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 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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-
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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);’’. 
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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. 
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‘‘(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. 
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(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. 
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‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.—(A) An 
analysis of the changes in the recruitment and reten-
tion of women over the previous two years. 
‘‘(B) A discussion of any changes to Coast 
Guard recruitment and retention over the previous 
two years that were aimed at increasing the recruit-
ment 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 
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action plan required under section 209 of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2019.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing 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 and, with-
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out further appropriation, shall be available until ex-
pended 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’’. 
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. 
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‘‘(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.’’. 
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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 
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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; 
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‘‘(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 constitutes 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 
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(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 
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‘‘(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 
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‘‘(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 
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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 items relating to section 
8107 and inserting the following: 
‘‘8107. Non-operating individual 
‘‘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, 
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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: 
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‘‘§ 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 was 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 trans-
portation 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 was 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-
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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-
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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 
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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: 
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‘‘(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) INVENTORY.—Section 12138(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (b)— 
(2) in the heading, by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘, and Installation.’’; 
(3) 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 
(4) 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 
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‘‘(ii) in the case of a vessel required to 
be inventoried under paragraph (1)(B), in-
stalling platform jackets; and’’. 
(5) No later than 30 days after the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, act-
ing through the Commissioner of Customs and Bor-
der Protection, shall issue a notice, including an op-
portunity 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 operations. 
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, 
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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: 
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‘‘(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) NATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 555 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 55502. National Maritime Transportation System 
Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Na-
tional Maritime Transportation System Advisory Com-
mittee (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 25 members appointed by the Secretary of 
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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 1 member shall represent the 
Environmental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(B) At least 1 member shall represent the 
Department of Commerce. 
‘‘(C) At least 1 member shall represent the 
Army Corps of Engineers. 
‘‘(D) At least 1 member shall represent the 
Coast Guard. 
‘‘(E) At least 1 member shall represent 
Customs and Border Protection. 
‘‘(F) At least 1 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. 
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