or appointments, or abridge the 
rights or benefits of the officer. 
‘‘(d) BOARD RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED.—A tem-
porary promotion under this section may be made only 
upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened 
by the Secretary for the purpose of recommending officers 
for such promotions. 
‘‘(e) ACCEPTANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF AP-
POINTMENT.—Each appointment under this section, un-
less expressly declined, is, without formal acceptance, re-
garded as accepted on the date such appointment is made, 
and a member so appointed is entitled to the pay and al-
lowances of the grade of the temporary promotion under 
this section beginning on the date the appointment is 
made. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT.—Unless soon-
er terminated, an appointment under this section termi-
nates— 
‘‘(1) on the date the officer who received the 
appointment is promoted to the permanent grade of 
lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain; 
‘‘(2) on the date the officer is detached from a 
position described in subsection (b)(2), unless the of-
ficer is on a promotion list to the permanent grade 
of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain, in which case the appointment terminates 
on the date the officer is promoted to that grade; or 
‘‘(3) when the appointment officer determines 
that the officer who received the appointment has 
engaged in misconduct or has displayed substandard 
performance. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE POSI-
TIONS.—An appointment under this section may only be
made for service in a position designated by the Secretary 
for the purposes of this section. The number of positions 
so designated may not exceed the following percentages 
of the respective grades: 
‘‘(1) As lieutenant, 0.5 percent. 
‘‘(2) As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent. 
‘‘(3) As commander, 2.6 percent. 
‘‘(4) As captain, 2.6 percent.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with critical skills: captain, com-
mander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant.’’. 
SEC. 206. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of 
members 
‘‘(a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 
may carry out a program under which members of the 
Coast Guard may be inactivated from active service in 
order to meet personal or professional needs and returned 
to active service at the end of such period of inactivation 
from active service. 
‘‘(b) PERIOD OF INACTIVATION FROM ACTIVE SERV-
ICE; EFFECT OF INACTIVATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The period of inactivation 
from active service under a program under this sec-
tion of a member participating in the program shall 
be such period as the Commandant shall specify in 
the agreement of the member under subsection (c), 
except that such period may not exceed 3 years. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION FROM YEARS OF SERVICE.— 
Any service by a Reserve officer while participating 
in a program under this section shall be excluded 
from computation of the total years of service of 
that officer pursuant to section 14706(a) of title 10. 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSION FROM RETIREMENT.—Any pe-
riod of participation of a member in a program 
under this section shall not count toward— 
‘‘(A) eligibility for retirement or transfer 
to the Ready Reserve under either chapter 571 
or 1223 of title 10; or 
‘‘(B) computation of retired or retainer 
pay under chapter 71 or 1223 of title 10. 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENT.—Each member of the Coast 
Guard who participates in a program under this section 
shall enter into a written agreement with the Commandant 
under which that member shall agree as follows: 
‘‘(1) To accept an appointment or enlist, as ap-
plicable, and serve in the Coast Guard Ready Re-
serve during the period of the inactivation of the 
member from active service under the program. 
‘‘(2) To undergo during the period of the inac-
tivation of the member from active service under the 
program such inactive service training as the Com-
mandant shall require in order to ensure that the 
member retains proficiency, at a level determined by 
the Commandant to be sufficient, in the military 
skills, professional qualifications, and physical readi-
ness of the member during the inactivation of the 
member from active service. 
‘‘(3) Following completion of the period of the 
inactivation of the member from active service under 
the program, to serve 2 months as a member of the 
Coast Guard on active service for each month of the 
period of the inactivation of the member from active 
service under the program. 
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS OF RELEASE.—The Commandant 
shall prescribe regulations specifying the guidelines re-
garding the conditions of release that must be considered 
and addressed in the agreement required by subsection 
(c). At a minimum, the Commandant shall prescribe the 
procedures and standards to be used to instruct a member 
on the obligations to be assumed by the member under
paragraph (2) of such subsection while the member is re-
leased from active service. 
‘‘(e) ORDER TO ACTIVE SERVICE.—Under regula-
tions prescribed by the Commandant, a member of the 
Coast Guard participating in a program under this section 
may, in the discretion of the Commandant, be required 
to terminate participation in the program and be ordered 
to active service. 
‘‘(f) PAY AND ALLOWANCES.— 
‘‘(1) BASIC PAY.—During each month of par-
ticipation in a program under this section, a member 
who participates in the program shall be paid basic 
pay in an amount equal to two-thirtieths of the 
amount of monthly basic pay to which the member 
would otherwise be entitled under section 204 of title 
37 as a member of the uniformed services on active 
service in the grade and years of service of the mem-
ber when the member commences participation in 
the program. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL OR INCENTIVE PAY OR BONUS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—A member who par-
ticipates in such a program shall not, while par-
ticipating in the program, be paid any special 
or incentive pay or bonus to which the member 
is otherwise entitled under an agreement under
chapter 5 of title 37 or section 1925 of this title 
that is in force when the member commences 
participation in the program. 
‘‘(B) NOT TREATED AS FAILURE TO PER-
FORM SERVICES.—The inactivation from active 
service of a member participating in a program 
shall not be treated as a failure of the member 
to perform any period of service required of the 
member in connection with an agreement for a 
special or incentive pay or bonus under chapter 
5 of title 37 that is in force when the member 
commences participation in the program. 
‘‘(3) RETURN TO ACTIVE SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) SPECIAL
OR
INCENTIVE
PAY
OR 
BONUS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), upon 
the return of a member to active service after 
completion by the member of participation in a 
program— 
‘‘(i) any agreement entered into by 
the member under chapter 5 of title 37 for 
the payment of a special or incentive pay 
or bonus that was in force when the mem-
ber commenced participation in the pro-
gram shall be revived, with the term of 
such agreement after revival being the pe-
riod of the agreement remaining to run 
when the member commenced participation 
in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) any special or incentive pay or 
bonus shall be payable to the member in 
accordance with the terms of the agree-
ment concerned for the term specified in 
clause (i). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (A) 
shall not apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
at the time of the return of the member to 
active service as described in that subpara-
graph— 
‘‘(I) such pay or bonus is no 
longer authorized by law; or 
‘‘(II) the member does not satisfy 
eligibility criteria for such pay or 
bonus as in effect at the time of the 
return of the member to active serv-
ice. 
‘‘(ii) PAY OR BONUS CEASES BEING 
AUTHORIZED.—Subparagraph 
(A) 
shall
cease to apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by that 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
during the term of the revived agreement 
of the member under subparagraph (A)(i), 
such pay or bonus ceases being authorized 
by law. 
‘‘(C) REPAYMENT.—A member who is in-
eligible for payment of a special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by this para-
graph by reason of subparagraph (B)(i)(II) 
shall be subject to the requirements for repay-
ment of such pay or bonus in accordance with 
the terms of the applicable agreement of the 
member under chapter 5 of title 37. 
‘‘(D) 
REQUIRED
SERVICE
IS
ADDI-
TIONAL.—Any service required of a member 
under an agreement covered by this paragraph 
after the member returns to active service as 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be in addi-
tion to any service required of the member 
under an agreement under subsection (c). 
‘‘(4) TRAVEL
AND
TRANSPORTATION
ALLOW-
ANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), a member who participates in a pro-
gram is entitled, while participating in the pro-
gram, to the travel and transportation allow-
ances authorized by section 474 of title 37 
for— 
‘‘(i) travel performed from the resi-
dence of the member, at the time of release 
from active service to participate in the 
program, to the location in the United 
States designated by the member as the 
member’s residence during the period of 
participation in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) travel performed to the residence 
of the member upon return to active serv-
ice at the end of the participation of the 
member in the program. 
‘‘(B) SINGLE
RESIDENCE.—An allowance 
is payable under this paragraph only with re-
spect to travel of a member to and from a sin-
gle residence. 
‘‘(5) LEAVE BALANCE.—A member who partici-
pates in a program is entitled to carry forward the 
leave balance existing as of the day on which the 
member begins participation and accumulated in ac-
cordance with section 701 of title 10, but not to ex-
ceed 60 days. 
‘‘(g) PROMOTION.— 
‘‘(1) OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An officer partici-
pating in a program under this section shall 
not, while participating in the program, be eligi-
ble for consideration for promotion under chap-
ter 21 or 37 of this title. 
‘‘(B) RETURN TO SERVICE.—Upon the re-
turn of an officer to active service after comple-
tion by the officer of participation in a pro-
gram— 
‘‘(i) the Commandant may adjust the 
date of rank of the officer in such manner 
as the Commandant shall prescribe in reg-
ulations for purposes of this section; and 
‘‘(ii) the officer shall be eligible for 
consideration for promotion when officers 
of the same competitive category, grade, 
and seniority are eligible for consideration 
for promotion. 
‘‘(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—An enlisted mem-
ber participating in a program shall not be eligible
for consideration for advancement during the period 
that— 
‘‘(A) begins on the date of the inactivation 
of the member from active service under the 
program; and 
‘‘(B) ends at such time after the return of 
the member to active service under the program 
that the member is treatable as eligible for pro-
motion by reason of time in grade and such 
other requirements as the Commandant shall 
prescribe in regulations for purposes of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(h) CONTINUED ENTITLEMENTS.—A member par-
ticipating in a program under this section shall, while par-
ticipating in the program, be treated as a member of the 
Armed Forces on active duty for a period of more than 
30 days for purposes of— 
‘‘(1) the entitlement of the member and of the 
dependents of the member to medical and dental 
care under the provisions of chapter 55 of this title; 
and 
‘‘(2) retirement or separation for physical dis-
ability under the provisions of chapter 61 of title 10 
and chapters 21 and 23 of this title.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 2513 the following: 
‘‘2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of members.’’. 
SEC. 
207. 
MAJOR 
ACQUISITIONS; 
OPERATION 
AND 
SUSTAINMENT COSTS. 
Section 5103(e)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D) respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) operate and sustain the cutters and 
aircraft described under paragraph (2);’’. 
SEC. 208. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 27 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2713. Employment assistance 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to improve the accuracy 
and completeness of a certification or verification of job 
skills and experience required by section 1143(a)(1) of 
title 10, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a database to record all training 
performed by members of the Coast Guard that may
have application to employment in the civilian sector; 
and 
‘‘(2) make unclassified information regarding 
such information available to States and other po-
tential employers referred to in section 1143(c) of 
title 10 so that State and other entities may allow 
military training to satisfy licensing or certification 
requirements to engage in a civilian profession. 
‘‘(b) FORM OF CERTIFICATION OR VERIFICATION.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that a certification or 
verification of job skills and experience required by section 
1143(a)(1) of title 10 is rendered in such a way that 
States and other potential employers can confirm the ac-
curacy and authenticity of the certification or verification. 
‘‘(c) REQUESTS BY STATES.—A State may request 
that the Secretary confirm the accuracy and authenticity 
of a certification or verification of jobs skills and experi-
ence provided under section 1143(c) of title 10.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 2712 the following: 
‘‘2713. Employment assistance.’’. 
SEC. 209. REPORTS ON GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE COAST 
GUARD. 
(a) ACTION PLAN.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 
(A) determine which recommendations in 
the RAND gender diversity report can prac-
ticably be implemented to promote gender di-
versity in the Coast Guard; and 
(B) submit a report to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate on the actions the Coast Guard has taken 
or plans to take to implement such rec-
ommendations. 
(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘RAND diversity report’’ means the RAND Cor-
poration’s Homeland Security Operational Analysis 
Center 2019 report entitled ‘‘Improving Gender Di-
versity in the U.S. Coast Guard: Identifying Bar-
riers to Female Retention’’. 
(b) RECURRING REPORT.—Chapter 51 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
‘‘§ 5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast 
Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 
2022, and biennially thereafter, the Commandant shall 
submit a report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall contain the following: 
‘‘(1) GENDER DIVERSITY OVERVIEW.—An over-
view of Coast Guard active duty and Reserve mem-
bers, including the number of officers and enlisted 
members and the percentages of men and women in 
each. 
‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.—(A) An 
analysis of the changes in the recruitment and reten-
tion of women over the previous 2 years. 
‘‘(B) A discussion of any changes to Coast 
Guard recruitment and retention over the previous 2 
years that were aimed at increasing the recruitment 
and retention of female members. 
‘‘(3) PARENTAL LEAVE.—(A) The number of 
men and women who took parental leave during each 
year covered by the report, including the average 
length of such leave periods.
‘‘(B) A discussion of the ways in which the 
Coast Guard worked to mitigate the impacts of pa-
rental leave on Coast Guard operations and on the 
careers of the members taking such leave. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS.—An analysis of current 
gender-based limitations on Coast Guard career op-
portunities, including discussion of— 
‘‘(A) shipboard opportunities; 
‘‘(B) opportunities to serve at remote 
units; and 
‘‘(C) any other limitations on the opportu-
nities of female members. 
‘‘(5) PROGRESS UPDATE.—An update on the 
Coast Guard’s progress on the implementation of the 
action plan required under section 209 of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2019.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard.’’. 
SEC. 210. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO 
E–LORAN. 
Section 914 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘date’’ and inserting ‘‘later 
of the date of the conveyance of the properties
directed under section 533(a) of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114–120) or the date’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘determination by the Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘determination by the 
Secretary of Transportation under section 
312(d) of title 49’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY
OF
PROCEEDS.—The pro-
ceeds of such sales, less the costs of sale incurred by 
the General Services Administration, shall be depos-
ited into the Coast Guard Housing Fund for uses 
authorized under section 2946 of this title.’’. 
SEC. 211. POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSI-
BILITY. 
Section 2103(c)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘rear admiral (lower half)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘vice admiral’’. 
SEC. 212. RESEARCH PROJECTS; TRANSACTIONS OTHER 
THAN CONTRACTS AND GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 720. Research projects; transactions other than 
contracts and grants 
‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL FORMS
OF TRANSACTIONS AU-
THORIZED.—The Commandant may enter into trans-
actions (other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and 
grants) in carrying out basic, applied, and advanced re-
search projects. The authority under this subsection is in 
addition to the authority provided in section 717 to use 
contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants in carrying 
out such projects. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE PAYMENTS.—The authority under 
subsection (a) may be exercised without regard to section 
3324 of title 31. 
‘‘(c) RECOVERY OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (d), a 
cooperative agreement for performance of basic, ap-
plied, or advanced research authorized by section 
717, and a transaction authorized by subsection (a), 
may include a clause that requires a person or other 
entity to make payments to the Coast Guard or any 
other department or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment as a condition for receiving support under the 
agreement or transaction, respectively. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The amount of 
any payment received by the Federal Government 
pursuant to a requirement imposed under paragraph
(1) may be credited, to the extent authorized by the 
Commandant, to an appropriate appropriations ac-
count. Amounts so credited shall be merged with 
other funds in the account and shall be available for 
the same purposes and the same period for which 
other funds in such account are available. 
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall en-
sure that— 
‘‘(A) to the extent that the Commandant 
determines practicable, no cooperative agree-
ment containing a clause described in sub-
section (c)(1), and no transaction entered into 
under subsection (a), provides for research that 
duplicates research being conducted under ex-
isting programs carried out by the Coast 
Guard; and 
‘‘(B) to the extent that the Commandant 
determines practicable, the funds provided by 
the Federal Government under a cooperative 
agreement containing a clause described in sub-
section (c)(1), or under a transaction author-
ized by subsection (a), do not exceed the total 
amount provided by other parties to the cooper-
ative agreement or other transaction, respec-
tively. 
‘‘(2) OTHER AGREEMENTS NOT FEASIBLE.—A 
cooperative agreement containing a clause described 
in subsection (c)(1), or under a transaction author-
ized by subsection (a), may be used for a research 
project only if the use of a standard contract, grant, 
or cooperative agreement for such project is not fea-
sible or appropriate. 
‘‘(e) EDUCATION AND TRAINING.—The Commandant 
shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure that management, technical, and 
contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in 
the award or administration of transactions under 
this section or other innovative forms of contracting 
are afforded opportunities for adequate education 
and training; and 
‘‘(2) establish minimum levels and requirements 
for continuous and experiential learning for such 
personnel, including levels and requirements for ac-
quisition certification programs. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe 
regulations, as necessary, to carry out this section.
‘‘(g) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM 
DISCLOSURE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Disclosure of information 
described in paragraph (2) is not required, and may 
not be compelled, under section 552 of title 5 for 5 
years after the date on which the information is re-
ceived by the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) applies 
to information described in subparagraph (B) 
that is in the records of the Coast Guard only 
if the information was submitted to the Coast 
Guard in a competitive or noncompetitive proc-
ess having the potential for resulting in an 
award, to the party submitting the information, 
of a cooperative agreement for performance of 
basic, applied, or advanced research authorized 
by section 717 or another transaction author-
ized by subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The in-
formation referred to in subparagraph (A) is 
the following: 
‘‘(i) A proposal, proposal abstract, 
and supporting documents.
‘‘(ii) A business plan submitted on a 
confidential basis. 
‘‘(iii) Technical information submitted 
on a confidential basis. 
‘‘(h) ANNUAL REPORT.—On the date on which the 
President submits to Congress a budget pursuant to sec-
tion 1105 of title 31, the Commandant shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations and Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committees on Appropriations and Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report de-
scribing each use of the authority provided under this sec-
tion during the most recently completed fiscal year, includ-
ing details of each use consisting of— 
‘‘(1) the amount of each transaction; 
‘‘(2) the entities or organizations involved; 
‘‘(3) the product or service received; and 
‘‘(4) the research project for which the product 
or service was required.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘720. Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants.’’.
SEC. 213. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by inserting after section 1110 the following: 
‘‘§ 1111. Acquisition workforce authorities 
‘‘(a) EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of section 
3304 of title 5, the Commandant may— 
‘‘(A) designate any category of acquisition 
positions within the Coast Guard as shortage 
category positions; and 
‘‘(B) use the authorities in such section to 
recruit and appoint highly qualified persons di-
rectly to positions so designated. 
‘‘(2) REPORTS.—The Commandant shall in-
clude in reports under section 1102 information de-
scribed in that section regarding positions des-
ignated under this subsection. 
‘‘(b) REEMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), if an annuitant receiving an annuity from 
the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund be-
comes employed in any category of acquisition posi-
tions designated by the Commandant under sub-
section (a), the annuity of the annuitant so em-
ployed shall continue. The annuitant so reemployed
shall not be considered an employee for purposes of 
subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 
5. 
‘‘(2)(A) 
ELECTION.—An 
annuitant 
retired 
under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, 
receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retire-
ment and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in 
any category of acquisition positions designated by 
the Commandant under subsection (a) after date of 
enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
2019, may elect to be subject to section 8344 or 
8468 of such title (as the case may be). 
‘‘(i) DEADLINE.—An election for coverage 
under this subsection shall be filed not later 
than 90 days after the Commandant takes rea-
sonable actions to notify an employee who may 
file an election. 
‘‘(ii) COVERAGE.—If an employee files an 
election under this subsection, coverage shall be 
effective beginning on the first day of the first 
applicable pay period beginning on or after the 
date of the filing of the election. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 
to an individual who is eligible to file an election
under such subparagraph and does not file a timely 
election under clause (i).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1110 the 
following: 
‘‘1111. Acquisition workforce authorities.’’. 
SEC. 214. REPORT ON COAST GUARD DEFENSE READINESS 
RESOURCES ALLOCATION. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 
on the allocation of resources by the Coast Guard to sup-
port its defense readiness mission. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following elements: 
(1) Funding levels allocated by the Coast Guard 
to support defense readiness missions for each of the 
past 10 fiscal years. 
(2) Funding levels transferred or otherwise pro-
vided by the Department of Defense to the Coast 
Guard in support of the Coast Guard’s defense read-
iness missions for each of the past 10 fiscal years.
(3) The number of Coast Guard detachments 
assigned in support of the Coast Guard’s defense 
readiness mission for each of the past 10 fiscal 
years. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—In addition to the elements de-
tailed in subsection (b), the report shall include an assess-
ment of the impacts on the Coast Guard’s non-defense 
mission readiness and operational capabilities due to the 
annual levels of reimbursement provided by the Depart-
ment of Defense to compensate the Coast Guard for its 
expenses to fulfill its defense readiness mission. 
SEC. 215. REPORT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF LIQUEFIED NAT-
URAL GAS FUELED VESSELS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate on the following: 
(1) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 
of using liquefied natural gas to fuel new Coast 
Guard vessels. 
(2) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 
of converting existing vessels to run on liquefied nat-
ural gas fuels.
(3) The operational benefits of using liquefied 
natural gas to fuel Coast Guard vessels. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING 
SEC. 301. ELECTRONIC CHARTS; EQUIVALENCY. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3105(a)(1) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ELECTRONIC CHARTS IN LIEU OF MARINE 
CHARTS, CHARTS, AND MAPS.—Subject to paragraph 
(2), the following vessels, while operating on the 
navigable waters of the United States, shall be 
equipped with and operate electronic navigational 
charts conforming to a standard acceptable to the 
Secretary in lieu of any marine charts, charts, and 
maps required by titles 33 and 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph: 
‘‘(A) A self-propelled commercial vessel of 
at least 65 feet overall length. 
‘‘(B) A vessel carrying more than a num-
ber of passengers for hire determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(C) A towing vessel of more than 26 feet 
in overall length and 600 horsepower.
‘‘(D) Any other vessel for which the Sec-
retary decides that electronic charts are nec-
essary for the safe navigation of the vessel.’’. 
(b) 
EXEMPTIONS
AND
WAIVERS.—Section 
3105(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘operates; 
and’’ and inserting ‘‘operates;’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘those 
waters.’’ and inserting ‘‘those waters; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) permit vessels that operate solely 
landward of the baseline from which the terri-
torial sea of the United States is measured to 
utilize 
software-based, 
platform-independent 
electronic chart systems that the Secretary de-
termines are capable of displaying electronic 
navigational charts with necessary scale and de-
tail to ensure safe navigation for the intended 
voyage.’’. 
SEC. 302. PASSENGER VESSEL SECURITY AND SAFETY RE-
QUIREMENTS; APPLICATION. 
Section 3507(k)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (D). 
SEC. 303. NON-OPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 2101 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (23) 
the following: 
‘‘(23a) ‘non-operating individual’ means an in-
dividual who— 
‘‘(A) does not perform— 
‘‘(i) with respect to the operation of a 
vessel, watchstanding, automated engine 
room duty watch, navigation, or personnel 
safety functions; 
‘‘(ii) with respect to the loading and 
unloading of merchandise, cargo handling 
functions, including any activity relating to 
the loading or unloading of cargo, the op-
eration of cargo-related equipment (wheth-
er or not integral to the vessel), and the 
handling of mooring lines on the dock 
when the vessel is made fast or let go;
‘‘(iii) vessel maintenance, including 
any repairs that can be performed by the 
vessel’s crew or a riding gang; or 
‘‘(iv) safety, security, or environ-
mental protection activities directly related 
to the operation of the vessel and normally 
conducted by the vessel’s crew; 
‘‘(B) does not serve as part of the crew 
complement required under section 8101; 
‘‘(C) does not serve as a riding gang mem-
ber; 
‘‘(D) is not a member of the steward’s de-
partment; 
‘‘(E) is not a citizen or temporary or per-
manent resident of a country designated by the 
United States as a sponsor of terrorism or any 
other country that the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State and the heads 
of other appropriate United States agencies, de-
termines to be a security threat to the United 
States; 
‘‘(F) is not specifically exempted from the 
requirement to have a merchant mariner’s doc-
ument under section 8701(a);
‘‘(G) has not been convicted in any juris-
diction of an offense described in paragraph (2) 
or (3) of section 7703; 
‘‘(H) whose license, certificate of registry, 
or merchant mariner’s document has not been 
suspended or revoked under section 7704; and 
‘‘(I) who does not otherwise constitute a 
threat to the safety of the vessel.’’. 
(b) CITIZENSHIP
AND NAVY RESERVE REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 8103(j) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by— 
(1) striking ‘‘RIDING GANG MEMBER’’ and in-
serting ‘‘RIDING GANG MEMBER
OR NON-OPER-
ATING INDIVIDUAL’’; and 
(2) inserting ‘‘or a non-operating individual’’ 
before the period. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO NON-OPERATING 
INDIVIDUALS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating section 8107 as sec-
tion 8108; and 
(B) by inserting after section 8106 the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 8107. Requirements relating to non-operating indi-
viduals 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The owner or managing operator 
of a merchant vessel of the United States of at least 100 
gross tons as measured under section 14502, or an alter-
nate tonnage measured under section 14302 as prescribed 
by the Secretary under section 14104, shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure that— 
‘‘(A) each non-operating individual on the 
vessel— 
‘‘(i) is a United States citizen or an 
alien lawfully admitted to the United 
States for permanent residence; or 
‘‘(ii) possesses a United States non- 
immigrant visa for individuals desiring to 
enter the United States temporarily for 
business, employment-related and personal 
identifying information, and any other doc-
umentation required by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) all required documentation for such 
individual is kept on the vessel and available for 
inspection by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) each non-operating individual is iden-
tified on the manifest; 
‘‘(2) ensure that—
‘‘(A) each non-operating individual pos-
sesses— 
‘‘(i) a merchant mariner’s document; 
‘‘(ii) a transportation worker identi-
fication credential under section 70105; or 
‘‘(iii) a current security clearance 
issued by a Federal agency; or 
‘‘(B) the employer of such an individual at-
tests in a certificate to the owner or managing 
operator that— 
‘‘(i) the background of such individual 
has been examined and found to be free of 
any credible information indicating a mate-
rial risk to the security of the vessel, the 
vessel’s cargo, the ports the vessel visits, or 
other individuals onboard the vessel;; 
‘‘(ii) such examination— 
‘‘(I) met the requirements of sec-
tion 70105(d)(2), for persons de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(i) of this 
subsection; or 
‘‘(II) consisted of a search of all 
information reasonably available to 
the owner or managing operator in 
the individual’s country of citizenship
and any other country in which the 
individual works, receives employment 
referrals, or resides, for persons de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) of this 
subsection; and 
‘‘(iii) the information derived from 
any such examination is made available to 
the Secretary upon request; 
‘‘(3) ensure that each non-operating individual 
of the vessel, while on board the vessel, is subject to 
the same random chemical testing and reporting re-
gimes as crew members; 
‘‘(4) ensure that each such individual employed 
on the vessel receives basic safety familiarization and 
basic safety training approved by the Coast Guard; 
and 
‘‘(5) ensure that every non-operating individual 
of the vessel is employed on board the vessel under 
conditions that meet or exceed the minimum inter-
national standards of all applicable international 
labor conventions to which the United States is a 
party, including all of the merchant seamen protec-
tion and relief provided under United States law. 
‘‘(b) RECORDKEEPING.—In addition to the require-
ments of subsection (a), the owner or managing operator
of a vessel to which subsection (a) applies shall ensure that 
all information necessary to ensure compliance with this 
section, as determined by the Secretary, is entered into 
the vessel’s official logbook required by chapter 113. 
‘‘(c) CIVIL PENALTY.—A person (including an indi-
vidual) violating this section is liable to the United States 
Government for a civil penalty of $1,250.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for 
chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
8107 and inserting the following: 
‘‘8107. Requirements relating to non-operating individuals. 
‘‘8108. Use of force against piracy.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) MERCHANT
MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS 
REQUIRED.—Section 8701 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(e) This section does not apply to non-operating in-
dividuals.’’. 
(B) 
TRAINING
FOR
USE
OF
FORCE 
AGAINST PIRACY.—Section 51705(4) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘46 
U.S.C. 8107 note’’ and inserting ‘‘46 U.S.C. 
8108 note’’.
SEC. 304. SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS AND UNINSPECTED 
PASSENGER VESSELS. 
Section 12121 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) was built in the United States; 
‘‘(B) was not built in the United States 
and is at least 3 years old; or 
‘‘(C) if rebuilt, was rebuilt— 
‘‘(i) in the United States; or 
‘‘(ii) outside the United States at 
least 3 years before the certificate re-
quested under subsection (b) would take 
effect.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘12132,’’ 
after ‘‘12113,’’. 
SEC. 305. INSTALLATION VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 551 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 55123. Installation vessels 
‘‘(a) INITIAL
DETERMINATION
OF
COASTWISE 
QUALIFIED VESSEL.—No later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall determine whether an installation
vessel exists for which a coastwise endorsement has been 
issued under section 12112. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—If the Secretary of Transpor-
tation determines under subsection (a) that no such coast-
wise qualified vessel exists, then, after the date on which 
such determination is made, lifting operations between a 
vessel for which a coastwise endorsement has been issued 
under section 12112 and an installation vessel for which 
no such endorsement has been issued is not transportation 
of merchandise for the purposes of section 55102. 
‘‘(c) REQUESTS FOR DETERMINATIONS OF COAST-
WISE QUALIFIED VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After the date on which the 
determination is made under subsection (a), an in-
stallation vessel for which a coastwise endorsement 
has been issued under section 12112, the owner or 
operator of such installation vessel may seek a new 
determination from the Secretary of Transportation 
that an installation vessel for which a coastwise en-
dorsement has been issued under section 12112 ex-
ists. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION
TO
NON-QUALIFIED
VES-
SELS.—If the Secretary of Transportation makes a 
determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise 
qualified vessel exists, then—
‘‘(A) the owner or operator of an installa-
tion vessel for which no coastwise endorsement 
has been issued under section 12112 shall seek 
a determination of the availability of a coast-
wise qualified vessel under paragraph (3) before 
using such non-coastwise qualified vessel for the 
transportation of a platform jacket; and 
‘‘(B) after the date on which such deter-
mination is made, the owner or operator of an 
installation vessel for which no coastwise en-
dorsement has been issued under section 12112 
shall not use such non-coastwise qualified vessel 
for the transportation of a platform jacket un-
less the Secretary of Transportation determines 
a coastwise qualified is not available under 
paragraph (4). 
‘‘(3) CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION OF AVAIL-
ABILITY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall de-
termine a coastwise qualified vessel is not available 
if— 
‘‘(A) the owner or operator of a non-coast-
wise qualified vessel submits to the Secretary of 
Transportation an application for the use of a 
non-coastwise qualified installation vessel for 
transportation of a platform jacket under this
section that includes all relevant information, 
including engineering details and timing re-
quirements, and such application is submitted 
not less than 1 year before the date such vessel 
is required for such use; 
‘‘(B) the Secretary provides the application 
made under subparagraph (A) to the owner of 
each coastwise qualified vessel listed as an in-
stallation vessel in the inventory under section 
12138(c) and promptly publishes in the Federal 
Register a notice— 
‘‘(i) describing the project and the 
platform jacket involved; 
‘‘(ii) advising that all relevant infor-
mation reasonably needed to assess the 
transportation and installation require-
ments for the platform jacket will be made 
available to an interested person on re-
quest; and 
‘‘(iii) requesting that information on 
the availability of coastwise qualified ves-
sels be submitted within a 45-day period 
beginning on the date of such publication; 
and
‘‘(C)(i) within such 45-day period no infor-
mation is submitted to the Secretary from own-
ers or operators of coastwise qualified installa-
tion vessels to meet the requirements of the ap-
plication required under paragraph (A); or 
‘‘(ii) the owner or operator of a coastwise 
qualified installation vessel submits information 
to the Secretary asserting that the owner or op-
erator has a suitable coastwise qualified instal-
lation vessel available to meet the requirements 
of the application required under paragraph 
(A), but the Secretary determines, within 90 
days after the notice is first published, that the 
coastwise qualified installation vessel is not 
suitable or reasonably available for the trans-
portation. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INSTALLATION VESSEL.—The term ‘instal-
lation vessel’ means a vessel using a crane suitable 
for offshore use that— 
‘‘(A) is used to install platform jackets; 
‘‘(B) has a slewing or luffing capability; 
‘‘(C) has a lifting capacity of at least 
1,000 metric tons; and
‘‘(D) conducts lifting operations to con-
struct or remove offshore facilities or subsea in-
frastructure or to install and uninstall compo-
nent parts or materials from offshore facilities 
or subsea infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) LIFTING OPERATIONS.—The term ‘lifting 
operations’ means the lifting of platform jackets by 
crane from the time that the lifting activity begins 
when unlading from a vessel or removing offshore 
facilities or subsea infrastructure until the time that 
the lifting activities are terminated for a particular 
unlading, installation, or removal of offshore facili-
ties or subsea infrastructure. 
‘‘(3) PLATFORM JACKET.—The term ‘platform 
jacket’ has the meaning given such term in section 
55108(a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘55123. Installation vessels.’’. 
(c) INVENTORY.—Section 12138(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘, AND INSTALLATION.’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall develop, maintain, and periodically up-
date an inventory of vessels that are— 
‘‘(A) documented under this chapter; 
‘‘(B) at least 200 feet in length; 
‘‘(C) have the capability to lay, maintain, 
or repair a submarine cable, without regard to 
whether a particular vessel is classed as a cable 
ship or cable vessel; and 
‘‘(D) installation vessels within the mean-
ing of such term in section 55123.’’; and 
(3) by amending paragraph (2)(B) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) the abilities and limitations of the 
vessel with respect to— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a vessel required to 
be inventoried under paragraph (1)(A), 
laying, maintaining, and repairing a sub-
marine cable; and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a vessel required to 
be inventoried under paragraph (1)(B), in-
stalling platform jackets; and’’. 
(d) NOTICE OF MODIFICATION OR REVOCATION.—No 
later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Com-
missioner of Customs and Border Protection, shall issue 
a notice, including an opportunity for public comment, on 
the modification or revocation of Letter Rulings 101925, 
108442, 113841, 114435, 115185, 115218, 115311, 
115487, 115522, 115771, 115938, 116078, H004242 
with respect to the application of the section 55102 of title 
46, Shipping, United States Code, to certain offshore op-
erations. 
SEC. 306. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) NATIONAL OFFSHORE SAFETY ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE; REPRESENTATION.—Section 15106(c)(3) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and oil operations, including geophysical services’’ 
and inserting ‘‘operations’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘explo-
ration and recovery’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in diving services related to offshore construction, 
inspection, and maintenance’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
viding diving services to the offshore industry’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in safety and training services related to offshore ex-
ploration and construction’’ and inserting ‘‘providing
safety and training services to the offshore indus-
try’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in pipelaying services related to offshore construc-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘providing subsea engineering, 
construction, or remotely operated vehicle support to 
the offshore industry’’; 
(6) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and energy’’; 
(7) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘national 
environmental entities’’ and inserting ‘‘entities pro-
viding environmental protection, compliance, or re-
sponse services to the offshore industry’’; and 
(8) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘deepwater 
ports’’ and inserting ‘‘entities engaged in offshore oil 
exploration and production on the Outer Continental 
Shelf adjacent to Alaska’’. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEES; TESTIMONY.—Section 
15109(j)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) TESTIMONY.—The members of a 
committee shall be available to testify before 
appropriate committees of the Congress with re-
spect to the advice, reports, and recommenda-
tions submitted under paragraph (2).’’.
(c) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 555 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 55502. Maritime Transportation System National 
Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Mari-
time Transportation System National Advisory Committee 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 
Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to the 
United States maritime transportation system and its 
seamless integration with other segments of the transpor-
tation system, including the viability of the United States 
Merchant Marine. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of 27 members appointed by the Secretary of 
Transportation in accordance with this section and 
section 15109. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com-
mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
and experience in matters relating to the function of 
the Committee.
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed as follows: 
‘‘(A) At least one member shall represent 
the Environmental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(B) At least one member shall represent 
the Department of Commerce. 
‘‘(C) At least one member shall represent 
the Army Corps of Engineers. 
‘‘(D) At least one member shall represent 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(E) At least one member shall represent 
Customs and Border Protection. 
‘‘(F) At least one member shall represent 
State and local governmental entities. 
‘‘(G) Additional members shall represent 
private sector entities that reflect a cross-sec-
tion of maritime industries, including port and 
water stakeholders, academia, and labor. 
‘‘(H) The Secretary may appoint addi-
tional representatives from other Federal agen-
cies as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATION.—For purposes of sec-
tion 15109— 
‘‘(A) the Committee shall be treated as a 
committee established under chapter 151; and
‘‘(B) the Secretary of Transportation shall 
fulfill all duties and responsibilities and have all 
authorities of the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity with regard to the Committee.’’. 
(2) TREATMENT OF EXISTING COMMITTEE.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 
(A) an advisory committee substantially 
similar to the Committee established by section 
55502 of title 46, United States Code, and that 
was in force or in effect on the day before the 
date of the enactment of this Act, including the 
charter, membership, and other aspects of such 
committee, may remain in force or in effect for 
the 2-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this section; and 
(B) during such 2-year period— 
(i) requirements relating the Maritime 
Transportation System National Advisory 
Committee established by such section 
shall be treated as satisfied by such sub-
stantially similar advisory committee; and 
(ii) the enactment of this section shall 
not be the basis— 
(I) to deem, find, or declare such 
committee, 
including 
the 
charter,
membership, and other aspects there-
of, void, not in force, or not in effect; 
(II) to suspend the activities of 
such committee; or 
(III) to bar the members of such 
committee from a meeting. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘55502. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee.’’. 
(4) REPEAL.—Section 55603 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the item relating to that section in 
the analysis for chapter 556 of that title, are re-
pealed. 
(d) GREAT
LAKES
PILOTAGE
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking section 9307 and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘§ 9307. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Great 
Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee— 
‘‘(1) may review proposed Great Lakes pilotage 
regulations and policies and make recommendations
to the Secretary that the Committee considers ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(2) may advise, consult with, report to, and 
make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to Great Lakes pilotage; and 
‘‘(3) may only make recommendations to the 
Secretary under paragraph (2) if such recommenda-
tions have been approved by all but one of the mem-
bers then serving on such Committee. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of seven members appointed by the Secretary in 
accordance with this section and section 15109. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com-
mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
and experience in matters relating to the function of 
the Committee. 
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed as follows: 
‘‘(A) The President of each of the three 
Great Lakes pilotage districts, or the Presi-
dent’s representative. 
‘‘(B) At least one member shall represent 
the interests of vessel operators that contract 
for Great Lakes pilotage services.
‘‘(C) At least one member shall represent 
the interests of Great Lakes ports. 
‘‘(D) At least one member shall represent 
the interests of shippers whose cargoes are 
transported through Great Lakes ports. 
‘‘(E) At least one member shall have a 
background in finance or accounting and must 
have been recommended to the Secretary by a 
unanimous vote of the other members of the 
Committee. 
‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATION.—For purposes of sec-
tion 15109, the Committee shall be treated as a 
committee established under chapter 151.’’. 
(2) TREATMENT OF EXISTING COMMITTEE.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 
(A) an advisory committee substantially 
similar to the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory 
Committee established by section 9307 of title 
46, United States Code, as amended by this 
section, and that was in force or in effect on 
the day before the date of the enactment of this 
Act, including the charter, membership, and 
other aspects of the committee, may remain in 
force or in effect for a period of 2 years from 
the date of enactment of this Act; and
(B) during such 2-year period— 
(i) requirements relating to the Great 
Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee estab-
lished by section 9307 of title 46, United 
States Code, as amended by this section, 
shall be treated as satisfied by the substan-
tially similar advisory committee; and 
(ii) the enactment of this section and 
the amendments made by this section shall 
not be the basis— 
(I) to deem, find, or declare such 
committee, 
including 
the 
charter, 
membership, and other aspects there-
of, void, not in force, or not in effect; 
(II) to suspend the activities of 
such committee; or 
(III) to bar the members of such 
committee from a meeting. 
(e) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 15109 of 
title 46 is amended by inserting ‘‘or to which this chapter 
applies’’ after ‘‘committee established under this chapter’’ 
each place it appears. 
SEC. 307. EXPIRED MARITIME LIENS. 
Section 31343(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A notice’’; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1), as so des-
ignated by this section, the following: 
‘‘(2) On expiration of a notice of claim of lien under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall remove such expired no-
tice.’’. 
SEC. 308. TRAINING; EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS. 
(a) SECURITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 
Section 70107 of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law enforce-
ment personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency response 
providers’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(8), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency 
response providers—’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement agency personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘emer-
gency response providers’’. 
(b) CREDENTIALING FOR STATE AND LOCAL SUP-
PORT.—Section 70132 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law enforce-
ment personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘emergency re-
sponse providers—’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘law enforce-
ment personnel’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘emergency response providers’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘emergency response providers’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).’’. 
SEC. 309. AIMING A LASER POINTER AT A VESSEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 700 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful to cause the 
beam of a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the 
navigable waters of the United States. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 
a member or element of the Department of Defense or 
Department of Homeland Security acting in an official ca-
pacity for the purpose of research, development, oper-
ations, testing, or training. 
‘‘(c) LASER POINTER DEFINED.—In this section the 
term ‘laser pointer’ means any device designed or used to 
amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission 
that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator
as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify 
a specific position, place, item, or object.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items re-
lating to such subchapter the following: 
‘‘70014. Aiming a laser pointer at a vessel.’’. 
SEC. 310. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT. 
Section 55501(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an assess-
ment of the condition’’ and inserting ‘‘a conditions 
and performance analysis’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (5) by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) a compendium of the Federal programs 
engaged in the maritime transportation system.’’. 
SEC. 311. SAFETY OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 70005 the following: 
‘‘§ 70006. Safety of special activities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish a 
safety zone to address special activities in the exclusive 
economic zone.
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘safety zone’ has the meaning 
provided in section 165.20 of title 33, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘special activities’ includes— 
‘‘(A) space activities, including launch and 
reentry, as those terms are defined in section 
50902 of title 51, carried out by United States 
citizens; and 
‘‘(B) offshore energy development activi-
ties, as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near a fixed platform. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘United States citizen’ has the 
meaning given the term ‘eligible owners’ in section 
12103. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘fixed platform’ means an artifi-
cial island, installation, or structure permanently at-
tached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration 
or exploitation of resources or for other economic 
purposes.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 70005 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘70006. Safety of special activities.’’.
(c) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating shall establish regulations to implement this 
section. 
(2) ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER REGULATIONS.— 
Such regulations shall align with subchapter C of 
chapter III of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 312. ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES; USE REQUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4312 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
(d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) USE REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual operating a 
covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut- 
off switch link while operating on plane or above dis-
placement speed. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply if— 
‘‘(A) the main helm of the covered vessel 
is installed within an enclosed cabin; or
‘‘(B) the vessel does not have an engine 
cut-off switch and is not required to have one 
under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 4311 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by— 
(1) redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), 
and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), re-
spectively; and 
(2) inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) A person violating section 4312(b) of this title 
is liable to the United States Government for a civil pen-
alty of not more than— 
‘‘(1) $100 for the first offense; 
‘‘(2) $250 for the second offense; and 
‘‘(3) $500 for any subsequent offense.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made in 
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, unless the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard, prior to the date that is 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, deter-
mines that the use requirement enacted in subsection (a) 
would not promote recreational boating safety. 
SEC. 313. EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4305 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 4305. Exemptions and equivalents’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘If the Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) EXEMPTIONS.—If the Secretary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) EQUIVALENTS.—The Secretary may accept a 
substitution for associated equipment performance or 
other safety standards for a recreational vessel if the sub-
stitution provides an equivalent level of safety.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 43 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 4305 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘4305. Exemptions and equivalents.’’. 
SEC. 314. SECURITY PLANS; REVIEWS. 
Section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b)(3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall review and approve 
Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and 
updates under this subsection.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting ‘‘or up-
date’’ after ‘‘plan’’ each place it appears.
SEC. 315. WAIVER OF NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPEC-
TION LAWS. 
Section 501(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘On request’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXPLANATION.—Not later than 24 hours 
after making a request under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and Armed Services of the Senate a written 
explanation of the circumstances requiring such a 
waiver in the interest of national defense, including 
a confirmation that there are insufficient qualified 
vessels to meet the needs of national defense without 
such a waiver.’’. 
SEC. 316. REQUIREMENT FOR SMALL SHIPYARD GRANTEES. 
Section 54101(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Grants awarded’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) BUY AMERICA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), no funds may be obligated by the 
Administrator of the Maritime Administration 
under this section, unless each product and ma-
terial purchased with those funds (including 
products and materials purchased by a grant-
ee), and including any commercially available 
off-the-shelf item, is— 
‘‘(i) an unmanufactured article, mate-
rial, or supply that has been mined or pro-
duced in the United States; or 
‘‘(ii) a manufactured article, material, 
or supply that has been manufactured in 
the United States substantially all from ar-
ticles, materials, or supplies mined, pro-
duced, or manufactured in the United 
States. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph (A), the requirements of 
that subparagraph shall not apply with re-
spect to a particular product or material if 
such Administrator determines—
‘‘(I) that the application of those 
requirements would be inconsistent 
with the public interest; 
‘‘(II) that such product or mate-
rial is not available in the United 
States in sufficient and reasonably 
available quantities, of a satisfactory 
quality, or on a timely basis; or 
‘‘(III) that inclusion of a domes-
tic product or material will increase 
the cost of that product or material by 
more than 25 percent, with respect to 
a certain contract between a grantee 
and that grantee’s supplier. 
‘‘(ii) FEDERAL
REGISTER.—A deter-
mination made by such Administrator 
under this subparagraph shall be published 
in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(C) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE OFF- 
THE-SHELF
ITEM.—The term ‘commer-
cially available off-the-shelf item’ means— 
‘‘(I) any item of supply (includ-
ing construction material) that is—
‘‘(aa) a commercial item, as 
defined by section 2.101 of title 
48, Code of Federal Regulations; 
and 
‘‘(bb) sold in substantial 
quantities 
in 
the 
commercial 
marketplace; and 
‘‘(II) does not include bulk cargo, 
as that term is defined in section 
40102(4) of this title, such as agricul-
tural products and petroleum prod-
ucts. 
‘‘(ii) PRODUCT
OR
MATERIAL.—The 
term ‘product or material’ means an arti-
cle, material, or supply brought to the site 
by the recipient for incorporation into the 
building, work, or project. The term also 
includes an item brought to the site 
preassembled from articles, materials, or 
supplies. However, emergency life safety 
systems, such as emergency lighting, fire 
alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that 
are discrete systems incorporated into a 
public building or work and that are pro-
duced as complete systems, are evaluated
as a single and distinct construction mate-
rial regardless of when or how the indi-
vidual parts or components of those sys-
tems are delivered to the construction site. 
‘‘(iii) UNITED
STATES.—The term 
‘United States’ includes the District of Co-
lumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.’’. 
SEC. 317. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON THE UNITED STATES 
MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Na-
tional Academy of Public Administration (referred to in 
this section as the ‘‘Academy’’) to carry out the activities 
described in this section. 
(b) STUDY ELEMENTS.—In accordance with the 
agreement described in subsection (a), the Academy shall 
conduct a study of the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy that consists of the following: 
(1) A comprehensive assessment of the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy’s systems, train-
ing, facilities, infrastructure, information technology, 
and stakeholder engagement.
(2) Identification of needs and opportunities for 
modernization to help the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy keep pace with more modern cam-
puses. 
(3) Development of an action plan for the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy with spe-
cific recommendations for— 
(A) improvements or updates relating to 
the opportunities described in paragraph (2); 
and 
(B) systemic changes needed to help the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy 
achieve its mission of inspiring and educating 
the next generation of the mariner workforce on 
a long-term basis. 
(c) DEADLINE AND REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the agreement described in subsection 
(a), the Academy shall prepare and submit to the Adminis-
trator of the Maritime Administration a report containing 
the action plan described in subsection (b)(3), including 
specific findings and recommendations.
SEC. 318. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR DOMESTIC MARI-
TIME 
WORKFORCE 
TRAINING 
AND 
EDU-
CATION. 
Section 54102 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘or sub-
section (d)’’ after ‘‘designated under subsection (a)’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) STATE MARITIME ACADEMY.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall designate each State maritime acad-
emy, as defined in section 51102(4) of this title, as a cen-
ter of excellence under this section.’’. 
SEC. 319. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES 
AND DOCUMENTS. 
Section 7507 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) RENEWAL.—With respect to any renewal of an 
existing merchant mariner credential that is not an exten-
sion under subsection (a) or (b), such credential shall 
begin the day after the expiration of the credential holder’s 
existing credential.’’. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 401. COASTWISE TRADE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall review the adequacy of and continuing need
for provisions in title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
that require a United States vessel documented under 
chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, possessing 
a coastwise endorsement under that chapter, and engaged 
in coastwise trade, to comply with regulations for vessels 
engaged in an international voyage. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall provide to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the findings 
of the review required under subsection (a) and a discus-
sion of how existing laws and regulations could be amend-
ed to ensure the safety of vessels described in subsection 
(a) while infringing as little as possible on commerce. 
SEC. 402. UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS AND SATELLITE 
VESSEL TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard, acting through the Blue Technology 
Center of Expertise, shall regularly assess available 
unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel 
tracking technologies for potential use to support 
missions of the Coast Guard.
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Commandant shall 
make the assessment required under paragraph (1) 
after consultation with the Department of Defense, 
other Federal agencies, the academic sector, and de-
velopers and manufacturers of unmanned maritime 
systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially 
thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report on the actual and potential effects of 
the use of then-existing unmanned maritime systems 
and satellite vessel tracking technologies on the mis-
sion effectiveness of the Coast Guard. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An inventory of current unmanned 
maritime systems used by the Coast Guard, an 
overview of such usage, and a discussion of the 
mission effectiveness of such systems, including 
any benefits realized or risks or negative as-
pects of such usage.
(B) An inventory of satellite vessel track-
ing technologies, and a discussion of the poten-
tial mission effectiveness of such technologies, 
including any benefits or risks or negative as-
pects of such usage. 
(C) A prioritized list of Coast Guard mis-
sion requirements that could be met with addi-
tional unmanned maritime systems, or with sat-
ellite vessel tracking technologies, and the esti-
mated costs of accessing, acquiring, or oper-
ating such systems. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘unmanned 
maritime systems’’ means remotely operated or 
autonomous vehicles produced by the commer-
cial sector designed to travel in the air, on or 
under the ocean surface, on land, or any com-
bination thereof, and that function without an 
on-board human presence. 
(B) EXAMPLES.—Such term includes the 
following: 
(i) Unmanned undersea vehicles. 
(ii) Unmanned surface vehicles. 
(iii) Unmanned aerial vehicles.
(iv) Autonomous underwater vehicles. 
(v) Autonomous surface vehicles. 
(vi) Autonomous aerial vehicles. 
(2) AVAILABLE
UNMANNED
MARITIME
SYS-
TEMS.—The term ‘‘available unmanned maritime 
systems’’ includes systems that can be purchased 
commercially or are in use by the Department of 
Defense or other Federal agencies. 
(3) 
SATELLITE
VESSEL
TRACKING
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—The term ‘‘satellite vessel tracking tech-
nologies’’ means shipboard broadcast systems that 
use satellites and terrestrial receivers to continually 
track vessels. 
SEC. 403. EXPEDITED TRANSFER IN CASES OF SEXUAL AS-
SAULT; DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE 
COAST GUARD. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall establish a policy to allow the transfer of a member 
of the Coast Guard whose dependent is the victim of sex-
ual assault perpetrated by a member of the Armed Forces 
who is not related to the victim.
SEC. 404. TOWING VESSELS; OPERATION OUTSIDE THE 
BOUNDARY LINE. 
(a) INTERIM EXEMPTION.—A towing vessel to which 
this section applies is exempt from any additional require-
ments of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, and 
chapter I of title 33 and chapter I of title 46, Code of 
Federal Regulations, that would result solely from such 
vessel operating outside the Boundary Line (as such term 
is defined in section 103 of title 46, United States Code) 
if such vessel— 
(1) is listed as a response vessel on a vessel re-
sponse plan and is operating outside the Boundary 
Line solely to perform duties of a response vessel; or 
(2) is operating outside the Boundary Line 
solely to perform operations necessary to escort a 
vessel with limited maneuverability. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to a towing 
vessel— 
(1) that is subject to inspection under chapter 
33 of title 46, United States Code, and subchapter 
M of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) with only ‘‘Lakes, Bays, and Sounds’’ or 
‘‘Rivers’’ routes recorded on such vessel’s certificate 
of inspection under section 136.230 of title 46, Code 
of Federal Regulations; and
(3)(A) that, with respect to a vessel that is de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1), is listed— 
(i) on a vessel response plan under part 
155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, on 
the date of approval of the vessel response plan; 
or 
(ii) by name or reference in the vessel re-
sponse plan’s geographic-specific appendix on 
the date of approval of the vessel response plan; 
or 
(B) that, with respect to a vessel described in 
subsection (a)(2), is regularly engaged in harbor as-
sist operations, including the docking, undocking, 
mooring, unmooring, and escorting of vessels with 
limited maneuverability. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.—A vessel exempted under sub-
section (a) is subject to the following operating limitations: 
(1) RESPONSE VESSELS.—The voyage of a ves-
sel exempted under subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(A) be less than 12 hours, or in the case 
of a voyage in the territorial waters of Alaska, 
Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa, have suf-
ficient manning as determined by the Secretary; 
and
(B) originate and end in the inspection 
zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine In-
spection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of 
title 46, United States Code. 
(2) ESCORT VESSELS.—The voyage of a vessel 
exempted under subsection (a)(2) shall— 
(A) be less than 12 hours in total duration; 
(B) originate and end in the inspection 
zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine In-
spection, as such term is defined in section 
3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code; and 
(C) occur no further than 10 nautical 
miles from the Boundary Line. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The interim exemption provided 
under subsection (a) shall terminate on July 22, 2023. 
(e) RESTRICTION.—The Officer In-Charge, Marine 
Inspection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, 
United States Code, for an inspection zone may restrict 
operations under the exemptions provided under sub-
section (a) for safety purposes. 
(f) BRIEFING.—Not later than July 22, 2022, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding the 
following: 
(1) The impacts of the interim exemptions pro-
vided under this section. 
(2) Any safety concerns regarding the expira-
tion of such interim exemptions. 
(3) Whether such interim exemptions should be 
extended or made permanent in the interests of safe-
ty. 
SEC. 405. COAST GUARD AUTHORITIES STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of 
Sciences not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act under which the Academy shall prepare 
an assessment of Coast Guard authorities. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The assessment under subsection 
(a) shall provide— 
(1) an examination of emerging issues that may 
require Coast Guard oversight, regulation, or action; 
(2) a description of potential limitations and 
shortcomings of relying on current Coast Guard au-
thorities to address emerging issues; and
(3) an overview of adjustments and additions 
that could be made to existing Coast Guard authori-
ties to fully address emerging issues. 
(c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after entering into an arrangement with the Sec-
retary under subsection (a), the National Academy of 
Sciences shall submit the assessment under this section 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(d) EMERGING ISSUES.—In this section, the term 
‘‘emerging issues’’ means changes in the maritime indus-
try and environment that in the determination of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences are reasonably likely to occur 
within 10 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, including— 
(1) the introduction of new technologies in the 
maritime domain; 
(2) the advent of new processes or operational 
activities in the maritime domain; and 
(3) changes in the use of navigable waterways. 
SEC. 406. CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a detailed description of the Coast Guard’s strat-
egy to implement cloud computing for the entire Coast 
Guard, including— 
(1) the goals and acquisition strategies for all 
proposed enterprise-wide cloud computing service 
procurements; 
(2) a strategy to sustain competition and inno-
vation throughout the period of performance of each 
contract for procurement of cloud-computing goods 
and services for the Coast Guard, including defining 
opportunities for multiple cloud-service providers 
and insertion of new technologies; 
(3) an assessment of potential threats and secu-
rity vulnerabilities of the strategy, and plans to miti-
gate such risks; and 
(4) an estimate of the cost and timeline to im-
plement cloud computing service for all Coast Guard 
computing. 
SEC. 407. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON 
COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report on vulnerabilities 
of Coast Guard installations and requirements resulting 
from climate change over the next 20 years. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A list of the 10 most vulnerable Coast 
Guard installations based on the effects of climate 
change, including rising sea tides, increased flooding, 
drought, desertification, wildfires, thawing perma-
frost, or any other categories the Commandant de-
termines necessary. 
(2) An overview of— 
(A) mitigations that may be necessary to 
ensure the continued operational viability and 
to increase the resiliency of the identified vul-
nerable installations; and 
(B) the cost of such mitigations. 
(3) A discussion of the climate-change-related 
effects on the Coast Guard, including— 
(A) the increase in the frequency of hu-
manitarian assistance and disaster relief mis-
sions; and
(B) campaign plans, contingency plans, 
and operational posture of the Coast Guard. 
(4) An overview of mitigations that may be nec-
essary to ensure mission resiliency and the cost of 
such mitigations. 
(c) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 408. SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall— 
(1) develop a plan to standardize Coast Guard 
facility condition assessments; 
(2) establish shore infrastructure performance 
goals, measures, and baselines to track the effective-
ness of maintenance and repair investments and pro-
vide feedback on progress made; 
(3) develop a process to routinely align the 
Coast Guard shore infrastructure portfolio with mis-
sion needs, including disposing of unneeded assets; 
(4) establish guidance for planning boards to 
document 
inputs, 
deliberations, 
and 
project 
prioritization decisions for infrastructure mainte-
nance projects;
(5) employ models for Coast Guard infrastruc-
ture asset lines for— 
(A) predicting the outcome of investments 
in shore infrastructure; 
(B) analyzing tradeoffs; and 
(C) optimizing decisions among competing 
investments; 
(6) include supporting details about competing 
project alternatives and report tradeoffs in congres-
sional budget requests and related reports; and 
(7) explore the development of real property 
management expertise within the Coast Guard work-
force, including members of the Senior Executive 
Service. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than December 31, 2020, 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the status 
of the actions required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 409. PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM REPORT. 
Not later 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and annually for each of the 4 years thereafter, 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
regarding the status of the Coast Guard’s compliance with 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD–12) 
and Federal Information Processing Standard 201 
(FIPS–201), including— 
(1) the status of Coast Guard efforts to field a 
comprehensive Physical Access Control System at 
Coast Guard installations and locations necessary to 
bring the Service into compliance with HSPD–12 
and FIPS–201B; 
(2) the status of the selection of a technological 
solution; 
(3) the estimated phases and timeframe to com-
plete the implementation of such a system; and 
(4) the estimated cost for each phase of the 
project. 
SEC. 410. COASTWISE ENDORSEMENTS. 
(a) ‘‘SAFARI VOYAGER’’.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 
12112 and 12132 of title 46, United States Code, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall issue a certificate of docu-
mentation with a coastwise endorsement for the ves-
(2) striking ‘‘shall expire on’’ and inserting 
‘‘after’’. 
(d) REPLACEMENT VESSEL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 208(g)(5) of the American Fisheries Act (Public Law 
105–277; 16 U.S.C. 1851 note), a vessel eligible under 
section 208(e)(21) of such Act that is replaced under sec-
tion 208(g) of such Act shall be subject to a sideboard 
restriction catch limit of zero metric tons in the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska unless 
that vessel is also a replacement vessel under section 
679.4(o)(4) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, in 
which case such vessel shall not be eligible to be a catcher/ 
processor under section 206(b)(2) of such Act. 
SEC. 411. POLAR SECURITY CUTTER ACQUISITION REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit a report to the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science 
and Transportation and Armed Services of the Senate 
on— 
(1) the extent to which specifications, key draw-
ings, and detail design for the Polar Security Cutter 
are complete before the start of construction;
(2) the extent to which Polar Security Cutter 
hulls numbers one, two, and three are science ready; 
and 
(3) what actions will be taken to ensure that 
Polar Security Cutter hull number four is science ca-
pable, as described in the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on 
Polar Icebreaker Cost Assessment letter report enti-
tled ‘‘Acquisition and Operation of Polar Ice-
breakers: Fulfilling the Nation’s Needs’’ and dated 
July 11, 2017. 
SEC. 412. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON THE NEED FOR A 
NEW GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Great Lakes shipping industry is cru-
cial to the American economy, including the United 
States manufacturing base, providing important eco-
nomic and national security benefits. 
(2) A recent study found that the Great Lakes 
shipping industry supports 237,000 jobs and tens of 
billions of dollars in economic activity. 
(3) United States Coast Guard icebreaking ca-
pacity is crucial to full utilization of the Great Lakes 
shipping system, as during the winter icebreaking 
season up to 15 percent of annual cargo loads are
delivered and many industries would have to reduce 
their production if Coast Guard icebreaking services 
were not provided. 
(4) Six of the Coast Guard’s nine icebreaking 
cutters in the Great Lakes are more than 30 years 
old and are frequently inoperable during the winter 
icebreaking season, including those that have com-
pleted a recent service life extension program. 
(5) During the previous 10 winters, Coast 
Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutters have been in-
operable for an average of 65 cutter-days during the 
winter icebreaking season, with this annual lost ca-
pability exceeding 100 cutter-days, with a high of 
246 cutter-days during the winter of 2017–2018. 
(6) The 2019 ice season provides further proof 
that current Coast Guard icebreaking capacity is in-
adequate for the needs of the Great Lakes shipping 
industry, as only six of the nine icebreaking cutters 
are operational and millions of tons of cargo was not 
loaded or was delayed due to inadequate Coast 
Guard icebreaking assets during a historically aver-
age winter for Great Lakes ice coverage. 
(7) The Congress has authorized the Coast 
Guard to acquire a new Great Lakes icebreaker as 
capable as Coast Guard Cutter MACKINAW
100 
(WLBB–30), the most capable Great Lakes ice-
breaker, and $10 million has been appropriated to 
fund the design and initial acquisition work for this 
icebreaker. 
(8) The Coast Guard has not initiated a new 
acquisition program for this Great Lakes icebreaker. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
the Congress of the United States that a new Coast Guard 
icebreaker as capable as Coast Guard Cutter MACKI-
NAW (WLBB–30) is needed on the Great Lakes and the 
Coast Guard should acquire this icebreaker as soon as pos-
sible. 
SEC. 413. CARGO PREFERENCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an audit regarding the en-
forcement of the United States Cargo Preference Laws set 
forth in sections 55302, 55303, 55304, and 55305 of title 
46, United States Code, and section 2631 of title 10, 
United States Code (hereinafter in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘United States Cargo Preference Laws’’). 
(b) SCOPE.—The audit conducted under subsection 
(a) shall include, for the period from October 14, 2008, 
until the date of the enactment of this Act—
101 
(1) a listing of the agencies and organizations 
required to comply with the United States Cargo 
Preference Laws; 
(2) an analysis of the compliance or noncompli-
ance of such agencies and organizations with such 
laws, including— 
(A) the total amount of oceangoing cargo 
that each such agency, organization, or con-
tractor procured for its own account or for 
which financing was in any way provided with 
Federal funds, including loan guarantees; 
(B) the percentage of such cargo shipped 
on privately owned commercial vessels of the 
United States; 
(C) an assessment of internal programs 
and controls used by each such agency or orga-
nization to monitor and ensure compliance with 
the United States Cargo Preference Laws, to 
include education, training, and supervision of 
its contracting personnel, and the procedures 
and controls used to monitor compliance with 
cargo preference requirements by contractors 
and subcontractors; and 
(D) instances in which cargoes are shipped 
on foreign-flag vessels under non-availability de-
102 
terminations but not counted as such for pur-
poses of calculating cargo preference compli-
ance; and 
(3) an overview of enforcement activities under-
taken by the Maritime Administration from October 
14, 2008, until the date of the enactment of this 
Act, including a listing of all bills of lading collected 
by the Maritime Administration during that period. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and pro-
viding recommendations related to such results, to in-
clude— 
(1) actions that should be taken by agencies 
and organizations to fully comply with the United 
States Cargo Preference Laws; and 
(2) Other measures that may compel agencies 
and organizations, and their contractors and sub-
contractors, to use United States flag vessels in the 
international transportation of ocean cargoes as 
mandated by the United States Cargo Preference 
Laws.
103 
SEC. 414. INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on a plan to expand the Coast Guard Insider 
Threat program to include the monitoring of all Coast 
Guard devices, including mobile devices. 
SEC. 415. FISHING SAFETY GRANTS. 
The cap on the Federal share of the cost of any activ-
ity carried out with a grant under subsections (i) and (j) 
of section 4502 of title 46, United States Code, as in effect 
prior to the date of enactment of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, shall apply to any 
funds appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2017 (Public Law 115–31) for the purpose of making 
such grants. 
SEC. 416. PLANS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall develop plans for demonstration programs 
that will assess the feasibility of using unmanned maritime 
systems for surveillance of marine protected areas, the 
transit zone, and the Arctic to—
104 
(1) gather regular maritime domain awareness 
of marine protected areas, the transit zone, and the 
Arctic; and 
(2) ensure sufficient response to illegal activi-
ties in marine protected areas, the transit zone, and 
the Arctic. 
(b) COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES.— 
The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall collaborate 
with local, State, and Tribal authorities and international 
partners for surveillance permissions over their waters in 
conducting any demonstration program under subsection 
(a). 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The plans required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) discussion of the feasibility, safety, and cost 
effectiveness of using unmanned maritime systems 
for the purposes of enhancing maritime domain 
awareness in marine protected areas, the transit 
zone, and the Arctic; 
(2) coordination and communication plans to 
facilitate coordination with other relevant Federal, 
State, Tribal, and local agencies, and international 
partners;
105 
(3) consideration of the potential impacts of 
such a demonstration program on the Coast Guard’s 
existing unmanned vehicle programs; 
(4) an overview of areas that could be surveilled 
under such program; 
(5) a timeline and technical milestones for the 
implementation of such a program; 
(6) resource requirements to implement and 
sustain such a program; and 
(7) the operational benefits of such a program. 
(d) CONSULTATION
WITH
STAKEHOLDERS.—The 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall consult with rel-
evant stakeholders including the Department of Defense, 
other agencies, the academic sector, and developers and 
manufacturers of unmanned maritime systems on the ap-
propriate technologies for successful implementation of 
any demonstration program under subsection (a). 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
plans required under subsection (a). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
106 
(1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Re-
search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
(2) MARINE
PROTECTED
AREA.—The term 
‘‘marine protected area’’ means any discrete area of 
the marine environment under a Federal statute. 
(3) TRANSIT ZONE.—The term ‘‘transit zone’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 
1092(a)(8) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (6 U.S.C. 223(a)(8)). 
(4) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.—The term 
‘‘unmanned maritime systems’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 402(c)(1). 
SEC. 417. WATERS DEEMED NOT NAVIGABLE WATERS OF 
THE UNITED STATES FOR CERTAIN PUR-
POSES. 
The Coalbank Slough in Coos Bay, Oregon, is 
deemed to not be navigable waters of the United States 
for all purposes of subchapter J of Chapter I of title 33, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 418. COAST GUARD HOUSING; STATUS AND AUTHORI-
TIES BRIEFING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and In-
107 
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a briefing on Coast Guard housing, including— 
(1) a description of the material condition of 
Coast Guard housing facilities; 
(2) the amount of current Coast Guard housing 
construction and deferred maintenance backlogs; 
(3) an overview of the manner in which the 
Coast Guard manages and maintains housing facili-
ties; 
(4) a discussion of whether reauthorizing hous-
ing authorities for the Coast Guard similar to those 
provided in section 208 of the Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–324); and 
(5) recommendations regarding how the Con-
gress could adjust those authorities to prevent mis-
management of Coast Guard housing facilities. 
SEC. 419. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY AT 
POINT SPENCER, ALASKA. 
(1) Section 533 of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–120) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) REMEDIAL ACTIONS.—For purposes of the 
transfers under this section, the remedial actions required 
under section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental
108 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 
U.S.C. 9620(h)) may be completed by the United States 
Coast Guard after the date of such transfer and a deed 
entered into for such transfer shall include a clause grant-
ing the United States Coast Guard access to the property 
in any case in which remedial action or corrective action 
is found to be necessary after the date of such transfer.’’. 
(2) Section 534(a) of the Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–120) is 
amended by— 
(A) striking ‘‘Nothing’’ and inserting 
‘‘After the date on which the Secretary of the 
Interior conveys land under section 533 of this 
Act, nothing’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, with respect to con-
taminants on such land prior to the date on 
which the land is conveyed’’ before the period. 
SEC. 420. PROHIBITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall not establish 
anchorage grounds on the Hudson River between Yonkers, 
New York, and Kingston, New York, under section 7 of 
the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1915 (33 
U.S.C. 471) or chapter 700 of title 46, United States
109 
Code, in addition to any anchorage grounds in effect in 
such area on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) RESTRICTION.—The Commandant may not es-
tablish or expand any anchorage grounds outside of the 
reach on the Hudson River described in subsection (a) 
without first providing notice to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days prior 
to the establishment or expansion of any such anchorage 
grounds. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section— 
(1) prevents the master or pilot of a vessel op-
erating on the reach of the Hudson River described 
in subsection (a) from taking emergency actions nec-
essary to maintain the safety of the vessel or to pre-
vent the loss of life or property; or 
(2) shall be construed as limiting the authority 
of the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating to exercise authority over 
the movement of a vessel under section 70002 of 
title 46, United States Code, or any other applicable 
laws or regulations governing the safe navigation of 
a vessel.
110 
(d) STUDY.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
in consultation with the Hudson River Safety, Navigation, 
and Operations Committee, shall conduct a study of the 
Hudson River north of Tarrytown, New York to exam-
ine— 
(1) the nature of vessel traffic including vessel 
types, sizes, cargoes, and frequency of transits; 
(2) the risks and benefits of historic practices 
for commercial vessels anchoring; and 
(3) the risks and benefits of establishing an-
chorage grounds on the Hudson River. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report containing the findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations from the study required 
under subsection (b). 
SEC. 421. CERTIFICATE EXTENSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 121 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
111 
‘‘§ 12108. Authority to extend the duration of vessel 
certificates 
‘‘(a) CERTIFICATES.—Provided a vessel is in compli-
ance with inspection requirements in section 3313, the 
Secretary of the Department in which in the Coast Guard 
is operating may, if he makes the determination described 
in subsection (b), extend for a period of not more than 
1 year an expiring— 
‘‘(1) certificate of documentation issued for a 
vessel under chapter 121; or 
‘‘(2) certificate of financial responsibility re-
quired for a vessel by section 1016(a) of the Oil Pol-
lution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2716(a)) or Section 
108 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
9608). 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—The determination referred 
to in subsection (a) is a determination that such extension 
is required to enable the Coast Guard to— 
‘‘(1) eliminate a backlog in processing applica-
tions for such certificates; or 
‘‘(2) act in response to a national emergency or 
natural disaster. 
‘‘(c) MANNER OF EXTENSION.—Any extension grant-
ed under this section may be granted to individual vessels 
or to a specifically identified group of vessels.’’.
112 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘12108. Authority to extend the duration of vessel certificates.’’. 
SEC. 422. HOMELAND SECURITY ROTATIONAL CYBERSECU-
RITY RESEARCH PROGRAM AT THE COAST 
GUARD ACADEMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title VIII of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 411 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 846. ROTATIONAL CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘To enhance the Department’s cybersecurity capac-
ity, the Secretary may establish a rotational research, de-
velopment, and training program for— 
‘‘(1) detail to the Cybersecurity and Infrastruc-
ture Security Agency (including the national cyber-
security and communications integration center au-
thorized by section 2209) of Coast Guard Academy 
graduates and faculty; and 
‘‘(2) detail to the Coast Guard Academy, as 
faculty, of individuals with expertise and experience 
in cybersecurity who are employed by— 
‘‘(A) the Agency (including the center); 
‘‘(B) the Directorate of Science and Tech-
nology; or
113 
‘‘(C) institutions that have been designated 
by the Department as a Center of Excellence 
for Cyber Defense, or the equivalent.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the 
end of the items relating to such subtitle the following: 
‘‘Sec. 846. Rotational cybersecurity research program.’’. 
SEC. 423. TOWING VESSEL INSPECTION FEES. 
Notwithstanding section 9701 of title 31, United 
States Code, and section 2110 of title 46, United States 
Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may not charge an inspection fee for 
towing vessels required to have a Certificate of Inspection 
under subchapter M of title 46, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, until— 
(1) the completion of the review required under 
section 815 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282); 
and 
(2) the promulgation of regulations to establish 
specific inspection fees for such vessels. 
SEC. 424. SUBROGATED CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1012(b) of the Oil Pollu-
tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing:
114 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) SUBROGATED RIGHTS.—Except for a guar-
antor claim pursuant to a defense under section 
1016(f)(1), Fund compensation of any claim by an 
insurer or other indemnifier of a responsible party or 
injured third party is subject to the subrogated 
rights of that responsible party or injured third 
party to such compensation.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 425. LOAN PROVISIONS UNDER OIL POLLUTION ACT 
OF 1990. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1013 of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2713) is amended by striking sub-
section (f). 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1012(a) 
of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (6).
116 
‘‘(iv) oil throughput; 
‘‘(v) proximity to sensitive areas; 
‘‘(vi) type of oil handled; 
‘‘(vii) history of oil discharges; and 
‘‘(viii) such other factors relevant to 
the oil pollution risks posed by the class or 
category of deepwater port and associated 
vessels as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(C) LIMIT
OF
LIABILITY; 
TRANSPOR-
TATION OF OIL.—For deepwater ports used in 
connection with the transportation of oil, the 
Secretary may establish a limitation of liability 
under subparagraph (A) of not more than 
$350,000,000 and not less than $50,000,000. 
‘‘(D) LIMIT
OF
LIABILITY; TRANSPOR-
TATION
OF
NATURAL
GAS.—For deepwater 
ports used in connection with the transportation 
of natural gas, the Secretary may establish a 
limitation of liability under subparagraph (A) of 
not more than $350,000,000 and not less than 
$1,000,000.’’.
117 
SEC. 427. REPORT ON DRUG INTERDICTION IN THE CARIB-
BEAN BASIN. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate a report on drug interdiction in the Carib-
bean basin. 
(b) CONTENT.—Such report shall include— 
(1) a statement of the Coast Guard mission re-
quirements for drug interdiction in the Caribbean 
basin; 
(2) the number of maritime surveillance hours 
and Coast Guard assets used in each of fiscal years 
2017 through 2019 to counter the illicit trafficking 
of drugs and other related threats throughout the 
Caribbean basin; and 
(3) a determination of whether such hours and 
assets satisfied the Coast Guard mission require-
ments for drug interdiction in the Caribbean basin. 
SEC. 428. VOTING REQUIREMENT. 
Section 305(i)(1)(G)(iv) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1855(i)(1)(G)(iv)) is amended to read as follows:
118 
‘‘(iv) VOTING
REQUIREMENT.—The 
panel may act only by the affirmative vote 
of at least five of its members.’’. 
SEC. 429. TRANSPORTATION WORK IDENTIFICATION CARD 
PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 70105(g) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘shall concurrently’’ and all that fol-
lows and inserting the following: ‘‘shall— 
‘‘(1) develop and, no later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 2019, implement a joint application for mer-
chant mariner’s documents under chapter 73 of title 
46, United States Code, and for a transportation se-
curity card issued under this section; and 
‘‘(2) upon receipt of a joint application devel-
oped under paragraph (1) concurrently process an 
application from an individual for merchant mari-
ner’s documents under chapter 73 of title 46, United 
States Code, and an application from such individual 
for a transportation security card under this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 430. PLAN FOR WING-IN-GROUND DEMONSTRATION 
PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard, in coordination with the Administrator of
119 
the Federal Aviation Administration with regard to any 
regulatory or safety matter regarding airspace, air space 
authorization, or aviation, shall develop plans for a dem-
onstration program that will determine whether wing-in- 
ground craft, as that term is defined in section 2101 of 
title 46, United States Code, that is capable of carrying 
at least one individual, can— 
(A) provide transportation in areas in which en-
ergy exploration, development or production activity 
takes place on the Outer Continental Shelf; and 
(B) under the craft’s own power, safely reach 
helidecks or platforms located on offshore energy fa-
cilities. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The plans required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) examine and explain any safety issues with 
regard to the operation of the such craft as a vessel, 
or as an aircraft, or both; 
(B) include a timeline and technical milestones 
for the implementation of such a demonstration pro-
gram; 
(C) outline resource requirements needed to un-
dertake such a demonstration program; 
(D) describe specific operational circumstances 
under which the craft may be used, including dis-
120 
tance from United States land, altitude, number of 
individuals, amount of cargo, and speed and weight 
of vessel; 
(E) describe the operations under which Fed-
eral Aviation Administration statutes, regulations, 
circulars, or orders apply; and 
(F) describe the certifications, permits, or au-
thorizations required to perform any operations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant, along with 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
with regard to any regulatory or safety matter regarding 
airspace, air space authorization, or aviation, shall brief 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science and Transportation of the Senate on the 
plan developed under subsection (a), including— 
(1) any regulatory changes needed regarding in-
spections and manning, to allow such craft to oper-
ate between onshore facilities and offshore energy 
facilities when such craft is operating as a vessel; 
(2) any regulatory changes that would be nec-
essary to address potential impacts to air traffic 
control, the National Airspace System, and other 
aircraft operations, and to ensure safe operations on
121 
or near helidecks and platforms located on offshore 
energy facilities when such craft are operating as 
aircraft; and 
(3) any other statutory or regulatory changes 
related to authority of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration over operations of the craft. 
TITLE V—REORGANIZATION 
SEC. 501. UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY 
VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle II of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking chapter 45 and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 45—UNINSPECTED 
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY VESSELS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘4501. Application. 
‘‘4502. Definitions. 
‘‘4503. Safety standards. 
‘‘4504. Vessel construction. 
‘‘4505. Operating stability. 
‘‘4506. Training. 
‘‘4507. Vessel certification. 
‘‘4508. Alternate safety compliance program. 
‘‘4509. Substitute safety compliance program. 
‘‘4510. Enhanced substitute safety compliance program. 
‘‘4511. Prohibited acts. 
‘‘4512. Termination of unsafe operations. 
‘‘4513. Penalties. 
‘‘4514. Compliance; Secretary actions. 
‘‘4515. Exemptions. 
‘‘4516. Regulations; considerations and limitations. 
‘‘4517. Fishing safety grants. 
‘‘§ 4501. Application 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), this chapter applies to an uninspected vessel that is
122 
a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender ves-
sel. 
‘‘(b) CARRIAGE OF BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES.— 
This chapter does not apply to the carriage of bulk dan-
gerous cargoes regulated under chapter 37. 
‘‘§ 4502. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘accountable vessel’ means a ves-
sel to which this chapter applies that— 
‘‘(A)(i) was built after December 31, 1988, 
or undergoes a major conversion completed 
after that date; and 
‘‘(ii) operates with more than 16 individ-
uals on board; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a fish tender vessel, en-
gages in the Aleutian trade. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘auxiliary craft’ means a vessel 
that is carried onboard a fishing vessel and is nor-
mally used to support fishing operations. 
‘‘(3)(A) The term ‘built’ means, with respect to 
a vessel, that the vessel’s construction has reached 
any of the following stages: 
‘‘(i) The vessel’s keel is laid. 
‘‘(ii) Construction identifiable with the ves-
sel has begun and assembly of that vessel has
123 
commenced comprising of at least 50 metric 
tons or one percent of the estimated mass of all 
structural material, whichever is less. 
‘‘(B) In the case of a vessel greater than 79 
feet in overall length, for purposes of subparagraph 
(A)(i), a keel is deemed to be laid when a marine 
surveyor affirms that a structure adequate for serv-
ing as a keel for such vessel is in place and identi-
fied for use in the construction of such vessel. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘subject vessel’ means a vessel to 
which this chapter applies that— 
‘‘(A) operates beyond 3 nautical miles from 
the baseline from which the territorial sea of 
the United States is measured or beyond 3 nau-
tical miles from the coastline of the Great 
Lakes; 
‘‘(B) operates with more than 16 individ-
uals on board; or 
‘‘(C) in the case of a fish tender vessel, en-
gages in the Aleutian trade. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘substitute-eligible vessel’ means 
a fishing vessel or fish tender vessel that is— 
‘‘(A) a subject vessel; 
‘‘(B) at least 50 feet overall in length, and 
not more than 180 feet overall in length as list-
124 
ed on the vessel’s certificate of documentation 
or certificate of number; and 
‘‘(C) built after February 8, 2016. 
‘‘§ 4503. Safety standards 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations that require that each vessel to which this 
chapter applies shall be equipped with— 
‘‘(1) readily accessible fire extinguishers capable 
of promptly and effectively extinguishing a flam-
mable or combustible liquid fuel fire; 
‘‘(2) at least one readily accessible life preserver 
or other lifesaving device for each individual on 
board; 
‘‘(3) an efficient flame arrestor, backfire trap, 
or other similar device on the carburetors of each in-
board engine that uses gasoline as fuel; 
‘‘(4) the means to properly and efficiently venti-
late enclosed spaces, including engine and fuel tank 
compartments, so as to remove explosive or flam-
mable gases; 
‘‘(5) visual distress signals; 
‘‘(6) other equipment required to minimize the 
risk of injury to the crew during vessel operations, 
if the Secretary determines that a risk of serious in-
125 
jury exists that can be eliminated or mitigated by 
that equipment; and 
‘‘(7) a placard as required by regulations pre-
scribed under section 10603(b). 
‘‘(b) SUBJECT VESSELS.—In addition to the require-
ments of subsection (a), the Secretary shall prescribe reg-
ulations requiring that subject vessels install, maintain, 
and use the following equipment: 
‘‘(1) Alerting and locating equipment, including 
emergency position indicating radio beacons. 
‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a survival 
craft that— 
‘‘(i) ensures that no part of an individual 
is immersed in water; and 
‘‘(ii) is sufficient to accommodate all indi-
viduals on board. 
‘‘(B) Except for a nonapplicable vessel, an aux-
iliary craft shall satisfy the equipment requirement 
under paragraph (2)(B) if such craft is— 
‘‘(i) necessary for normal fishing oper-
ations; 
‘‘(ii) readily accessible during an emer-
gency; and 
‘‘(iii) capable, in accordance with the Coast 
Guard capacity rating, when applicable, of safe-
126 
ly holding all individuals on board the vessel to 
which the craft functions as an auxiliary. 
‘‘(3) At least one readily accessible immersion 
suit for each individual on board the vessel when op-
erating on the waters described in section 3102. 
‘‘(4) Marine radio communications equipment 
sufficient to effectively communicate with a land- 
based search and rescue facility. 
‘‘(5) Navigation equipment, including com-
passes, nautical charts, and publications. 
‘‘(6) First aid equipment and medical supplies 
sufficient for the size and area of operation of the 
vessel. 
‘‘(7) Ground tackle sufficient for the vessel. 
‘‘(c) ACCOUNTABLE VESSELS.—In addition to the re-
quirements described in subsections (a) and (b), the Sec-
retary may prescribe regulations establishing minimum 
safety standards for accountable vessels, including stand-
ards relating to— 
‘‘(1) navigation equipment, including radars 
and fathometers; 
‘‘(2) lifesaving equipment, immersion suits, sig-
naling devices, bilge pumps, bilge alarms, life rails, 
and grab rails;
127 
‘‘(3) fire protection and firefighting equipment, 
including fire alarms and portable and semiportable 
fire extinguishing equipment; 
‘‘(4) use and installation of insulation material; 
‘‘(5) storage methods for flammable or combus-
tible material; and 
‘‘(6) fuel, ventilation, and electrical systems. 
‘‘§ 4504. Vessel construction 
‘‘A vessel to which this chapter applies shall be con-
structed in a manner that provides a level of safety equiva-
lent to the minimum safety standards the Secretary may 
establish for recreational vessels under section 4302, if the 
vessel is— 
‘‘(1) a subject vessel; 
‘‘(2) less than 50 feet overall in length; and 
‘‘(3) built after January 1, 2010. 
‘‘§ 4505. Operating stability 
‘‘(a) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations for the operating stability of a vessel to which 
this chapter applies— 
‘‘(1) that was built after December 31, 1989; or 
‘‘(2) the physical characteristics of which are 
substantially altered after December 31, 1989, in a 
manner that affects the vessel’s operating stability.
128 
‘‘(b) EVIDENCE
OF COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary 
may accept, as evidence of compliance with this section, 
a certification of compliance issued by the person pro-
viding insurance for the vessel or by another qualified per-
son approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘§ 4506. Training 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The individual in charge of a 
subject vessel must pass a training program approved by 
the Secretary that meets the requirements of subsection 
(b) and hold a valid certificate issued under that program. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING
PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
training program shall— 
‘‘(1) be based on professional knowledge and 
skill obtained through sea service and hands-on 
training, including training in seamanship, stability, 
collision prevention, navigation, firefighting and pre-
vention, damage control, personal survival, emer-
gency medical care, emergency drills, and weather; 
‘‘(2) require an individual to demonstrate abil-
ity to communicate in an emergency situation and 
understand information found in navigation publica-
tions; 
‘‘(3) recognize and give credit for recent past 
experience in fishing vessel operation; and
129 
‘‘(4) provide for issuance of a certificate to an 
individual who has successfully completed the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations implementing this section. The regulations 
shall require that an individual who is issued a certificate 
under subsection (b)(4) must complete refresher training 
at least once every 5 years as a condition of maintaining 
the validity of the certificate. 
‘‘(d) ELECTRONIC DATABASE.—The Secretary shall 
establish an electronic database listing the names of indi-
viduals who have participated in and received a certificate 
confirming successful completion of a training program 
approved by the Secretary under this section. 
‘‘§ 4507. Vessel certification 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A vessel to which this section ap-
plies may not be operated unless the vessel— 
‘‘(1) meets all survey and classification require-
ments prescribed by the American Bureau of Ship-
ping or another similarly qualified organization ap-
proved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(2) has on board a certificate issued by the 
American Bureau of Shipping or such other organi-
zation evidencing compliance with this subsection. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—
130 
‘‘(1) Except as provided in section 4509, this 
section applies to a fish processing vessel to which 
this chapter applies that— 
‘‘(A) is built after July 27, 1990; or 
‘‘(B) undergoes a major conversion com-
pleted after that date. 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), this section applies to a subject vessel that is 
at least 50 feet overall in length and is built after 
July 1, 2013. 
‘‘(B) This section does not apply to a sub-
stitute-eligible vessel if such vessel complies with— 
‘‘(i) the substitute safety compliance pro-
gram established under section 4509; or 
‘‘(ii) the enhanced substitute safety compli-
ance program established by the Secretary 
under section 4510. 
‘‘§ 4508. Alternate safety compliance program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall establish an alternate 
safety compliance program developed in coordination 
with the commercial fishing industry. 
‘‘(2) The program established under paragraph 
(1) may include requirements for—
131 
‘‘(A) a specific region or fishery (or both); 
and 
‘‘(B) any combination of regions or fish-
eries (or both). 
‘‘(b) VESSELS REQUIRED TO COMPLY.—Beginning 
on the date that is 3 years after the date the Secretary 
prescribes an alternate safety compliance program, the fol-
lowing vessels shall comply with such program: 
‘‘(1) A subject vessel that is— 
‘‘(A) at least 50 feet overall in length; 
‘‘(B) built before July 1, 2013; and 
‘‘(C) 25 years of age or older. 
‘‘(2) A fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or 
fish tender vessel built before July 1, 2013, that un-
dergoes a major conversion completed after the date 
the Secretary prescribes an alternate safety compli-
ance program. 
‘‘(c) EXEMPT VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), vessels 
owned by a person that owns more than 30 vessels 
subject to that subsection are not required to comply 
with alternate safety compliance program require-
ments until January 1, 2030, if that owner— 
‘‘(A) enters into a compliance agreement 
with the Secretary that provides for a fixed
132 
schedule for all such vessels owned by that per-
son to meet requirements of such paragraph by 
such date; and 
‘‘(B) is meeting such schedule. 
‘‘(2) A subject vessel that was classed before 
July 1, 2012, is exempt from the requirements of 
this section if such vessel— 
‘‘(A) remains subject to the requirements 
of a classification society approved by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(B) has on board a certificate from that 
society. 
‘‘§ 4509. Substitute safety compliance program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
substitute safety compliance program for substitute-eligi-
ble vessels that includes the following requirements: 
‘‘(1) A substitute-eligible vessel shall be de-
signed by an individual licensed by a State as a 
naval architect or marine engineer, and the design 
shall incorporate standards equivalent to those pre-
scribed by a classification society to which the Sec-
retary has delegated authority under section 3316 or 
another qualified organization approved by the Sec-
retary for purposes of this paragraph.
133 
‘‘(2) Construction of a substitute-eligible vessel 
shall be overseen and certified as being in accord-
ance with its design by a marine surveyor of an or-
ganization accepted by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) A substitute-eligible vessel shall— 
‘‘(A) complete a stability test performed by 
a qualified individual; 
‘‘(B) have written stability and loading in-
structions from a qualified individual that are 
provided to the owner or operator; and 
‘‘(C) have an assigned loading mark. 
‘‘(4) A substitute-eligible vessel shall not be 
substantially altered without the review and approval 
of an individual licensed by a State as a naval archi-
tect or marine engineer before the beginning of such 
substantial alteration. 
‘‘(5) A substitute-eligible vessel shall undergo a 
condition survey at least twice in 5 years, with not 
more than 3 years between surveys, to the satisfac-
tion of a marine surveyor of an organization accept-
ed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) A substitute-eligible vessel shall undergo 
an out-of-water survey at least once every 5 years to 
the satisfaction of a certified marine surveyor of an 
organization accepted by the Secretary.
134 
‘‘(7) Once every 5 years, and at the time of a 
substantial alteration to a substitute-eligible vessel, 
compliance of the vessel with the requirements of 
paragraph (3) is reviewed and updated as necessary. 
‘‘(8) For the life of a substitute-eligible vessel, 
the owner of the vessel shall maintain records to 
demonstrate compliance with this subsection and 
make such records readily available for inspection by 
an official authorized to enforce this chapter. 
‘‘(b) COMPLIANCE.—Section 4507 of this title shall 
not apply to a substitute-eligible vessel that complies with 
the requirements of the program established under this 
section. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than February 8, 2026, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report that provides an analysis of 
the adequacy of the substitute safety compliance program 
requirements established under subsection (a) in main-
taining the safety of substitute-eligible fishing vessels and 
fish tender vessels and that comply with such require-
ments.
135 
‘‘§ 4510. Enhanced substitute safety compliance pro-
gram 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If the report required under sec-
tion 4509(c) includes a determination that the substitute 
safety compliance program established under section 
4509(a) is not adequate or that additional safety measures 
are necessary, then the Secretary may establish an en-
hanced substitute safety compliance program for fishing 
vessels or fish tender vessels (or both) that are substitute- 
eligible vessels and that comply with the requirements of 
section 4509. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The enhanced substitute 
safety compliance program established under this sub-
section shall include requirements for— 
‘‘(1) vessel construction; 
‘‘(2) a vessel stability test; 
‘‘(3) vessel stability and loading instructions; 
‘‘(4) an assigned vessel loading mark; 
‘‘(5) a vessel condition survey at least twice in 
5 years, not more than 3 years apart; 
‘‘(6) an out-of-water vessel survey at least once 
every 5 years; 
‘‘(7) maintenance of records to demonstrate 
compliance with the program, and the availability of 
such records for inspection; and
136 
‘‘(8) such other aspects of vessel safety as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(c) COMPLIANCE.—Section 4507 shall not apply to 
a substitute-eligible vessel that complies with the require-
ments of the program established under this section. 
‘‘§ 4511. Prohibited acts 
‘‘A person may not operate a vessel in violation of 
this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter. 
‘‘§ 4512. Termination of unsafe operations 
‘‘An official authorized to enforce this chapter— 
‘‘(1) may direct the individual in charge of a 
vessel to which this chapter applies to immediately 
take reasonable steps necessary for the safety of in-
dividuals on board the vessel if the official observes 
the vessel being operated in an unsafe condition that 
the official believes creates an especially hazardous 
condition, including ordering the individual in charge 
to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain 
there until the situation creating the hazard is cor-
rected or ended; and 
‘‘(2) may order the individual in charge of an 
uninspected fish processing vessel that does not have 
on board the certificate required under section 4507 
to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain 
there until the vessel is in compliance with such sec-
137 
tion, unless the vessel is required to comply with sec-
tion 4508. 
‘‘§ 4513. Penalties 
‘‘(a) CIVIL PENALTY.—The owner, charterer, man-
aging operator, agent, master, and individual in charge of 
a vessel to which this chapter applies that is operated in 
violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under 
this chapter may each be assessed a civil penalty by the 
Secretary of not more than $10,260. Any vessel with re-
spect to which a penalty is assessed under this subsection 
is liable in rem for the penalty. 
‘‘(b) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—An individual willfully 
violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this 
chapter shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned 
for not more than 1 year, or both. 
‘‘§ 4514. Compliance; Secretary actions 
‘‘To ensure compliance with the requirements of this 
chapter, the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) shall require the individual in charge of a 
subject vessel to keep a record of equipment mainte-
nance and required instruction and drills; 
‘‘(2) shall examine at dockside a subject vessel 
at least once every 5 years, but may require an exam 
at dockside every 2 years for certain subject vessels 
if requested by the owner or operator; and
138 
‘‘(3) shall issue a certificate of compliance to a 
vessel meeting the requirements of this chapter and 
satisfying the requirements of paragraph (2). 
‘‘§ 4515. Exemptions 
‘‘The Secretary may exempt a vessel from any part 
of this chapter if, under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary (including regulations on special operating condi-
tions), the Secretary finds that— 
‘‘(1) good cause exists for granting an exemp-
tion; and 
‘‘(2) the safety of the vessel and those on board 
will not be adversely affected. 
‘‘§ 4516. Regulations; considerations and limitations 
‘‘In prescribing a regulation under this chapter, the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(1) shall consider the specialized nature and 
economics of the operations and the character, de-
sign, and construction of the vessel; and 
‘‘(2) may not require the alteration of a vessel 
or associated equipment that was constructed or 
manufactured before the effective date of such regu-
lation. 
‘‘§ 4517. Fishing safety grants 
‘‘(a) SAFETY TRAINING GRANTS.—
139 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Health and Human Services shall establish a Fish-
ing Safety Training Grant Program to provide fund-
ing to municipalities, port authorities, other appro-
priate public entities, not-for-profit organizations, 
and other qualified persons that provide commercial 
fishing safety training. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Entities receiving funds 
under this section may use such funds— 
‘‘(A) to conduct fishing vessel safety train-
ing for vessel operators and crewmembers 
that— 
‘‘(i) in the case of vessel operators, 
meets the requirements of section 4506; 
and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of crewmembers, 
meets 
the 
requirements 
of 
sections 
4506(b)(1), 
4506(b)(4), 
4506(c), 
and 
4506(d), and such requirements of section 
4506(b)(2) as are appropriate for crew-
members; and 
‘‘(B) for purchase of safety equipment and 
training aids for use in such fishing vessel safe-
ty training programs.
140 
‘‘(3) AWARD
CRITERIA.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, in consultation with 
and based on criteria established by the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard, shall award grants 
under this subsection on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION
ON
FEDERAL
SHARE
OF 
COST.—The Federal share of the cost of any activity 
carried out with a grant under this subsection shall 
not exceed 50 percent. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for grants 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(b) RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Health and Human Services shall establish a Fish-
ing Safety Research Grant Program to provide fund-
ing to individuals in academia, not-for-profit organi-
zations, businesses involved in fishing and maritime 
matters, and other persons with expertise in fishing 
safety, to conduct research on methods of improving 
the safety of the commercial fishing industry, includ-
ing vessel design, emergency and survival equipment, 
enhancement of vessel monitoring systems, commu-
141 
nications devices, de-icing technology, and severe 
weather detection. 
‘‘(2) AWARD
CRITERIA.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, in consultation with 
and based on criteria established by the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard, shall award grants 
under this subsection on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION
ON
FEDERAL
SHARE
OF 
COST.—The Federal share of the cost of any activity 
carried out with a grant under this subsection shall 
not exceed 50 percent. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 
for each fiscal year 2020 and 2021 for activities 
under this subsection.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3104(d) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘under section 4503(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 
4502(3)’’. 
(c) SAFETY STANDARDS.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and without 
regard to the provisions of chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, 
United States Code, the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall promulgate the
142 
regulations required by section 4503(b) of title 46, United 
States Code, as amended by this section. 
SEC. 502. TRANSFERS. 
(a) TRANSFERS OF PROVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) Section 215 of the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 108–293; 14 U.S.C. 504 note) is redesig-
nated as section 321 of title 14, United States 
Code, transferred to appear after section 320 of 
that title, and amended so that the enumerator, 
section heading, typeface, and typestyle conform 
to those appearing in other sections in title 14, 
United States Code. 
(B) Section 406 of the Maritime Transpor-
tation Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107– 
295; 14 U.S.C. 501 note) is redesignated as 
section 719 of title 14, United States Code, 
transferred to appear after section 718 of that 
title, and amended so that the enumerator, sec-
tion heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to 
those appearing in other sections in title 14, 
United States Code. 
(C) Section 1110 of title 14, United States 
Code, is redesignated as section 5110 of that
143 
title, and transferred to appear after section 
5109 of that title. 
(D) ELEVATION
OF
DISPUTES
TO
THE 
CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICER.— 
(i) Section 401 of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 
111–281) is amended by striking sub-
section (e). 
(ii) Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 
14, United States Code, as amended by 
this Act, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 1110. Elevation of Disputes to the Chief Acquisi-
tion Officer 
‘‘If, after 90 days following the elevation to the Chief 
Acquisition Officer of any design or other dispute regard-
ing level 1 or level 2 acquisition, the dispute remains unre-
solved, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate 
congressional committees a detailed description of the 
issue and the rationale underlying the decision taken by 
the Chief Acquisition Officer to resolve the issue.’’. 
(E) Section 217 of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 
14 U.S.C. 504 note)—
144 
(i) is redesignated as section 5111 of 
title 14, United States Code, transferred to 
appear after section 5110 of that title, and 
amended so that the enumerator, section 
heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to 
those appearing in other sections in title 
14, United States Code; and 
(ii) is amended— 
(I) by striking the heading and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘§ 5111. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the 
Coast Guard’’; and 
(II) in subsection (b), by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(5)(A) The number of instances in which a 
covered individual was accused of misconduct or 
crimes considered collateral to the investigation of a 
sexual assault committed against the individual. 
‘‘(B) The number of instances in which adverse 
action was taken against a covered individual who 
was accused of collateral misconduct or crimes as 
described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) The percentage of investigations of sexual 
assaults that involved an accusation or adverse ac-
145 
tion against a covered individual as described in sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(D) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered indi-
vidual’ means an individual who is identified as a 
victim of a sexual assault in the case files of a mili-
tary criminal investigative organization.’’. 
(F) Section 305 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Federal’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting after section (a) the 
following: 
‘‘(b) TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In conjunction with the 
transmittal by the President to the Congress of the 
Budget of the United States for fiscal year 2021 
and biennially there-after, the Federal Maritime 
Commission shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives reports 
that describe the Commission’s progress toward ad-
dressing the issues raised in each unfinished regu-
latory proceeding, regardless of whether the pro-
146 
ceeding if subject to a statutory or regulatory dead-
line. 
‘‘(2) FORMAT OF REPORTS.—Each report under 
paragraph (1) shall, among other things, clearly 
identify for each unfinished regulatory proceeding— 
‘‘(A) the popular title; 
‘‘(B) the current stage of the proceeding; 
‘‘(C) an abstract of the proceeding; 
‘‘(D) what prompted the action in ques-
tion; 
‘‘(E) any applicable statutory, regulatory, 
or judicial deadline; 
‘‘(F) the associated docket number; 
‘‘(G) the date the rulemaking was initi-
ated; 
‘‘(H) a date for the next action; and 
‘‘(I) if a date for the next action identified 
in the previous report is not met, the reason for 
the delay.’’. 
(G) Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors 
Appropriations Act of 1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) is 
amended— 
(i) by transferring such section to ap-
pear after section 70006 of title 46, United 
States Code;
147 
(ii) by striking ‘‘SEC. 7.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘§70007. Establishment by Sec-
retary of Homeland Security of 
anchorage grounds and regula-
tions generally’’; and 
(iii) by adjusting the margins with re-
spect to subsections (a) and (b) for the 
presence of a section heading accordingly. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) The analysis for chapter 3 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘321. Redistricting notification requirement.’’. 
(B) The analysis for chapter 7 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘719. VHF communication services.’’. 
(C) The analysis for chapter 11 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 1110 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘1110. Elevation of disputes to the Chief Acquisition Officer.’’.
148 
(D) The analysis for chapter 51 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘5110. Mission need statement. 
‘‘5111. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Coast Guard.’’. 
(E) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 
46, United States Code, as amended by section 
311(b), is further amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 70006 the following: 
‘‘70007. Establishment by the Secretary of Homeland Security of anchorage 
grounds and regulations generally.’’. 
(b) TRANSFERS.— 
(1) SECTION 204 OF THE MARINE TRANSPOR-
TATION SECURITY ACT.— 
(A) The Maritime Transportation Security 
Act of 2002 is amended by striking section 204 
(33 U.S.C. 1902a). 
(B) Section 3 of the Act to Prevent Pollu-
tion from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1902)— 
(i) is amended by redesignating sub-
sections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) 
through (j) respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subsection (d) 
the following: 
‘‘(e) DISCHARGE
OF AGRICULTURAL CARGO RES-
IDUE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
discharge from a vessel of any agricultural cargo residue
149 
material in the form of hold washings shall be governed 
exclusively by the provisions of the Act to Prevent Pollu-
tion from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) that implement 
Annex V to the International Convention for the Preven-
tion of Pollution from Ships.’’. 
(2) LNG TANKERS.— 
(A) The Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2006 is amended by striking 
section 304 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 
527). 
(B) Section 5 of the Deepwater Port Act 
of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) LNG TANKERS.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall develop and implement a program to 
promote the transportation of liquefied natural gas 
to and from the United States on United States flag 
vessels. 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED.—When 
the Coast Guard is operating as a contributing agen-
cy in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 
shoreside licensing process for a liquefied natural 
gas or liquefied petroleum gas terminal located on 
shore or within State seaward boundaries, the Coast
150 
Guard shall provide to the Commission the informa-
tion described in section 5(c)(2)(K) of the Deep-
water Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2)(K)) 
with respect to vessels reasonably anticipated to be 
servicing that port.’’. 
SEC. 503. REPEALS. 
(a) LICENSE EXEMPTIONS; REPEAL OF OBSOLETE 
PROVISIONS.— 
(1) SERVICE UNDER LICENSES ISSUED WITH-
OUT EXAMINATION.— 
(A) REPEAL.—Section 8303 of title 46, 
United States Code, and the item relating to 
that section in the analysis for chapter 83 of 
that title, are repealed. 
(B) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
14305(a)(10) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘sections 8303 and 8304’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 8304’’. 
(2) STANDARDS FOR TANK VESSELS OF THE 
UNITED STATES.—Section 9102 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sen-
tence; and 
(B) by striking subsection (b).
151 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 343 of the Maritime Transpor-
tation Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–295; 116 
Stat. 2106) is repealed. 
(c) ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT NOTIFICATION.—Sub-
section (c) of section 9 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory 
Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 
112–90; 125 Stat 1912)) is repealed and is deemed not 
to have been enacted. 
TITLE 
VI—TECHNICAL, 
CON-
FORMING, AND CLARIFYING 
AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 601. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. 
(a) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—Section 
312(b)(4) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘marine transportation system’’ and inserting 
‘‘maritime transportation system’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION
OF REFERENCE
TO MARINE 
TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM
PROGRAMS.—Section 
50307(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘marine transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘maritime 
transportation’’. 
SEC. 602. REFERENCES TO ‘‘PERSONS’’ AND ‘‘SEAMEN’’. 
(a) TECHNICAL CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO 
‘‘PERSONS’’.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 
as follows:
152 
(1) In section 312(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(2) In section 313(d)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(3) In section 504— 
(A) in subsection (a)(19)(B), by striking 
‘‘a person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(4), by striking ‘‘sea-
men;’’ and inserting ‘‘mariners;’’. 
(4) In section 521, by striking ‘‘persons’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(5) In section 522— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ the second and 
third place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi-
vidual’’. 
(6) In section 525(a)(1)(C)(ii), by striking 
‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(7) In section 526— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and
153 
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 
(8) In section 709— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’. 
(9) In section 933(b), by striking ‘‘Every per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 
(10) In section 1102(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(11) In section 1902(b)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘per-
son or persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individual or in-
dividuals’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(12) In section 1941(b), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(13) In section 2101(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(14) In section 2102(c), by striking ‘‘A person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 
(15) In section 2104(b)—
154 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’. 
(16) In section 2118(d), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 
(17) In section 2147(d), by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(18) In section 2150(f), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 
(19) In section 2161(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(20) In section 2317— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 
(21) In section 2531— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’.
155 
(22) In section 2709, by striking ‘‘persons’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(23) In section 2710— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(24) In section 2711(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(25) In section 2732, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(26) In section 2733— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘that person’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘that individual’’. 
(27) In section 2734, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(28) In section 2735, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(29) In section 2736, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(30) In section 2737, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’.
156 
(31) In section 2738, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(32) In section 2739, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(33) In section 2740— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘one’’ the second place it 
appears. 
(34) In section 2741— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’; and 
(C) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(35) In section 2743, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(36) In section 2744— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking 
‘‘person’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘individual’’.
157 
(37) In section 2745, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(38)(A) In section 2761— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘Persons’’ and inserting ‘‘Individuals’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to section 2761 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘2761. Individuals discharged as result of court-martial; allowances to.’’. 
(39)(A) In the heading for section 2767, by 
striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to section 2767 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘2767. Reimbursement for medical-related travel expenses for certain individuals 
residing on islands in the continental United States.’’. 
(40) In section 2769— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’s’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’.
158 
(41) In section 2772(a)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(42) In section 2773— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per-
sons’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi-
viduals’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(43) In section 2775, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(44) In section 2776, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(45)(A) In section 2777— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to in section 2777 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘2777. Clothing for destitute shipwrecked individuals.’’. 
(46) In section 2779, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(47) In section 2902(c), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’.
159 
(48) In section 2903(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(49) In section 2904(b)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘a 
person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(50) In section 3706— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’s’’. 
(51) In section 3707— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individual’s’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(52) In section 3708, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(53) In section 3738— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’s’’; and
160 
(C) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’. 
(b) CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO PERSONS AND 
SEAMEN.— 
(1) Section 2303a(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘persons’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’. 
(2) Section 2306(a)(3) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) An owner, charterer, managing operator, or 
agent of a vessel of the United States notifying the Coast 
Guard under paragraph (1) or (2) shall— 
‘‘(A) provide the name and identification num-
ber of the vessel, the names of individuals on board, 
and other information that may be requested by the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(B) submit written confirmation to the Coast 
Guard within 24 hours after nonwritten notification 
to the Coast Guard under such paragraphs.’’. 
(3) Section 7303 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(4) Section 7319 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’.
161 
(5) Section 7501(b) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘holder’’. 
(6) Section 7508(b) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘individual seamen or 
a specifically identified group of seamen’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘an individual or a specifically identified group 
of individuals’’. 
(7) Section 7510 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)(8)(B), by striking 
‘‘merchant seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant 
mariner’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘mer-
chant seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant mar-
iner’’. 
(8) Section 8103 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘seamen’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
(C) in the headings for paragraphs (2) and 
(3) of subsection (k), by striking ‘‘SEAMEN’’
162 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘INDIVID-
UALS’’; 
(D) in subsection (k)(3)(A)(iv)(II), by 
striking ‘‘seaman’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individ-
ual’s’’; and 
(E) in subsection (k)(3)(C), by striking 
‘‘merchant mariners’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘merchant mariner’s’’. 
(9) Section 8104 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘a li-
censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘an 
individual’’; 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘A li-
censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘An 
individual’’; 
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a sea-
man’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 
individual’’; and 
(D) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘seaman’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(10) Section 8302(d) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3 persons’’ and in-
serting ‘‘3 individuals’’.
163 
(11) Section 11201 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(12) Section 11202 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘the individual’’. 
(13) Section 11203 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘that 
person’’ and inserting ‘‘that individual’’. 
(14) Section 15109(i)(2) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘additional per-
sons’’ and inserting ‘‘additional individuals’’. 
SEC. 603. COMMON APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO CONFORM TO COMMON APPRO-
PRIATIONS STRUCTURE.— 
(1) PROSPECTIVE
PAYMENT
OF
FUNDS
NEC-
ESSARY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE.—Section 506 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
164 
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘es-
tablished under chapter 56 of title 10’’ after 
‘‘Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘oper-
ating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 
support’’. 
(2) USE OF CERTAIN APPROPRIATED FUNDS.— 
Section 903 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘acquisi-
tion, construction, and improvement of facili-
ties, for research, development, test, and eval-
uation;’’ and inserting ‘‘procurement, construc-
tion, and improvement of facilities and for re-
search and development’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘oper-
ating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 
support’’. 
(3) 
CONFIDENTIAL
INVESTIGATIVE
EX-
PENSES.—Section 944 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘necessary expenses 
for the operation’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 
support’’.
165 
(4) PROCUREMENT
OF
PERSONNEL.—Section 
2701 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘operating expense’’ and inserting ‘‘oper-
ations and support’’. 
(5) COAST
GUARD
HOUSING
FUND.—Section 
2946(b)(2) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘acquisition’’ and inserting 
‘‘procurement’’. 
(6) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION 
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 4901 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘mainte-
nance’’ and inserting ‘‘support’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘acquisi-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘procurement’’; 
(C) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), and 
(6); 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘research, development, test, and 
evaluation’’ and inserting ‘‘research and devel-
opment’’. 
(b) COMMON
APPROPRIATION
STRUCTURE.—Sec-
tions 3317(b), 7504, and 80505(b)(3) of title 46, United
166 
States Code, are each amended by striking ‘‘operating ex-
penses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and support’’. 
(c) COMMON APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE.— 
(1) OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND.—Sec-
tion 1012(a)(5)(A) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘operating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 
support’’. 
(2) HISTORIC LIGHT STATION SALES.—Section 
305106 of title 54, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (b)(1)(B)(i) by striking 
‘‘Operating Expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘Oper-
ations and Support’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ‘‘Oper-
ating Expense’’ and inserting ‘‘Operations and 
Support’’; 
(3) BRIDGE
PERMITS.—Section 712(a)(2) of 
the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1582) is 
amended by striking ‘‘operating expenses’’ and in-
serting ‘‘operations and support’’. 
(4) CONTRACTS.—Section 557(a) of the Con-
solidated and Further Continuing Appropriations 
Act, 2013 (Public Law 113–6; 127 Stat. 377) is
167 
amended by striking ‘‘Acquisition’’ and inserting 
‘‘Procurement’’. 
(5) CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.—Section 
214(d)(1) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113–281; 128 Stat. 3034) is amended by striking 
‘‘operating expenses’’ and inserting ‘‘operations and 
support’’. 
SEC. 604. REFERENCES TO ‘‘HIMSELF’’ AND ‘‘HIS’’. 
(a) Section 1927 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by— 
(1) striking ‘‘of his initial’’ and inserting ‘‘of an 
initial’’; and 
(2) striking ‘‘from his pay’’ and inserting ‘‘from 
the pay of such cadet’’. 
(b) Section 2108(b) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘himself’’ and inserting ‘‘such offi-
cer’’. 
(c) Section 2732 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself conspicu-
ously by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays conspicuous’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi-
vidual’s’’.
168 
(d) Section 2736 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by striking ‘‘dis-
tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘performs’’. 
(e) Section 2738 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act is further amended by striking ‘‘dis-
tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 
(f) Section 2739 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by striking ‘‘dis-
tinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 
(g) Section 2742 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘he distinguished himself’’ and in-
serting ‘‘of the acts resulting in the consideration of such 
award’’. 
(h) Section 2743 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi-
vidual’’. 
SEC. 605. REFERENCES TO ‘‘MOTORBOATS’’ AND ‘‘YACHTS’’. 
(a) CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO MOTORBOATS 
AND YACHTS.— 
(1) Section 3901(d)(4) of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motor boats, 
yachts,’’ and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’.
169 
(2) Section 3903(1)(A) of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboats, 
yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 
(3) Section 3907(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘MOTOR 
BOATS, YACHTS,’’ and inserting ‘‘VESSELS,’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 
(4) Section 3908 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat or yacht’’ 
and inserting ‘‘vessel’’. 
(5) Section 3911(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘vessel,’’. 
(6) Section 3912 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘vessel,’’. 
(7) Section 4101 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboats, yachts,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘vessels,’’. 
(8) Section 4102 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘motorboat, yacht, or 
any other vessel,’’ and inserting ‘‘or vessel,’’.
170 
(b) CONFORMING REFERENCES TO YACHTS.—Title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in parts F and G of subtitle II, by striking 
‘‘yacht’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘rec-
reational vessel’’; 
(2) in subtitle III— 
(A) in section 30506(a), by striking 
‘‘pleasure yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘recreational 
vessels’’; and 
(B) in section 30508(a), by striking 
‘‘pleasure yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘recreational 
vessels’’; and 
(3) in section 60504— 
(A) by striking ‘‘yachts’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘recreational vessels’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘yacht’’ and inserting ‘‘rec-
reational vessel’’. 
(c) VESSELS.—Section 352(a)(4) of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 352(a)(4)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Yachts’’ and inserting ‘‘Recreational vessels, as 
defined in section 2101(46) of title 46, United States 
Code,’’. 
SEC. 606. MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—
171 
(1) Section 3305(d)(3)(B) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 
LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 
(2) Section 4312 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2017’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282)’’. 
(3) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the first subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—VESSEL OPERATIONS’’; 
(B) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the second subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY’’; 
(C) by striking the items relating to the 
heading for the third subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CONDITION FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES 
‘‘70021. Conditions for Entry Into Ports in the United States.’’;
172 
(D) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the fourth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—DEFINITIONS REGULATIONS, ENFORCEMENT, 
INVESTIGATORY POWERS, APPLICABILITY’’; 
(E) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the fifth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—REGATTAS AND MARINE PARADES’’; 
and 
(F) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the sixth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—REGULATION OF VESSELS IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF 
THE UNITED STATES’’. 
(4) Section 70031 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(5) Section 70032 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(6) Section 70033 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(7) Section 70034 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’.
173 
(8) Section 70035(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(9) Section 70036 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by— 
(A) striking ‘‘A through C’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’; and 
(B) striking ‘‘A, B, or C’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘I, II, or III’’. 
(b) 
ALTERATION
OF
BRIDGES; 
TECHNICAL 
CHANGES.—The Act of June 21, 1940 (33 U.S.C. 511 
et seq.), popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is 
amended by striking section 12 (33 U.S.C. 522). 
(c) REPORT OF DETERMINATION; TECHNICAL COR-
RECTION.—Section 105(f)(2) of the Pribilof Islands Tran-
sition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562) 
is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a),’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (1),’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO FRANK LOBIONDO 
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018.— 
(1) Section 408 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 
282) and the item relating to such section in section 
2 of such Act are repealed, and the provisions of law 
redesignated, transferred, or otherwise amended by
174 
section 408 are amended to read as if such section 
were not enacted. 
(2) Section 514(b) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Chapter 30’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Chapter 3’’. 
(3) Section 810(d) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘within 30 days 
after receiving the notice under subsection (a)(1), 
the Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after 
transmitting such notice,’’ and inserting ‘‘in accord-
ance within subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall’’. 
(4) Section 820(a) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘years 2018 and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘year’’. 
(5) Section 820(b)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by inserting ‘‘and the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115– 
141)’’ after ‘‘(Public Law 115–31)’’. 
(6) Section 821(a)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Au-
175 
thorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 
LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 
(7) This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282) 
and apply as if included therein. 
(e) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 533(d)(2)(A) 
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public 
Law 114–120) is amended by striking ‘‘Tract 6’’ and in-
serting ‘‘such Tract’’. 
(f) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET; TECHNICAL COR-
RECTIONS.—Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Mari-
time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘treaty area’ has the meaning given the term in the 
Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of 
Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of 
the United States of America as in effect on the 
date of the enactment of the Coast Guard and Mari-
176 
time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 
241).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘12.6 or 12.7’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘13.6’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘Authoriza-
tion Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 607. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO CODI-
FICATION OF PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFE-
TY ACT. 
Effective upon the enactment of section 401 of the 
Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–282), and notwithstanding section 
402(e) of such Act— 
(1) section 16 of the Ports and Waterways 
Safety Act, as added by section 315 of the Coun-
tering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act 
(Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 947)— 
(A) is redesignated as section 70022 of 
title 46, United States Code, transferred to ap-
pear after section 70021 of that title, and 
amended so that the enumerator, section head-
ing, typeface, and typestyle conform to those
177 
appearing in other sections in title 46, United 
States Code; and 
(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is 
amended— 
(i) in subsections (b) and (e), by strik-
ing ‘‘section 4(a)(5)’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘section 70001(a)(5)’’; 
(ii) in subsection (c)(2), by striking 
‘‘not later than’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘thereafter,’’ and inserting ‘‘peri-
odically’’; and 
(iii) by striking subsection (h); and 
(2) chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(A) in section 70002(2), by inserting ‘‘or 
70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; 
(B) in section 70036(e), by inserting ‘‘or 
70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; and 
(C) in the analysis for such chapter— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘Sec.’’ above the sec-
tion items, in accordance with the style 
and form of such an entry in other chapter 
analyses of such title; and 
(ii) by striking the item relating to 
section 70021 and inserting the following:
178 
‘‘70021. Conditions for entry to ports in the United States 
‘‘70022. Prohibition on entry and operation’’. 
TITLE VII—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Maritime 
Commission Authorization Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 308 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘$28,012,310 for fiscal year 2018 
and $28,544,543 for fiscal year 2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘$29,086,888 for fiscal year 2020 and $29,639,538 for 
fiscal year 2021’’. 
TITLE VIII—COAST GUARD 
ACADEMY IMPROVEMENT ACT 
SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Academy 
Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 802. COAST GUARD ACADEMY STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 
Administration not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of the this Act under which the National 
Academy of Public Administration shall—
179 
(1) conduct an assessment of the cultural com-
petence of the Coast Guard Academy as an organi-
zation and of individuals at the Coast Guard Acad-
emy to carry out effectively the primary duties of 
the United States Coast Guard listed in section 102 
of title 14, United States Code, when interacting 
with individuals of different races, ethnicities, gen-
ders, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic 
backgrounds, or from different geographic origins; 
and 
(2) issue recommendations based upon the find-
ings in such assessment. 
(b) ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE.— 
(1) CULTURAL
COMPETENCE
OF
THE
COAST 
GUARD
ACADEMY.—The arrangement described in 
subsection (a) shall require the National Academy of 
Public Administration to, not later than 1 year after 
entering into an arrangement with the Secretary 
under subsection (a), submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the as-
sessment described under subsection (a)(1). 
(2) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment de-
scribed under subsection (a)(1) shall—
180 
(A) describe the level of cultural com-
petence described in subsection (a)(1) based on 
the National Academy of Public Administra-
tion’s assessment of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy’s relevant practices, policies, and struc-
tures, including an overview of discussions with 
faculty, staff, students, and relevant Coast 
Guard Academy affiliated organizations; 
(B) examine potential changes which could 
be used to further enhance such cultural com-
petence by— 
(i) modifying institutional practices, 
policies, and structures; and 
(ii) any other changes deemed appro-
priate by the National Academy of Public 
Administration; and 
(C) make recommendations to enhance the 
cultural competence of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy described in subparagraph (A), including 
any specific plans, policies, milestones, perform-
ance measures, or other information necessary 
to implement such recommendations. 
(c) FINAL ACTION MEMORANDUM.—Not later than 
3 months after submission of the assessment under section 
802(b)(1), the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall sub-
181 
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
a final action memorandum in response to all rec-
ommendations contained in the assessment. The Final Ac-
tion Memorandum shall include the rationale for accept-
ing, accepting in part, or rejecting each recommendation, 
and shall specify, where applicable, actions to be taken to 
implement such recommendations, including an expla-
nation of how each action enhances the ability of the Coast 
Guard to carry out the primary duties of the United 
States Coast Guard listed in section 102 of title 14, 
United States Code. 
(d) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the submission of the final action 
memorandum required under subsection (c), the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, in coordination 
with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, shall submit a plan to 
carry out the recommendations or the parts of the 
recommendations accepted in the Final Action 
Memorandum to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives
182 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(2) STRATEGY WITH MILESTONES.—If any rec-
ommendation or parts of recommendations accepted 
in the Final Action Memorandum address any of the 
following actions, then the plan required in para-
graph (1) shall include a strategy with appropriate 
milestones to carry out such recommendations or 
parts of recommendations: 
(A) Improve outreach and recruitment of a 
more diverse Coast Guard Academy cadet can-
didate pool based on race, ethnicity, gender, re-
ligion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic back-
ground, and geographic origin. 
(B) Modify institutional structures, prac-
tices, and policies to foster a more diverse cadet 
corps body, faculty, and staff workforce based 
on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual ori-
entation, socioeconomic background, and geo-
graphic origin. 
(C) Modify existing or establish new poli-
cies and safeguards to foster the retention of 
cadets, faculty, and staff of different races, 
ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orienta-
183 
tions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geo-
graphic origins at the Coast Guard Academy. 
(D) Restructure the admissions office of 
the Coast Guard Academy to be headed by a ci-
vilian with significant relevant higher education 
recruitment experience. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—Unless otherwise di-
rected by an Act of Congress, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall begin implementation of the 
plan developed under this subsection not later than 
180 days after the submission of such plan to Con-
gress. 
(4) UPDATE.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall include in the first annual report re-
quired under chapter 51 of title 14, United States 
Code, as amended by this Act, submitted after the 
date of enactment of this section, the strategy with 
milestones required in paragraph (2) and shall re-
port annually thereafter on actions taken and 
progress made in the implementation of such plan. 
SEC. 803. ANNUAL REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
184 
‘‘§ 5112. Report on diversity at the Coast Guard Acad-
emy 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 
2021, and annually thereafter, the Commandant shall sub-
mit a report on diversity at the Coast Guard Academy to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) the status of the implementation of the 
plan required section 802 of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy Improvement Act; 
‘‘(2) specific information on outreach and re-
cruitment activities for the preceding year, including 
the effectiveness of the Coast Guard Academy Mi-
nority Outreach Team Program described under sec-
tion 1905 and of outreach and recruitment activities 
in the territories and other possessions of the United 
States; 
‘‘(3) enrollment information about the incoming 
class, including the gender, race, ethnicity, religion, 
socioeconomic background, and State of residence of 
Coast Guard Academy cadets; 
‘‘(4) information on class retention, outcomes, 
and graduation rates, including the race, gender,
185 
ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, and 
State of residence of Coast Guard Academy cadets; 
and 
‘‘(5) information on efforts to retain diverse ca-
dets, including through professional development 
and professional advancement programs for staff 
and faculty.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘5112. Report on diversity at the Coast Guard Academy.’’. 
SEC. 804. ASSESSMENT OF COAST GUARD ACADEMY ADMIS-
SION PROCESSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 
Administration under which the National Academy of 
Public Administration shall, not later than 1 year after 
submitting an assessment under section 802(a), submit an 
assessment of the Coast Guard Academy admissions proc-
ess to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(b) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment required 
to be sought under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, 
include—
186 
(1) a study, or an audit if appropriate, of the 
process the Coast Guard Academy uses to— 
(A) identify candidates for recruitment; 
(B) recruit applicants; 
(C) assist applicants in the application 
process; 
(D) evaluate applications; and 
(E) make admissions decisions; 
(2) discussion of the consideration during the 
admissions process of diversity, including— 
(A) race; 
(B) ethnicity; 
(C) gender; 
(D) religion; 
(E) sexual orientation; 
(F) socioeconomic background; and 
(G) geographic origin; 
(3) an overview of the admissions processes at 
other Federal service academies, including— 
(A) discussion of consideration of diversity, 
including any efforts to attract a diverse pool of 
applicants, in those processes; and 
(B) an analysis of how the congressional 
nominations requirement in current law related 
to military service academies and the Merchant
187 
Marine Academy impacts those processes and 
the overall demographics of the student bodies 
at those academies; 
(4) a determination regarding how a congres-
sional nominations requirement for Coast Guard 
Academy admissions could impact diversity among 
the student body and the ability of the Coast Guard 
to carry out effectively the Service’s primary duties 
described in section 102 of title 14, United States 
Code; and 
(5) recommendations for improving Coast 
Guard Academy admissions processes, including 
whether a congressional nominations process should 
be integrated into such processes. 
SEC. 805. COAST GUARD ACADEMY MINORITY OUTREACH 
TEAM PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1904 
the following: 
‘‘§ 1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach 
program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the 
Coast Guard Academy a minority outreach team program 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Program’ ) under which 
officers, including minority officers and officers from terri-
188 
tories and other possessions of the United States, who are 
Academy graduates may volunteer their time to recruit 
minority students and strengthen cadet retention through 
mentorship of cadets. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Not later than July 15, 
2020, the Commandant, in consultation with Program vol-
unteers and Academy alumni that participated in prior 
programs at the Academy similar to the Program, shall 
appoint a permanent civilian position at the Academy to 
administer the Program by, among other things— 
‘‘(1) overseeing administration of the Program; 
‘‘(2) serving as a resource to volunteers and 
outside stakeholders; 
‘‘(3) advising Academy leadership on recruit-
ment and retention efforts based on recommenda-
tions from volunteers and outside stakeholders; 
‘‘(4) establishing strategic goals and perform-
ance metrics for the Program with input from active 
volunteers and Academy leadership; and 
‘‘(5) reporting annually to the Commandant on 
academic year and performance outcomes of the 
goals for the Program before the end of each aca-
demic year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
189 
serting after the item relating to section 1904 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program.’’. 
SEC. 806. COAST GUARD COLLEGE STUDENT PRE-COMMIS-
SIONING INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2131. College student pre-commissioning initiative 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized within the 
Coast Guard the College Student Pre-Commissioning Ini-
tiative program (in this section referred to as the ‘pro-
gram’) for eligible undergraduate students to enlist and 
receive a guaranteed commission as an officer in the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.—To be eligible for 
the program a student must meet the following require-
ments upon submitting an application: 
‘‘(1) AGE.—A student must be not less than 19 
years old and not more than 27 years old as of Sep-
tember 30 of the fiscal year in which the program 
selection panel selecting such student convenes. 
‘‘(2) CHARACTER.— 
‘‘(A) ALL
APPLICANTS.—All applicants 
must be of outstanding moral character and
190 
meet other character requirements as set forth 
by the Commandant. 
‘‘(B) COAST GUARD APPLICANTS.—An ap-
plicant serving in the Coast Guard may not be 
commissioned if in the 36 months prior to the 
first Officer Candidate School class convening 
date in the selection cycle, such applicant was 
convicted by a court-martial or awarded non-ju-
dicial punishment, or did not meet performance 
or character requirements set forth by the Com-
mandant. 
‘‘(3) CITIZENSHIP.—A student must be a 
United States citizen. 
‘‘(4) CLEARANCE.—A student must be eligible 
for a secret clearance. 
‘‘(5) DEPENDENCY.— 
‘‘(A) A student may not have more than 
two dependents; and 
‘‘(B) A student who is single may not have 
sole or primary custody of dependents. 
‘‘(6) EDUCATION.— 
‘‘(A) INSTITUTION.—A student must be an 
undergraduate sophomore or junior— 
‘‘(i) at a historically Black college or 
university described in section 322(2) of
191 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1061(2)) or an institution of higher 
education described in section 371(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067q(a)); or 
‘‘(ii) who is active in minority-serving 
organizations and pursuing a degree in 
science, technology, engineering, or mathe-
matics at an institution of higher edu-
cation described in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001) that is not a historically Black col-
lege or university or institution of higher 
education referred to in clause (i) of this 
subparagraph. 
‘‘(B) LOCATION.—The institution at which 
such student is an undergraduate must be with-
in 100 miles of a Coast guard unit or Coast 
Guard Recruiting Office unless otherwise ap-
proved by the Commandant. 
‘‘(C) RECORDS.—A student must meet 
credit and grade point average requirements set 
forth by the Commandant.