I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 509 
To amend title 14, United States Code, to ensure that the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard responds to safety recommendations by the National 
Transportation Safety Board. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Ms. BROWNLEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 14, United States Code, to ensure that the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard responds to safety rec-
ommendations by the National Transportation Safety 
Board. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Safety 
and Accountability Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD’S RESPONSES 
TO SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 14.—Chapter 7 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 719. RESPONSES TO SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—When the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board submits a recommendation about 
transportation safety to the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, the Commandant, not later than 90 days after re-
ceiving the recommendation, shall give the Board a formal 
written response to each recommendation. The response 
shall indicate whether the Commandant intends— 
‘‘(1) to carry out procedures to adopt the com-
plete recommendation; 
‘‘(2) to carry out procedures to adopt a part of 
the recommendation; or 
‘‘(3) to refuse to carry out procedures to adopt 
the recommendation. 
‘‘(b) TIMETABLE
FOR COMPLETING PROCEDURES 
AND REASONS FOR REFUSAL.—A response under para-
graphs (1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall include a copy 
of a proposed timetable for completing the procedures. A 
response under subsection (a)(2) shall detail the reasons 
for the refusal to carry out procedures on the remainder 
of the recommendation. A response under subsection 
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(a)(3) shall detail the reasons for the refusal to carry out 
procedures. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Board shall make 
a copy of each recommendation and response available to 
the public at reasonable cost. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) 
ANNUAL
REGULATORY
STATUS
RE-
PORTS.—On February 1 of each year, the Com-
mandant shall submit a report to Congress and the 
Board containing the regulatory status of each rec-
ommendation made by the Board to the Com-
mandant that is on the Board’s ‘most wanted list’. 
The Commandant shall continue to report on the 
regulatory status of each such recommendation in 
the report due on February 1 of subsequent years 
until final regulatory action is taken on that rec-
ommendation or the Commandant determines and 
states in such a report that no action should be 
taken. 
‘‘(2) FAILURE TO REPORT.—If on March 1 of 
each year the Board has not received the Com-
mandant’s report required by this subsection, the 
Board shall notify the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
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Transportation of the Senate of the Commandant’s 
failure to submit the required report. 
‘‘(3) 
COMPLIANCE
REPORT
WITH
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date on which the Commandant submits a report 
under this subsection, the Board shall review the 
Commandant’s report and transmit comments on 
the report to the Commandant, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate, and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 718 the following: 
‘‘719. Responses to safety recommendations.’’. 
Æ 
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