‘‘(r) REDUNDANT BACKGROUND CHECKS.—The Sec-
retary shall prohibit a State or political subdivision thereof 
from requiring a separate security background check for 
any purpose for which a transportation security card is 
issued under this section. The Secretary may waive the 
application of this subsection with respect to a State or 
political subdivision thereof if the State or political sub-
division demonstrates a compelling homeland security rea-
son that a separate security background check is nec-
essary.’’. 
SEC. 24. HARMONIZING SECURITY CARD EXPIRATIONS. 
Section 70105(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(6) The Secretary may extend for up to one year 
the expiration of a biometric transportation security card 
required by this section to align the expiration with the 
expiration of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant 
mariner document required under chapter 71 or 73.’’. 
SEC. 25. ADMINISTRATION OF MARITIME SECURITY. 
(a) ESTABLISH MARITIME SECURITY AS A COAST 
GUARD FUNCTION.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States 
Code, is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
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‘‘§ 103. Maritime security 
‘‘To protect life, property, and the environment on, 
under, and over waters subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States and on vessels subject to the jurisdiction 
of the United States, the Commandant shall promote mar-
itime security as follows: 
‘‘(1) By taking actions necessary in the public 
interest to protect such life, property, and the envi-
ronment. 
‘‘(2) Based on priorities established by the 
Commandant including— 
‘‘(A) protecting maritime borders from all 
intrusions, reducing the risk from terrorism to 
United States passengers at foreign and domes-
tic ports and in designated waterfront facilities, 
and preventing and responding to terrorist at-
tacks and other homeland security threats; 
‘‘(B) protecting critical maritime infra-
structure and other key resources; and 
‘‘(C) preventing, to the maximum extent 
practicable, a transportation security incident 
as defined in section 70101 of title 46.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 103. Maritime security.’’. 
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(c) MARITIME SECURITY STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 60. Maritime security workforce 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION OF MARITIME SECURITY WORK-
FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Commandant, shall ensure appropriate 
coverage of maritime security missions within the 
workforce in each sector. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED POSITIONS.—In designating po-
sitions under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall in-
clude the following maritime security-related posi-
tions: 
‘‘(A) Program oversight. 
‘‘(B) Counterterrorism functions. 
‘‘(C) Counterintelligence functions. 
‘‘(D) Criminal investigations related to 
maritime security. 
‘‘(E) Port security enforcement. 
‘‘(F) Any other activities that the Com-
mandant deems as necessary. 
‘‘(3) MARITIME
SECURITY
MANAGEMENT
AC-
TIVITIES.—The Secretary shall also designate under 
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paragraph (1) those maritime security-related man-
agement positions located at Coast Guard head-
quarters, Coast Guard Readiness Command, Coast 
Guard Operations Command, the Deployable Oper-
ations Group, and the Intelligence Coordination Cen-
ter. 
‘‘(b) 
CAREER
PATHS.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Commandant, may establish appropriate ca-
reer paths for civilian and military Coast Guard personnel 
who wish to pursue careers in maritime security are identi-
fied in terms of the education, training, experience, and 
assignments necessary for career progression of civilians 
and member of the Armed Forces to the most senior mari-
time security positions. The Secretary shall make available 
published information on such career paths. 
‘‘(c) BALANCED WORKFORCE POLICY.—In the devel-
opment of maritime security workforce policies under this 
section with respect to any civilian employees or applicants 
for employment with the Coast Guard, the Secretary shall, 
consistent with the merit system principles set out in para-
graphs (1) and (2) of section 2301(b) of title 5, take into 
consideration the need to maintain a balance workforce 
in which women and members of racial and ethnic minor-
ity groups are appropriately represented in Government 
service. 
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‘‘(d) SECTOR CHIEF OF MARITIME SECURITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may as-
sign, as appropriate, a Chief of Maritime Security 
who shall be at least a Lieutenant Commander or ci-
vilian employee within the grade GS–13 of the Gen-
eral Schedule in each Coast Guard sector. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Chief of Maritime Se-
curity for a sector— 
‘‘(A) is responsible for all individuals who, 
on behalf of the Coast Guard, conduct port se-
curity operations, counterterrorism operations, 
intelligence and counterintelligence operations, 
and support national defense operations; and 
‘‘(B) if not the Coast Guard officer in 
command of that sector, is the principal advisor 
to the Sector Commander regarding maritime 
security matters in that sector. 
‘‘(e) SIGNATORIES OF LETTER OF QUALIFICATION.— 
Each individual signing a letter of qualification for mari-
time security personnel must hold a letter of qualification 
for the type being certified. 
‘‘§ 61. Centers of expertise for maritime security 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commandant may es-
tablish and operate one or more centers of Maritime Secu-
rity (in this section referred to as a ‘Center’). 
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