195 
‘‘ ‘(B) the tonnage of such vessel is appro-
priate to the endorsement being sought. 
‘‘ ‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘train-
ing day’’ means a day that consists of not less than 7 
hours of training.’. 
‘‘(n) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall implement the requirements under subsection 
(c) of section 7306 of title 46, United States Code 
(as amended by this section), without regard to 
chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, United States Code, and 
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (5 U.S.C. 601 
note). 
‘‘(2) SECTION 7315.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall implement the requirements of section 7315 of 
title 46, United States Code, as amended by this 
subsection, without regard to chapters 5 and 6 of 
title 5, United States Code, and Executive Orders 
12866 and 13563 (5 U.S.C. 601 note) and 14094 
(88 Fed. Reg. 21879). 
‘‘(o) REPEAL.—Section 7314 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the item relating to such section in the 
analysis for chapter 73 of such title, are repealed.
196 
‘‘(p) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 7306 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘ ‘7306. General requirements and classifications for members of deck depart-
ments.’. 
‘‘(q) AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 75.—Chapter 75 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
‘‘(1) in section 7507 by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘ ‘(d) RENEWAL.—With respect to any renewal of an 
active merchant mariner credential issued under this part 
that is not an extension under subsection (a) or (b), such 
credential shall begin the day after the expiration of the 
active credential of the credential holder.’; and 
‘‘(2) in section 7510(c)— 
‘‘(A) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘EXAM
REVIEW’ 
and 
inserting 
‘WORKING 
GROUP’; 
‘‘(B) in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) by striking ‘90 days’ and insert-
ing ‘180 days’; 
‘‘(ii) by striking ‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2016’ and insert ‘Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2025’;
197 
‘‘(iii) by striking ‘new questions for 
inclusion in’ and inserting ‘questions, con-
tent, and relevancy of’; 
‘‘(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (G), 
(H), and (I), respectively; and 
‘‘(v) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D) the following: 
‘‘ ‘(E) at least 2 individuals that have 
taken and passed the examination in the 5 
years before the commissioning of the working 
group; 
‘‘ ‘(F) at least 1 representative from the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy; ’; 
‘‘(C) in paragraph (4)— 
‘‘(i) in the paragraph heading by 
striking ‘BASELINE REVIEW’ and inserting 
‘REVIEW’; 
‘‘(ii) in subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(I) by striking ‘Within 1 year’ 
and inserting ‘Not later than 270 
days’; 
‘‘(II) by striking ‘Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2016’ and insert-
198 
ing ‘Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
2025’; 
‘‘(III) by striking ‘Secretary’ and 
inserting ‘Commandant’; 
‘‘(IV) by redesignating clauses 
(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) as clauses (ii), 
(iii), (iv), and (vii), respectively; 
‘‘(V) in clause (iv), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘; and’ and insert-
ing a semicolon; 
‘‘(VI) by inserting before clause 
(ii) the following: 
‘‘ ‘(i) industry standards, practices, 
and technology to be considered in the 
Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examina-
tion; ’; and 
‘‘(VII) by inserting after clause 
(iv) the following: 
‘‘ ‘(v) the relevancy of examination 
topics and contents; 
‘‘ ‘(vi) any redundancy of core com-
petencies between the Merchant Mariner 
Credentialing Examination and Standards 
of 
Training, 
Certification, 
and 
Watchingkeeping competencies; and’;
199 
‘‘(iii) by striking subparagraph (B) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘ ‘(B) REPORT
TO
COMMANDANT.—Upon 
completion of the review under this paragraph, 
a report shall be provided to the Commandant 
which shall include findings of the review with 
recommendations for updates to the Merchant 
Marine Credentialling Examination. ’; 
‘‘(D) by striking paragraphs (3), (5), and 
(8); 
‘‘(E) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and 
(9) as paragraphs (5) and (8), respectively; and 
‘‘(F) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘ ‘(3) MEETING OF WORKING GROUP.— 
‘‘ ‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant 
shall convene the working group annually or at 
the creation of new examination questions, 
whichever occurs sooner. 
‘‘ ‘(B) 
REMOTE
PARTICIPATION.—The 
Commandant shall allow any member of the 
working group to participate remotely if the 
member of the working group does not have the 
means to participate in person.
200 
‘‘ ‘(4) USE OF QUESTIONS.—The Commandant 
may not use questions developed for use in the Mer-
chant Mariner Credentialing Examination until such 
questions are reviewed and approved by the working 
group.’. 
‘‘(r) PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 270 days 
after the completion of the review under paragraph 
(4) of subsection (c), the Commandant shall develop 
a plan to update and modernize the Merchant Mar-
iner Credentialing Examination and implement the 
recommendations developed by the review under 
such paragraph. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The plan developed under 
paragraph (1) shall not diminish demonstrated com-
petency standards and shall include— 
‘‘(A) the elimination of redundant topics 
between the Merchant Mariner Credentialing 
Examination and other examinations required 
to obtain a Merchant Mariner Credential; 
‘‘(B) the elimination or updating of out-
dated topics, contents, core competencies, or 
questions covered by the Merchant Mariner 
Credentialing Examination;
201 
‘‘(C) the modernization of testing proce-
dures consistent with contemporary procedures 
for standardized testing administration and 
evaluation; and 
‘‘(D) the development of methods to ana-
lyze examination data related to the effective-
ness of questions in determining competency. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—In developing the plan 
under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall develop 
such plan in consultation with the working group 
and individuals with expertise in modern best prac-
tices for relevant standardized testing. 
‘‘(4) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2025, the Coast Guard shall 
provide to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a briefing on the review and 
plan developed under this subsection. 
‘‘(s) AMENDMENTS
TO
CHAPTER
77.—Section 
7702(d)(1) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
‘‘(1) in subparagraph (B) by redesignating 
clauses (i) through (iv) as subclauses (I) through
202 
(IV), respectively (and by conforming the margins 
accordingly); 
‘‘(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and by con-
forming the margins accordingly); 
‘‘(3) by striking ‘an individual if—’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘an individual— 
‘‘ ‘(A) if—’; 
‘‘(4) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(IV), as so redesig-
nated, by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘; or’; and 
‘‘(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘ ‘(B) if there is probable cause to believe that 
the individual has violated company policy and is a 
security risk that poses a threat to other individuals 
on the vessel.’. 
‘‘(t) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
‘‘(A) in section 2101(47)(B) by striking ‘; 
and’ and inserting ‘; or’; 
‘‘(B) in section 2113(3) by striking ‘sec-
tion 
2101(53)(A)’ 
and 
inserting 
‘section 
2101(55)(A)’;
203 
‘‘(C) in section 3202(a)(1)(A) by striking 
‘section 2101(29)(A)’ and inserting ‘section 
2101(31)(A)’; 
‘‘(D) in section 3507(k)(1) by striking 
‘section 
2101(31)’ 
and 
inserting 
‘section 
2101(33)’; 
‘‘(E) in section 4105(d) by striking ‘sec-
tion 
2101(53)(A)’ 
and 
inserting 
‘section 
2101(55)(A)’; 
‘‘(F) in section 12119(a)(3) by striking 
‘section 
2101(26)’ 
and 
inserting 
‘section 
2101(28)’; and 
‘‘(G) in section 51706(c)(6)(C)(ii) by strik-
ing ‘section 2101(24)’ and inserting ‘section 
2101(26)’. 
‘‘(2) OTHER LAWS.— 
‘‘(A) Section 3(3) of the Magnuson-Ste-
vens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(3)) is amended by striking 
‘2101(30) of title 46’ and inserting ‘2101 of 
title 46’. 
‘‘(B) Section 1992(d)(7) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘section 
2101(31) of title 46’ and inserting ‘section 
2101 of title 46’.
204 
‘‘(C) Section 311(a)(26)(D) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1321(a)(26)(D)) is amended by striking ‘section 
2101(23)’ and inserting ‘section 2101’. 
‘‘(D) Section 1101 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘Section 
2101(23)’ and inserting ‘Section 2101(24)’.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 302. NONOPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 
Section 8313(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283) is amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2029’’. 
Subtitle B—Vessel Safety 
SEC. 311. GROSSLY NEGLIGENT OPERATIONS OF A VESSEL. 
Section 2302(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) GROSSLY NEGLIGENT OPERATION.— 
‘‘(1) MISDEMEANOR.—A person operating a 
vessel in a grossly negligent manner that endangers 
the life, limb, or property of a person commits a 
class A misdemeanor.
205 
‘‘(2) FELONY.—A person operating a vessel in 
a grossly negligent manner that results in serious 
bodily injury, as defined in section 1365(h)(3) of 
title 18— 
‘‘(A) commits a class E felony; and 
‘‘(B) may be assessed a civil penalty of not 
more than $35,000.’’. 
SEC. 312. PERFORMANCE DRIVEN EXAMINATION SCHED-
ULE. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 3714 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub-
section (c), the Secretary’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN EXAMINATION SCHED-
ULE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to examina-
tions of foreign vessels to which this chapter applies, 
and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary may 
adopt a performance-driven examination schedule to 
which such vessels are to be examined and the fre-
206 
quency with which such examinations occur, includ-
ing the frequency of examinations for each vessel. 
Such schedule shall be consistent with the Sec-
retary’s assessment of the safety performance of 
such vessels, including each vessel participating in 
the performance-driven examination schedule, in ac-
cordance with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing an ex-
amination schedule under paragraph (1) and subject 
to paragraph (3), with respect to each vessel in de-
termining eligibility to participate in the perform-
ance based examination schedule— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(i) certificate of compliance and ex-
amination history, to include those con-
ducted by foreign countries; 
‘‘(ii) history of violations, vessel deten-
tions, incidents, and casualties; 
‘‘(iii) history of notices of violation 
issued by the Coast Guard; 
‘‘(iv) safety related information pro-
vided by the flag state of the vessel; 
‘‘(v) owner and operator history; 
‘‘(vi) historical classification society 
data, which may include relevant surveys;
207 
‘‘(vii) cargo-specific documentation; 
‘‘(viii) data from port state control 
safety exams; and 
‘‘(ix) relevant repair and maintenance 
history; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary may consider— 
‘‘(i) data from relevant vessel quality 
assurance and risk assessment programs 
including Quality Shipping for the 21st 
Century (QUALSHIP 21); 
‘‘(ii) data from industry inspection re-
gimes; 
‘‘(iii) data from vessel self assess-
ments submitted to the International Mari-
time Organization or other maritime orga-
nizations; and 
‘‘(iv) other safety relevant data or in-
formation as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY.—In developing an examina-
tion schedule under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall not consider a vessel eligible to take part in a 
performance-driven 
examination 
schedule 
under 
paragraph (1) if, within the last 36 months, the ves-
sel has— 
‘‘(A) been detained by the Coast Guard;
208 
‘‘(B) a record of a violation issued by the 
Coast Guard against the owners or operators 
with a finding of proved; or 
‘‘(C) suffered a marine casualty that, as 
determined by the Secretary, involves the safe 
operation of the vessel and overall performance 
of the vessel. 
‘‘(4) RESTRICTIONS.—The Secretary may not 
adopt a performance-driven examination schedule 
under paragraph (1) until the Secretary has— 
‘‘(A) 
conducted 
the 
assessment 
rec-
ommended in the Government Accountability 
Office report submitted under section 8254(a) 
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283); 
‘‘(B) concluded through such assessment 
that a performance-driven examination schedule 
provides not less than the level of safety pro-
vided by the annual examinations required 
under subsection (a)(1); and 
‘‘(C) provided the results of such assess-
ment to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
209 
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives.’’. 
(b) CAREER INCENTIVE PAY FOR MARINE INSPEC-
TORS.—Subsection (a) of section 11237 of the James M. 
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2023 (37 U.S.C. 352 note) is amended as follows: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSIGNMENT PAY OR 
SPECIAL DUTY PAY.—For the purposes of addressing an 
identified shortage of marine inspectors, the Secretary 
may provide assignment pay or special duty pay under sec-
tion 352 of title 37, United States Code, to a member of 
the Coast Guard serving in a prevention position that— 
‘‘(1) is assigned in support of or is serving as 
a marine inspector pursuant to section 312 of title 
14, United States Code; and 
‘‘(2) is assigned to a billet that is difficult to fill 
due to geographic location, requisite experience or 
certifications, or lack of sufficient candidates, as de-
termined by the Commandant, in an effort to ad-
dress inspector workforce gaps.’’. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually for 2 years 
after the implementation of a performance-driven exam-
ination schedule program under section 3714(c) of title 
46, United States Code, the Commandant shall brief the
210 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives on— 
(1) the status of utilizing the performance-driv-
en examination schedule program, including the 
quantity of examinations conducted and duration be-
tween examinations for each individual vessel exam-
ined under the performance-driven examination 
schedule; 
(2) an overview of the size of the Coast Guard 
marine inspector workforce, including any personnel 
shortages assessed by the Coast Guard, for inspec-
tors that conduct inspections under section 3714 of 
such title; and 
(3) recommendations for the inspection, govern-
ance, or oversight of vessels inspected under section 
3714 of such title. 
SEC. 313. FISHING VESSEL AND FISHERMAN TRAINING 
SAFETY. 
Section 4502 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking 
‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon;
211 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(B) as subparagraph (C); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(A) the following: 
‘‘(B) to conduct safety and prevention 
training that addresses behavioral and physical 
health risks, to include substance use disorder 
and worker fatigue, facing fishing vessel opera-
tors and crewmembers; and’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, in consultation with 
and based on criteria established by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection on a com-
petitive basis’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘subsection— 
‘‘(A) on a competitive basis; and 
‘‘(B) based on criteria developed in con-
sultation with the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard’’; and 
(C) 
in 
paragraph 
(4) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025, 
and 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029’’; and
212 
(2) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘, and 
understanding and mitigating behavioral and 
physical health risks, to include substance use 
disorder and worker fatigue, facing members of 
the commercial fishing industry’’ after ‘‘weather 
detection’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, in consultation with 
and based on criteria established by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection on a com-
petitive basis’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘subsection— 
‘‘(A) on a competitive basis; and 
‘‘(B) based on criteria developed in con-
sultation with the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard’’; and 
(C) 
in 
paragraph 
(4) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 , 
and 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029’’.
213 
SEC. 314. DESIGNATING PILOTAGE WATERS FOR THE 
STRAITS OF MACKINAC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9302(a)(1)(A) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘in waters’’ 
and inserting ‘‘in the Straits of Mackinac and in all other 
waters’’. 
(b) DEFINITION OF THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC.— 
Section 9302 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION OF THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC.— 
In this section, the term ‘Straits of Mackinac’ includes all 
of the United States navigable waters bounded by lon-
gitudes 84 degrees 20 minutes west and 85 degrees 10 
minutes west and latitudes 45 degrees 39 minutes north 
and 45 degrees 54 minutes north, including Gray’s Reef 
Passage, the South Channel, and Round Island Passage, 
and approaches thereto.’’. 
SEC. 315. STUDY OF AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall conduct 
a study to determine the applicability of current safety 
regulations that apply to commercial amphibious vessels. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An overview and analysis that identifies 
safety regulations that apply to commercial amphib-
ious vessels;
214 
(2) An evaluation of whether safety gaps and 
risks exist associated with the application of regula-
tions identified in subsection (b)(1) to the operation 
of commercial amphibious vessels; 
(3) An evaluation of whether aspects of the reg-
ulations established in section 11502 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2023 (46 U.S.C. 3306 note) should 
apply to amphibious commercial vessels; and 
(4) Recommendations on potential regulations 
that should apply to commercial amphibious vessels. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, 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 Senate a 
report containing the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations from the study required under subsection 
(a). 
(d) DEFINITION OF AMPHIBIOUS VESSEL.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘amphibious vessel’’ means a vessel 
which is operating as a small passenger vessel in waters 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as defined 
in section 2.38 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or a successor regulation) and is operating as a motor
215 
vehicle as defined in section 216 of the Clean Air Act (42 
U.S.C. 7550) and that is not a DUKW amphibious pas-
senger vessel as defined in section 11502 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023 (46 U.S.C. 3306 note). 
SEC. 316. ST. LUCIE RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE. 
Regarding Docket Number USCG–2022–0222, be-
fore adopting a final rule, the Commandant shall conduct 
an independent boat traffic study at mile 7.4 of the St. 
Lucie River. 
SEC. 317. LARGE RECREATIONAL VESSEL REGULATIONS. 
Section 3529(a)(3) of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115–232) is amended by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025’’. 
Subtitle C—Ports 
SEC. 321. PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8343 of the William M. 
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (46 U.S.C. 70034 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘2-year pilot program’’ and in-
serting ‘‘pilot program’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
216 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION.—The pilot program under 
subsection (a) is authorized for fiscal years 2025, 2026, 
2027, 2028, and 2029.’’. 
(b) WATERFRONT SAFETY.—Section 70011(a) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘, including 
damage or destruction resulting from cyber inci-
dents, transnational organized crime, or foreign 
state threats’’ after ‘‘adjacent to such waters’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘or harm re-
sulting from cyber incidents, transnational organized 
crime, or foreign state threats’’ after ‘‘loss’’. 
(c) FACILITY VISIT BY STATE SPONSOR OF TER-
RORISM.—Section 70011(b) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) prohibiting a representative of a govern-
ment of country that the Secretary of State has de-
termined has repeatedly provided support for acts of 
international terrorism under section 620A of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371)
217 
from visiting a facility for which a facility security 
plan is required under section 70103(c).’’. 
(d) GREAT LAKES AND SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY 
NAVIGATION.—Section 70032 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 70032. Delegation of ports and waterways authori-
ties in Saint Lawrence Seaway 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the authority granted to the Secretary under sections 
70001, 70002, 70003, 70004, and 70011 may not be dele-
gated with respect to the Saint Lawrence Seaway to any 
agency other than the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway 
Development Corporation. Any other authority granted 
the Secretary under subchapters I through III and this 
subchapter shall be delegated by the Secretary to the 
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corpora-
tion to the extent the Secretary determines such delega-
tion is necessary for the proper operation of the Saint 
Lawrence Seaway. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating, after consultation 
with the Secretary or the head of an agency to which the 
Secretary has delegated the authorities in subsection (a), 
may—
218 
‘‘(1) issue and enforce special orders in accord-
ance with section 70002; 
‘‘(2) establish water or waterfront safety zones, 
or other measures, for limited, controlled, or condi-
tional access and activity when necessary for the 
protection of any vessel structure, waters, or shore 
area, as permitted in section 70011(b)(3); and 
‘‘(3) take actions for port, harbor, and coastal 
facility security in accordance with section 70116.’’. 
(e) REGULATION OF ANCHORAGE AND MOVEMENT 
OF VESSELS DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCY.—Section 
70051 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting ‘‘or cyber incidents, or transnational organized 
crime, or foreign state threats,’’ after ‘‘threatened war, or 
invasion, or insurrection, or subversive activity,’’. 
(f) GREAT LAKES AND SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER CO-
OPERATIVE VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall issue or amend such regulations as are nec-
essary to address any applicable arrangements with the 
Canadian Coast Guard regarding vessel traffic services co-
operation and vessel traffic management data exchanges 
within the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.
219 
(g) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 700 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 70032 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘70032. Delegation of ports and waterways authorities in Saint Lawrence Sea-
way.’’. 
SEC. 322. STUDY ON BERING STRAIT VESSEL TRAFFIC PRO-
JECTIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE POS-
TURE AT PORTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek 
to enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, under which the 
Marine Board of the Transportation Research Board (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) shall conduct a 
study to— 
(1) analyze commercial vessel traffic that tran-
sits through the Bering Strait and projections for 
the growth of such traffic during the 10-year period 
beginning after such date of enactment; and 
(2) assess the adequacy of emergency response 
capabilities and infrastructure at the Port of Point 
Spencer, Alaska, to address navigation safety risks 
and geographic challenges necessary to conduct 
emergency maritime response operations in the Arc-
tic environment.
220 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An analysis of the volume and types of do-
mestic and international commercial vessel traffic 
through the Bering Strait and the projected growth 
of such traffic, including a summary of— 
(A) the sizes, ages, and flag states of ves-
sels; and 
(B) the oil and product tankers that are— 
(i) in transit to or from Russia or 
China; or 
(ii) owned or operated by a Russian 
or Chinese entity. 
(2) An assessment of the state and adequacy of 
vessel traffic services and oil spill and emergency re-
sponse capabilities in the vicinity of the Bering 
Strait, including its approaches. 
(3) A risk assessment of the projected growth 
in commercial vessel traffic in the Bering Strait and 
higher probability of increased frequency in the 
number of maritime accidents, including spill events, 
and the potential impacts to the Arctic maritime en-
vironment and Native Alaskan village communities 
in the vicinity of the Bering Strait.
221 
(4) An evaluation of the ability of the Port of 
Point Spencer, Alaska, to serve as a port of refuge 
and as a staging, logistics, and operations center to 
conduct and support maritime emergency and spill 
response activities. 
(5) Recommendations for practical actions that 
can be taken by the Congress, Federal agencies, the 
State of Alaska, vessel carriers and operators, the 
marine salvage and emergency response industry, 
and other relevant stakeholders to mitigate risks, 
upgrade infrastructure, and improve the posture of 
the Port of Point Spencer, Alaska, to function as a 
strategic staging and logistics center for maritime 
emergency and spill response operations in the Ber-
ing Strait region. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Board shall consult 
with— 
(1) the Department of Transportation; 
(2) the Corps of Engineers; 
(3) the National Transportation Safety Board; 
(4) relevant ministries of the government of 
Canada; 
(5) the Port Coordination Council for the Port 
of Point Spencer; and
222 
(6) non-government entities with relevant exper-
tise in monitoring and characterizing vessel traffic in 
the Arctic. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after initiating 
the study under subsection (a), the Board 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 containing the findings and recommendations of the 
study. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Re-
search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
(2) PORT
COORDINATION
COUNCIL
FOR
THE 
PORT OF POINT SPENCER.—The term ‘‘Port Coordi-
nation Council for the Port of Point Spencer’’ means 
the Council established under section 541 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 
114–120). 
SEC. 323. IMPROVING VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE MONI-
TORING. 
(a) PROXIMITY OF ANCHORAGES TO PIPELINES.— 
(1) 
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
RESTRUCTURING 
PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
223 
actment of this Act, the Commandant shall imple-
ment the November 2021 proposed plan of the Ves-
sel Traffic Service Los Angeles-Long Beach for re-
structuring the Federal anchorages in San Pedro 
Bay described on page 54 of the Report of the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board titled ‘‘Anchor 
Strike of Underwater Pipeline and Eventual Crude 
Oil Release’’ and issued January 2, 2024. 
(2) STUDY.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct 
a study to identify any anchorage grounds other 
than the San Pedro Bay Federal anchorages in 
which the distance between the center of an ap-
proved anchorage ground and a pipeline is less than 
1 mile. 
(3) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant 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 Sen-
ate a report on the results of the study required 
under paragraph (2).
224 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include— 
(i) a list of the anchorage grounds de-
scribed under paragraph (2); 
(ii) whether it is possible to move each 
such anchorage ground to provide a min-
imum distance of 1 mile; and 
(iii) a recommendation of whether to 
move any such anchorage ground and ex-
planation for the recommendation. 
(b) PROXIMITY TO PIPELINE ALERTS.— 
(1) AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARMS.—The Com-
mandant shall consult with the providers of vessel 
monitoring systems to add to the monitoring sys-
tems for vessel traffic services audible and visual 
alarms that alert the watchstander when an an-
chored vessel is encroaching on a pipeline. 
(2) NOTIFICATION
PROCEDURES.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant shall develop procedures for all 
vessel traffic services to notify pipeline and utility 
operators following potential incursions on sub-
merged pipelines within the vessel traffic service 
area of responsibility.
225 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually for the 
subsequent 3 years, the Commandant shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report on the implementation of para-
graphs (1) and (2). 
SEC. 324. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS. 
Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
striking ‘‘While on board a covered vessel, an’’ and 
inserting ‘‘An’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, possess with in-
tent to manufacture or distribute, or place or cause 
to be placed with intent to manufacture or distribute 
a controlled substance on board a covered vessel;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘on board a 
covered vessel’’ before the semicolon; and 
(4) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘while on 
board a covered vessel’’ after ‘‘such individual’’.
226 
SEC. 325. CYBER-INCIDENT TRAINING. 
Section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) The Secretary may conduct no-notice exercises 
in Captain of the Port Zones (as described in part 3 of 
title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as in effect on the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2025) involving a facility or vessel required to maintain 
a security plan under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 326. NAVIGATIONAL PROTOCOLS. 
The Commandant, in consultation with the Undersec-
retary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall ex-
amine the navigational protocols used for foreign allied na-
tions governing port and vessel operations in fog and low 
visibility operations and how those nations utilize ad-
vanced navigation technologies such as remote sensing, 
radar, tracking, and unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor 
visibility and manage port and vessels operations. 
SEC. 327. ANCHORAGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall suspend the 
establishment of new anchorage grounds on the Hudson 
River between Palisades, New York, and Germantown, 
New York, under section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Ap-
propriations Act of 1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) or chapter 700 
of title 46, United States Code.
227 
(b) PORT OF NEW YORK BOUNDARY POINTS.—The 
boundary points for the Port of New York existing prior 
to the issuance of Coast Guard Marine Safety Information 
Bulletin 2023-001 shall remain in place for a period of 
20 years. 
Subtitle D—Matters Involving 
Autonomous Systems 
SEC. 331. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ON AUTONOMOUS MARITIME SYS-
TEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 151 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 15110. Establishment of National Advisory Com-
mittee on Autonomous Maritime Systems 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Na-
tional Advisory Committee on Autonomous Maritime Sys-
tems (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 
Secretary on matters relating to the regulation and use 
of Autonomous Systems within the territorial waters of 
the United States. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
228 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of 15 members appointed by the Secretary in ac-
cordance 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.—Each of the following 
groups shall be represented by at least 1 member on 
the Committee: 
‘‘(A) Marine safety or security entities. 
‘‘(B) Vessel design and construction enti-
ties. 
‘‘(C) Entities engaged in the production or 
research of uncrewed vehicles, including drones, 
autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, or 
any other product or service integral to the pro-
vision, maintenance, or management of such 
products or services. 
‘‘(D) Port districts, authorities, or terminal 
operators. 
‘‘(E) Vessel operators. 
‘‘(F) National labor unions representing 
merchant mariners. 
‘‘(G) Maritime pilots.
229 
‘‘(H) Commercial space transportation op-
erators. 
‘‘(I) Academic institutions. 
‘‘(J) National labor unions representing 
longshore workers.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for 
chapter 151 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘15110. Establishment of National Advisory Committee on Autonomous Mari-
time Systems.’’. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
establish the Committee under section 15110 of title 46, 
United States Code (as added by this section). 
SEC. 332. PILOT PROGRAM FOR GOVERNANCE AND OVER-
SIGHT OF SMALL UNCREWED MARITIME SYS-
TEMS. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, for the period beginning on the date of enact-
ment of this Act and ending on the date that is 2 years 
after such date of enactment, small uncrewed maritime 
systems owned, operated, or chartered by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or that are per-
forming specified oceanographic surveys on behalf of and 
pursuant to a contract or other written agreement with
230 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
shall not be subject to any vessel inspection, design, oper-
ations, navigation (except for chapter 551 of title 46, 
United States Code), credentialing, or training require-
ment, law, or regulation, that the Assistant Administrator 
of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration deter-
mines will harm real-time operational extreme weather 
oceanographic and atmospheric data collection and pre-
dictions. 
(b) OTHER AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this section 
shall limit the authority of the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating, acting 
through the Commandant, if there is an immediate safety 
or security concern regarding small uncrewed maritime 
systems. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SMALL UNCREWED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 
The term ‘‘small uncrewed maritime systems’’ 
means unmanned maritime systems (as defined in 
section 2 of the CENOTE Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 
4101)), that— 
(A) are not greater than 35 feet overall in 
length;
231 
(B) are operated remotely or autono-
mously; and 
(C) exclusively perform oceanographic sur-
veys or scientific research. 
(2) UNCREWED SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘uncrewed 
system’’— 
(A) means an uncrewed surface, undersea, 
or aircraft system and associated elements (in-
cluding communication links and the compo-
nents that control the uncrewed system) that 
are required for the operator to operate the sys-
tem safely and efficiently; and 
(B) includes an unmanned aircraft system 
(as such term is defined in section 44801 of 
title 49, United States Code). 
SEC. 333. COAST GUARD TRAINING COURSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the period beginning on the 
date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date that 
is 3 years after such date of enactment, the Commandant, 
or such other individual or organization as the Com-
mandant considers appropriate, shall develop a training 
course on small uncrewed maritime systems and offer such 
training course at least once each year for Coast Guard 
personnel working with or regulating small uncrewed mar-
itime systems.
232 
(b) COURSE SUBJECT MATTER.—The training course 
developed under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) provide an overview and introduction to 
small uncrewed maritime systems, including exam-
ples of those used by the Federal Government, in 
academic settings, and in commercial sectors; 
(2) address the benefits and disadvantages of 
use of small uncrewed maritime systems; 
(3) address safe navigation of small uncrewed 
maritime systems, including measures to ensure col-
lision avoidance; 
(4) address the ability of small uncrewed mari-
time systems to communicate with and alert other 
vessels in the vicinity; 
(5) address the ability of small uncrewed mari-
time systems to respond to system alarms and fail-
ures to ensure control commensurate with the risk 
posed by the systems; 
(6) provide present and future capabilities of 
small uncrewed maritime systems; and 
(7) provide an overview of the role of the Inter-
national Maritime Organization in the governance of 
small uncrewed maritime systems. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
233 
(1) SMALL UNCREWED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 
The term ‘‘small uncrewed maritime systems’’ 
means unmanned maritime systems (as defined in 
section 2 of the CENOTE Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 
4101)), that— 
(A) are not greater than 35 feet overall in 
length; 
(B) are operated remotely or autono-
mously; and 
(C) exclusively perform oceanographic sur-
veys or scientific research. 
(2) UNCREWED SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘uncrewed 
system’’— 
(A) means an uncrewed surface, undersea, 
or aircraft system and associated elements (in-
cluding communication links and the compo-
nents that control the uncrewed system) that 
are required for the operator to operate the sys-
tem safely and efficiently; and 
(B) includes an unmanned aircraft system 
(as such term is defined in section 44801 of 
title 49, United States Code).
234 
SEC. 334. NOAA MEMBERSHIP ON AUTONOMOUS VESSEL 
POLICY COUNCIL. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant, with the concurrence of the 
Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Avia-
tion Operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, shall establish the permanent membership 
of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
employee to the Automated and Autonomous Vessel Policy 
Council of the Coast Guard. 
SEC. 335. TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 319(b)(1) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2 or more’’ and inserting ‘‘up to 
4’’. 
SEC. 336. UNCREWED SYSTEMS CAPABILITIES REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, 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 Senate a report that outlines 
a plan for establishing an uncrewed systems capa-
bilities office within the Coast Guard responsible for 
the acquisition and development of uncrewed system 
and counter-uncrewed system technologies and to ex-
235 
pand the capabilities of the Coast Guard with re-
spect to such technologies. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A management strategy for the acqui-
sition, 
development, 
and 
deployment 
of 
uncrewed system and counter-uncrewed system 
technologies. 
(B) A service-wide coordination strategy to 
synchronize and integrate efforts across the 
Coast Guard in order to— 
(i) support the primary duties of the 
Coast Guard pursuant to section 102 of 
title 14, United States Code; and 
(ii) pursue expanded research, devel-
opment, testing, and evaluation opportuni-
ties and funding to expand and accelerate 
identification and transition of uncrewed 
system and counter-uncrewed system tech-
nologies. 
(C) The identification of contracting and 
acquisition authorities needed to expedite the 
development and deployment of uncrewed sys-
tem and counter-uncrewed system technologies.
236 
(D) A detailed list of commercially avail-
able uncrewed system and counter-uncrewed 
system technologies with capabilities determined 
to be useful for the Coast Guard. 
(E) A cross-agency collaboration plan to 
engage with the Department of Defense and 
other relevant agencies to identify common re-
quirements and opportunities to partner in ac-
quiring, contracting, and sustaining uncrewed 
system and counter-uncrewed system capabili-
ties. 
(F) Opportunities to obtain and share 
uncrewed system data from government and 
commercial sources to improve maritime do-
main awareness. 
(G) The development of a concept of oper-
ations for a data system that supports and inte-
grates uncrewed system and counter-uncrewed 
system technologies with key enablers, including 
enterprise communications networks, data stor-
age and management, artificial intelligence and 
machine learning tools, and information sharing 
and dissemination capabilities. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
237 
(1) COUNTER-UNCREWED SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘counter-uncrewed system’’— 
(A) means a system or device capable of 
lawfully and safely disabling, disrupting, or 
seizing control of an uncrewed system; and 
(B) includes a counter-UAS system (as 
such term is defined in section 44801 of title 
49, United States Code). 
(2) UNCREWED SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘uncrewed 
system’’— 
(A) means an uncrewed surface, undersea, 
or aircraft system and associated elements (in-
cluding communication links and the compo-
nents that control the uncrewed system) that 
are required for the operator to operate the sys-
tem safely and efficiently; and 
(B) includes an unmanned aircraft system 
(as such term is defined in section 44801 of 
title 49, United States Code). 
SEC. 337. MEDIUM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS CAPA-
BILITIES STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall con-
duct a study to determine the feasibility of expanding the 
National Security Cutter’s medium unmanned aircraft
238 
system capabilities to Medium Endurance Cutters and 
Offshore Patrol Cutters. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, 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 Senate a written report that 
contains the results of the study conducted under 
subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—In submitting the study under 
paragraph (1), the Commandant shall determine— 
(A) the feasibility of equipping Offshore 
Patrol Cutters and Medium Endurance Cutters 
with medium unmanned aircraft systems; 
(B) the missions capabilities that would be 
strengthen by the use of such systems; and 
(V) projected procurement and operational 
costs for acquiring such systems. 
SEC. 338. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON COAST 
GUARD ACQUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT OF 
UNMANNED SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
239 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
Senate the first of multiple reports of the use and acquisi-
tion of the Coast Guard of unmanned systems, with subse-
quent reports submitted after the first report. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The reports required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) An inventory of the current unmanned sys-
tems of the Coast Guard, including the missions and 
assets on which such systems are deployed. 
(2) Cost, schedule, and performance status of 
the unmanned system acquisition programs of the 
Coast Guard. 
(3) The extent to which the Coast Guard has 
assessed how the use of such systems support the 
primary duties of the Coast Guard pursuant to sec-
tion 102 of title 14, United States Code. 
(4) An evaluation of the acquisition strategy of 
the Coast Guard for unmanned systems, including 
the extent to which the Coast Guard has evaluated 
the benefits and costs of acquiring— 
(A) commercially available systems; and 
(B) autonomous capabilities.
240 
(5) An evaluation of the progress of the Coast 
Guard in establishing an unmanned systems capa-
bilities office responsible for the acquisition and de-
velopment of unmanned system technologies, and the 
effectiveness of such office, including the ability to— 
(A) support the acquisition, development, 
leasing, and deployment of unmanned systems 
technologies, including autonomous capabilities; 
(B) execute a service-wide coordination 
strategy to synchronize and integrate efforts 
across the Coast Guard; 
(C) pursue expanded research, develop-
ment, experimentation, testing, and evaluation 
opportunities and funding to expand and accel-
erate identification and transition of unmanned 
system technologies; and 
(D) execute cross-agency collaboration to 
engage with the Department of Homeland Se-
curity, the Department of Defense, and other 
relevant agencies to identify common require-
ments and opportunities to partner in acquir-
ing, contracting, and sustaining unmanned sys-
tem capabilities.
241 
(6) Recommendations to improve the ability of 
the Coast Guard to evaluate, acquire, and deploy un-
manned systems technologies. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General may 
consult with— 
(1) the maritime and aviation industries; 
(2) Federal Government agencies familiar with 
the use and deployment of unmanned systems; and 
(3) any relevant— 
(A) federally funded research institutions; 
(B) nongovernmental organizations; and 
(C) manufactures of unmanned systems. 
SEC. 339. NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES REPORT ON 
UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND USE OF DATA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek 
to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy 
of Sciences under which the Academy shall prepare an as-
sessment of available unmanned, autonomous, or re-
motely-controlled maritime domain awareness technologies 
for use by the Coast Guard. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—In carrying out the assessment 
under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences 
shall—
242 
(1) describe the potential benefits and limita-
tions of current and emerging unmanned, autono-
mous, or remotely controlled systems used in the 
maritime domain for— 
(A) ocean observation; 
(B) vessel monitoring and identification; 
(C) weather observation; 
(D) search and rescue operations; 
(E) to the extent practicable for consider-
ation by the Academy, intelligence gathering, 
surveillance, and reconnaissance; and 
(F) communications; 
(2) assess how technologies described in para-
graph (1) can help prioritize Federal investment by 
examining— 
(A) affordability, including acquisition, op-
erations, maintenance and lifecycle costs; 
(B) reliability; 
(C) versatility; 
(D) efficiency; and 
(E) estimated service life and persistence 
of effort; 
(3) analyze whether the use of new and emerg-
ing maritime domain awareness technologies can be 
used to—
243 
(A) effectively carry out Coast Guard mis-
sions at lower costs and reduced manpower 
needs; 
(B) expand the scope and range of Coast 
Guard maritime domain awareness; and 
(C) allow the Coast Guard to more effi-
ciently and effectively allocate Coast Guard ves-
sels, aircraft, and personnel; 
(4) evaluate the extent to which such systems 
have moved from the research and development 
phase to effective operations since the National 
Academy of Sciences published the study titled 
‘‘Leveraging Unmanned Systems for Coast Guard 
Missions’’ and issued in 2020; and 
(5) identify adjustments that would be nec-
essary in Coast Guard authorities, policies, proce-
dures, and protocols to incorporate unmanned tech-
nologies to enhance efficiency. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after entering into an arrangement under subsection (a), 
the National Academy of Sciences 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 the as-
sessment prepared under this section.
244 
(d) USE
OF INFORMATION.—In formulating costs 
pursuant to subsection (b), the National Academy of 
Sciences may utilize information from other Coast Guard 
reports, assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast 
Guard manpower requirements or other reports, assess-
ments, or analyses for the acquisition of unmanned, auton-
omous, or remotely-controlled technologies by the Federal 
Government. 
SEC. 340. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 5 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 565. Use of unmanned aircraft systems 
‘‘With respect to any unmanned aircraft system pro-
cured by the Coast Guard, the Commandant shall ensure 
that such system be used to support the primary duties 
of the Coast Guard pursuant to section 102.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘565. Use of unmanned aircraft systems.’’.
245 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
SEC. 341. INFORMATION ON TYPE APPROVAL CERTIFI-
CATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IX of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 
282) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 904. INFORMATION ON TYPE APPROVAL CERTIFI-
CATES. 
‘‘Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall, upon request by any 
State, the District of Columbia, any Indian Tribe, or any 
territory of the United States, provide all data possessed 
by the Coast Guard for a ballast water management sys-
tem with a type approval certificate approved by the Coast 
Guard pursuant to subpart 162.060 of title 46, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment 
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 pertaining 
to— 
‘‘(1) challenge water (as defined in section 
162.060–3 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
as in effect on the date of enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2025) quality character-
istics; 
‘‘(2) post-treatment water quality characteris-
tics;
246 
‘‘(3) challenge water (as defined in section 
162.060–3 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
as in effect on the date of enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2025) biologic organism 
concentrations data; and 
‘‘(4) post-treatment water biologic organism 
concentrations data.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2018 (Public Law 115–282) is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 903 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 904. Information on type approval certificates.’’. 
SEC. 342. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(a) of the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(a)) is amended by 
striking the first sentence and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding 
section 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 468(b)), the Secretary shall have the authority to 
issue regulations to carry out the purposes and provisions 
of this Act, in accordance with the provisions of section 
553 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to sub-
section (a) thereof.’’. 
(b) NEPA COMPLIANCE.—Section 5 of the Deep-
water Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504) is amended by 
striking subsection (f) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(f) NEPA COMPLIANCE.—
247 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF LEAD AGENCY.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘lead agency’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 111 of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e). 
‘‘(2) LEAD AGENCY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For all applications, 
the Maritime Administration shall be the Fed-
eral lead agency for purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) EFFECT OF COMPLIANCE.—Compli-
ance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) in accord-
ance with subparagraph (A) shall fulfill the re-
quirement of the Federal lead agency in car-
rying out the responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) pursuant to this Act.’’. 
(c) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant shall transfer the authorities provided to 
the Coast Guard in part 148 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of en-
248 
actment of this Act), except as provided in para-
graph (2), to the Secretary of Transportation. 
(2) RETENTION
OF
AUTHORITY.—The Com-
mandant shall retain responsibility for authorities 
pertaining to design, construction, equipment, and 
operation of deepwater ports and navigational safe-
ty. 
(3) UPDATES
TO
AUTHORITY.—As soon as 
practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall issue such reg-
ulations as are necessary to reflect the updates to 
authorities prescribed by this subsection. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion, or the amendments made by this section, may be con-
strued to limit the authorities of other governmental agen-
cies previously delegated authorities of the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) or any other 
law. 
(e) APPLICATIONS.—Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall apply to any ap-
plication submitted before the date of enactment of this 
Act.
249 
SEC. 343. AMENDMENTS TO PASSENGER VESSEL SECURITY 
AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) MAINTENANCE
OF SUPPLIES THAT PREVENT 
SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED
DISEASES.—Section 
3507(d)(1) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘(taking into consideration the length of the 
voyage and the number of passengers and crewmembers 
that the vessel can accommodate)’’ after ‘‘a sexual as-
sault’’. 
(b) CREW ACCESS
TO PASSENGER STATEROOMS; 
PROCEDURES AND RESTRICTIONS.—Section 3507(f) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following: 
‘‘(C) a system that electronically records 
the date, time, and identity of each crew mem-
ber accessing each passenger stateroom; and’’; 
and 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) ensure that the procedures and restrictions 
are— 
‘‘(A) fully and properly implemented;
250 
‘‘(B) reviewed annually; and 
‘‘(C) updated as necessary.’’. 
SEC. 344. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH A 
CETACEAN DESK FOR PUGET SOUND REGION. 
Section 11304(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Don Young Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (16 U.S.C. 1390 note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘4 years’’ and inserting ‘‘6 years’’. 
SEC. 345. SUSPENSION OF ENFORCEMENT OF USE OF DE-
VICES BROADCASTING ON AIS FOR PUR-
POSES OF MARKING FISHING GEAR. 
Section 11320 of the Don Young Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 
4092) is amended by striking ‘‘during the period’’ and all 
that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘until December 31, 2029.’’. 
SEC. 346. CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES. 
Section 3316(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (2)(B)(i) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(i) the government of the foreign country in 
which the foreign society is headquartered— 
‘‘(I) delegates that authority to the Amer-
ican Bureau of Shipping; or
251 
‘‘(II) does not delegate that authority to 
any classification society; or’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) CLARIFICATION ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing 
in this subsection authorizes the Secretary to make 
a delegation under paragraph (2) to a classification 
society from the People’s Republic of China.’’. 
SEC. 347. ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSEL REMOVALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 47 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the chapter heading by striking 
‘‘BARGES’’ and inserting ‘‘VESSELS’’; 
(2) by inserting before section 4701 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—BARGES’’; AND 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—NON-BARGE VESSELS 
‘‘§ 4710. Definitions 
‘‘In this subchapter: 
‘‘(1) ABANDON.—The term ‘abandon’ means to 
moor, strand, wreck, sink, or leave a covered vessel 
unattended for longer than 45 days. 
‘‘(2) COVERED
VESSEL.—The term ‘covered 
vessel’ means a vessel that is not a barge to which 
subchapter I applies.
252 
‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(4) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘Native Hawaiian organization’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 6207 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7517) except the term includes the Depart-
ment of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of 
Hawaiian Affairs. 
‘‘§ 4711. Abandonment of vessels prohibited 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An owner or operator of a cov-
ered vessel may not abandon such vessel on the navigable 
waters of the United States. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF ABANDONMENT.— 
‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a cov-
ered vessel that appears to be abandoned, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 
‘‘(i) attempt to identify the owner 
using the vessel registration number, hull 
identification number, or any other infor-
mation that can be reasonably inferred or 
gathered; and
253 
‘‘(ii) notify such owner— 
‘‘(I) of the penalty described in 
subsection (c); and 
‘‘(II) that the vessel will be re-
moved at the expense of the owner if 
the Commandant determines that the 
vessel is abandoned and the owner 
does not remove or account for the 
vessel. 
‘‘(B) FORM.—The Commandant shall pro-
vide the notice required under subparagraph 
(A)— 
‘‘(i) if the owner can be identified, via 
certified mail or other appropriate forms 
determined by the Commandant; or 
‘‘(ii) if the owner cannot be identified, 
via an announcement in a local publication 
and on a website maintained by the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(2) 
DETERMINATION.—The 
Commandant 
shall make a determination not earlier than 45 days 
after the date on which the Commandant provides 
the notification required under paragraph (1) of 
whether a covered vessel described in such para-
graph is abandoned.
254 
‘‘(c) PENALTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may as-
sess a civil penalty of not more than $500 against 
an owner or operator of a covered vessel determined 
to be abandoned under subsection (b) for a violation 
of subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) LIABILITY IN REM.—The owner or oper-
ator of a covered vessel shall also be liable in rem 
for a penalty imposed under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The Commandant shall not 
assess a penalty if the Commandant determines the 
vessel was abandoned due to major extenuating cir-
cumstances of the owner or operator of the vessel, 
including long term medical incapacitation of the 
owner or operator. 
‘‘(d) VESSELS NOT ABANDONED.—The Commandant 
may not determine that a covered vessel is abandoned 
under this section if— 
‘‘(1) such vessel is located at a federally ap-
proved or State approved mooring area; 
‘‘(2) such vessel is located on private property 
with the permission of the owner of such property; 
‘‘(3) the owner or operator of such vessel pro-
vides a notification to the Commandant that— 
‘‘(A) indicates the location of the vessel;
255 
‘‘(B) indicates that the vessel is not aban-
doned; and 
‘‘(C) contains documentation proving that 
the vessel is allowed to be in such location; or 
‘‘(4) the Commandant determines that such an 
abandonment determination would not be in the 
public interest. 
‘‘§ 4712. Inventory of abandoned vessels 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2025, the Commandant, in consultation with the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration and relevant State agencies, shall establish 
and maintain a national inventory of covered vessels that 
are abandoned. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The inventory established and 
maintained under subsection (a) shall include data on each 
vessel, including geographic information system data re-
lated to the location of each such vessel. 
‘‘(c) PUBLICATION.—The Commandant shall make 
the inventory established under subsection (a) publicly 
available on a website of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING
OF
POTENTIALLY
ABANDONED 
VESSELS.—In carrying out this section, the Commandant 
shall develop a process by which—
256 
‘‘(1) a State, Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian or-
ganization, or person may report a covered vessel 
that may be abandoned to the Commandant for po-
tential inclusion in the inventory established under 
subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) the Commandant shall review any such re-
port and add such vessel to the inventory if the 
Commandant determines that the reported vessel is 
abandoned pursuant to section 4711. 
‘‘(e) CLARIFICATION.—Except in a response action 
carried out under section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) or in the case of im-
minent threat to life and safety, the Commandant shall 
not be responsible for removing any covered vessels listed 
on the inventory established and maintained under sub-
section (a).’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief 
of Engineers, and the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
shall issue regulations with respect to the procedures for 
determining that a vessel is abandoned for the purposes 
of subchapter II of chapter 47 of title 46, United States 
Code (as added by this section).
257 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 47 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 4701— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
chapter’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘chapter’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; 
(2) in section 4703 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; 
(3) in section 4704 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘subchapter’’; and 
(4) in section 4705 by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subchapter’’. 
(d) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for 
chapter 47 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting before the item relating to sec-
tion 4701 the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—BARGES’’; AND 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—NON-BARGE VESSELS 
‘‘4710. Definitions. 
‘‘4711. Abandonment of vessels prohibited. 
‘‘4712. Inventory of abandoned vessels.’’. 
SEC. 348. OFFSHORE OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3702(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended—
258 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
striking ‘‘offshore drilling or production facilities in 
the oil industry’’ and inserting ‘‘exploration, develop-
ment, or production of offshore drilling or produc-
tion facilities in the oil industry and non-mineral en-
ergy production’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘oil exploi-
tation’’ and inserting ‘‘exploration, development, or 
production of offshore energy resources’’. 
(b) OIL FUEL TANK PROTECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law and not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall amend section 125.115(b) of title 46, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on such date of en-
actment), to reflect the amendment made in sub-
section (a). 
(2) APPLICATION.—If the Commandant fails to 
amend the section described in paragraph (1) by the 
date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, then, in lieu of the application of such sec-
tion, the Secretary shall allow vessels to which sec-
tion 3702 of title 46, United States Code, applies to 
transfer fuel from the fuel supply tanks of such ves-
sel to offshore facilities in support of exploration, de-
259 
velopment, or production of offshore energy re-
sources. 
(c) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall amend section G6.3.a of the United States 
Coast Guard Marine Safety Manual, Volume II ti-
tled ‘‘Materiel Inspection: Outer Continental Shelf 
Activities’’, 
issued 
September 
20, 
2021 
(COMDTINST M16000.76) (as in effect on such 
date of enactment), to reflect the amendment made 
in subsection (a). 
(2) APPLICATION.—If the Commandant fails to 
amend the section described in paragraph (1) by the 
date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, then the Secretary shall in lieu of such sec-
tion not apply section 3702 of title 46, United 
States Code, to a documented vessel transferring 
fuel from the fuel supply tanks of such vessel to an 
offshore facility if such vessel is not a tanker and is 
in the service of exploration, development, or produc-
tion of offshore energy resources. 
SEC. 349. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
Section 9(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 
1958) is amended by striking ‘‘, of which not more than
260 
5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administra-
tive costs’’. 
SEC. 350. BRIEFING ON DEPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL PUR-
POSE CRAFT – HEAVY WEATHER SECOND 
GENERATION (SPC-HWX II) VESSELS IN PA-
CIFIC NORTHWEST. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a briefing on— 
(1) the status of the acquisition and procure-
ment of second-generation Special Purpose Craft – 
Heavy Weather (SPC–HWX II) vessels; 
(2) the timeline for the deployment of such ves-
sels to stations in the Pacific Northwest previously 
served by the first-generation Special Purpose Craft 
– Heavy Weather vessels; and 
(3) any outstanding barriers to the timeliness of 
such deployment. 
TITLE IV—OIL POLLUTION 
RESPONSE 
SEC. 401. VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS. 
(a) SALVAGE AND MARINE FIREFIGHTING RESPONSE 
CAPABILITY.—Section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollu-
261 
tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) SALVAGE
AND
MARINE
FIREFIGHTING 
RESPONSE CAPABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting 
through the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating unless oth-
erwise delegated by the President, may re-
quire— 
‘‘(i) periodic inspection of vessels and 
salvage equipment, firefighting equipment, 
and other major marine casualty response 
equipment on or associated with vessels; 
‘‘(ii) periodic verification of capabili-
ties to appropriately, and in a timely man-
ner, respond to a marine casualty, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(I) drills, with or without prior 
notice; 
‘‘(II) review of contracts and rel-
evant third-party agreements; 
‘‘(III) testing of equipment; 
‘‘(IV) review of training; and 
‘‘(V) other evaluations of marine 
casualty response capabilities, as de-
262 
termined appropriate by the Presi-
dent; and 
‘‘(iii) carrying of appropriate response 
equipment for responding to a marine cas-
ualty that employs the best technology eco-
nomically feasible and that is compatible 
with the safe operation of the vessel. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) MARINE
CASUALTY.—The term 
‘marine casualty’ means a marine casualty 
that is required to be reported pursuant to 
paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section 6101 
of title 46, United States Code. 
‘‘(ii) 
SALVAGE
EQUIPMENT.—The 
term ‘salvage equipment’ means any equip-
ment that is capable of being used to assist 
a vessel in potential or actual danger in 
order to prevent loss of life, damage or de-
struction of the vessel or its cargo, or re-
lease of its contents into the marine envi-
ronment.’’. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to
263 
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— 
(A) the state of marine firefighting au-
thorities, jurisdiction, and plan review; and 
(B) other considerations with respect to 
fires at waterfront facilities (including vessel 
fires) and vessel fires on the navigable waters 
(as such term is defined in section 502 of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1362)). 
(2) CONTENTS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 
the Comptroller General shall— 
(A) examine— 
(i) collaboration among Federal and 
non-Federal entities for purposes of reduc-
ing the risks to local communities of fires 
described in paragraph (1); 
(ii) the prevalence and frequency of 
such fires; and 
(iii) the extent to which firefighters 
and marine firefighters are aware of the 
dangers of lithium-ion battery fires, includ-
264 
ing lithium-ion batteries used for vehicles, 
and how to respond to such fires; 
(B) review methods of documenting and 
sharing best practices throughout the maritime 
community for responding to vessel fires; and 
(C) make recommendations for— 
(i) preparing for, responding to, and 
training for such fires; 
(ii) clarifying roles and responsibilities 
of Federal and non-Federal entities in pre-
paring for, responding to, and training for 
such fires; and 
(iii) other topics for consideration. 
SEC. 402. USE OF MARINE CASUALTY INVESTIGATIONS. 
Section 6308 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘initiated’’ and 
inserting ‘‘conducted’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) For purposes of this section, an administrative 
proceeding conducted by the United States includes pro-
ceedings under section 7701 and claims adjudicated under 
section 1013 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
2713).’’.
265 
SEC. 403. TIMING OF REVIEW. 
Section 1017 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 
U.S.C. 2717) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) TIMING OF REVIEW.—Before the date of com-
pletion of a removal action, no person may bring an action 
under this Act, section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321), or chapter 7 of title 5, 
United States Code, challenging any decision relating to 
such removal action that is made by an on-scene coordi-
nator appointed under the National Contingency Plan.’’. 
SEC. 404. ONLINE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the National Response Cen-
ter shall submit to Congress a plan to design, fund, and 
staff the National Response Center to develop and main-
tain a web-based application by which the National Re-
sponse Center may receive notifications of oil discharges 
or releases of hazardous substances. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT
OF APPLICATION.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date on which the plan is submitted 
under subsection (a), the National Response Center 
shall— 
(1) complete development of the application de-
scribed in such subsection; and
266 
(2) allow notifications described in such sub-
section that are required under Federal law or regu-
lation to be made online using such application. 
(c) USE
OF APPLICATION.—In carrying out sub-
section (b), the National Response Center may not require 
the notification of an oil discharge or release of a haz-
ardous substance to be made using the application devel-
oped under such subsection. 
SEC. 405. INVESTMENT OF EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL 
COURT RECOVERY IN HIGH YIELD INVEST-
MENTS AND MARINE RESEARCH. 
Section 350 of Public Law 106–113 (43 U.S.C. 
1474b note) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (5); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), 
(6), and (7) as subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), 
respectively, and indenting the subsections appro-
priately; 
(3) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1) Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law and subject to the provi-
sions of paragraphs (5) and (7)’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
267 
‘‘(1) CONSENT
DECREE.—The term ‘Consent 
Decree’ means the consent decree issued in United 
States v. Exxon Corporation, et al. (No. A91–082 
CIV) and State of Alaska v. Exxon Corporation, et 
al. (No. A91–083 CIV). 
‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Nat-
ural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration 
Fund established pursuant to title I of the Depart-
ment of the Interior and Related Agencies Appro-
priations Act, 1992 (43 U.S.C. 1474b). 
‘‘(3) OUTSIDE
ACCOUNT.—The term ‘outside 
account’ means any account outside the United 
States Treasury. 
‘‘(4) TRUSTEE.—The term ‘Trustee’ means a 
Federal or State natural resource trustee for the 
Exxon Valdez oil spill. 
‘‘(b) DEPOSITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law and subject to subsection (g)’’; 
(4) in subsection (b)(1) (as so designated)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) by striking ‘‘issued in United States v. 
Exxon Corporation, et al. (No. A91–082 CIV) 
and State of Alaska v. Exxon Corporation, et
268 
al. (No. A91–083 CIV) (hereafter referred to as 
the ‘Consent Decree’),’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) the Fund; 
‘‘(B) an outside account; or’’; and 
(C) in the undesignated matter following 
subparagraph (C)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Federal and State 
natural resource trustees for the Exxon 
Valdez oil spill (‘trustees’)’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Trustees’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Any funds’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT FOR DEPOSITS IN OUTSIDE 
ACCOUNTS.—Any funds’’; 
(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2)) by striking ‘‘(C) Joint’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) TRANSFERS.—Any joint’’; 
(6) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2)) by striking ‘‘(D) The transfer’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(d) NO EFFECT ON JURISDICTION.—The transfer’’;
269 
(7) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2))— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(E) Nothing herein shall 
affect’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(e) EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.—Nothing in this sec-
tion affects’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘trustees’’ and inserting 
‘‘Trustees’’; 
(8) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2))— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(F) The Federal trustees 
and the State trustees’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) GRANTS.—The Trustees’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘this program’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘this section, prioritizing the issuance of 
grants to facilitate habitat protection and habi-
tat restoration programs’’; and 
(9) in subsection (g) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2))— 
(A) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘Upon the expiration of the authorities granted 
in this section all’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) RETURN OF FUNDS.—On expiration of the 
authority provided in this section, all’’; and
270 
(B) by striking ‘‘(G) The authority’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(g) EXPIRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The authority’’. 
SEC. 406. ADDITIONAL RESPONSE ASSETS. 
(a) EXEMPTION AND REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3302 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(o) ADDITIONAL RESPONSE ASSETS.— 
‘‘(1) VESSELS
EXEMPT
FROM
INSPECTION.— 
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a 
qualified vessel engaged in a qualified oil spill re-
sponse shall not be subject to inspection if the quali-
fied vessel— 
‘‘(A) has— 
‘‘(i) an agreement by contract or 
other approved means with an oil spill re-
moval organization to support a response 
plan under section 311(j) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1321(j)), including training and exercises 
related to oil spill response activities; or 
‘‘(ii) been approved by the Secretary 
to respond to a discharge of oil or to par-
271 
ticipate in training and exercises related to 
oil spill response activities; 
‘‘(B) is normally and substantially involved 
in activities other than, and not adapted to, 
spill response; 
‘‘(C) complies with all applicable laws for 
the use of such vessel in the activities for which 
such vessel is normally and substantially oper-
ated, including any inspection requirement 
under this title for such use; and 
‘‘(D) has at least 1 crewmember possessing 
certifications for, or who are in training for, ap-
plicable hazardous waste operations and emer-
gency response. 
‘‘(2) ALLOWANCES.—A qualified vessel under 
paragraph (1) may— 
‘‘(A) unless otherwise inspected as a tow-
ing vessel under this title, tow only— 
‘‘(i) another vessel or a device, includ-
ing a bladder, designed to carry oil or oil 
residues with the capacity of less than 250 
barrels; or 
‘‘(ii) oil spill response equipment, in-
cluding boom, skimmers, or other response 
equipment;
272 
‘‘(B) carry— 
‘‘(i) temporary storage containers on 
board for recovered oil or oil-contaminated 
materials collected during an oil spill re-
sponse, including bags, drums, and totes 
as approved by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) oil spill response equipment; or 
‘‘(iii) no more than 6 passengers for 
hire in support of a response plan under 
Section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollu-
tion Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)) ap-
proved by the Secretary unless the vessel 
has been inspected under paragraph (4) or 
(8) of section 3301 or is authorized by the 
Secretary to carry more than 6 passengers 
for hire; 
‘‘(C) if the qualified vessel is a tank vessel, 
be used for storage of recovered oil only if not 
carrying oil as cargo at the time of an oil spill 
response; or 
‘‘(D) conduct any other operation, or en-
gage in training or exercises, in support of a re-
sponse plan under section 311(j) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1321(j)) approved by the Secretary.
273 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) 
QUALIFIED
VESSEL.—The 
term 
‘qualified vessel’ means a vessel operating in 
any part of the area of responsibility— 
‘‘(i) of the Western Alaska Captain of 
the Port Zone as in effect of the date of 
enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2025; or 
‘‘(ii) the Prince William Sound Cap-
tain of the Port Zone as in effect of the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2025. 
‘‘(B) QUALIFIED
OIL
SPILL.—The term 
‘qualified oil spill’ means an oil spill occurring 
in any part of the area of responsibility— 
‘‘(i) of the Western Alaska Captain of 
the Port Zone as in effect of the date of 
enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2025; or 
‘‘(ii) the Prince William Sound Cap-
tain of the Port Zone as in effect of the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2025.’’.
274 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 11316 of the James M. Inhofe 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263) is repealed. 
SEC. 407. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME OIL SPILL RESPONSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall, in 
coordination with the Secretary of State, review and up-
date the Canada-US Joint Maritime Pollution Contin-
gency Plan. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Commandant shall— 
(1) review each geographic annex within the 
contingency plan; 
(2) analyze the vessel traffic patterns, including 
the types of vessels transiting the area, and assess 
the risks of a pollution incident; and 
(3) determine if any of the areas should be ex-
panded or modified. 
(c) EXERCISES.—The Commandant, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a joint training 
exercise not less than once a year to determine emergency 
response capabilities and identify other types of support 
necessary to effectuate a successful oil spill response, in 
accordance with the Canada-US Joint Maritime Pollution 
Contingency Plan.
275 
TITLE V—SEXUAL ASSAULT AND 
SEXUAL 
HARASSMENT 
RE-
SPONSE 
SEC. 501. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF COAST GUARD RE-
FORMS. 
(a) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE-
PORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall report to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate on the efforts of the Coast Guard to mitigate 
cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment within 
the service. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) evaluate— 
(i) the efforts of the Commandant to 
implement the directed actions from enclo-
sure 1 of the memorandum titled ‘‘Com-
mandant’s 
Directed 
Actions—Account-
ability and Transparency’’ dated November 
27, 2023;
276 
(ii) whether the Commandant met the 
reporting requirements under section 5112 
of title 14, United States Code; and 
(iii) the effectiveness of the actions of 
the Coast Guard, including efforts outside 
of the actions described in the memo-
randum titled ‘‘Commandant’s Directed 
Actions—Accountability 
and 
Trans-
parency’’ dated November 27, 2023, to 
mitigate instances of sexual assault and 
sexual harassment and improve the en-
forcement relating to such instances within 
the Coast Guard, and how the Coast 
Guard is overcoming challenges in imple-
menting such actions; 
(B) make recommendations to the Com-
mandant for improvements to the efforts of the 
service to mitigate instances of sexual assault 
and sexual harassment and improve the en-
forcement relating to such instances within the 
Coast Guard; and 
(C) make recommendations to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
277 
tation of the Senate to mitigate instances of 
sexual assault and sexual harassment in the 
Coast Guard and improve the enforcement re-
lating to such instances within the Coast 
Guard, including proposed changes to any legis-
lative authorities. 
(b) REPORT BY COMMANDANT.—Not later than 90 
days after the date on which the Comptroller General com-
pletes all actions under subsection (a), the Commandant 
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 report that includes the following: 
(1) A plan for Coast Guard implementation, in-
cluding interim milestones and timeframes, of any 
recommendation made by the Comptroller General 
under subsection (a)(2)(B) with which the Com-
mandant concurs. 
(2) With respect to any recommendation made 
under subsection (a)(2)(B) with which the Com-
mandant does not concur, an explanation of the rea-
sons why the Commandant does not concur.
278 
SEC. 502. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AND PROCEDURES ON 
RETENTION AND ACCESS TO EVIDENCE AND 
RECORDS 
RELATING 
TO 
SEXUAL 
MIS-
CONDUCT AND OTHER MISCONDUCT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 9 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 955. Comprehensive policy and procedures on re-
tention and access to evidence and 
records relating to sexual misconduct 
and other misconduct 
‘‘(a) ISSUANCE OF POLICY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2025, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Office of the Inspector General of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating and the Office of the Inspec-
tor General of the Department of Defense, shall issue a 
comprehensive policy for the Coast Guard on the retention 
of and access to evidence and records relating to covered 
misconduct involving members of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—The comprehensive policy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall revise existing policies and 
procedures, including systems of records, as necessary to 
ensure preservation of such evidence and records for peri-
ods sufficient—
279 
‘‘(1) to ensure that members of the Coast 
Guard who were victims of covered misconduct are 
able to pursue claims for veterans benefits; 
‘‘(2) to support administrative processes, crimi-
nal proceedings, and civil litigation conducted by 
military or civil authorities; and 
‘‘(3) for such other purposes relating to the 
documentation of an incident of covered misconduct 
in the Coast Guard as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(c) ELEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In developing the com-
prehensive policy required by subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) identify records relating to an inci-
dent of covered misconduct that shall be re-
tained; 
‘‘(B) with respect to records relating to 
covered misconduct involving members of the 
Coast Guard that are not records of the Coast 
Guard, identify such records known to or in the 
possession of the Coast Guard, and set forth 
procedures for Coast Guard coordination with 
the custodian of such records for proper reten-
tion of the records;
280 
‘‘(C) set forth criteria for the collection 
and retention of records relating to covered 
misconduct involving members of the Coast 
Guard; 
‘‘(D) identify physical evidence and non-
documentary forms of evidence relating to cov-
ered misconduct that shall be retained; 
‘‘(E) set forth the period for which evi-
dence and records relating to covered mis-
conduct involving members of the Coast Guard, 
including Coast Guard Form 6095, shall be re-
tained, except that— 
‘‘(i) any physical or forensic evidence 
relating to rape or sexual assault, as de-
scribed in sections 920(a) and 920(b) of 
title 10 (articles 120(a) and 120(b) of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice), shall be 
retained not less than 50 years, and for 
other covered misconduct not less than the 
statute of limitations of the alleged offense 
under the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice; and 
‘‘(ii) documentary evidence relating to 
rape or sexual assault, as described in sec-
tions 920(a) and 920(b) of title 10 (arti-
281 
cles 120(a) and 120(b) of the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice), shall be retained 
not less than 50 years; 
‘‘(F) consider locations in which such 
records shall be stored; 
‘‘(G) identify media and methods that may 
be used to preserve and ensure access to such 
records, including electronic systems of records; 
‘‘(H) ensure the protection of privacy of— 
‘‘(i) individuals named in records and 
status of records under section 552 of title 
5 (commonly referred to as the ‘Freedom 
of Information Act’) and section 552a of 
title 5 (commonly referred to as the ‘Pri-
vacy Act’); and 
‘‘(ii) individuals named in restricted 
reporting cases; 
‘‘(I) designate the 1 or more positions 
within the Coast Guard that shall have the re-
sponsibility for such record retention by the 
Coast Guard; 
‘‘(J) require education and training for 
members and civilian employees of the Coast 
Guard on record retention requirements under 
this section;
282 
‘‘(K) set forth criteria for access to such 
records relating to covered misconduct involving 
members of the Coast Guard, including whether 
the consent of the victim should be required, 
by— 
‘‘(i) victims of covered misconduct; 
‘‘(ii) law enforcement authorities; 
‘‘(iii) the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs; and 
‘‘(iv) other individuals and entities, in-
cluding alleged assailants; 
‘‘(L) require uniform collection of data 
on— 
‘‘(i) the incidence of covered mis-
conduct in the Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(ii) disciplinary actions taken in sub-
stantiated cases of covered misconduct in 
the Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(M) set forth standards for communica-
tions with, and notifications to, victims, con-
sistent with— 
‘‘(i) the requirements of any applica-
ble Department of Defense policy; and
283 
‘‘(ii) to the extent practicable, any ap-
plicable policy of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating. 
‘‘(2) RETENTION OF CERTAIN FORMS AND EVI-
DENCE IN CONNECTION WITH RESTRICTED REPORTS 
AND UNRESTRICTED REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT 
INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The comprehensive 
policy required by subsection (a) shall require 
all unique or original copies of Coast Guard 
Form 6095 filed in connection with a restricted 
or unrestricted report on an alleged incident of 
rape or sexual assault, as described in sections 
920(a) and 920(b) of title 10 (articles 120(a) 
and 120(b) of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice), involving a member of the Coast 
Guard to be retained for the longer of— 
‘‘(i) 50 years commencing on the date 
of signature of the covered person on 
Coast Guard Form 6095; or 
‘‘(ii) the time provided for the reten-
tion of such form in connection with unre-
stricted and restricted reports on incidents 
of sexual assault involving members of the 
Coast Guard under Coast Guard policy.
284 
‘‘(B) 
PROTECTION
OF
CONFIDEN-
TIALITY.—Any Coast Guard form retained 
under subparagraph (A) shall be retained in a 
manner that protects the confidentiality of the 
member of the Coast Guard concerned in ac-
cordance with Coast Guard policy. 
‘‘(3) RETENTION
OF
CASE
NOTES
IN
INVES-
TIGATIONS
OF
COVERED
MISCONDUCT
INVOLVING 
MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED RETENTION OF ALL IN-
VESTIGATIVE
RECORDS.—The comprehensive 
policy required by subsection (a) shall require, 
for all criminal investigations relating to an al-
leged incident of covered misconduct involving a 
member of the Coast Guard, the retention of all 
elements of the case file. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—The elements of the 
case file to be retained under subparagraph (A) 
shall include, at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) the case activity record; 
‘‘(ii) the case review record; 
‘‘(iii) investigative plans; and 
‘‘(iv) all case notes made by any in-
vestigating agent.
285 
‘‘(C) RETENTION PERIOD.—All elements of 
the case file shall be retained for not less than 
50 years for cases involving rape or sexual as-
sault, as described in sections 920(a) and 
920(b) of title 10 (articles 120(a) and 120(b) 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), and 
not less than the statute of limitations of the 
alleged offense under the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice for other covered misconduct, and 
no element of any such case file may be de-
stroyed until the expiration of such period. 
‘‘(4) RETURN OF PERSONAL PROPERTY UPON 
COMPLETION OF RELATED PROCEEDINGS IN UNRE-
STRICTED REPORTING CASES.—Notwithstanding the 
records and evidence retention requirements de-
scribed in paragraphs (1)(E) and (2), personal prop-
erty retained as evidence in connection with an inci-
dent of rape or sexual assault, as described in sec-
tions 920(a) and 920(b) of title 10 (articles 120(a) 
and 120(b) of the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice), involving a member of the Coast Guard may 
be returned to the rightful owner of such property 
after the conclusion of all legal, adverse action, and 
administrative proceedings related to such incident, 
as determined by the Commandant.
286 
‘‘(5) RETURN OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN RE-
STRICTED REPORTING CASES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
prescribe procedures under which a victim who 
files a restricted report of an incident of sexual 
assault may request, at any time, the return of 
any personal property of the victim obtained as 
part of the sexual assault forensic examination. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The procedures re-
quired by subparagraph (A) shall ensure that— 
‘‘(i) a request by a victim for the re-
turn of personal property described under 
subparagraph (A) may be made on a con-
fidential basis and without affecting the re-
stricted nature of the restricted report; and 
‘‘(ii) at the time of the filing of the re-
stricted report, a Special Victims’ Counsel, 
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, or 
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response 
Victim Advocate— 
‘‘(I) informs the victim that the 
victim may request the return of per-
sonal property as described in such 
subparagraph; and
287 
‘‘(II) advises the victim that such 
a request for the return of personal 
property may negatively impact a sub-
sequent case adjudication if the victim 
later decides to convert the restricted 
report to an unrestricted report. 
‘‘(C) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Except 
with respect to personal property returned to a 
victim under this paragraph, nothing in this 
paragraph may be construed to affect the re-
quirement to retain a sexual assault forensic ex-
amination kit for the period specified in para-
graph (2). 
‘‘(6) VICTIM ACCESS TO RECORDS.—With re-
spect to victim access to records after all final dis-
position actions and any appeals have been com-
pleted, as applicable, the comprehensive policy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall provide that, to the 
maximum extent practicable, and in such a manner 
that will not jeopardize an active investigation or an 
active case— 
‘‘(A) a victim of covered misconduct in a 
case in which either the victim or alleged perpe-
trator is a covered person shall have access to 
all records that are directly related to the vic-
288 
tim’s case, or related to the victim themselves, 
in accordance with the policy issued under sub-
section (a) and subject to required protections 
under sections 552 and 552a of title 5; 
‘‘(B) a victim of covered misconduct who 
requests access to records under section 552 or 
552a of title 5 concerning the victim’s case 
shall be determined to have a compelling need, 
and the records request shall be processed 
under expedited processing procedures, if in the 
request for such records the victim indicates 
that the records concerned are related to the 
covered misconduct case; 
‘‘(C) in applying sections 552 and 552a of 
title 5 to the redaction of information related to 
a records request by a victim of covered mis-
conduct made under such sections after all final 
disposition actions and any appeals have been 
completed— 
‘‘(i) any such redaction shall be ap-
plied to the minimum extent possible so as 
to ensure the provision of the maximum 
amount of unredacted information to the 
victim that is permissible by law; and
289 
‘‘(ii) any such redaction shall not be 
applied to— 
‘‘(I) receipt by the victim of the 
victim’s own statement; or 
‘‘(II) the victim’s information 
from an investigation; and 
‘‘(D) in the case of such a records request 
for which the timelines for expedited processing 
are not met, the Commandant shall provide to 
the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a 
briefing that explains the reasons for the denial 
or the delay in processing, as applicable. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION OF COVERED PERSON.—In this 
section, the term ‘covered person’ includes— 
‘‘(1) a member of the Coast Guard on active 
duty; 
‘‘(2) a member of the Coast Guard Reserve 
with respect to crimes investigated by or reported to 
the Secretary on any date on which such member is 
in a military status under section 802 of title 10 (ar-
ticle 2 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice);
290 
‘‘(3) a former member of the Coast Guard with 
respect to crimes investigated by or reported to the 
Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) in the case of an investigation of covered 
misconduct conducted by, or an incident of covered 
misconduct reported to, the Coast Guard involving a 
civilian employee of the Coast Guard, any such civil-
ian employee of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section au-
thorizes or requires, or shall be construed to authorize or 
require, the discovery, inspection, or production of reports, 
memoranda, or other internal documents or work product 
generated by counsel, an attorney for the Government, or 
their assistants or representatives.’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 9 of title 
14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 956. Requirement to maintain certain records 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall maintain 
all work product related to documenting a disposition deci-
sion on an investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative 
Service or other law enforcement entity investigating a 
Coast Guard member accused of an offense against chap-
ter 47 of title 10.
291 
‘‘(b) RECORD RETENTION PERIOD.—Work product 
documents and the case action summary described in sub-
section (c) shall be maintained for a period of not less 
than 7 years from the date of the disposition decision. 
‘‘(c) CASE ACTION SUMMARY.—Upon a final disposi-
tion action for cases described in subsection (a), except 
for offenses of wrongful use or possession of a controlled 
substance under section 912a of title 10 (article 112a of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice), where the member 
accused is an officer of pay grade O–4 and below or an 
enlisted member of pay grade E–7 and below, a convening 
authority shall sign a case action summary that includes 
the following: 
‘‘(1) The disposition actions. 
‘‘(2) The name and command of the referral 
authority. 
‘‘(3) Records documenting when a referral au-
thority consulted with a staff judge advocate or spe-
cial trial counsel, as applicable, before a disposition 
action was taken, to include the recommendation of 
the staff judge advocate or special trial counsel. 
‘‘(4) A reference section listing the materials re-
viewed in making a disposition decision. 
‘‘(5) The Coast Guard Investigative Service re-
port of investigation.
292 
‘‘(6) The completed Coast Guard Investigative 
Service report of adjudication included as an enclo-
sure. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘work 
product’ includes— 
‘‘(1) a prosecution memorandum; 
‘‘(2) emails, notes, and other correspondence re-
lated to a disposition decision; and 
‘‘(3) the contents described in paragraphs (1) 
through (6) of subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section au-
thorizes or requires, or shall be construed to authorize or 
require, the discovery, inspection, or production of reports, 
memoranda, or other internal documents or work product 
generated by counsel, an attorney for the Government, or 
their assistants or representatives.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 9 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘Sec. 955. Comprehensive policy and procedures on retention and access to evi-
dence and records relating to sexual misconduct and other mis-
conduct. 
‘‘Sec. 956. Requirement to maintain certain records.’’.
293 
SEC. 503. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF 
A CADET AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY 
WHO IS THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT 
OR RELATED OFFENSE. 
Section 1902 of title 14, United States Code, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR TRANSFER 
OF CADET WHO IS THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR 
RELATED OFFENSE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
provide for timely consideration of and action on a 
request submitted by a cadet appointed to the Coast 
Guard Academy who is the victim of an alleged sex-
ual assault or other offense covered by section 920, 
920c, or 930 of title 10 (article 120, 120c, or 130 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) for transfer 
to another military service academy or to enroll in 
a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program 
affiliated with another institution of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.—The Commandant, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall es-
tablish policies to carry out this subsection that— 
‘‘(A) provide that the Superintendent shall 
ensure that any cadet who has been appointed 
to the Coast Guard Academy is informed of the
294 
right to request a transfer pursuant to this sub-
section, and that any formal request submitted 
by a cadet who alleges an offense referred to in 
paragraph (1) is processed as expeditiously as 
practicable through the chain of command for 
review and action by the Superintendent; 
‘‘(B) direct the Superintendent, in coordi-
nation with the Superintendent of the military 
service academy to which the cadet requests to 
transfer— 
‘‘(i) to take action on a request for 
transfer under this subsection not later 
than 72 hours after receiving the formal 
request from the cadet; 
‘‘(ii) to approve such request for 
transfer unless there are exceptional cir-
cumstances that require denial of the re-
quest; 
‘‘(iii) upon approval of such request 
for transfer, to take all necessary and ap-
propriate action to effectuate the transfer 
of the cadet to the military service acad-
emy concerned as expeditiously as possible, 
subject to the considerations described in 
clause (iv); and
295 
‘‘(iv) in determining the transfer date 
of the cadet to the military service acad-
emy concerned, to take into account— 
‘‘(I) the preferences of the cadet, 
including any preference to delay 
transfer until the completion of any 
academic course in which the cadet is 
enrolled at the time of the request for 
transfer; and 
‘‘(II) the well-being of the cadet; 
and 
‘‘(C) direct the Superintendent of the 
Coast Guard Academy, in coordination with the 
Secretary of the military department that spon-
sors the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps program at the institution of higher edu-
cation to which the cadet requests to transfer— 
‘‘(i) to take action on a request for 
transfer under this subsection not later 
than 72 hours after receiving the formal 
request from the cadet; 
‘‘(ii) subject to the cadet’s acceptance 
for admission to the institution of higher 
education to which the cadet wishes to 
transfer, to approve such request for trans-
296 
fer unless there are exceptional cir-
cumstances that require denial of the re-
quest; 
‘‘(iii) to take all necessary and appro-
priate action to effectuate the cadet’s en-
rollment in the institution of higher edu-
cation to which the cadet wishes to trans-
fer and to process the cadet for participa-
tion in the relevant Senior Reserve Offi-
cers’ Training Corps program as expedi-
tiously as possible, subject to the consider-
ations described in clause (iv); and 
‘‘(iv) in determining the transfer date 
of the cadet to the institution of higher 
education to which the cadet wishes to 
transfer, to take into account— 
‘‘(I) the preferences of the cadet, 
including any preference to delay 
transfer until the completion of any 
academic course in which the cadet is 
enrolled at the time of the request for 
transfer; and 
‘‘(II) the well-being of the cadet. 
‘‘(3) REVIEW.—If the Superintendent denies a 
request for transfer under this subsection, the cadet
297 
may request review of the denial by the Secretary, 
who shall take action on such request for review not 
later than 72 hours after receipt of such request. 
‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that all records of any request, determina-
tion, transfer, or other action under this subsection 
remain confidential, consistent with applicable law 
and regulation. 
‘‘(5) EFFECT OF OTHER LAW.—A cadet who 
transfers under this subsection may retain the ca-
det’s appointment to the Coast Guard Academy or 
may be appointed to the military service academy to 
which the cadet transfers without regard to the limi-
tations and requirements set forth in sections 7442, 
8454, and 9442 of title 10. 
‘‘(6) COMMISSION AS OFFICER IN THE COAST 
GUARD.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Upon graduation, a 
graduate of the United States Military Acad-
emy, the United States Air Force Academy, or 
the United States Naval Academy who trans-
ferred to that academy under this subsection is 
entitled to be accepted for appointment as a 
permanent commissioned officer in the Regular 
Coast Guard in the same manner as graduates
298 
of the Coast Guard Academy, as set forth in 
section 2101 of this title. 
‘‘(B) COMMISSION AS OFFICER IN OTHER 
ARMED FORCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—A cadet who 
transfers under this subsection to the 
United States Military Academy, the 
United States Air Force Academy, or the 
United States Naval Academy and indi-
cates a preference pursuant to clause (ii) 
may be appointed as a commissioned offi-
cer in an armed force associated with the 
academy from which the cadet graduated. 
‘‘(ii) STATEMENT OF PREFERENCE.— 
A cadet seeking appointment as a commis-
sioned officer in an armed force associated 
with the academy from which the cadet 
graduated under clause (i) shall, before 
graduating from that academy, indicate to 
the Commandant that the cadet has a 
preference for appointment to that armed 
force. 
‘‘(iii) 
CONSIDERATION
BY
COAST 
GUARD.—The Commandant shall consider 
a preference of a cadet indicated pursuant
299 
to clause (ii), but may require the cadet to 
serve as a permanent commissioned officer 
in the Regular Coast Guard instead of 
being appointed as a commissioned officer 
in an armed force associated with the 
academy from which the cadet graduated. 
‘‘(iv) 
TREATMENT
OF
SERVICE 
AGREEMENT.—With respect to a service 
agreement entered into under section 1925 
of this title by a cadet who transfers under 
this subsection to the United States Mili-
tary Academy, the United States Air Force 
Academy, or the United States Naval 
Academy and is appointed as a commis-
sioned officer in an armed force associated 
with that academy, the service obligation 
undertaken under such agreement shall be 
considered to be satisfied upon the comple-
tion of 5 years of active duty service in the 
service of such armed force. 
‘‘(C) SENIOR RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAIN-
ING CORPS PROGRAM.—A cadet who transfers 
under this subsection to a Senior Reserve Offi-
cers’ Training Corps program affiliated with 
another institution of higher education is enti-
300 
tled upon graduation from the Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training program to commission into 
the Coast Guard, as set forth in section 3738a 
of this title.’’. 
SEC. 504. DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS WITH PARTICULAR 
EXPERTISE 
IN 
MILITARY 
JUSTICE 
OR 
HEALTHCARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2132. Designation of officers with particular exper-
tise in military justice or healthcare 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY DESIGNATION.—The Secretary may 
designate a limited number of officers of the Coast Guard 
as having particular expertise in— 
‘‘(1) military justice; or 
‘‘(2) healthcare. 
‘‘(b) PROMOTION AND GRADE.—An individual des-
ignated under this section— 
‘‘(1) shall not be included on the active duty 
promotion list; 
‘‘(2) shall be promoted under section 2126; and 
‘‘(3) may not be promoted to a grade higher 
than captain.’’.
301 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 21 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 2131 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘2132. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military justice or 
healthcare.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 2102(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended, in the second sentence by striking 
‘‘and officers of the permanent commissioned teach-
ing staff of the Coast Guard Academy’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘officers of the permanent commissioned teach-
ing staff of the Coast Guard Academy, and officers 
designated by the Secretary pursuant this section’’. 
(2) Subsection (e) of section 2103 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) SECRETARY TO PRESCRIBE NUMBERS FOR CER-
TAIN OFFICERS.—The Secretary shall prescribe the num-
ber of officers authorized to be serving on active duty in 
each grade of— 
‘‘(1) the permanent commissioned teaching 
staff of the Coast Guard Academy; 
‘‘(2) the officers designated by the Secretary 
pursuant to this section; and
302 
‘‘(3) the officers of the Reserve serving in con-
nection with organizing, administering, recruiting, 
instructing, or training the reserve components.’’. 
(3) Section 2126 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by insert-
ing ‘‘and as to officers designated by the Secretary 
pursuant to this section’’ after ‘‘reserve compo-
nents’’. 
(4) Section 3736(a) of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘pro-
motion list and the’’ and inserting ‘‘promotion 
list, officers designated by the Secretary pursu-
ant to this section, and the officers on the’’; 
and 
(B) in the second sentence by striking 
‘‘promotion list or the’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
motion list, officers designated by the Secretary 
pursuant to this section, or the officers on the’’. 
SEC. 505. SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY FOR COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 19 of title 
14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
303 
‘‘§ 1909. Safe-to-Report policy for Coast Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2025, the Commandant shall, in consultation with the 
Secretaries of the military departments, establish and 
maintain a safe-to-report policy described in subsection (b) 
that applies with respect to all members of the Coast 
Guard (including members of the reserve and auxiliary 
components of the Coast Guard), cadets at the Coast 
Guard Academy, and any other individual undergoing 
training at an accession point of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) SAFE-TO-REPORT POLICY.—The safe-to-report 
policy described in this subsection is a policy that— 
‘‘(1) prescribes the handling of minor collateral 
misconduct, involving a member of the Coast Guard 
who is the alleged victim or reporting witness of a 
sexual assault; and 
‘‘(2) applies to all such individuals, regardless 
of— 
‘‘(A) to whom the victim makes the allega-
tion or who receives the victim’s report of sex-
ual assault; or 
‘‘(B) whether the report, investigation, or 
prosecution is handled by military or civilian 
authorities.
304 
‘‘(c) 
MITIGATING
AND
AGGRAVATING
CIR-
CUMSTANCES.—In issuing the policy under subsection (a), 
the Commandant shall specify mitigating circumstances 
that decrease the gravity of minor collateral misconduct 
or the impact of such misconduct on good order and dis-
cipline and aggravating circumstances that increase the 
gravity of minor collateral misconduct or the impact of 
such misconduct on good order and discipline for purposes 
of the safe-to-report policy. 
‘‘(d) TRACKING OF COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT INCI-
DENTS.—In conjunction with the issuance of the policy 
under subsection (a), the Commandant shall develop and 
implement a process to anonymously track incidents of 
minor collateral misconduct that are subject to the safe- 
to-report policy. 
‘‘(e) MINOR COLLATERAL MISCONDUCT DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘minor collateral misconduct’ 
means any minor misconduct that is potentially punish-
able under chapter 47 of title 10 that— 
‘‘(1) is committed close in time to or during a 
sexual assault and directly related to the incident 
that formed the basis of the allegation of sexual as-
sault allegation;
305 
‘‘(2) is discovered as a direct result of the re-
port of sexual assault or the ensuing investigation 
into such sexual assault; and 
‘‘(3) does not involve aggravating circumstances 
(as specified in the policy issued under subsection 
(a)) that increase the gravity of the minor mis-
conduct or the impact of such misconduct on good 
order and discipline.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1908 (as 
added by this Act) the following: 
‘‘1909. Safe-to-Report policy for Coast Guard.’’. 
SEC. 506. MODIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
ON COVERED MISCONDUCT IN COAST GUARD. 
(a) ASSESSMENT
OF POLICY
ON COVERED MIS-
CONDUCT.—Section 1902 of title 14, United States Code, 
is further amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘Policy 
on sexual harassment and sexual vio-
lence’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy policy and 
report on covered misconduct’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (c) through (e) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) ASSESSMENT.—
306 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall di-
rect the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy to conduct at the Coast Guard Academy during 
each Academy program year an assessment to deter-
mine the effectiveness of the policies of the Academy 
with respect to covered misconduct involving cadets 
or other military or civilian personnel of the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(2) BIENNIAL SURVEY.—For the assessment 
at the Academy under paragraph (1) with respect to 
an Academy program year that begins in an odd- 
numbered calendar year, the Superintendent shall 
conduct a survey of cadets and other military and ci-
vilian personnel of the Academy— 
‘‘(A) to measure the incidence, during such 
program year— 
‘‘(i) of covered misconduct events, on 
or off the Academy campus, that have been 
reported to an official of the Academy; 
‘‘(ii) of covered misconduct events, on 
or off the Academy campus, that have not 
been reported to an official of the Acad-
emy; and
307 
‘‘(iii) of retaliation related to a report 
of a covered misconduct event, on or off 
the Academy campus; and 
‘‘(B) to assess the perceptions of the ca-
dets and other military and civilian personnel of 
the Academy with respect to— 
‘‘(i) the Academy’s policies, training, 
and procedures on covered misconduct in-
volving cadets and other military and civil-
ian personnel of the Academy; 
‘‘(ii) the enforcement of such policies; 
‘‘(iii) the incidence of covered mis-
conduct involving cadets and other military 
and civilian personnel of the Academy; and 
‘‘(iv) any other issues relating to cov-
ered misconduct involving cadets and other 
military and civilian personnel of the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not earlier than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2025, and each March 1 there-
after through March 1, 2031, the Commandant shall 
direct the Superintendent to submit to the Com-
mandant a report on incidents of covered misconduct
308 
and retaliation for reporting of covered misconduct 
involving cadets or other military and civilian per-
sonnel of the Academy. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each report required 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
‘‘(i) Information and data on all inci-
dents of covered misconduct and retaliation 
described in paragraph (1) reported to the 
Superintendent or any other official of the 
Academy during the preceding Academy 
program year (referred to in this sub-
section as a ‘reported incident’), 
‘‘(ii) The number of reported incidents 
committed against a cadet or any other 
military or civilian personnel of the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(iii) The number of reported inci-
dents committed by a cadet or any other 
military or civilian personnel of the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(iv) Information on reported inci-
dents, in accordance with the policy pre-
scribed under section 549G(b) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
309 
Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 1561 note), to the 
maximum extent practicable. 
‘‘(v) The number of reported incidents 
that were entered into the Catch a Serial 
Offender system, including the number of 
such incidents that resulted in the identi-
fication of a potential or confirmed match. 
‘‘(vi) The number of reported inci-
dents that were substantiated (referred to 
in this subsection as a ‘substantiated re-
ported incident’). 
‘‘(vii) A synopsis of each substan-
tiated reported incident that includes— 
‘‘(I) a brief description of the na-
ture of the incident; 
‘‘(II) whether the accused cadet 
or other military or civilian personnel 
of the Academy had previously been 
convicted of sexual assault; and 
‘‘(III) whether alcohol or other 
controlled or prohibited substances 
were involved in the incident, and a 
description of the involvement.
310 
‘‘(viii) The type of case disposition as-
sociated with each substantiated reported 
incident, such as— 
‘‘(I) conviction and sentence by 
court-martial, including charges and 
specifications for which convicted; 
‘‘(II) acquittal of all charges at 
court-martial; 
‘‘(III) as appropriate, imposition 
of a nonjudicial punishment under 
section 815 of title 10 (article 15 of 
the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice); 
‘‘(IV) as appropriate, administra-
tive action taken, including a descrip-
tion of each type of such action im-
posed; 
‘‘(V) dismissal of all charges, in-
cluding a description of each reason 
for dismissal and the stage at which 
dismissal occurred; and 
‘‘(VI) whether the accused cadet 
or other military or civilian personnel 
of the Academy was administratively 
separated or, in the case of an officer,
311 
allowed to resign in lieu of court mar-
tial, and the characterization (honor-
able, general, or other than honorable) 
of the service of the military member 
upon separation or resignation. 
‘‘(ix) With respect to any incident of 
covered misconduct involving cadets or 
other military and civilian personnel of the 
Academy reported to the Superintendent 
or any other official of the Academy during 
the preceding Academy program year that 
involves a report of retaliation relating to 
the incident— 
‘‘(I) a narrative description of 
the retaliation claim; 
‘‘(II) the nature of the relation-
ship between the complainant and the 
individual accused of committing the 
retaliation; and 
‘‘(III) the nature of the relation-
ship between the individual accused of 
committing the covered misconduct 
and the individual accused of commit-
ting the retaliation.
312 
‘‘(x) With respect to any investigation 
of a reported incident— 
‘‘(I) whether the investigation is 
in open or completed status; 
‘‘(II) an identification of the in-
vestigating entity; 
‘‘(III) whether a referral has 
been made to outside law enforcement 
entities; 
‘‘(IV) in the case of an investiga-
tion that is complete, a description of 
the results of such an investigation 
and 
information 
with 
respect 
to 
whether the results of the investiga-
tion were provided to the complainant; 
and 
‘‘(V) whether the investigation 
substantiated an offense under chap-
ter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice). 
‘‘(B) FORMAT.—With respect to the infor-
mation and data required under subparagraph 
(A), the Commandant shall report such infor-
mation and data separately for each type of 
covered misconduct offense, and shall not ag-
313 
gregate the information and data for multiple 
types of covered misconduct offenses. 
‘‘(3) TRENDS.—Subject to subsection (f), begin-
ning on the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2025, each report required 
under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of 
trends in incidents described in paragraph (1), as 
applicable, since the date of enactment of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–213). 
‘‘(4) RESPONSE.—Each report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include, for the preceding Acad-
emy program year, a description of the policies, pro-
cedures, processes, initiatives, investigations (includ-
ing overarching investigations), research, or studies 
implemented by the Commandant in response to any 
incident described in paragraph (1) involving a cadet 
or any other military or civilian personnel of the 
Academy. 
‘‘(5) PLAN.—Each report required under para-
graph (1) shall include a plan for actions to be taken 
during the year following the Academy program year 
covered by the report to enhance the prevention of 
and response to incidents of covered misconduct and 
retaliation for reporting of covered misconduct in-
314 
volving cadets or other military or civilian personnel 
of the Academy. 
‘‘(6) COVERED MISCONDUCT PREVENTION AND 
RESPONSE ACTIVITIES.—Each report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the 
adequacy of covered misconduct prevention and re-
sponse carried out by the Academy during the pre-
ceding Academy program year. 
‘‘(7) CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS.—Each report 
required under paragraph (1) shall include, for inci-
dents of covered misconduct and retaliation for re-
porting of covered misconduct involving cadets or 
other military or civilian personnel of the Acad-
emy— 
‘‘(A) an analysis of the factors that may 
have contributed to such incidents; 
‘‘(B) an assessment of the role of such fac-
tors in contributing to such incidents during 
such Academy program year; and 
‘‘(C) recommendations for mechanisms to 
eliminate or reduce such contributing factors. 
‘‘(8) BIENNIAL
SURVEY.—Each report under 
paragraph (1) for an Academy program year that 
begins in an odd-numbered calendar year shall in-
316 
(A) during the Academy program year cov-
ered by the report, as applicable. 
‘‘(B) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the Commandant sub-
mits a report under subparagraph (A), the 
Commandant shall provide a briefing on the re-
port submitted under subparagraph (A) to— 
‘‘(i) the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
‘‘(e) VICTIM CONFIDENTIALITY.—To the extent that 
information collected or reported under the authority of 
this section, such information shall be provided in a form 
that is consistent with applicable privacy protections under 
Federal law and does not jeopardize the confidentiality of 
victims. 
‘‘(f) CONTINUITY OF DATA AND REPORTING.—In 
carrying out this section, the Commandant shall ensure 
the continuity of data collection and reporting such that 
the ability to analyze trends is not compromised.’’.
317 
(b) COVERED MISCONDUCT IN COAST GUARD.—Sec-
tion 5112 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘§ 5112. Covered misconduct in Coast Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1 each 
year, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report on incidents of cov-
ered misconduct involving members of the Coast Guard, 
including recruits and officer candidates, and claims of re-
taliation related to the reporting of any such incident. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUITY OF DATA AND REPORTING.—In 
carrying out this section, the Commandant shall ensure 
the continuity of data collection and reporting such that 
the ability to analyze trends is not compromised. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.— 
‘‘(1) INCIDENTS INVOLVING MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) INFORMATION AND DATA.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Each report re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include, 
for the preceding calendar year, informa-
tion and data on— 
‘‘(I) incidents of covered mis-
conduct; and
318 
‘‘(II) 
incidents 
of 
retaliation 
against a member of the Coast Guard 
related to the reporting of covered 
misconduct, disaggregated by type of 
retaliation claim. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSIONS.—The information 
and data on the incidents described in 
clause (i) shall include the following: 
‘‘(I) All incidents of covered mis-
conduct and retaliation described in 
clause (i) reported to the Com-
mandant or any other official of the 
Coast Guard during the preceding cal-
endar year (referred to in this sub-
section as a ‘reported incident’). 
‘‘(II) The number of reported in-
cidents committed against members of 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(III) The number of reported 
incidents committed by members of 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(IV) Information on reported 
incidents, in accordance with the pol-
icy prescribed under section 549G(b) 
of the National Defense Authorization
319 
Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 
1561 note), to the maximum extent 
practicable. 
‘‘(V) The number of reported in-
cidents that were entered into the 
Catch a Serial Offender system, in-
cluding the number of such incidents 
that resulted in the identification of a 
potential or confirmed match. 
‘‘(VI) The number of reported in-
cidents that were substantiated (re-
ferred to in this subsection as a ‘sub-
stantiated reported incident’). 
‘‘(VII) A synopsis of each sub-
stantiated reported incident that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(aa) a brief description of 
the nature of the incident; 
‘‘(bb) whether the accused 
member has previously been con-
victed of sexual assault; and 
‘‘(cc) whether alcohol or 
other controlled or prohibited 
substances were involved in the
320 
incident, and a description of the 
involvement. 
‘‘(VIII) The type of case disposi-
tion associated with each substan-
tiated reported incident, such as— 
‘‘(aa) conviction and sen-
tence by court-martial, including 
charges and specifications for 
which convicted; 
‘‘(bb) acquittal of all charges 
at court-martial; 
‘‘(cc) as appropriate, imposi-
tion of a nonjudicial punishment 
under section 815 of title 10 (ar-
ticle 15 of the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice); 
‘‘(dd) as appropriate, admin-
istrative action taken, including a 
description of each type of such 
action imposed; 
‘‘(ee) 
dismissal 
of 
all 
charges, including a description 
of each reason for dismissal and 
the stage at which dismissal oc-
curred; and
321 
‘‘(ff) whether the accused 
member was administratively sep-
arated or, in the case of an offi-
cer, allowed to resign in lieu of 
court-martial, and the character-
ization (honorable, general, or 
other than honorable) of the 
service of the member upon sepa-
ration or resignation. 
‘‘(IX) With respect to any inci-
dent of covered misconduct reported 
to the Commandant or any other offi-
cial of the Coast Guard during the 
preceding calendar year that involves 
a report of retaliation relating to the 
incident— 
‘‘(aa) a narrative description 
of the retaliation claim; 
‘‘(bb) the nature of the rela-
tionship between the complainant 
and the individual accused of 
committing the retaliation; and 
‘‘(cc) the nature of the rela-
tionship between the individual 
accused of committing the cov-
322 
ered misconduct and the indi-
vidual accused of committing the 
retaliation. 
‘‘(X) The disposition of or action 
taken by the Coast Guard or any 
other Federal, State, local, or Tribal 
entity with respect to a substantiated 
reported incident. 
‘‘(XI) With respect to any inves-
tigation of a reported incident— 
‘‘(aa) the status of the in-
vestigation or information relat-
ing to any referral to outside law 
enforcement entities; 
‘‘(bb) the official or office of 
the Coast Guard that received 
the complaint; 
‘‘(cc) a description of the re-
sults of such an investigation or 
information 
with 
respect 
to 
whether the results of the inves-
tigation were provided to the 
complainant; or 
‘‘(dd) whether the investiga-
tion substantiated an offense
323 
under chapter 47 of title 10 (the 
Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice). 
‘‘(iii) FORMAT.—With respect to the 
information and data required under 
clause (i), the Commandant shall report 
such information and data separately for 
each type of covered misconduct offense, 
and shall not aggregate the information 
and data for multiple types of covered mis-
conduct offenses. 
‘‘(B) TRENDS.—Subject to subsection (b), 
beginning on the date of enactment of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, each 
report required by subsection (a) shall include, 
for the preceding calendar year, an analysis or 
assessment of trends in the occurrence, as ap-
plicable, of incidents described in subparagraph 
(A)(i), since the date of enactment of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 
2012 (Public Law 112–213). 
‘‘(C) RESPONSE.—Each report required 
under subsection (a) shall include, for the pre-
ceding calendar year, a description of the poli-
cies, procedures, processes, initiatives, investiga-
324 
tions (including overarching investigations), re-
search, or studies implemented by the Com-
mandant in response to any incident described 
in subparagraph (A)(i) involving a member of 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(D) PLAN.—Each report required under 
subsection (a) shall include a plan for actions to 
be taken during the year following the year cov-
ered by the report to enhance the prevention of 
and response to incidents described in subpara-
graph (A)(i) involving members of the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(E) COVERED MISCONDUCT PREVENTION 
AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES.—Each report re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include an as-
sessment of the adequacy of covered misconduct 
prevention and response activities related to in-
cidents described in subparagraph (A)(i) carried 
out by the Coast Guard during the preceding 
calendar year. 
‘‘(F) CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.—Each re-
port required under subsection (a) shall include, 
for 
incidents 
described 
in 
subparagraph 
(A)(i)—
325 
‘‘(i) an analysis of the factors that 
may have contributed to such incidents; 
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the role of such 
factors in contributing to such incidents 
during such year; and 
‘‘(iii) recommendations for mecha-
nisms to eliminate or reduce such contrib-
uting factors. 
‘‘(2) INCIDENTS INVOLVING RECRUITS AND OF-
FICER CANDIDATES.— 
‘‘(A) INFORMATION AND DATA.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to sub-
section (b), each report required under 
subsection (a) shall include, as a separate 
appendix or enclosure, for the preceding 
calendar year, information and data on— 
‘‘(I) incidents of covered mis-
conduct involving a recruit of the 
Coast Guard at Training Center Cape 
May or an officer candidate at the 
Coast 
Guard 
Officer 
Candidate 
School; and 
‘‘(II) 
incidents 
of 
retaliation 
against such a recruit or officer can-
didate related to the reporting of cov-
326 
ered misconduct, disaggregated by 
type of retaliation claim. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSIONS.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The informa-
tion and data on the incidents de-
scribed in clause (i) shall include the 
following: 
‘‘(aa) All incidents of cov-
ered misconduct and retaliation 
described in clause (i) reported to 
the Commandant or any other of-
ficial of the Coast Guard during 
the preceding calendar year (re-
ferred to in this subsection as a 
‘reported incident’). 
‘‘(bb) The number of re-
ported 
incidents 
committed 
against recruits and officer can-
didates described in clause (i)(I). 
‘‘(cc) The number of re-
ported incidents committed by 
such recruits and officer can-
didates. 
‘‘(dd) Information on re-
ported incidents, in accordance
327 
with the policy prescribed under 
section 549G(b) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 
1561 note), to the maximum ex-
tent practicable. 
‘‘(ee)(AA) The number of 
reported incidents that were en-
tered into the Catch a Serial Of-
fender system. 
‘‘(BB) Of such reported 
incidents entered into such 
system, the number that re-
sulted in the identification of 
a potential or confirmed 
match. 
‘‘(ff) The number of re-
ported incidents that were sub-
stantiated (referred to in this 
subsection as a ‘substantiated re-
ported incident’). 
‘‘(gg) A synopsis of each 
substantiated reported incident 
that includes—
328 
‘‘(AA) a brief descrip-
tion of the nature of the in-
cident; and 
‘‘(BB) whether alcohol 
or other controlled or pro-
hibited substances were in-
volved in the incident, and a 
description of the involve-
ment. 
‘‘(hh) The type of case dis-
position associated with each sub-
stantiated reported incident, such 
as— 
‘‘(AA) conviction and 
sentence by court-martial, 
including charges and speci-
fications for which convicted; 
‘‘(BB) acquittal of all 
charges at court-martial; 
‘‘(CC) as appropriate, 
imposition of a nonjudicial 
punishment under section 
815 of title 10 (article 15 of 
the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice);
329 
‘‘(DD) as appropriate, 
administrative action taken, 
including a description of 
each type of such action im-
posed; 
‘‘(EE) dismissal of all 
charges, including a descrip-
tion of each reason for dis-
missal and the stage at 
which 
dismissal 
occurred; 
and 
‘‘(FF) whether the ac-
cused member was adminis-
tratively separated or, in the 
case of an officer, allowed to 
resign in lieu of court-mar-
tial, and the characterization 
(honorable, general, or other 
than honorable) of the serv-
ice of the member upon sep-
aration or resignation. 
‘‘(ii) With respect to any in-
cident of covered misconduct in-
volving recruits or officer can-
didates reported to the Com-
330 
mandant or any other official of 
the Coast Guard during the pre-
ceding calendar year that in-
volves a report of retaliation re-
lating to the incident— 
‘‘(AA) a narrative de-
scription of the retaliation 
claim; 
‘‘(BB) the nature of the 
relationship 
between 
the 
complainant and the indi-
vidual accused of commit-
ting the retaliation; and 
‘‘(CC) the nature of the 
relationship between the in-
dividual accused of commit-
ting the covered misconduct 
and the individual accused 
of committing the retalia-
tion. 
‘‘(jj) The disposition of or 
action taken by the Coast Guard 
or any other Federal, State, 
local, or Tribal entity with re-
331 
spect to a substantiated reported 
incident. 
‘‘(kk) With respect to any 
investigation of a reported inci-
dent— 
‘‘(AA) the status of the 
investigation or information 
relating to any referral to 
outside law enforcement en-
tities; 
‘‘(BB) the official or of-
fice of the Coast Guard that 
received the complaint; 
‘‘(CC) a description of 
the results of such an inves-
tigation or information with 
respect to whether the re-
sults of the investigation 
were provided to the com-
plainant; or 
‘‘(DD) whether the in-
vestigation substantiated an 
offense under chapter 47 of 
title 10 (the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice).
332 
‘‘(II) FORMAT.—With respect to 
the information and data required 
under clause (i), the Commandant 
shall report such information and 
data separately for each type of cov-
ered misconduct offense, and shall not 
aggregate the information and data 
for multiple types of covered mis-
conduct offenses. 
‘‘(B) TRENDS.—Subject to subsection (b), 
beginning on the date of enactment of Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2025, each report 
required by subsection (a) shall include, for the 
preceding calendar year, an analysis or assess-
ment of trends in the occurrence, as applicable, 
of incidents described in subparagraph (A)(i), 
since the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–213). 
‘‘(C) RESPONSE.—Each report required 
under subsection (a) shall include, for the pre-
ceding calendar year, a description of the poli-
cies, procedures, processes, initiatives, investiga-
tions (including overarching investigations), re-
search, or studies implemented by the Com-
333 
mandant in response to any incident described 
in subparagraph (A)(i) involving— 
‘‘(i) a recruit of the Coast Guard at 
Training Center Cape May; or 
‘‘(ii) an officer candidate at the Coast 
Guard Officer Candidate School. 
‘‘(D) PLAN.—Each report required under 
subsection (a) shall include a plan for actions to 
be taken during the year following the year cov-
ered by the report to enhance the prevention of 
and response to incidents described in subpara-
graph (A)(i) involving a recruit of the Coast 
Guard at Training Center Cape May or an offi-
cer candidate at the Coast Guard Officer Can-
didate School. 
‘‘(E) COVERED MISCONDUCT PREVENTION 
AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES.—Each report re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include an as-
sessment of the adequacy of covered misconduct 
prevention and response activities related to in-
cidents described in subparagraph (A)(i) of this 
paragraph carried out by the Coast Guard dur-
ing the preceding calendar year. 
‘‘(F) CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.—Each re-
port required under subsection (a) shall include,
334 
for 
incidents 
described 
in 
subparagraph 
(A)(i)— 
‘‘(i) an analysis of the factors that 
may have contributed to such incidents; 
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the role of such 
factors in contributing to such incidents 
during such year; and 
‘‘(iii) recommendations for mecha-
nisms to eliminate or reduce such contrib-
uting factors. 
‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF ACCOUNT-
ABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY REVIEW DIRECTED AC-
TIONS.—Each report required under subsection (a) 
submitted during the 5-year period beginning on 
March 1, 2025, shall include information on the im-
plementation by the Commandant of the directed ac-
tions described in the memorandum of the Coast 
Guard titled ‘Commandant’s Directed Actions—Ac-
countability and Transparency’, issued on November 
27, 2023, including— 
‘‘(A) a description of actions taken to ad-
dress each directed action during the year cov-
ered by the report; 
‘‘(B) the implementation status of each di-
rected action;
335 
‘‘(C) in the case of any directed action that 
has not been implemented— 
‘‘(i) a detailed action plan for imple-
mentation of the recommendation; 
‘‘(ii) an estimated timeline for imple-
mentation of the recommendation; 
‘‘(iii) description of changes the Com-
mandant intends to make to associated 
Coast Guard policies so as to enable the 
implementation of the recommendation; 
and 
‘‘(iv) any other information the Com-
mandant considers appropriate; 
‘‘(D) a description of the metrics and mile-
stones used to measure completion, account-
ability, and effectiveness of each directed ac-
tion; 
‘‘(E) a description of any additional ac-
tions the Commandant is taking to mitigate in-
stances of covered misconduct within the Coast 
Guard; 
‘‘(F) any legislative change proposal nec-
essary to implement the directed actions; and 
‘‘(G) a detailed list of funding necessary to 
implement the directed actions in a timely and
336 
effective manner, including a list of personnel 
needed for such implementation. 
‘‘(d) VICTIM CONFIDENTIALITY.—To the extent that 
information collected under the authority of this section 
is reported or otherwise made available to the public, such 
information shall be provided in a form that is consistent 
with applicable privacy protections under Federal law and 
does not jeopardize the confidentiality of victims. 
‘‘(e) SUBSTANTIATED DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘substantiated’ has the meaning given the term 
under section 1631(c) of the Ike Skelton National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (10 U.S.C. 1561 
note).’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) CHAPTER 19.—The analysis for chapter 19 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing the item relating to section 1902 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘1902. Academy policy and report on covered misconduct.’’. 
(2) CHAPTER 51.—The analysis for chapter 51 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing the item relating to section 5112 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘5112. Covered misconduct in the Coast Guard.’’.
337 
SEC. 507. MODIFICATIONS TO THE OFFICER INVOLUNTARY 
SEPARATION PROCESS. 
(a) REVIEW OF RECORDS.—Section 2158 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘may at any time convene a 
board of officers’’ and inserting ‘‘shall prescribe, by regu-
lation, procedures’’. 
(b) BOARDS OF INQUIRY.—Section 2159(c) of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘send the 
record of its proceedings to a board of review’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘recommend to the Secretary that the officer not be 
retained on active duty’’. 
(c) REPEAL OF BOARDS OF REVIEW.—Section 2160 
of title 14, United States Code, is repealed. 
(d) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in section 2161 by striking ‘‘section 
2158, 2159, or 2160’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘section 2158 or 2159’’; 
(B) in section 2163, in the first sentence 
by striking ‘‘board of review under section 2160 
of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘board of inquiry 
under section 2159 of this title’’; and 
(C) in section 2164(a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or 2160’’.
338 
(2) The analysis at the beginning of chapter 21 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing the item relating to section 2160. 
SEC. 508. REVIEW OF DISCHARGE CHARACTERIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 2519. Review of discharge characterization 
‘‘(a) DOWNGRADE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The decision to conduct a 
case review under this section shall be at the discre-
tion of the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating. 
‘‘(2) BOARD OF REVIEW.—In addition to the 
requirements of section 1553 of title 10, a board of 
review for a former member of the Coast Guard es-
tablished pursuant to such section and under part 
51 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in ef-
fect on the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2025), may upon a motion of 
the board and subject to review by the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating, downgrade an honorable discharge to a gen-
eral (under honorable conditions) discharge upon a 
finding that a former member of the Coast Guard,
339 
while serving on active duty as a member of the 
armed forces, committed sexual assault or sexual 
harassment in violation of section 920, 920b, or 934 
of title 10 (article 120, 120b, or 134 of the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice). 
‘‘(3) EVIDENCE.—Any downgrade under para-
graph (2) shall be supported by clear and convincing 
evidence. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—The review board under 
paragraph (2) may not downgrade a discharge of a 
former member of the Coast Guard if the same ac-
tion described in paragraph (2) was considered prior 
to separation from active duty by an administrative 
board in determining the characterization of dis-
charge as otherwise provided by law and in accord-
ance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating. 
‘‘(b) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A review by a board estab-
lished under section 1553 of title 10 and under part 
51 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in ef-
fect on the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2025), shall be based on the 
records of the Coast Guard, and with respect to a
340 
member who also served in another one of the armed 
forces, the records of the armed forces concerned 
and such other evidence as may be presented to the 
board. 
‘‘(2) EVIDENCE BY WITNESS.—A witness may 
present evidence to the board in person or by affi-
davit. 
‘‘(3) APPEARANCE BEFORE BOARD.—A person 
who requests a review under this section may appear 
before the board in person or by counsel or an ac-
credited representative of an organization recognized 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 
59 of title 38. 
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION.—A former member of the 
Coast Guard who is subject to a downgrade in dis-
charge characterization review under subsection (a) 
shall be notified in writing of such proceedings, af-
forded the right to obtain copies of records and doc-
uments relevant to the proceedings, and the right to 
appear before the board in person or by counsel or 
an accredited representative of an organization rec-
ognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 
chapter 59 of title 38.’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—
341 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall initiate a rulemaking to implement this section. 
(2) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The regu-
lations issued under paragraph (1) shall take effect 
not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
Commandant promulgates a final rule pursuant to 
such paragraph. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2519. Review of discharge characterization.’’. 
SEC. 509. CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER AS GROUNDS FOR 
DENIAL. 
Section 7511(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘State, local, 
or Tribal law’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal, State, local, 
or Tribal law’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing:
343 
‘‘(5) the child pornography offenses as de-
scribed in section 934 of title 10 (article 134 of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice); 
‘‘(6) rape and sexual assault of a child, other 
sexual misconduct, and stalking, as described in sec-
tions 920b, 920c(a), and 930 of title 10 (articles 
120b, 120c, and 130 of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice); and 
‘‘(7) domestic violence, as described in section 
928b of title 10 (article 128b of the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2520. Covered misconduct defined.’’. 
SEC. 511. NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO UNIFORM CODE 
OF MILITARY JUSTICE OR MANUAL FOR 
COURTS MARTIAL RELATING TO COVERED 
MISCONDUCT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
344 
‘‘§ 5117. Notification of changes to Uniform Code of 
Military Justice or Manual for Courts 
Martial relating to covered misconduct 
‘‘Beginning on March 30, 2026, and annually there-
after, the Commandant shall notify the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives with respect to each of the 
following: 
‘‘(1) Whether the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice (chapter 47 of title 10) has been amended— 
‘‘(A) to add any sex-related offense as a 
new article; or 
‘‘(B) to remove an article relating to cov-
ered misconduct described in any of paragraphs 
(1) through (7) of section 301. 
‘‘(2) Whether the Manual for Courts Martial 
has been modified— 
‘‘(A) to add any sex-related offense as an 
offense described under an article of the Uni-
form Code of Military Justice; or 
‘‘(B) to remove as an offense described 
under an article of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice covered misconduct described in 
any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 
301.’’.
345 
(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: 
‘‘5117. Notification of changes to Uniform Code of Military Justice Or Manual 
for Courts Martial relating to covered misconduct.’’. 
SEC. 512. COMPLAINTS OF RETALIATION BY VICTIMS OF 
SEXUAL ASSAULT OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT 
AND RELATED PERSONS. 
Section 1562a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Defense 
shall’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) COAST GUARD.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall designate the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
to be responsible for carrying out the requirements 
of this section with respect to members of the Coast 
Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a 
service in the Navy.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)—
346 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by inserting ‘‘and the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; 
(B) in paragraph (8) by inserting before 
the period at the end ‘‘or with respect to the 
Coast Guard, the component designated by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘Depart-
ment of Defense’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘, 
the Inspector General of the Department of 
Homeland Security,’’ before ‘‘or any other in-
spector general’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘mili-
tary’’ and inserting ‘‘armed force’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (E) by inserting ‘‘or 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating when not operating as a service in the 
Navy for members of the Coast Guard’’ after 
‘‘Department of Defense’’. 
SEC. 513. DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES ON MILITARY PRO-
TECTIVE ORDERS. 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
347 
mandant shall issue updated policies of the Coast 
Guard relating to military protective orders that are 
consistent with the law and policies of the Depart-
ment of Defense. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The policies developed under 
paragraph (1) shall require— 
(A) that any denial of a request for a mili-
tary protective order shall include a written ex-
planation for the denial, which shall be— 
(i) forwarded to the next flag officer 
in the chain of command of the com-
manding officer or other approving author-
ity who denied the request; and 
(ii) provided to the member who sub-
mitted the request; and 
(B) the recusal of an approving authority 
from participating in the granting or denying of 
a military protective order, if such authority 
was, at any time— 
(i) the subject of a complaint of any 
form of assault, harassment, or retaliation 
filed by the member requesting the mili-
tary protective order or the member who is 
the subject of the military protective order; 
or
348 
(ii) associated with the member re-
questing the military protective order or 
the member who is the subject of the mili-
tary protective order in a manner that pre-
sents as an actual or apparent conflict of 
interest. 
(3) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—The Com-
mandant shall develop a policy to ensure that sexual 
assault response coordinators, victim advocates, and 
other appropriate personnel shall inform victims of 
the process by which the victim may request an ex-
pedited transfer, a no-contact order, or a military or 
civilian protective order. 
SEC. 514. COAST GUARD IMPLEMENTATION OF INDE-
PENDENT 
REVIEW 
COMMISSION 
REC-
OMMENDATIONS ON ADDRESSING SEXUAL 
ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE 
MILITARY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall re-
view the report of the Independent Review Commission ti-
tled ‘‘Hard Truths and the Duty to Change: Recommenda-
tions from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual 
Assault in the Military’’ referred to in the memorandum 
of the Department of Defense titled ‘‘Memorandum for
349 
Senior Pentagon Leadership Commanders of the Combat-
ant Commands Defense Agency and DoD Field Activity 
Directors’’, dated September 22, 2021, (relating to com-
mencing Department of Defense actions and implementa-
tion of the recommendations of the Independent Review 
Commission to address sexual assault and sexual harass-
ment in the military). 
(b) STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN.—On completion 
of the review required under subsection (a), and not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a strategy and action plan 
that— 
(1)(A) identifies any recommendation set forth 
in the report by the Independent Review Commis-
sion described in subsection (a) that addresses a 
matter that is not within the jurisdiction of the 
Coast Guard, does not apply to the Coast Guard, or 
otherwise would not be beneficial to members of the 
Coast Guard, as determined by the Commandant; 
and 
(B) includes a brief rationale for such de-
termination; and
350 
(2) with respect to each recommendation set 
forth in such report that is not identified under 
paragraph (1), includes— 
(A)(i) a detailed action plan for implemen-
tation of the recommendation; 
(ii) a description of changes the Com-
mandant will make to associated Coast 
Guard policies so as to enable the imple-
mentation of the recommendation; 
(iii) an estimated timeline for imple-
mentation of the recommendation; 
(iv) the estimated cost of the imple-
mentation; 
(v) legislative proposals for such im-
plementation, as appropriate; and 
(vi) any other information the Com-
mandant considers appropriate; or 
(B) in the case of such a recommendation 
that the Commandant is unable to implement, 
an explanation of the reason the recommenda-
tion cannot be implemented. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter 
through 2028, the Commandant shall provide the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
351 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives with a briefing 
on the status of the implementation of this section and 
any modification to the strategy and plan submitted under 
subsection (b). 
SEC. 515. POLICY RELATING TO CARE AND SUPPORT OF 
VICTIMS OF COVERED MISCONDUCT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall issue 
Coast Guard policy relating to the care and support of 
members of the Coast Guard who are alleged victims cov-
ered misconduct. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The policy required by subsection 
(a) shall require, to the maximum extent practicable, 
that— 
(1) a member of the Coast Guard who is an al-
leged victim of covered misconduct and discloses 
such covered misconduct to the appropriate indi-
vidual of the Coast Guard responsible for providing 
victim care and support— 
(A) shall receive care and support from 
such individual; and 
(B) such individual shall not deny or un-
reasonably delay providing care and support; 
and
352 
(2) in the case of such an alleged victim to 
whom care and support cannot be provided by the 
appropriate individual contacted by the alleged vic-
tim based on programmatic eligibility criteria or any 
other reason that affects the ability of such appro-
priate individual to provide care and support (such 
as being stationed at a remote unit or serving on a 
vessel currently underway) the alleged victim shall 
receive, with the permission of the alleged victim— 
(A) an in-person introduction to appro-
priate service providers, for which the alleged 
victim is physically present, which shall occur at 
the discretion of the alleged victim; and 
(B) access to follow-up services from the 
appropriate 1 or more service providers. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The policy issued under sub-
section (a) shall apply to— 
(1) all Coast Guard personnel responsible for 
the care and support of victims of covered mis-
conduct; and 
(2) any other Coast Guard personnel the Com-
mandant considers appropriate. 
(d) REVISION OF POLICY RELATING TO DOMESTIC 
ABUSE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall issue or revise
353 
any Coast Guard policy or process relating to domestic 
abuse so as to define the term ‘‘intimate partner’’ to have 
the meaning given such term in section 930 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(e) TRAINING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—All Coast Guard personnel 
responsible for the care and support of members of 
the Coast Guard who are alleged victims of covered 
misconduct shall receive training in accordance with 
professional standards of practice to ensure that 
such alleged victims receive adequate care that is 
consistent with the policy issued under subsection 
(a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The training required by 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall include— 
(i) instructions on specific procedures 
for implementing the policy issued under 
subsection (a); and 
(ii) information on resources and per-
sonnel critical for the implementation of 
such policy; and 
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, 
shall be provided in person.
354 
(f) COVERED MISCONDUCT.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered misconduct’’ shall have the meaning given 
such term in section 2519 of title 14, United States Code 
(as added by this Act). 
SEC. 516. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL VICTIM CAPABILI-
TIES TO RESPOND TO ALLEGATIONS OF CER-
TAIN SPECIAL VICTIM OFFENSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 573 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 U.S.C. 
1561 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating when not operating as a service in the 
Navy’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Secretary of each military 
department’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary con-
cerned’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘or Air Force 
Office of Special Investigations’’ and inserting ‘‘, Air 
Force Office of Special Investigations, or Coast 
Guard Investigative Services’’; 
(3) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘or the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard
355 
is operating when not operating as a service in the 
Navy’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘Secretary of a 
military department’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or the Coast Guard’’ 
after ‘‘within the military department’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘or the 
Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘within a military depart-
ment’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) TIME
FOR
ESTABLISHMENT
FOR
COAST 
GUARD.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enact-
ment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report containing all the 
items described in subsections (e) and (f) as applied to 
the Coast Guard.’’. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall pro-
356 
vide the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with 
a briefing on the Commandant’s assessment and imple-
mentation, as appropriate, of the recommendations in-
cluded in the Center for Naval Analyses report titled ‘‘As-
sessing the USCG’s Special Victims’ Counsel Program’’, 
issued in June 2024, including— 
(1) the implementation status of each adopted 
recommendation, as appropriate; 
(2) for each adopted recommendation, a de-
scription of actions taken to implement such rec-
ommendation; 
(3) in the case of an adopted recommendation 
that has not been fully implemented— 
(A) a description of actions taken or 
planned to address such recommendation; 
(B) an estimated completion date; and 
(C) a description of the milestones nec-
essary to complete the recommendation; 
(4) a description of any recommendation that 
will not be adopted and an explanation of the reason 
the recommendation will not be adopted;
357 
(5) a description of the metrics and milestones 
used to ensure completion and effectiveness of each 
adopted recommendation; 
(6) a description of any additional actions the 
Commandant is taking to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the Special Victims’ Counsel pro-
gram of the Coast Guard; 
(7) any legislative change proposal necessary to 
implement the adopted recommendations; and 
(8) an overview of any funding or resource nec-
essary to implement each adopted recommendation 
in a timely and effective manner, including a list of 
personnel needed for such implementation. 
SEC. 517. MEMBERS ASSERTING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR TRAUMATIC 
BRAIN INJURY. 
Section 2516 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘or has been sexually 
assaulted during the preceding 2-year pe-
riod’’; and
358 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or based on such sex-
ual assault, the influence of’’ and inserting 
‘‘the signs and symptoms of either’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2) 
through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), re-
spectively; 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR
EMOTIONAL 
DISORDER.—A member of the Coast Guard who has 
been sexually assaulted during the preceding 5-year 
period and who alleges, based on such sexual as-
sault, the signs and symptoms of a diagnosable men-
tal, behavioral, or emotional disorder described with-
in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Sta-
tistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the 
American Psychiatric Association— 
‘‘(A) is provided the opportunity to request 
a medical examination to clinically evaluate 
such signs and symptoms; and 
‘‘(B) receives such a medical examination 
to evaluate a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress 
disorder, traumatic brain injury, or diagnosable 
mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder de-
scribed within the most recent edition of the Di-
359 
agnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Dis-
orders published by the American Psychiatric 
Association.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘this subsection’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or a diagnosable 
mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder’’ 
before ‘‘under this subsection’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘performed by’’ after 
‘‘shall be’’; and 
(iii) by striking subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) a board-certified psychiatrist; 
‘‘(B) a licensed doctorate-level psycholo-
gist; 
‘‘(C) any other appropriate licensed or cer-
tified healthcare professional designated by the 
Commandant; or 
‘‘(D) a psychiatry resident or board-eligible 
psychologist who— 
‘‘(i) has completed a 1-year internship 
or residency; and
360 
‘‘(ii) is under the close supervision of 
a board-certified psychiatrist or licensed 
doctorate-level psychologist.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘or a 
diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional dis-
order’’ after ‘‘traumatic brain injury’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) NOTIFICATION OF RIGHT TO REQUEST MED-
ICAL EXAMINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any member of the Coast 
Guard who receives a notice of involuntary adminis-
trative separation shall be advised at the time of 
such notice of the right of the member to request a 
medical examination under subsection (a) if any con-
dition described in such subsection applies to the 
member. 
‘‘(2) POLICY.—The Commandant shall— 
‘‘(A) develop and issue a clear policy for 
carrying out the notification required under 
paragraph (1) with respect to any member of 
the Coast Guard described in that paragraph 
who has made an unrestricted report of sexual 
assault; and 
‘‘(B) provide information on such policy to 
sexual assault response coordinators of the
361 
Coast Guard for the purpose of ensuring that 
such policy is communicated to members of the 
Coast Guard who may be eligible for a medical 
examination under this section.’’. 
SEC. 518. PARTICIPATION IN CATCH A SERIAL OFFENDER 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating 
as a service in the Navy, acting through the Commandant, 
shall ensure the participation of the Coast Guard in the 
Catch a Serial Offender program (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘CATCH program’’) of the Department of De-
fense established in accordance with section 543 of the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 
113–291). 
(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating and the Secretary of Defense shall finalize a 
memorandum of agreement to facilitate Coast Guard ac-
cess to and participation in the CATCH program.
362 
SEC. 519. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY RELAT-
ING 
TO 
ALLEGATIONS 
OF 
MISCONDUCT 
AGAINST SENIOR LEADERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 25 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by redesignating 
section 2521 as section 2531. 
(b) ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY RELAT-
ING TO ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST SENIOR 
LEADERS.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 2521. Accountability and transparency relating to 
allegations of misconduct against senior 
leaders 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2025, the Secretary shall establish a policy to improve 
oversight, investigations, accountability, and public trans-
parency regarding alleged misconduct of senior leaders of 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The policy required by subsection 
(a)— 
‘‘(1) shall require that— 
‘‘(A) any allegation of alleged misconduct 
made against a senior leader of the Coast 
Guard shall be reported to the Office of the In-
363 
spector General of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating not later than 72 
hours after the allegation is reported to the 
Coast Guard or the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating; and 
‘‘(B) the Inspector General of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall notify the head of the Coast Guard office 
in which the senior leader is serving with re-
spect to the receipt of such allegation, or, in a 
case where the senior leader is the head of such 
Coast Guard office, the next in the chain of 
command, as appropriate, except in a case in 
which the Inspector General determines that 
such notification would risk impairing an ongo-
ing investigation, would unnecessarily com-
promise the anonymity of the individual making 
the allegation, or would otherwise be inappro-
priate; and 
‘‘(2) to the extent practicable, shall be con-
sistent with Department of Defense directives, in-
cluding Department of Defense Directive 5505.06. 
‘‘(c) FIRST RIGHT TO EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION.— 
The Inspector General of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating—
364 
‘‘(1) shall have the first right to investigate an 
allegation described in subsection (b)(1)(A); and 
‘‘(2) in cases with concurrent jurisdiction in-
volving 
an 
allegation 
described 
in 
subsection 
(b)(1)(A), may investigate such an allegation to the 
exclusion of any other Coast Guard criminal or ad-
ministrative investigation if the Inspector General 
determines that an exclusive investigation is nec-
essary to maintain the integrity of the investigation. 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY AND BROAD DISSEMINA-
TION.—The policy established under subsection (a) shall 
be made available to the public and incorporated into 
training and curricula across the Coast Guard at all levels 
to ensure broad understanding of the policy among mem-
bers and personnel of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ALLEGED
MISCONDUCT.—The term ‘al-
leged misconduct’— 
‘‘(A) means a credible allegation that, if 
proven, would constitute a violation of— 
‘‘(i) a provision of criminal law, in-
cluding the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice (chapter 47 of title 10); or 
‘‘(ii) a recognized standard, such as 
the Department of Defense Joint Ethics
366 
ice, as determined by the Office of the Inspector 
General of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating, in concurrence with the 
Secretary acting through the Commandant.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is further amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking the item relating to section 2521 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘2531. Advisory Board on Women in the Coast Guard.’’; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 2520 (as added by this Act) the following: 
‘‘2521. Accountability and transparency relating to allegations of misconduct 
against senior leaders.’’. 
SEC. 520. CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING OF SEXUAL HARASS-
MENT. 
Section 1561b of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating when not operating as a service in the 
Navy’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or the Commandant’’ 
after ‘‘Secretary of a military department’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)—
367 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating when not operating as a service in the 
Navy’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘depart-
ments or the Commandant’’ after ‘‘Secretaries 
of the military’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) REPORTS FOR THE COAST GUARD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 30, 
2025, and April 30 every 2 years thereafter, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report 
containing data on the complaints of sexual harass-
ment alleged pursuant to the process under sub-
section (a) during the previous 2 calendar years. 
‘‘(2) PERSONALLY
IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMA-
TION.—Any data on complaints described in para-
graph (1) shall not contain any personally identifi-
able information.’’.
368 
SEC. 521. REPORT ON POLICY ON WHISTLEBLOWER PRO-
TECTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation and Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a re-
port on the policy of the Coast Guard on whistleblower 
protections. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A discussion of the policy of the Coast 
Guard as of the date of enactment of this Act with 
respect to— 
(A) whistleblower protections; 
(B) accountability measures for reprisal 
against whistleblowers; 
(C) the applicable professional standards 
and potential types of support provided to whis-
tleblowers by members of the Coast Guard per-
sonnel, such as the members in the Coast 
Guard Investigative Service; and 
(D) the content and frequency of training 
provided to members of the Coast Guard on ac-
tive duty, members of the Coast Guard Reserve,
369 
and civilian personnel of the Coast Guard with 
respect to the applicable professional standards 
and potential types of support offered to whis-
tleblowers. 
(2) A description of the responsibilities of com-
manders and equivalent civilian supervisors with re-
spect to whistleblower complaints and measures used 
by the Coast Guard to ensure compliance with such 
responsibilities, such as— 
(A) the mechanisms to ensure that— 
(i) any such commander complies with 
section 1034 of title 10, United States 
Code, including subsection (a)(1) of that 
section; 
(ii) any such equivalent civilian super-
visor complies with section 2302 of title 5, 
United States Code; and 
(iii) any such commander or super-
visor protects the constitutional right of 
whistleblowers to speak with Members of 
Congress; 
(B) actions to be taken against any a com-
mander or equivalent civilian supervisor who 
fails to act on a whistleblower complaint or im-
properly interferes with a whistleblower after a
370 
complaint is filed or during the preparation of 
a complaint; 
(C) the role of Coast Guard attorneys in 
ensuring that such commanders comply with re-
sponsibilities under section 1034 of title 10, 
United States Code; and 
(D) the role of Coast Guard civilian attor-
neys and administrative law judges in ensuring 
that such civilian supervisors comply with re-
sponsibilities under section 2302 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(3) A discussion of the availability of Coast 
Guard staff, including civilian staff, assigned to pro-
viding, in accordance with professional standards or 
practice, behavioral health care to whistleblowers, in-
cluding— 
(A) the number and type of such staff; 
(B) a description of the specific care re-
sponsibilities of such staff; 
(C) an identification of any limitation ex-
isting as of the date of enactment of this Act 
to the provision of such care; 
(D) a description of any plan to increase 
capacity of such staff to provide such care, as 
applicable; and
371 
(E) a description of any additional re-
sources necessary to provide such care. 
(4) An assessment of the manner in which the 
policies discussed in paragraph (1), the responsibil-
ities of commanders and civilian supervisors de-
scribed in paragraph (2), and the availability of 
Coast Guard staff as discussed in paragraph (3) 
apply specifically to cadets and leadership at the 
Coast Guard Academy. 
(5) Recommendations (including, as appro-
priate, proposed legislative changes and a plan to 
publish in the Federal Register not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act a re-
quest for information seeking public comment and 
recommendations) of the Commandant regarding 
manners in which Coast Guard policies and proce-
dures may be strengthened— 
(A) to prevent whistleblower discrimination 
and harassment; 
(B) to better enforce prohibitions on retal-
iation, including reprisal, restriction, ostracism, 
and maltreatment, set forth in section 1034 of 
title 10, United States Code, and section 2302 
of title 5, United States Code; and
372 
(C) to hold commanding officers and civil-
ian supervisors accountable for enforcing and 
complying with prohibitions on any form of re-
taliation described in such section. 
SEC. 522. REVIEW AND MODIFICATION OF COAST GUARD 
ACADEMY POLICY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT 
AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Superintendent of the Coast 
Guard Academy (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Super-
intendent’’) shall— 
(1) not later than 60 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, commence a review of the Coast 
Guard Academy policy on sexual harassment and 
sexual violence established in accordance with sec-
tion 1902 of title 14, United States Code, that in-
cludes an evaluation as to whether any long-standing 
Coast Guard Academy tradition, system, process, or 
internal policy impedes the implementation of nec-
essary evidence-informed best practices followed by 
other military service academies in prevention, re-
sponse, and recovery relating to sexual harassment 
and sexual violence; and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act— 
(A) complete such review; and
373 
(B) modify such policy in accordance with 
subsection (b). 
(b) MODIFICATIONS TO POLICY.—In modifying the 
Coast Guard Academy policy on sexual harassment and 
sexual violence referred to in subsection (a), the Super-
intendent shall ensure that such policy includes the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Each matter required to be specified by sec-
tion 1902(b) of title 14, United States Code. 
(2) Updates to achieve compliance with chapter 
47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of 
Military Justice). 
(3) A description of the roles and responsibil-
ities of staff of the Coast Guard Academy Sexual 
Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery pro-
gram, including— 
(A) the Sexual Assault Response Coordi-
nator; 
(B) the Victim Advocate Program Spe-
cialist; 
(C) the Volunteer Victim Advocate; and 
(D) the Primary Prevention Specialist, as 
established under subsection (c). 
(4) A description of the role of the Coast Guard 
Investigative Service with respect to sexual harass-
374 
ment and sexual violence prevention, response, and 
recovery at the Coast Guard Academy. 
(5) A description of the role of support staff at 
the Coast Guard Academy, including chaplains, with 
respect to sexual harassment and sexual violence 
prevention, response, and recovery. 
(6) Measures to promote awareness of dating 
violence. 
(7) A delineation of the relationship between— 
(A) cadet advocacy groups organized for 
the prevention of, response to, and recovery 
from sexual harassment and sexual violence, in-
cluding Cadets Against Sexual Assault; and 
(B) the staff of the Coast Guard Academy 
Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Re-
covery program. 
(8) A provision that requires cadets and Coast 
Guard Academy personnel to participate in not 
fewer than one in-person training each academic 
year on the prevention of, responses to, and re-
sources relating to incidents of sexual harassment 
and sexual violence, to be provided by the staff of 
the Coast Guard Academy Sexual Assault Preven-
tion, Response, and Recovery program.
375 
(9) The establishment, revision, or expansion, 
as necessary, of an anti-retaliation Superintendent’s 
Instruction for cadets who— 
(A) report incidents of sexual harassment 
or sexual violence; 
(B) participate in cadet advocacy groups 
that advocate for the prevention of, response to, 
and recovery from sexual harassment and sex-
ual violence; or 
(C) seek assistance from a company offi-
cer, company senior enlisted leader, athletic 
coach, or other Coast Guard Academy staff 
member with respect to a mental health or 
other medical emergency. 
(10) A provision that explains the purpose of 
and process for issuance of a no-contact order at the 
Coast Guard Academy, including a description of the 
manner in which such an order shall be enforced. 
(11) A provision that explains the purpose of 
and process for issuance of a military protective 
order at the Coast Guard Academy, including a de-
scription of— 
(A) the manner in which such an order 
shall be enforced; and
376 
(B) the associated requirement to notify 
the National Criminal Information Center of 
the issuance of such an order. 
(c) PRIMARY PREVENTION SPECIALIST.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Superintendent shall hire a Primary Prevention Spe-
cialist, to be located and serve at the Coast Guard Acad-
emy. 
(d) TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO RECEIVE 
MEDICAL SERVICES
AND MENTAL HEALTH
AND RE-
LATED SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Superintendent shall 
ensure that the Academy’s policy regarding a cadet who 
has made a restricted or unrestricted report of sexual har-
assment to request a leave of absence from the Coast 
Guard Academy is consistent with other military service 
academies. 
(e) BOARD OF VISITORS.—The Board of Visitors of 
the Coast Guard Academy shall reguarly review— 
(1) the implementation of this section; and 
(2) the state of morale and discipline at the 
Coast Guard Academy, including with respect to 
prevention of, response to, and recovery from sexual 
assault and sexual harassment.
377 
SEC. 523. COAST GUARD AND COAST GUARD ACADEMY AC-
CESS TO DEFENSE SEXUAL ASSAULT INCI-
DENT DATABASE. 
(a) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding 
to enable the criminal offender case management and ana-
lytics database of the Coast Guard to have system inter-
face access with the Defense Sexual Assault Incident 
Database (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Database’’) 
established by section 563 of the Duncan Hunter National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (10 
U.S.C. 1561 note). 
(b) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
entering into the memorandum of understanding re-
quired under subsection (a), the Commandant, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
plan to carry out the terms of such memorandum. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) Measures to ensure that authorized 
staff of the Coast Guard have system interface
378 
access to the Database, and a description of 
any barrier to such access. 
(B) Measures to ensure that authorized 
staff of the Coast Guard Academy have system 
interface access to the Database, and a descrip-
tion of any barrier to such access that is unique 
to the Coast Guard Academy. 
(C) Measures to facilitate formal or infor-
mal communication between the Coast Guard 
and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Re-
sponse Office of the Department of Defense, or 
any other relevant Department of Defense com-
ponent, to identify or seek a resolution to bar-
riers to Database access. 
(D) A description of the steps, measures, 
and improvements necessary to remove any bar-
rier encountered by staff of the Coast Guard or 
the Coast Guard Academy in accessing the 
Database, including any failure of system inter-
face access necessitating manual entry of inves-
tigative data. 
(E) An assessment of the technical chal-
lenges, timeframes, and costs associated with 
providing authorized staff of the Coast Guard 
and the Coast Guard Academy with system
379 
interface access for the Database that is sub-
stantially similar to such system interface ac-
cess possessed by other branches of the Armed 
Forces. 
(3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro-
priate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 524. DIRECTOR OF COAST GUARD INVESTIGATIVE 
SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 327. Director of Coast Guard Investigative Service 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be a Director of the 
Coast Guard Investigative Service. 
‘‘(b) CHAIN
OF COMMAND.—The Director of the 
Coast Guard Investigative Service shall report directly to 
and be under the general supervision of the Commandant,
380 
acting through the Vice Commandant of the Coast 
Guard.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for Chap-
ter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 326 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘327. Director of Coast Guard Investigative Service.’’. 
SEC. 525. MODIFICATIONS AND REVISIONS RELATING TO 
REOPENING RETIRED GRADE DETERMINA-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2501(d)(2) of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘a’’ before 
‘‘competent authority’’; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through 
(E) as subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; 
and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) substantial evidence comes to light 
that, during the commissioned service of the of-
ficer, the officer failed to carry out applicable 
laws, with an intent to deceive or defraud; 
‘‘(D) substantial evidence comes to light 
after the retirement that the officer committed 
rape or sexual assault, as described in sections
381 
920(a) and 920(b) of title 10 (articles 120(a) 
and 120(b) of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice) at any time during the commissioned 
service of the officer; 
‘‘(E) substantial evidence comes to light 
after the retirement that the commissioned offi-
cer knew of and failed to report through proper 
channels, in accordance with existing law at the 
time of the alleged incident, any known in-
stances of sexual assault by a member of the 
Coast Guard under the command of the officer 
during the officer’s service;’’. 
(b) ISSUANCE AND REVISION OF REGULATIONS RE-
LATING TO GOOD CAUSE TO REOPEN RETIRED GRADE 
DETERMINATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue 
or revise, as applicable, and at the discretion of the Sec-
retary consistent with this section, regulations of the 
Coast Guard to do the following: 
(1) Define what constitutes good cause to re-
open a retired grade determination referred to in 
subparagraph (H) of section 2501(d)(2) of title 14, 
United States Code, as redesignated by subsection
382 
(a), to ensure that the following shall be considered 
good cause for such a reopening: 
(A) Circumstances that constitute a failure 
to carry out applicable laws regarding a report 
of sexual assault with an intent to deceive by a 
commissioned officer, that relate to a response 
made to a report of sexual assault, during the 
commissioned service of the officer. 
(B) Substantial evidence of sexual assault 
by the commissioned officer concerned, at any 
time during the commissioned service of such 
officer, or such evidence that was not consid-
ered by the Coast Guard in a manner consistent 
with law. 
(2) Identify the standard for making, and the 
evidentiary showing required to support, an adverse 
determination on the retired grade of a commis-
sioned officer. 
(c) REVISION OF LIMITATIONS ON REOPENING RE-
TIRED GRADE DETERMINATIONS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall revise applicable guidance in section K.10 of chapter 
3 of Commandant Instruction 1000.4A to remove any re-
383 
striction that limits the ability to reopen the retired grade 
of a commissioned officer based on— 
(1) whether new evidence is discovered contem-
poraneously with or within a short time period after 
the date of retirement of the officer concerned; and 
(2) whether the misconduct concerned was not 
discoverable through due diligence. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—No provision of this section 
or the amendments made by this section shall be construed 
to permit a review of conduct that was not in violation 
of law or policy at the time of the alleged conduct. 
SEC. 526. INCLUSION AND COMMAND REVIEW OF INFORMA-
TION ON COVERED MISCONDUCT IN PER-
SONNEL SERVICE RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 2522. Inclusion and command review of informa-
tion on covered misconduct in personnel 
service records 
‘‘(a) INFORMATION ON REPORTS ON COVERED MIS-
CONDUCT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a complaint of covered 
misconduct is made against a member of the Coast 
Guard and the member is convicted by court-martial
384 
or receives nonjudicial punishment or punitive ad-
ministrative action for such covered misconduct, a 
notation to that effect shall be placed in the per-
sonnel service record of the member, regardless of 
the grade of the member. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the inclusion 
of information in personnel service records under 
paragraph (1) is to alert supervisors and com-
manders to any member of their command who has 
received a court-martial conviction, nonjudicial pun-
ishment, or punitive administrative action for cov-
ered misconduct in order— 
‘‘(A) to reduce the likelihood that repeat 
offenses will escape the notice of supervisors 
and commanders; and 
‘‘(B) to help inform commissioning or 
promotability of the member; 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON PLACEMENT.—A notation 
under paragraph (1) may not be placed in the re-
stricted section of the personnel service record of a 
member. 
‘‘(4) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sub-
section may be construed to prohibit or limit the ca-
pacity of a member of the Coast Guard to challenge 
or appeal the placement of a notation, or location of
385 
placement of a notation, in the personnel service 
record of the member in accordance with procedures 
otherwise applicable to such challenges or appeals. 
‘‘(b) COMMAND REVIEW OF HISTORY OF COVERED 
MISCONDUCT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under policy to be pre-
scribed by the Secretary, the commanding officer of 
a unit or facility to which a covered member is as-
signed or transferred shall review the history of cov-
ered misconduct as documented in the personnel 
service record of a covered member in order to be-
come familiar with such history of the covered mem-
ber. 
‘‘(2) COVERED
MEMBER
DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘covered member’ means a 
member of the Coast Guard who, at the time of as-
signment or transfer as described in paragraph (1), 
has a history of 1 or more covered misconduct of-
fenses as documented in the personnel service record 
of such member or such other records or files as the 
Commandant shall specify in the policy prescribed 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(c) REVIEW OF PERSONNEL SERVICE RECORD TO 
DETERMINE SUITABILITY FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT.— 
Under policy to be prescribed by the Secretary, the Com-
386 
mandant shall establish procedures that are consistent 
with the law, policies, and practices of the Department of 
Defense in effect on the date of enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2025 to consider and review 
the personnel service record of a former member of the 
Armed Forces to determine the suitability of the individual 
for civilian employment in the Coast Guard.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 2521 (as added 
by this Act) the following: 
‘‘2522. Inclusion and command review of information on covered misconduct in 
personnel service records.’’. 
SEC. 527. FLAG OFFICER REVIEW OF, AND CONCURRENCE 
IN, SEPARATION OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE RE-
PORTED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. 
(a) POLICY TO REQUIRE REVIEW OF CERTAIN PRO-
POSED INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS.—Not later than 120 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant shall establish, with respect to any proposed in-
voluntary separation under chapter 59 of title 10, United 
States Code, a Coast Guard policy to review the cir-
cumstances of, and grounds for, such a proposed involun-
tary separation of any member of the Coast Guard who—
387 
(1) made a restricted or unrestricted report of 
covered misconduct (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 2519 of title 14, United States Code); 
(2) within 2 years after making such a report, 
is recommended for involuntary separation from the 
Coast Guard; and 
(3) requests the review on the grounds that the 
member believes the recommendation for involuntary 
separation from the Coast Guard was initiated in re-
taliation for making the report. 
(b) RECUSAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The policy established under 
subsection (a) shall set forth a process for the 
recusal of commanding officers and the flag officer 
described in subsection (c)(2) from making initial or 
subsequent decisions on proposed separations or 
from reviewing proposed separations. 
(2) CRITERIA.—The recusal process established 
under paragraph (1) shall specify criteria for 
recusal, including mandatory recusal from making a 
decision on a proposed separation, and from review-
ing a proposed separation, if the commanding officer 
or the flag officer described in subsection (c)(2) was, 
at any time—
388 
(A) the subject of a complaint of any form 
of assault, harassment, or retaliation, filed by 
the member of the Coast Guard described in 
subsection (a) who is the subject of a proposed 
involuntary separation or whose proposed sepa-
ration is under review; or 
(B) associated with the individual sus-
pected or accused of perpetrating the incident 
of covered misconduct reported by such mem-
ber. 
(c) CONCURRENCE OF FLAG OFFICER REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The policy established under 
subsection (a) shall require the concurrence of the 
flag officer described in paragraph (2) in order to 
separate the member of the Coast Guard described 
in such subsection. 
(2) FLAG OFFICER DESCRIBED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the flag officer described in 
this paragraph is— 
(i) the Commandant; or 
(ii) a designee of the Commandant 
who is in a grade not lower than O–7. 
(B) CHAIN OF COMMAND EXCEPTION.—In 
the case of a member of the Coast Guard de-
389 
scribed in subsection (a) who is in the imme-
diate chain of command of the Commandant or 
the designee of the Commandant that oversees 
personnel policy, the flag officer described in 
this paragraph is a flag officer outside the 
chain of command of such member, as deter-
mined by the Commandant consistent with the 
policy established under subsection (a). 
(d) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Any member of the 
Coast Guard who has made a report of covered misconduct 
and who receives a proposal for involuntary separation 
shall be notified at the time of such proposal of the right 
of the member to a review under this section. 
SEC. 528. EXPEDITED TRANSFER IN CASES OF SEXUAL MIS-
CONDUCT OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
(a) EXPEDITED TRANSFER POLICY UPDATE.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant shall update Coast Guard policy as 
necessary to implement— 
(1) an expedited transfer process for covered in-
dividuals consistent with— 
(A) Department of Defense policy on expe-
dited transfers of victims of sexual assault or 
domestic violence in place on the date of enact-
ment of this Act; and
390 
(B) subsection (b); and 
(2) a process by which— 
(A) a covered individual, the commanding 
officer of a covered individual, or any other 
Coast Guard official may initiate a request that 
a subject be administratively assigned to an-
other unit in accordance with military assign-
ments and authorized absence policy for the du-
ration of the investigation and, if applicable, 
prosecution of such subject; 
(B) the Coast Guard shall ensure that any 
administrative assignment action in response to 
a request under subparagraph (A) will be taken 
not as a punitive measure, but solely for the 
purpose of maintaining good order and dis-
cipline within the unit of the covered individual 
or the subject; and 
(C) protection of due process for the sub-
ject is preserved. 
(b) RECUSAL.—The expedited transfer process imple-
mented under this section shall require the recusal of any 
official involved in the approval or denial of an expedited 
transfer request if the official was, at any time—
391 
(1) the subject of a complaint of any form of 
assault, harassment, or retaliation, or any other type 
of complaint, filed by the covered individual; or 
(2) associated, beyond workplace interactions, 
with the subject in a manner that may present an 
actual or apparent conflict of interest. 
(c) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—With respect to 
a member of the Coast Guard who makes an unrestricted 
report of sexual assault or a report of domestic violence, 
the updated policy required under subsection (a) shall 
specify the appropriate officials of the Coast Guard who 
shall provide such member with information regarding ex-
pedited transfer authority. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than March 1 
of the year that is not less than 1 year after the 
date on which the updates required under subsection 
(a) are completed, the Commandant shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives, as an enclosure or appendix to the 
report required by section 5112 of title 14, United 
States Code, a report on such updates that in-
cludes—
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(A) a copy of the updated policies of the 
Coast Guard relating to expedited transfers; 
(B) a summary of such updated policies; 
(C) for the preceding year, the number of 
covered individuals who have requested an expe-
dited transfer, disaggregated by gender of the 
requester and whether the request was granted 
or denied; 
(D) for each denial of an expedited trans-
fer request during the preceding year, a de-
scription of the rationale for the denial; and 
(E) any other matter the Commandant 
considers appropriate. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Not later than 1 
year after the Commandant submits the report re-
quired under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter 
for 3 years, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives, as an enclosure or appendix to the re-
port required by section 5112 of title 14, United 
States Code, a report on the updates required under 
subsection (a) that includes—