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is operating, shall contract with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences to— 
‘‘(I) provide advice and guidance 
in the preparation and development of 
the research plan; 
‘‘(II) assess the adequacy of the 
plan as submitted, and submit a re-
port to Congress on the conclusions of 
such assessment; and 
‘‘(III) provide organization guid-
ance regarding the implementation of 
the research plan, including delegation 
of topics and research among Federal 
agencies represented on the Inter-
agency Committee. 
‘‘(ii) NIST ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.— 
The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall provide the Interagency 
Committee with advice and guidance on 
issues relating to quality assurance and 
standards measurements relating to its ac-
tivities under this section. 
‘‘(C) 10-YEAR UPDATES.—Not later than 
10 years after the date of enactment of the Eli-
jah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization 
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Act of 2020, and every 10 years thereafter, the 
Interagency Committee shall submit to Con-
gress a research plan that updates the informa-
tion contained in the previous research plan 
submitted under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 10105. LIMITED INDEMNITY PROVISIONS IN STANDBY 
OIL SPILL RESPONSE CONTRACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), 
a contract for the containment or removal of a discharge 
entered into by the President under section 311(c) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(c)) 
shall contain a provision to indemnify a contractor for li-
abilities and expenses incidental to the containment or re-
moval arising out of the performance of the contract that 
is substantially identical to the terms contained in sub-
sections (d) through (h) of section H.4 (except for para-
graph (1) of subsection (d)) of the contract offered by the 
Coast Guard in the solicitation numbered DTCG89–98– 
A–68F953 and dated November 17, 1998. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) SOURCE
OF
FUNDS.—The provision re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include a provision 
that the obligation to indemnify is limited to funds 
available in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund estab-
lished by section 9509(a) of the Internal Revenue 
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Code of 1986 at the time the claim for indemnity is 
made. 
(2) UNCOMPENSATED REMOVAL.—A claim for 
indemnity under a contract described in subsection 
(a) shall be made as a claim for uncompensated re-
moval costs under section 1012(a)(4) of the Oil Pol-
lution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(4)). 
(3) LIMITATION.—The total indemnity for a 
claim under a contract described in subsection (a) 
may not be more than $50,000 per incident. 
(c) APPLICABILITY
OF
EXEMPTIONS.—Notwith-
standing subsection (a), the United States shall not be ob-
ligated to indemnify a contractor for any act or omission 
of the contractor carried out pursuant to a contract en-
tered into under this section where such act or omission 
is grossly negligent or which constitutes willful mis-
conduct. 
Subtitle B—Shipping 
SEC. 10201. PASSENGER VESSEL SECURITY AND SAFETY RE-
QUIREMENTS; APPLICATION. 
Section 3507(k)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon at the end; 
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(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (D). 
SEC. 
10202. 
SMALL 
PASSENGER 
VESSELS 
AND 
UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS. 
Section 12121 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) was built in the United States; 
‘‘(B) was not built in the United States 
and is at least 3 years old; or 
‘‘(C) if rebuilt, was rebuilt— 
‘‘(i) in the United States; or 
‘‘(ii) outside the United States at 
least 3 years before the certificate re-
quested under subsection (b) would take 
effect.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘12132,’’ 
after ‘‘12113,’’. 
SEC. 10203. NON-OPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall not enforce 
section 8701 of title 46, United States Code, with respect 
to the following: 
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(1) A vessel with respect to individuals, other 
than crew members required by the Certificate of In-
spection or to ensure the safe navigation of the ves-
sel and not a member of the steward’s department, 
engaged on board for the sole purpose of carrying 
out spill response activities, salvage, marine fire-
fighting, or commercial diving business or functions 
from or on any vessel, including marine firefighters, 
spill response personnel, salvage personnel, and com-
mercial divers and diving support personnel. 
(2) An offshore supply vessel, an industrial ves-
sel (as such term is defined in section 90.10–16 of 
title 46, Code of Federal Regulations), or other simi-
larly engaged vessel with respect to persons engaged 
in the business of the ship on board the vessel— 
(A) for— 
(i) supporting or executing the indus-
trial business or function of the vessel; 
(ii) brief periods to conduct surveys or 
investigations, assess crew competence, 
conduct vessel trials, provide extraordinary 
security resources, or similar tasks not tra-
ditionally performed by the vessel crew; or 
(iii) performing maintenance tasks on 
equipment under warranty, or on equip-
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ment not owned by the vessel owner, or 
maintenance beyond the capability of the 
vessel crew to perform; and 
(B) not the master or crew members re-
quired by the certificate of inspection and not 
a member of the steward’s department. 
(b) SUNSET.—The prohibition in subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant 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 
detailing recommendations to ensure that personnel 
working on a vessel who perform work or operate 
equipment on such vessel not related to the oper-
ation of the vessel itself undergo a background check 
and the appropriate training necessary to ensure 
personnel safety and the safety of the vessel’s crew. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, a discus-
sion of— 
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(A) options and recommendations for en-
suring that the individuals covered by sub-
section (a) are appropriately screened to miti-
gate security and safety risks, including to de-
tect substance abuse; 
(B) communication and collaboration be-
tween the Coast Guard, the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating, and rel-
evant stakeholders regarding the development 
of processes and requirements for conducting 
background checks and ensuring such individ-
uals receive basic safety familiarization and 
basic safety training approved by the Coast 
Guard; 
(C) any identified legislative changes nec-
essary to implement effective training and 
screening requirements for individuals covered 
by subsection (a); and 
(D) the timeline and milestones for imple-
menting such requirements. 
SEC. 10204. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS: TRAINING; PUB-
LIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. 
Chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in section 70107— 
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(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(8), by striking ‘‘law 
enforcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel—’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking 
‘‘law enforcement agency personnel’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘public safety personnel’’; and 
(2) in section 70132— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel—’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘public safety personnel’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL DEFINED.—For 
the purposes of this section, the term ‘public safety per-
sonnel’ includes any Federal, State (or political subdivi-
sion thereof), territorial, or Tribal law enforcement officer, 
firefighter, or emergency response provider.’’. 
SEC. 10205. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT. 
Section 55501(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an assess-
ment of the condition’’ and inserting ‘‘a conditions 
and performance analysis’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) a compendium of the Federal programs 
engaged in the maritime transportation system.’’. 
SEC. 10206. ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES; USE REQUIRE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4312 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
(d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) USE REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual operating a 
covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut- 
off switch link while operating on plane or above dis-
placement speed. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply if— 
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‘‘(A) the main helm of the covered vessel 
is installed within an enclosed cabin; or 
‘‘(B) the vessel does not have an engine 
cut-off switch and is not required to have one 
under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 4311 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by— 
(1) redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), 
and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), re-
spectively; and 
(2) inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) A person violating section 4312(b) of this title 
is liable to the United States Government for a civil pen-
alty of not more than— 
‘‘(1) $100 for the first offense; 
‘‘(2) $250 for the second offense; and 
‘‘(3) $500 for any subsequent offense.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made in 
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, unless the Com-
mandant, prior to the date that is 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, determines that the use 
requirement enacted in subsection (a) would not promote 
recreational boating safety. 
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SEC. 10207. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE OPERATOR OF SELF- 
PROPELLED UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VES-
SEL REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 8905 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) After consultation with the Governor of Alaska 
and the State boating law administrator of Alaska, the 
Secretary may exempt an individual operating a self-pro-
pelled uninspected passenger vessel from the requirements 
of section 8903 of this title, if— 
‘‘(1) the individual only operates such vessel 
wholly within waters located in Alaska; and 
‘‘(2) such vessel is— 
‘‘(A) 26 feet or less in length; and 
‘‘(B) carrying not more than 6 pas-
sengers.’’. 
SEC. 10208. EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4305 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 4305. Exemptions and equivalents’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘If the Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) EXEMPTIONS.—If the Secretary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(b) EQUIVALENTS.—The Secretary may accept a 
substitution for associated equipment performance or 
other safety standards for a recreational vessel if the sub-
stitution provides an equivalent level of safety.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 43 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 4305 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘4305. Exemptions and equivalents.’’. 
SEC. 10209. WAIVER OF NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPEC-
TION LAWS. 
Section 501(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘On request’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXPLANATION.—Not later than 24 hours 
after making a request under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and Armed Services of the Senate a written 
explanation of the circumstances requiring such a 
waiver in the interest of national defense, including 
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a confirmation that there are insufficient qualified 
vessels to meet the needs of national defense without 
such a waiver.’’. 
SEC. 10210. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES 
AND DOCUMENTS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a brief-
ing on the Coast Guard’s implementation of section 7106 
of title 46, United States Code— 
(1) an overview of the manner in which the 
Coast Guard manages and processes renewal appli-
cations under such section, including communication 
with the applicant regarding application status; 
(2) the number of applications received and ap-
proved over the previous 2 years, or in the event ap-
plications were denied, a summary detailing the rea-
sons for such denial; 
(3) an accounting of renewal applications filed 
up to 8 months in advance of the expiration of a 
pre-existing license, including the processing of such 
applications and communication with the applicant 
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regarding application status or any other extenu-
ating circumstances; and 
(4) any other regulatory or statutory changes 
that would be necessary to further improve the 
Coast Guard’s issuance of credentials to fully quali-
fied mariners in the most effective and efficient 
manner possible in order to ensure a safe, secure, 
economically and environmentally sound marine 
transportation system. 
SEC. 10211. CERTIFICATE EXTENSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 121 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 12108. Authority to extend duration of vessel cer-
tificates 
‘‘(a) CERTIFICATES.—Provided a vessel is in compli-
ance with inspection requirements in section 3313, the 
Secretary of the department in which in the Coast Guard 
is operating may, if the Secretary makes the determina-
tion described in subsection (b), extend, for a period of 
not more than 1 year, an expiring certificate of docu-
mentation issued for a vessel under chapter 121. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—The determination referred 
to in subsection (a) is a determination that such extension 
is required to enable the Coast Guard to— 
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‘‘(1) eliminate a backlog in processing applica-
tions for such certificates; or 
‘‘(2) act in response to a national emergency or 
natural disaster. 
‘‘(c) MANNER OF EXTENSION.—Any extension grant-
ed under this section may be granted to individual vessels 
or to a specifically identified group of vessels.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘12108. Authority to extend duration of vessel certificates.’’. 
SEC. 10212. VESSEL SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) FISHING
SAFETY
TRAINING
GRANTS
PRO-
GRAM.—Subsection (i) of section 4502 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2021’’. 
(b) FISHING
SAFETY
RESEARCH
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—Subsection (j) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2021’’. 
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(c) FISHING SAFETY GRANTS.—The cap on the Fed-
eral share of the cost of any activity carried out with a 
grant under subsections (i) and (j) of section 4502 of title 
46, United States Code, as in effect prior to the date of 
enactment of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2018, shall apply to any funds appropriated 
under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public 
Law 115–31) for the purpose of making such grants. 
SEC. 10213. MEDICAL STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 35 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 3509. Medical standards 
‘‘The owner of a vessel to which section 3507 applies 
shall ensure that— 
‘‘(1) a physician is always present and available 
to treat any passengers who may be on board the 
vessel in the event of an emergency situation; 
‘‘(2) the vessel is in compliance with the Health 
Care Guidelines for Cruise Ship Medical Facilities 
established by the American College of Emergency 
Physicians; and 
‘‘(3) the initial safety briefing given to the pas-
sengers on board the vessel includes— 
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‘‘(A) the location of the vessel’s medical fa-
cilities; and 
‘‘(B) the appropriate steps passengers 
should follow during a medical emergency.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 35 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘3509. Medical standards.’’. 
Subtitle C—Advisory Committees 
SEC. 10301. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) NATIONAL OFFSHORE SAFETY ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE; REPRESENTATION.—Section 15106(c)(3) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and oil operations, including geophysical services’’ 
and inserting ‘‘operations’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘explo-
ration and recovery’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in diving services related to offshore construction, 
inspection, and maintenance’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
viding diving services to the offshore industry’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in safety and training services related to offshore ex-
ploration and construction’’ and inserting ‘‘providing 
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safety and training services to the offshore indus-
try’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in pipelaying services related to offshore construc-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘providing subsea engineering, 
construction, or remotely operated vehicle support to 
the offshore industry’’; 
(6) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and energy’’; 
(7) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ‘‘and enti-
ties providing environmental protection, compliance, 
or response services to the offshore industry’’ after 
‘‘national environmental entities’’; and 
(8) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘deepwater 
ports’’ and inserting ‘‘entities engaged in offshore oil 
exploration and production on the Outer Continental 
Shelf adjacent to Alaska’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 15109 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
to which this chapter applies’’ after ‘‘committee estab-
lished under this chapter’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 10302. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NA-
TIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Chapter 555 of title 46, United 
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States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 55502. Maritime Transportation System National 
Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Mari-
time Transportation System National Advisory Committee 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 
Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to the 
United States maritime transportation system and its 
seamless integration with other segments of the transpor-
tation system, including the viability of the United States 
Merchant Marine. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of 27 members appointed by the Secretary of 
Transportation in accordance with this section and 
section 15109. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com-
mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
and experience in matters relating to the function of 
the Committee. 
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed as follows: 
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‘‘(A) At least one member shall represent 
the Environmental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(B) At least one member shall represent 
the Department of Commerce. 
‘‘(C) At least one member shall represent 
the Corps of Engineers. 
‘‘(D) At least one member shall represent 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(E) At least one member shall represent 
Customs and Border Protection. 
‘‘(F) At least one member shall represent 
State and local governmental entities. 
‘‘(G) Additional members shall represent 
private sector entities that reflect a cross-sec-
tion of maritime industries, including port and 
water stakeholders, academia, and labor. 
‘‘(H) The Secretary may appoint addi-
tional representatives from other Federal agen-
cies as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) 
RESTRICTIONS
ON
MEMBERS
REP-
RESENTING FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Members of the 
Committee that represent Federal agencies shall 
not— 
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‘‘(A) comprise more than one-third of the 
total membership of the Committee or of any 
subcommittee therein; or 
‘‘(B) serve as the chair or co-chair of the 
Committee or of any subcommittee therein. 
‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATION.—For purposes of sec-
tion 15109— 
‘‘(A) the Committee shall be treated as a 
committee established under chapter 151; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of Transportation shall 
fulfill all duties and responsibilities and have all 
authorities of the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity with regard to the Committee.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF EXISTING COMMITTEE.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law— 
(1) an advisory committee substantially similar 
to the Committee established by section 55502 of 
title 46, United States Code, and that was in force 
or in effect on the day before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, including the charter, membership, 
and other aspects of such advisory committee, may 
remain in force or in effect for the 2-year period be-
ginning on the date of the enactment of this section; 
and 
(2) during such 2-year period— 
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(A) requirements relating the Maritime 
Transportation System National Advisory Com-
mittee established by such section shall be 
treated as satisfied by such substantially similar 
advisory committee; and 
(B) the enactment of this section shall not 
be the basis— 
(i) to deem, find, or declare such com-
mittee, including the charter, membership, 
and other aspects thereof, void, not in 
force, or not in effect; 
(ii) to suspend the activities of such 
committee; or 
(iii) to bar the members of such com-
mittee from a meeting. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘55502. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee.’’. 
(d) REPEAL.—Section 55603 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the item relating to that section in the 
analysis for chapter 556 of that title, are repealed. 
SEC. 10303. EXPIRED MARITIME LIENS. 
Section 31343(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A notice’’; and 
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(2) by inserting after paragraph (1), as so des-
ignated by this section, the following: 
‘‘(2) On expiration of a notice of claim of lien under 
paragraph (1), and after a request by the vessel owner, 
the Secretary shall annotate the abstract of title to reflect 
the expiration of the lien.’’. 
SEC. 10304. GREAT LAKES PILOTAGE ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9307 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘seven’’ 
and inserting ‘‘8’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘representing the interests of’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘chosen from among nominations 
made by’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘representing the interests of Great Lakes 
ports’’ and inserting ‘‘chosen from among 
nominations made by Great Lakes port au-
thorities and marine terminals’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (D)— 
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(I) by striking ‘‘representing the 
interests of’’ and inserting ‘‘chosen 
from among nominations made by’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph 
(E) as subparagraph (F); 
(v) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D) the following: 
‘‘(E) one member chosen from among nomina-
tions made by Great Lakes maritime labor organiza-
tions; and’’; and 
(vi) in subparagraph (F), as so redes-
ignated, by striking ‘‘with a background in 
finance or accounting,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘2020’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2030’’. 
(b) COMMITTEE DEEMED NOT EXPIRED.—Notwith-
standing section 9307(f)(1) of title 46, United States 
Code, in any case in which the date of enactment of this 
Act occurs after September 30, 2020, the Great Lakes Pi-
lotage Advisory Committee in existence as of September 
30, 2020, shall be deemed not expired during the period 
beginning on September 30, 2020 through the date of en-
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actment of this Act. Accordingly, the committee member-
ship, charter, and the activities of such Committee shall 
continue as though such Committee had not expired. 
SEC. 10305. NATIONAL COMMERCIAL FISHING SAFETY AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) NATIONAL COMMERCIAL FISHING SAFETY ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 15102.—Section 
15102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘and provide rec-
ommendations in writing to’’ after 
‘‘advise’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (E), by 
striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking the period and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(II) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) review marine casualties and investigations 
of vessels covered by chapter 45 of this title and 
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make recommendations to the Secretary to improve 
safety and reduce vessel casualties.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) QUORUM.—A quorum of 10 members is required 
to send any written recommendations from the Committee 
to the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the Secretary from taking emergency action to 
ensure safety and preservation of life at sea.’’. 
(2) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 15109.—Section 
15109 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Each’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS.—The com-
mittee established under section 15102, shall— 
‘‘(A) meet in-person, not less frequently 
than twice each year, at the call of the Sec-
retary of a majority of the members of the com-
mittee; 
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‘‘(B) hold additional meetings as nec-
essary; 
‘‘(C) post the minutes of each meeting of 
the committee on a publicly available website 
not later than 2 weeks after the date on which 
a meeting concludes; and 
‘‘(D) provide reasonable public notice of 
any meeting of the committee, and publish such 
notice in the Federal Register and on a publicly 
available website.’’; 
(B) in subsection (f)(8)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) 
REAPPOINTMENT.—Notwith-
standing’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—With respect to the 
committee established under section 15102, 
members may serve not more than 3 terms.’’; 
(C) in subsection (j)(3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) make all responses required by sub-
paragraph (C) which are related to rec-
ommendations made by the committee estab-
lished under section 15102 available to the pub-
lic not later than 30 days after the date of re-
sponse.’’; 
(D) by amending subsection (k) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(k) OBSERVERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any Federal agency with 
matters under such agency’s administrative jurisdic-
tion related to the function of a committee estab-
lished under this chapter may designate a represent-
ative to— 
‘‘(A) attend any meeting of such com-
mittee; and 
‘‘(B) participate as an observer at meet-
ings of such committee that relate to such a 
matter. 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL COMMERCIAL FISHING SAFETY 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—With respect to the com-
mittee established under section 15102, the Com-
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mandant of the Coast Guard shall designate a rep-
resentative under paragraph (1).’’; 
(E) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘2027’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2029’’; 
(F) by redesignating subsection (l) as sub-
section (m); 
(G) by inserting after subsection (k) the 
following: 
‘‘(l) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance to the Committee if requested 
by the Chairman. 
‘‘(2) COMMITTEE
CONSULTATION.—With re-
spect to the committee established under section 
15102, the Chairman of the committee shall seek ex-
pertise from the fishing industry, marine safety ex-
perts, the shipbuilding industry, and others as the 
committee determines appropriate.’’; and 
(H) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(n) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the Secretary from taking emergency action to 
ensure safety and preservation of life at sea.’’. 
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SEC. 10306. EXEMPTION OF COMMERCIAL FISHING VES-
SELS OPERATING IN ALASKAN REGION FROM 
GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS AND SAFETY 
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL COM-
MUNICATIONS COMMISSION. 
(a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—Subject to subsection (c), the Fed-
eral Communications Commission shall exempt fishing 
vessels that primarily operate in the Alaskan Region, in-
cluding fishing vessels that transit from States in the Pa-
cific Northwest to conduct fishing operations in the Alas-
kan Region, from the requirements relating to carriage of 
VHF–DSC and MF–DSC equipment under subpart W of 
part 80 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
successor regulation. 
(c) FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—A fishing vessel 
exempted under subsection (b) shall— 
(1) be capable of transmitting ship-to-shore dis-
tress alerts using not fewer than 2 separate and 
independent systems, each using a different radio 
communication service; 
(2) be equipped with— 
(A) a VHF radiotelephone installation; 
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(B) an MF or HF radiotelephone installa-
tion; 
(C) a Category 1, 406.0–406.1 MHz 
EPIRB meeting the requirements of section 
80.1061 of title 47, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, or any successor regulation; 
(D) a NAVTEX receiver meeting the re-
quirements of section 80.1101(c)(1) of title 47, 
Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation; 
(E) survival craft equipment meeting the 
requirements of section 80.1095 of title 47, 
Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation; and 
(F) a Search and Rescue Transponder 
meeting 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
80.1101(c)(6) of title 47, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, or any successor regulation; 
(3) maintain a continuous watch on VHF 
Channel 16; and 
(4) as an alternative to the equipment listed in 
subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (2), 
carry equipment found by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission, in consultation with the Sec-
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retary, to be equivalent or superior with respect to 
ensuring the safety of the vessel. 
(d) DEFINITION OF ALASKAN REGION.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall define the term ‘‘Alaskan Region’’ for pur-
poses of this section. The Secretary shall include in the 
definition of such term the area of responsibility of Coast 
Guard District 17. 
Subtitle D—Ports 
SEC. 10401. PORT, HARBOR, AND COASTAL FACILITY SECU-
RITY. 
Section 70116 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘, cyber inci-
dents, transnational organized crime, and foreign 
state threats’’ after ‘‘an act of terrorism’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting 
‘‘cyber incidents, transnational organized crime, 
and foreign state threats’’ after ‘‘terrorism’’ 
each place it appears; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘armed’’ and inserting 
‘‘, armed (as needed),’’; and 
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(ii) by striking ‘‘terrorism or trans-
portation security incidents,’’ and inserting 
‘‘terrorism, cyber incidents, transnational 
organized crime, foreign state threats, or 
transportation security incidents,’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘70034,’’ and inserting 
‘‘70033,’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ‘‘When preventing or responding to 
acts of terrorism, cyber incidents, transnational 
organized crime, or foreign state threats, the 
Secretary may carry out this section without re-
gard to chapters 5 and 6 of title 5 or Executive 
Order Nos. 12866 and 13563.’’. 
SEC. 10402. AIMING LASER POINTER AT VESSEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 700 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 70014. Aiming laser pointer at vessel 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful to cause the 
beam of a laser pointer to strike a vessel operating on the 
navigable waters of the United States. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 
a member or element of the Department of Defense or 
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Department of Homeland Security acting in an official ca-
pacity for the purpose of research, development, oper-
ations, testing, or training. 
‘‘(c) LASER POINTER DEFINED.—In this section the 
term ‘laser pointer’ means any device designed or used to 
amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission 
that emits a beam designed to be used by the operator 
as a pointer or highlighter to indicate, mark, or identify 
a specific position, place, item, or object.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘70014. Aiming laser pointer at vessel.’’. 
SEC. 10403. SAFETY OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a 2- 
year pilot program to establish and implement a process 
to— 
(1) establish safety zones to address special ac-
tivities in the exclusive economic zone; 
(2) account for the number of safety zones es-
tablished for special activities; 
(3) differentiate whether an applicant who re-
quests a safety zone for such activities is— 
(A) an individual; 
(B) an organization; or 
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(C) a government entity; and 
(4) account for Coast Guard resources utilized 
to enforce safety zones established for special activi-
ties, including— 
(A) the number of Coast Guard or Coast 
Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and 
(B) the number of Coast Guard or Coast 
Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the ex-
piration of the 2-year pilot program, the Commandant 
shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate regarding— 
(1) the process required under subsection (a); 
and 
(2) whether the authority to establish safety 
zones to address special activities in the exclusive 
economic zone should be extended or made perma-
nent in the interest of safety. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SAFETY
ZONE.—The term ‘‘safety zone’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 165.20 
of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations. 
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(2) SPECIAL
ACTIVITIES.—The term ‘‘special 
activities’’ includes— 
(A) space activities, including launch and 
reentry, as such terms are defined in section 
50902 of title 51, United States Code, carried 
out by United States citizens; and 
(B) offshore energy development activities, 
as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near a fixed platform. 
(3) 
UNITED
STATES
CITIZEN.—The 
term 
‘‘United States citizen’’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘‘eligible owners’’ in section 12103 of title 46, 
United States Code. 
(4) FIXED PLATFORM.—The term ‘‘fixed plat-
form’’ means an artificial island, installation, or 
structure permanently attached to the sea-bed for 
the purpose of exploration or exploitation of re-
sources or for other economic purposes. 
SEC. 10404. SECURITY PLANS; REVIEWS. 
Section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b)(3) to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘(3) The Secretary shall review and approve 
Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and 
updates under this subsection.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting ‘‘or up-
date’’ after ‘‘plan’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 10405. VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE. 
Section 70001 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 70001. Vessel traffic services 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements of 
section 70004, the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) in any port or place under the jurisdiction 
of the United States, in the navigable waters of the 
United States, or in any area covered by an inter-
national agreement negotiated pursuant to section 
70005, may construct, operate, maintain, improve, 
or expand vessel traffic services, that consist of 
measures for controlling or supervising vessel traffic 
or for protecting navigation and the marine environ-
ment and that may include one or more of reporting 
and operating requirements, surveillance and com-
munications systems, routing systems, and fairways; 
‘‘(2) shall require appropriate vessels that oper-
ate in an area of a vessel traffic service to utilize or 
comply with that service; 
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‘‘(3) may require vessels to install and use spec-
ified navigation equipment, communications equip-
ment, electronic relative motion analyzer equipment, 
or any electronic or other device necessary to comply 
with a vessel traffic service or that is necessary in 
the interests of vessel safety, except that the Sec-
retary shall not require fishing vessels under 300 
gross tons as measured under section 14502, or an 
alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 as 
prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104, or 
recreational vessels 65 feet or less to possess or use 
the equipment or devices required by this subsection 
solely under the authority of this chapter; 
‘‘(4) may control vessel traffic in areas subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States that the Sec-
retary determines to be hazardous, or under condi-
tions of reduced visibility, adverse weather, vessel 
congestion, or other hazardous circumstances, by— 
‘‘(A) specifying times of entry, movement, 
or departure; 
‘‘(B) establishing vessel traffic routing 
schemes; 
‘‘(C) establishing vessel size, speed, or 
draft limitations and vessel operating condi-
tions; and 
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‘‘(D) restricting operation, in any haz-
ardous area or under hazardous conditions, to 
vessels that have particular operating character-
istics or capabilities that the Secretary con-
siders necessary for safe operation under the 
circumstances; 
‘‘(5) may require the receipt of prearrival mes-
sages from any vessel, destined for a port or place 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in 
sufficient time to permit advance vessel traffic plan-
ning before port entry, which shall include any infor-
mation that is not already a matter of record and 
that the Secretary determines necessary for the con-
trol of the vessel and the safety of the port or the 
marine environment; and 
‘‘(6) may prohibit the use on vessels of elec-
tronic or other devices that interfere with commu-
nication and navigation equipment, except that such 
authority shall not apply to electronic or other de-
vices certified to transmit in the maritime services 
by the Federal Communications Commission and 
used within the frequency bands 157.1875–157.4375 
MHz and 161.7875–162.0375 MHz. 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL POLICY.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
UPDATE
OF
NA-
TIONAL POLICY.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
POLICY.—Not 
later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Secretary shall establish a 
national policy which is inclusive of local 
variances permitted under subsection (c), to be 
applied to all vessel traffic service centers and 
publish such policy in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(B) UPDATE.—The Secretary shall peri-
odically update the national policy established 
under subparagraph (A) and shall publish such 
update in the Federal Register or on a publicly 
available website. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The national policy estab-
lished and updated under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude, at a minimum, the following: 
‘‘(A) Standardization of titles, roles, and 
responsibilities for all personnel assigned, work-
ing, or employed in a vessel traffic service cen-
ter. 
‘‘(B) Standardization of organizational 
structure within vessel traffic service centers, to 
include supervisory and reporting chain and 
processes. 
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‘‘(C) Establishment of directives for the 
application of authority provided to each vessel 
traffic service center, specifically with respect to 
directing or controlling vessel movement when 
such action is justified in the interest of safety. 
‘‘(D) Establishment of thresholds and 
measures for monitoring, informing, recom-
mending, and directing vessel traffic. 
‘‘(E) Establishment of national procedures 
and protocols for vessel traffic management. 
‘‘(F) Standardization of training for all 
vessel traffic service directors, operators, and 
watchstanders. 
‘‘(G) Establishment of certification and 
competency evaluation for all vessel traffic serv-
ice directors, operators, and watchstanders. 
‘‘(H) Establishment of standard operating 
language when communicating with vessel traf-
fic users. 
‘‘(I) Establishment of data collection, stor-
age, management, archiving, and dissemination 
policies and procedures for vessel incidents and 
near-miss incidents. 
‘‘(c) LOCAL VARIANCES.— 
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‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT.—In this section, the Sec-
retary may provide for such local variances as the 
Secretary considers appropriate to account for the 
unique vessel traffic, waterway characteristics, and 
any additional factors that are appropriate to en-
hance navigational safety in any area where vessel 
traffic services are provided. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.— 
The Captain of the Port covered by a vessel traffic 
service center may develop and submit to the Sec-
retary regional policies in addition to the national 
policy established and updated under subsection (b) 
to account for variances from that national policy 
with respect to local vessel traffic conditions and vol-
ume, geography, water body characteristics, water-
way usage, and any additional factors that the Cap-
tain considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) REVIEW
AND
IMPLEMENTATION.—Not 
later than 180 days after receiving regional policies 
under paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary shall review such re-
gional policies; and 
‘‘(B) the Captain of the port concerned 
shall implement the policies that the Secretary 
approves. 
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‘‘(4) 
MAINTENANCE.—The 
Secretary 
shall 
maintain a central depository for all local variances 
approved under this section. 
‘‘(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into cooperative agreements with public or private 
agencies, authorities, associations, institutions, cor-
porations, organizations, or other persons to carry 
out the functions under subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) INTERNATIONAL
COORDINATION.—With 
respect to vessel traffic service areas that cross 
international boundaries, the Secretary may enter 
into bilateral or cooperative agreements with inter-
national partners to jointly carry out the functions 
under subsection (a)(1) and to jointly manage such 
areas to collect, share, assess, and analyze informa-
tion in the possession or control of the international 
partner. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(A) INHERENTLY GOVERNMENTAL FUNC-
TION.—A nongovernmental entity may not 
under this subsection carry out an inherently 
governmental function. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITION
OF
INHERENTLY
GOV-
ERNMENTAL
FUNCTION.—In this paragraph, 
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the term ‘inherently governmental function’ 
means any activity that is so intimately related 
to the public interest as to mandate perform-
ance by an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government, including an activity that requires 
either the exercise of discretion in applying the 
authority of the Government or the use of judg-
ment in making a decision for the Government. 
‘‘(4) DISCLOSURE.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall de-identify information prior to 
release to the public, including near miss incidents. 
‘‘(e) PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
and implement a standard method for evaluating the 
performance of vessel traffic service centers. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The standard method devel-
oped and implemented under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude, at a minimum, analysis and collection of data 
with respect to the following within a vessel traffic 
service area covered by each vessel traffic service 
center: 
‘‘(A) Volume of vessel traffic, categorized 
by type of vessel. 
‘‘(B) Total volume of flammable, combus-
tible, or hazardous liquid cargo transported, 
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categorized by vessel type as provided in the 
Notice of Arrival, if applicable, or as deter-
mined by other means. 
‘‘(C) Data on near-miss incidents. 
‘‘(D) Data on marine casualties. 
‘‘(E) Application by vessel traffic operators 
of traffic management authority during near- 
miss incidents and marine casualties. 
‘‘(F) Other additional methods as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this paragraph, and bienni-
ally thereafter, the Secretary 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 a report on the evaluation conducted 
under paragraph (1) of the performance of vessel 
traffic service centers, including— 
‘‘(A) recommendations to improve safety 
and performance; and 
‘‘(B) data regarding marine casualties and 
near-miss incidents that have occurred during 
the period covered by the report. 
‘‘(f) RISK ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
a continuous risk assessment program to evaluate 
and mitigate safety risks for each vessel traffic serv-
ice area to improve safety and reduce the risks of oil 
and hazardous material discharge in navigable 
waters. 
‘‘(2) METHOD
FOR
ASSESSMENT.—The Sec-
retary, in coordination with stakeholders and the 
public, shall develop a standard method for con-
ducting risk assessments under paragraph (1) that 
includes the collection and management of all infor-
mation necessary to identify and analyze potential 
hazardous navigational trends within a vessel traffic 
service area. 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION TO BE ASSESSED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that a risk assessment conducted under 
paragraph (1) includes an assessment of the 
following: 
‘‘(i) Volume of vessel traffic, cat-
egorized by type of vessel. 
‘‘(ii) Total volume of flammable, com-
bustible, or hazardous liquid cargo trans-
ported, categorized by vessel type as pro-
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vided in the Notice of Arrival, if applicable, 
or as determined by other means. 
‘‘(iii) Data on near-miss events inci-
dents. 
‘‘(iv) Data on marine casualties. 
‘‘(v) Geographic locations for near- 
miss events incidents and marine casual-
ties, including latitude and longitude. 
‘‘(vi) Cyclical risk factors such as 
weather, seasonal water body currents, 
tides, bathymetry, and topography. 
‘‘(vii) Weather data, in coordination 
with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION
STORAGE
AND
MAN-
AGEMENT
POLICIES.—The Secretary shall re-
tain all information collected under subpara-
graph (A) and ensure policies and procedures 
are in place to standardize the format in which 
that information is retained to facilitate statis-
tical analysis of that information to calculate 
within a vessel traffic service area, at a min-
imum, the incident rate, intervention rate, and 
casualty prevention rate. 
‘‘(4) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
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‘‘(A) ASSESSMENTS AND INFORMATION.— 
In accordance with section 552 of title 5, the 
Secretary shall make any risk assessments con-
ducted under paragraph (1) and any informa-
tion collected under paragraph (3)(A) available 
to the public. 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION
IN
POSSESSION
OR 
CONTROL OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.—The 
Secretary shall endeavor to coordinate with 
international partners as described in sub-
section (d)(2) to enter into agreements to make 
information collected, shared, and analyzed 
under that paragraph available to the public. 
‘‘(C) DISCLOSURE.—The Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall de-identify information 
prior to release to the public, including near- 
miss incidents. 
‘‘(g) VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) TRAINING PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop a comprehensive nationwide training 
program for all vessel traffic service directors, 
operators, and watchstanders. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—The comprehensive na-
tionwide training program under subparagraph 
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(A) and any variances to that program under 
subsection (c) shall include, at a minimum, the 
following: 
‘‘(i) Realistic vessel traffic scenarios 
to the maximum extent practicable that in-
tegrate— 
‘‘(I) the national policy developed 
under subsection (b); 
‘‘(II) international rules under 
the International Navigational Rules 
Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); 
‘‘(III) inland navigation rules 
under part 83 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations; 
‘‘(IV) the application of vessel 
traffic authority; and 
‘‘(V) communication with vessel 
traffic service users. 
‘‘(ii) Proficiency training with respect 
to use, interpretation, and integration of 
available data on vessel traffic service dis-
play systems such as radar, and vessel 
automatic identification system feeds. 
‘‘(iii) Practical application of— 
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‘‘(I) the international rules under 
the International Navigational Rules 
Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); 
and 
‘‘(II) the inland navigation rules 
under part 83 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(iv) Proficiency training with respect 
to the operation of radio communications 
equipment and any other applicable sys-
tems necessary to execute vessel traffic 
service authorities. 
‘‘(v) Incorporation of the Standard 
Marine Communication Phrases adopted 
by the International Maritime Organiza-
tion by resolution on April 4, 2000, as 
amended and consolidated, or any suc-
cessor resolution. 
‘‘(vi) Incorporation to the maximum 
extent possible of guidance and rec-
ommendations contained in vessel traffic 
services operator training, vessel traffic 
services supervisor training, or other rel-
evant training set forth by the Inter-
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national Association of Marine Aids to 
Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. 
‘‘(vii) A minimum number of hours of 
training for an individual to complete be-
fore the individual is qualified to fill a ves-
sel traffic services position without super-
vision. 
‘‘(viii) Local area geographic and 
operational familiarization. 
‘‘(ix) Such additional components as 
the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) STANDARD COMPETENCY QUALIFICATION 
PROCESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop a standard competency qualification 
process to be applied to all personnel assigned, 
employed, or working in a vessel traffic service 
center. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION
OF
PROCESS.—The 
competency 
qualification 
process 
developed 
under subparagraph (A) shall include measur-
able thresholds for determining proficiency. 
‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL AND INLAND NAVIGATION 
RULES TEST.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—All personnel as-
signed, employed, or working in a vessel traffic 
service center with responsibilities that include 
communicating, interacting, or directing vessels 
within a vessel traffic service area, as deter-
mined under the national policy developed 
under subsection (b), shall be required to pass 
a United States international and inland navi-
gation rules test developed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS OF TEST.—The Secretary 
shall determine the content and passing stand-
ard for the rules test developed under subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(C) TESTING
FREQUENCY.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a frequency, not to exceed 
once every 5 years, for personnel described in 
subparagraph (A) to be required to pass the 
rules test developed under such subparagraph. 
‘‘(h) RESEARCH ON VESSEL TRAFFIC.— 
‘‘(1) VESSEL COMMUNICATION.—The Secretary 
shall conduct research, in consultation with subject 
matter experts identified by the Secretary, to de-
velop more effective procedures for monitoring vessel 
communications on radio frequencies to identify and 
address unsafe situations in a vessel traffic service 
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area. The Secretary shall consider data collected 
under subparagraph (A) of subsection (f)(3). 
‘‘(2) PROFESSIONAL
MARINER
REPRESENTA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
conduct research, in consultation with local 
stakeholders and subject matter experts identi-
fied by the Secretary, to evaluate and determine 
the feasibility, costs and benefits of representa-
tion by professional mariners on the vessel traf-
fic service watchfloor at each vessel traffic serv-
ice center. 
‘‘(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 
shall implement representation by professional 
mariners on the vessel traffic service watchfloor 
at those vessel traffic service centers for which 
it is determined feasible and beneficial pursuant 
to research conducted under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(i) INCLUSION
OF IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
ON 
CERTAIN VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The National Navigation 
Safety Advisory Committee shall advise and provide 
recommendations to the Secretary on matters relat-
ing to the practicability, economic costs, regulatory 
burden, and navigational impact of outfitting vessels 
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lacking independent means of propulsion that carry 
flammable, combustible, or hazardous liquid cargo 
with vessel automatic identification systems. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.—Based on the evaluation 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prescribe 
such regulations as the Secretary considers appro-
priate to establish requirements relating to the out-
fitting of vessels described in such subparagraph 
with vessel automatic identification systems. 
‘‘(j) PERIODIC REVIEW OF VESSEL TRAFFIC SERV-
ICE NEEDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the performance 
evaluation conducted under subsection (e) and the 
risk assessment conducted under subsection (f), the 
Secretary shall periodically review vessel traffic serv-
ice areas to determine— 
‘‘(A) if there are any additional vessel traf-
fic service needs in those areas; and 
‘‘(B) if a vessel traffic service area should 
be moved or modified. 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION TO BE ASSESSED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that a review conducted under para-
graph (1) includes an assessment of the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(i) Volume of vessel traffic, cat-
egorized by type of vessel. 
‘‘(ii) Total volume of flammable, com-
bustible, or hazardous liquid cargo trans-
ported, categorized by vessel type as pro-
vided in the Notice of Arrival, if applicable, 
or as determined by other means. 
‘‘(iii) Data on near miss incidents. 
‘‘(iv) Data on marine casualties. 
‘‘(v) Geographic locations for near- 
miss incidents and marine casualties, in-
cluding latitude and longitude. 
‘‘(vi) Cyclical risk factors such as 
weather, seasonal water body currents, 
tides, bathymetry, and topography. 
‘‘(vii) Weather data, in coordination 
with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
‘‘(3) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In conducting the 
periodic reviews under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall seek input from port and waterway stake-
holders to identify areas of increased vessel conflicts 
or marine casualties that could benefit from the use 
of routing measures or vessel traffic service special 
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areas to improve safety, port security, and environ-
mental protection. 
‘‘(4) DISCLOSURE.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall de-identify information prior to 
release to the public, including near miss incidents. 
‘‘(k) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR COAST GUARD 
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE PILOTS AND NON-FEDERAL 
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE OPERATORS.— 
‘‘(1) COAST GUARD VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE 
PILOTS.—Any pilot, acting in the course and scope 
of his or her duties while at a Coast Guard Vessel 
Traffic Service Center, who provides information, 
advice, or communication assistance while under the 
supervision of a Coast Guard officer, member, or 
employee shall not be liable for damages caused by 
or related to such assistance unless the acts or omis-
sions of such pilot constitute gross negligence or 
willful misconduct. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE 
OPERATORS.—An entity operating a non-Federal 
vessel traffic information service or advisory service 
pursuant to a duly executed written agreement with 
the Coast Guard, and any pilot acting on behalf of 
such entity, is not liable for damages caused by or 
related to information, advice, or communication as-
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sistance provided by such entity or pilot while so op-
erating or acting unless the acts or omissions of 
such entity or pilot constitute gross negligence or 
willful misconduct. 
‘‘(l) EXISTING AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to alter the existing authorities of the 
Secretary to enhance navigation, vessel safety, marine en-
vironmental protection, and to ensure safety and preserva-
tion of life and property at sea. 
‘‘(m) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) HAZARDOUS
LIQUID
CARGO.—The term 
‘hazardous liquid cargo’ has the meaning given that 
term in regulations prescribed under section 5103 of 
title 49. 
‘‘(2) MARINE
CASUALTY.—The term ‘marine 
casualty’ has the meaning given that term in regula-
tions prescribed under section 6101(a). 
‘‘(3) VESSEL
TRAFFIC
SERVICE
AREA.—The 
term ‘vessel traffic service area’ means an area spec-
ified in subpart C of part 161 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. 
‘‘(4) VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE CENTER.—The 
term ‘vessel traffic service center’ means a center for 
the provision of vessel traffic services in a vessel 
traffic service area. 
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‘‘(5) NEAR MISS INCIDENT.—The term ‘near 
miss incident’ means any occurrence or series of oc-
currences having the same origin, involving one or 
more vessels, facilities, or any combination thereof, 
resulting in the substantial threat of a marine cas-
ualty. 
‘‘(6) DE-IDENTIFIED.—The term ‘de-identified’ 
means the process by which all information that is 
likely to establish the identity of the specific persons 
or entities noted in the reports, data, or other infor-
mation is removed from the reports, data, or other 
information.’’. 
SEC. 
10406. 
TRANSPORTATION 
WORK 
IDENTIFICATION 
CARD PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 70105(g) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘shall concurrently’’ and all that fol-
lows and inserting the following: ‘‘shall— 
‘‘(1) develop and, no later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of the Elijah E. Cummings 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, implement 
a joint application for merchant mariner’s docu-
ments under chapter 73 and for a transportation se-
curity card issued under this section; and 
‘‘(2) upon receipt of a joint application devel-
oped under paragraph (1) concurrently process an 
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application from an individual for merchant mari-
ner’s documents under chapter 73 and an applica-
tion from such individual for a transportation secu-
rity card under this section.’’. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
Subtitle A—Navigation and 
Shipping 
SEC. 11101. COASTWISE TRADE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall review the 
adequacy of and continuing need for provisions in title 46, 
Code of Federal Regulations, that require a United States 
vessel documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United 
States Code, possessing a coastwise endorsement under 
that chapter, and engaged in coastwise trade, to comply 
with regulations for vessels engaged in an international 
voyage. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a briefing on the findings of the review required 
under subsection (a) and a discussion of how existing laws 
and regulations could be amended to ensure the safety of 
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vessels described in subsection (a) while infringing as little 
as possible on commerce. 
SEC. 11102. TOWING VESSELS OPERATING OUTSIDE BOUND-
ARY LINE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Boundary Line’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 103 of title 46, United 
States Code; 
(2) the term ‘‘Officer in Charge, Marine Inspec-
tion’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code; and 
(3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating. 
(b) INTERIM EXEMPTION.—A towing vessel described 
in subsection (c) and a response vessel included on a vessel 
response plan are exempt from any additional require-
ments of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, and 
chapter I of title 33 and chapter I of title 46, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act), that would result solely from such vessel 
operating outside the Boundary Line, if— 
(1) the vessel is— 
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(A) operating outside the Boundary Line 
solely to perform regular harbor assist oper-
ations; or 
(B) listed as a response vessel on a vessel 
response plan and is operating outside the 
Boundary Line solely to perform duties of a re-
sponse vessel; 
(2) the vessel is approved for operations outside 
the Boundary Line by the Officer in Charge, Marine 
Inspection and the Coast Guard Marine Safety Cen-
ter; and 
(3) the vessel has sufficient manning and life-
saving equipment for all persons on board, in ac-
cordance with part 15 and section 141.225 of title 
46, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulation). 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to a towing 
vessel— 
(1) that is subject to inspection under chapter 
33 of title 46, United States Code, and subchapter 
M of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (or any successor regulation); 
(2) with only ‘‘Lakes, Bays, and Sounds’’ or 
‘‘Rivers’’ routes recorded on such vessel’s certificate 
of inspection pursuant to section 136.230 of title 46, 
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Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu-
lation); 
(3) that, with respect to a vessel described in 
subsection (b)(1)(A), is operating as a harbor assist 
vessel and regularly engaged in harbor assist oper-
ations, including the docking, undocking, mooring, 
unmooring, and escorting of vessels with limited ma-
neuverability; and 
(4) that, with respect to a vessel that is de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)(B), is listed— 
(A) on a vessel response plan under part 
155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, on 
the date of approval of the vessel response plan; 
or 
(B) by name or reference in the vessel re-
sponse plan’s geographic-specific appendix on 
the date of approval of the vessel response plan. 
(d) LIMITATIONS.—A vessel exempted under sub-
section (b) is subject to the following operating limitations: 
(1) The voyage of a vessel described in sub-
section (b)(1)(A) shall— 
(A) be less than 12 hours in total duration; 
(B) originate and end in the inspection 
zone of a single Officer in Charge, Marine In-
spection; and 
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(C) occur no further than 10 nautical 
miles from the Boundary Line. 
(2) The voyage of a vessel described in sub-
section (b)(1)(B) shall— 
(A) originate and end in the inspection 
zone of a single Officer in Charge, Marine In-
spection; and 
(B) either— 
(i) in the case of a voyage in the terri-
torial waters of Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, 
American Samoa, and the Northern Mar-
iana Islands, have sufficient manning as 
determined by the Secretary; or 
(ii) be less than 12 hours. 
(e) SAFETY.— 
(1) SAFETY
RESTRICTIONS.—The Officer in 
Charge, Marine Inspection for an inspection zone 
may restrict operations under the interim exemption 
provided under subsection (b) for safety purposes. 
(2) COMPREHENSIVE
LISTS.—The Officer in 
Charge, Marine Inspection for an inspection zone 
shall maintain and periodically update a comprehen-
sive list of all towing vessels described in subsection 
(c) that operate in the inspection zone. 
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(3) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 24 hours 
prior to intended operations outside of the Boundary 
Line, a towing vessel exempted under subsection (b) 
shall notify the Office in Charge, Marine Inspection 
for the inspection zone of such operations. Such no-
tification shall include— 
(A) the date, time, and length of voyage; 
(B) a crew list, with each crew member’s 
credentials and work hours; and 
(C) an attestation from the master of the 
towing vessel that the vessel has sufficient man-
ning and lifesaving equipment for all persons on 
board. 
(f) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall brief the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives regarding the following: 
(1) The impacts of the interim exemption pro-
vided under this section. 
(2) Any safety concerns regarding the expira-
tion of such interim exemption. 
(3) Whether such interim exemption should be 
extended. 
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(g) TERMINATION.—The interim exemption provided 
under subsection (b) shall terminate on the date that is 
2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 11103. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE MARI-
TIME INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
It is the sense of Congress that the maritime industry 
of the United States contributes to the Nation’s economic 
prosperity and national security. 
SEC. 11104. CARGO PREFERENCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an audit regarding the en-
forcement of the United States Cargo Preference Laws set 
forth in sections 55302, 55303, 55304, and 55305 of title 
46, United States Code, and section 2631 of title 10, 
United States Code (hereinafter in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘United States Cargo Preference Laws’’). 
(b) SCOPE.—The audit conducted under subsection 
(a) shall include, for the period from October 14, 2008, 
until the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) a listing of the agencies and organizations 
required to comply with the United States Cargo 
Preference Laws; 
(2) an analysis of the compliance or noncompli-
ance of such agencies and organizations with such 
laws, including— 
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(A) the total amount of oceangoing cargo 
that each such agency, organization, or con-
tractor procured for its own account or for 
which financing was in any way provided with 
Federal funds, including loan guarantees; 
(B) the percentage of such cargo shipped 
on privately owned commercial vessels of the 
United States; 
(C) an assessment of internal programs 
and controls used by each such agency or orga-
nization to monitor and ensure compliance with 
the United States Cargo Preference Laws, to 
include education, training, and supervision of 
its contracting personnel, and the procedures 
and controls used to monitor compliance with 
cargo preference requirements by contractors 
and subcontractors; and 
(D) instances in which cargoes are shipped 
on foreign-flag vessels under non-availability de-
terminations but not counted as such for pur-
poses of calculating cargo preference compli-
ance; and 
(3) an overview of enforcement activities under-
taken by the Maritime Administration from October 
14, 2008, until the date of the enactment of this 
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Act, including a listing of all bills of lading collected 
by the Maritime Administration during that period. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and pro-
viding recommendations related to such results, to in-
clude— 
(1) actions that should be taken by agencies 
and organizations to fully comply with the United 
States Cargo Preference Laws; and 
(2) Other measures that may compel agencies 
and organizations, and their contractors and sub-
contractors, to use United States flag vessels in the 
international transportation of ocean cargoes as 
mandated by the United States Cargo Preference 
Laws. 
SEC. 11105. TOWING VESSEL INSPECTION FEES. 
Notwithstanding section 9701 of title 31, United 
States Code, and section 2110 of title 46, United States 
Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may not charge an inspection fee for 
towing vessels required to have a Certificate of Inspection 
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under subchapter M of title 46, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, until— 
(1) the completion of the review required under 
section 815 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282); 
and 
(2) the promulgation of regulations to establish 
specific inspection fees for such vessels. 
Subtitle B—Maritime Domain 
Awareness 
SEC. 11201. UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS AND SAT-
ELLITE VESSEL TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) 
ASSESSMENT.—The 
Commandant, 
acting 
through the Blue Technology Center of Expertise, shall 
regularly assess available unmanned maritime systems 
and satellite vessel tracking technologies for potential use 
to support missions of the Coast Guard. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially 
thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report on the actual and potential effects of 
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the use of then-existing unmanned maritime systems 
and satellite vessel tracking technologies on the mis-
sion effectiveness of the Coast Guard. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An inventory of current unmanned 
maritime systems used by the Coast Guard, an 
overview of such usage, and a discussion of the 
mission effectiveness of such systems, including 
any benefits realized or risks or negative as-
pects of such usage. 
(B) An inventory of satellite vessel track-
ing technologies, and a discussion of the poten-
tial mission effectiveness of such technologies, 
including any benefits or risks or negative as-
pects of such usage. 
(C) A prioritized list of Coast Guard mis-
sion requirements that could be met with addi-
tional unmanned maritime systems, or with sat-
ellite vessel tracking technologies, and the esti-
mated costs of accessing, acquiring, or oper-
ating such systems, taking into consideration 
the interoperability of such systems with the 
current and future fleet of— 
(i) National Security Cutters; 
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(ii) Fast Response Cutters; 
(iii) Offshore Patrol Cutters; 
(iv) Polar Security Cutters; and 
(v) in-service legacy cutters, including 
the 210- and 270-foot medium endurance 
cutters and 225-foot Buoy Tenders. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘unmanned 
maritime systems’’ means— 
(i) remotely operated or autonomous 
vehicles produced by the commercial sector 
designed to travel in the air, on or under 
the ocean surface, on land, or any com-
bination thereof, and that function without 
an on-board human presence; and 
(ii) associated components of such ve-
hicles, including control and communica-
tions systems, data transmission systems, 
and processing systems. 
(B) EXAMPLES.—Such term includes the 
following: 
(i) Unmanned undersea vehicles. 
(ii) Unmanned surface vehicles. 
(iii) Unmanned aerial vehicles. 
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(iv) Autonomous underwater vehicles. 
(v) Autonomous surface vehicles. 
(vi) Autonomous aerial vehicles. 
(2) AVAILABLE
UNMANNED
MARITIME
SYS-
TEMS.—The term ‘‘available unmanned maritime 
systems’’ includes systems that can be purchased 
commercially or are in use by the Department of 
Defense or other Federal agencies. 
(3) 
SATELLITE
VESSEL
TRACKING
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—The term ‘‘satellite vessel tracking tech-
nologies’’ means shipboard broadcast systems that 
use satellites and terrestrial receivers to continually 
track vessels. 
SEC. 11202. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TESTING. 
(a) TRAINING AREA.—The Commandant shall carry 
out and update, as appropriate, a program for the use of 
one or more training areas to facilitate the use of un-
manned aircraft systems and small unmanned aircraft to 
support missions of the Coast Guard. 
(b) DESIGNATION OF AREA.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant shall, as part of the program under sub-
section (a), designate an area for the training, test-
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ing, and development of unmanned aircraft systems 
and small unmanned aircraft. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In designating a train-
ing area under paragraph (1), the Commandant 
shall— 
(A) ensure that such training area has or 
receives all necessary Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration flight authorization; and 
(B) take into consideration all of the fol-
lowing attributes of the training area: 
(i) Direct over-water maritime access 
from the site. 
(ii) The availability of existing Coast 
Guard support facilities, including pier and 
dock space. 
(iii) Proximity to existing and avail-
able offshore Warning Area airspace for 
test and training. 
(iv) Existing facilities and infrastruc-
ture to support unmanned aircraft system- 
augmented, and small unmanned aircraft- 
augmented, training, evaluations, and exer-
cises. 
(v) Existing facilities with a proven 
track record of supporting unmanned air-
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craft systems and small unmanned aircraft 
systems flight operations. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘existing’’ means as of the date of 
enactment of this Act; and 
(2) the terms ‘‘small unmanned aircraft’’ and 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the meanings 
given those terms in section 44801 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 11203. LAND-BASED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM 
PROGRAM OF COAST GUARD. 
(a) FUNDING FOR CERTAIN ENHANCED CAPABILI-
TIES.—Section 319 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) FUNDING FOR CERTAIN ENHANCED CAPABILI-
TIES.—In each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021, the Com-
mandant may provide additional funding of $5,000,000 
for additional long-range maritime patrol aircraft, ac-
quired through full and open competition.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS FOR CERTAIN SURVEILLANCE.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 
31, 2021, the Commandant, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
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tion on matters related to aviation safety and civil-
ian aviation and aerospace operations, shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
setting forth an assessment of the feasibility and ad-
visability of using unmanned aircraft systems for 
surveillance of marine protected areas, the transit 
zone, and the Arctic in order to— 
(A) establish and maintain regular mari-
time domain awareness of such areas; 
(B) ensure appropriate response to illegal 
activities in such areas; and 
(C) collaborate with State, local, and tribal 
authorities, and international partners, in sur-
veillance missions over their waters in such 
areas. 
(2) 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 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland 
Security of the House of Representatives. 
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SEC. 11204. PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OR PROCURE-
MENT OF FOREIGN-MADE UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) PROHIBITION ON AGENCY OPERATION OR PRO-
CUREMENT.—The Commandant may not operate or enter 
into or renew a contract for the procurement of— 
(1) an unmanned aircraft system that— 
(A) is manufactured in a covered foreign 
country or by an entity domiciled in a covered 
foreign country; 
(B) uses flight controllers, radios, data 
transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals man-
ufactured in a covered foreign country or by an 
entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; 
(C) uses a ground control system or oper-
ating software developed in a covered foreign 
country or by an entity domiciled in a covered 
foreign country; or 
(D) uses network connectivity or data stor-
age located in or administered by an entity 
domiciled in a covered foreign country; or 
(2) a system manufactured in a covered foreign 
country or by an entity domiciled in a covered for-
eign country for the detection or identification of un-
manned aircraft systems. 
(b) EXEMPTION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant is exempt 
from the restriction under subsection (a) if— 
(A) the operation or procurement is for the 
purposes of— 
(i) counter-UAS system surrogate 
testing and training; or 
(ii) intelligence, electronic warfare, 
and information warfare operations, test-
ing, analysis, and training; or 
(B) the Commandant receives a certifi-
cation from the Coast Guard unit requesting to 
operate or procure an unmanned aircraft sys-
tem otherwise restricted under subsection (a), 
which shall include supporting manufacturer in-
formation, that the unmanned aircraft system 
does not— 
(i) connect to the internet or an out-
side telecommunications service; 
(ii) connect to other devices or elec-
tronics, except as necessary to perform the 
mission; or 
(iii) perform any missions in support 
of classified information or that may 
threaten national security. 
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(2) EXPIRATION.—The authority under this 
subsection to operate or procure an unmanned air-
craft system otherwise restricted under subsection 
(a) expires on the date that is 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) WAIVER.—The Commandant may waive the re-
striction under subsection (a) on a case by case basis by 
certifying in writing to the Department of Homeland Se-
curity and the relevant committees of jurisdiction that the 
operation or procurement is required in the national inter-
est of the United States. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED FOREIGN COUNTRY.—The term 
‘‘covered foreign country’’ means the People’s Re-
public of China. 
(2) 
COUNTER-UAS 
SYSTEM.—The 
term 
‘‘counter-UAS system’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(3) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
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SEC. 11205. UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE-BASED 
RADIO 
FREQUENCY 
MARITIME 
DOMAIN 
AWARENESS TESTING AND EVALUATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) TESTING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating, acting through the Blue Technology Center of Ex-
pertise, shall carry out a testing and evaluation program 
of United States commercial space-based radio frequency 
geolocation and maritime domain awareness products and 
services to support the mission objectives of maritime en-
forcement by the Coast Guard and other components of 
the Coast Guard. The objectives of this testing and evalua-
tion program shall include— 
(1) developing an understanding of how United 
States commercial space-based radio frequency data 
products can meet current and future mission re-
quirements; 
(2) establishing how United States commercial 
space-based radio frequency data products should in-
tegrate into existing work flows; and 
(3) establishing how United States commercial 
space-based radio frequency data products could be 
integrated into analytics platforms. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 240 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, such Secretary shall prepare and 
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submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the results of the testing and eval-
uation program under subsection (a), including rec-
ommendations on how the Coast Guard should fully ex-
ploit United States commercial space-based radio fre-
quency data products to meet current and future mission 
requirements. 
SEC. 11206. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF AUTOMATIC IDEN-
TIFICATION SYSTEMS DEVICES TO MARK 
FISHING EQUIPMENT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Automatic Identification System’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 164.46(a) 
of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, or any suc-
cessor regulation; 
(2) the term ‘‘Automatic Identification System 
device’’ means a covered device that operates in 
radio frequencies assigned to the Automatic Identi-
fication System; 
(3) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 
Communications Commission; and 
(4) the term ‘‘covered device’’ means a device 
used to mark fishing equipment. 
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(b) RULEMAKING REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion, in consultation with the Commandant, the Secretary 
of State, and the Secretary of Commerce (acting through 
the Administrator of National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration), shall initiate a rulemaking 
proceeding to consider whether to authorize covered de-
vices to operate in radio frequencies assigned to the Auto-
matic Identification System. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking 
under subsection (b), the Commission shall consider 
whether imposing requirements with respect to the man-
ner in which Automatic Identification System devices are 
deployed and used would enable the authorization of cov-
ered devices to operate in radio frequencies assigned to 
the Automatic Identification System consistent with the 
core purpose of the Automatic Identification System to 
prevent maritime accidents. 
Subtitle C—Arctic 
SEC. 11301. COAST GUARD ARCTIC PRIORITIZATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) The strategic importance of the Arctic con-
tinues to increase as the United States and other 
countries recognize the military significance of the 
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sea lanes and choke points within the region and un-
derstand the potential for power projection from the 
Arctic into multiple regions. 
(2) Russia and China have conducted military 
exercises together in the Arctic, have agreed to con-
nect the Northern Sea Route, claimed by Russia, 
with China’s Maritime Silk Road, and are working 
together in developing natural gas resources in the 
Arctic. 
(3) The economic significance of the Arctic con-
tinues to grow as countries around the globe begin 
to understand the potential for maritime transpor-
tation through, and economic and trade development 
in, the region. 
(4) Increases in human, maritime, and resource 
development activity in the Arctic region may create 
additional mission requirements for the Department 
of Defense and the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(5) The increasing role of the United States in 
the Arctic has been highlighted in each of the last 
four national defense authorization acts. 
(6) The United States Coast Guard Arctic 
Strategic Outlook released in April 2019 states, 
‘‘Demonstrating commitment to operational pres-
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ence, Canada, Denmark, and Norway have made 
strategic investments in ice-capable patrol ships 
charged with national or homeland security missions. 
The United States is the only Arctic State that has 
not made similar investments in ice-capable surface 
maritime security assets. This limits the ability of 
the Coast Guard, and the Nation, to credibly uphold 
sovereignty or respond to contingencies in the Arc-
tic.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Arctic is a region of strategic impor-
tance to the national security interests of the United 
States, and the Coast Guard must better align its 
mission prioritization and development of capabilities 
to meet the growing array of challenges in the re-
gion; 
(2) the increasing freedom of navigation and 
expansion of activity in the Arctic must be met with 
an increasing show of Coast Guard forces capable of 
exerting influence through persistent presence; 
(3) Congress fully supports the needed and im-
portant re-capitalization of the fleet of cutters and 
aircraft of the Coast Guard, but, the Coast Guard 
must avoid overextending operational assets for re-
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mote international missions at the cost of dedicated 
focus on this domestic area of responsibility with 
significant international interest and activity; and 
(4) although some progress has been made to 
increase awareness of Arctic issues and to promote 
increased presence in the region, additional meas-
ures are needed to protect vital economic, environ-
mental, and national security interests of the United 
States, and to show the commitment of the United 
States to this emerging strategic choke point of in-
creasing great power competition. 
(c) ARCTIC DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘Arctic’’ has the meaning given that term in section 112 
of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 
4111). 
SEC. 11302. ARCTIC PARS NATIVE ENGAGEMENT. 
The Commandant shall— 
(1) engage directly with local coastal whaling 
and fishing communities in the Arctic region when 
conducting the Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access 
Route Study, in accordance with chapter 700 of title 
46, United States Code, and as described in the no-
tice of study published in the Federal Register on 
December 21, 2018 (83 Fed. Reg. 65701); and 
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(2) consider the concerns of the Arctic coastal 
community regarding any Alaskan Arctic Coast Port 
Access Route, including safety needs and concerns. 
SEC. 11303. VOTING REQUIREMENT. 
Section 305(i)(1)(G)(iv) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1855(i)(1)(G)(iv)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(iv) VOTING
REQUIREMENT.—The 
panel may act only by the affirmative vote 
of at least 5 of its members, except that 
any decision made pursuant to the last 
sentence of subparagraph (C) shall require 
the unanimous vote of all 6 members of 
the panel.’’. 
SEC. 11304. REPORT ON THE ARCTIC CAPABILITIES OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report setting forth the results of a study on the Arctic 
capabilities of the Armed Forces. The Secretary shall 
enter into a contract with an appropriate federally funded 
research and development center for the conduct of the 
study. 
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(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A comparison of the capabilities of the 
United States, the Russian Federation, the People’s 
Republic of China, and other countries operating in 
the Arctic, including an assessment of the ability of 
the navy of each such country to operate in varying 
sea-ice conditions. 
(2) A description of commercial and foreign 
military surface forces currently operating in the 
Arctic in conditions inaccessible to Navy surface 
forces. 
(3) An assessment of the potential security risk 
posed to Coast Guard forces by military forces of 
other countries operating in the Arctic in conditions 
inaccessible to Navy surface or aviation forces in the 
manner such forces currently operate. 
(4) A comparison of the domain awareness ca-
pabilities of— 
(A) Coast Guard forces operating alone; 
and 
(B) Coast Guard forces operating in tan-
dem with Navy surface and aviation forces and 
the surface and aviation forces of other allies. 
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(5) A comparison of the defensive capabilities 
of— 
(A) Coast Guard forces operating alone; 
and 
(B) Coast Guard forces operating in mu-
tual defense with Navy forces, other Armed 
Forces, and the military forces of allies. 
(c) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate commit-
tees of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives. 
SEC. 11305. REPORT ON ARCTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
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Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the search and rescue capabilities 
of the Coast Guard in Arctic coastal communities. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An identification of ways in which the Coast 
Guard can more effectively partner with Arctic 
coastal communities to respond to search and rescue 
incidents through training, funding, and deployment 
of assets. 
(2) An analysis of the costs of forward deploy-
ing on a seasonal basis Coast Guard assets in sup-
port of such communities for responses to such inci-
dents. 
SEC. 11306. ARCTIC SHIPPING FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to es-
tablish a Federal advisory committee to provide policy rec-
ommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on posi-
tioning the United States to take advantage of emerging 
opportunities for Arctic maritime transportation. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the Arctic Shipping Federal 
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Advisory Committee established under subsection 
(c)(1). 
(2) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 112 of the Arctic Re-
search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
(3) ARCTIC
SEA
ROUTES.—The term ‘‘Arctic 
Sea Routes’’ means the international Northern Sea 
Route, the Transpolar Sea Route, and the North-
west Passage. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC SHIPPING FED-
ERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Transportation, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of State, the Secretary of Defense acting 
through the Secretary of the Army and the Sec-
retary of the Navy, the Secretary of Commerce, 
and the Secretary of the Department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating, shall establish an 
Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee in 
the Department of Transportation to advise the 
Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary 
of the Department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating on matters related to Arctic maritime 
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transportation, including Arctic seaway develop-
ment. 
(B) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee 
shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, and 
at least once annually in Alaska. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall be composed of 17 members as de-
scribed in subparagraph (B). 
(B) COMPOSITION.—The members of the 
Advisory Committee shall be— 
(i) 1 individual appointed and des-
ignated by the Secretary of Transportation 
to serve as the Chairperson of the Advisory 
Committee; 
(ii) 1 individual appointed and des-
ignated by the Secretary of the Depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating to serve as the Vice Chairperson of 
the Advisory Committee; 
(iii) 1 designee of the Secretary of 
Commerce; 
(iv) 1 designee of the Secretary of 
State; 
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(v) 1 designee of the Secretary of 
Transportation; 
(vi) 1 designee of the Secretary of De-
fense; 
(vii) 1 designee from the State of 
Alaska, nominated by the Governor of 
Alaska and designated by the Secretary of 
Transportation; 
(viii) 1 designee from the State of 
Washington, nominated by the Governor of 
Washington and designated by the Sec-
retary of Transportation; 
(ix) 3 Alaska Native Tribal members; 
(x) 1 individual representing Alaska 
Native subsistence co-management groups 
affected by Arctic maritime transportation; 
(xi) 1 individual representing coastal 
communities affected by Arctic maritime 
transportation; 
(xii) 1 individual representing vessels 
of the United States (as defined in section 
116 of title 46, United States Code) par-
ticipating in the shipping industry; 
(xiii) 1 individual representing the 
marine safety community; 
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(xiv) 1 individual representing the 
Arctic business community; and 
(xv) 1 individual representing mari-
time labor organizations. 
(C) TERMS.— 
(i) LIMITATIONS.—Each member of 
the Advisory Committee described in 
clauses (vii) through (xv) of subparagraph 
(B) shall serve for a 2-year term and shall 
not be eligible for more than 2 consecutive 
term reappointments. 
(ii) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the 
membership of the Advisory Committee 
shall not affect its responsibilities, but 
shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment and in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.). 
(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Advisory Committee 
shall carry out all of the following functions: 
(A) Develop a set of policy recommenda-
tions that would enhance the leadership role 
played by the United States in improving the 
safety and reliability of Arctic maritime trans-
portation in accordance with customary inter-
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national maritime law and existing Federal au-
thority. Such policy recommendations shall con-
sider options to establish a United States entity 
that could perform the following functions in 
accordance with United States law and cus-
tomary international maritime law: 
(i) Construction, operation, and main-
tenance of current and future maritime in-
frastructure 
necessary 
for 
vessels 
transiting the Arctic Sea Routes, including 
potential new deep draft and deepwater 
ports. 
(ii) Provision of services that are not 
widely commercially available in the United 
States Arctic that would— 
(I) improve Arctic maritime safe-
ty and environmental protection; 
(II) enhance Arctic maritime do-
main awareness; and 
(III) support navigation and inci-
dent response for vessels transiting 
the Arctic Sea Routes. 
(iii) Establishment of rules of meas-
urement for vessels and cargo for the pur-
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poses of levying voluntary rates of charges 
or fees for services. 
(B) As an option under subparagraph (A), 
consider establishing a congressionally char-
tered seaway development corporation modeled 
on the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation, and— 
(i) develop recommendations for es-
tablishing such a corporation and a de-
tailed implementation plan for establishing 
such an entity; or 
(ii) if the Advisory Committee decides 
against recommending the establishment of 
such a corporation, provide a written ex-
planation as to the rationale for the deci-
sion and develop an alternative, as prac-
ticable. 
(C) Provide advice and recommendations, 
as requested, to the Secretary of Transpor-
tation and the Secretary of the Department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating on Arctic 
marine transportation, including seaway devel-
opment, and consider national security inter-
ests, where applicable, in such recommenda-
tions. 
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(D) In developing the advice and rec-
ommendations under subparagraph (C), engage 
with and solicit feedback from coastal commu-
nities, Alaska Native subsistence co-manage-
ment groups, and Alaska Native tribes. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Com-
mittee shall submit a report with its recommendations 
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(3) to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 
(e) TERMINATION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
Not later than 8 years after the submission of the report 
described in subsection (d), the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall dissolve the Advisory Committee. 
(f) INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.—If a Special 
Representative for the Arctic Region is appointed by the 
Secretary of State, the duties of that Representative shall 
include— 
(1) coordination of any activities recommended 
by the implementation plan submitted by the Advi-
sory Committee and approved by the Secretary of 
Transportation; and 
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(2) facilitation of multilateral dialogues with 
member and observer nations of the Arctic Council 
to encourage cooperation on Arctic maritime trans-
portation. 
(g) TRIBAL CONSULTATION.—In implementing any 
of the recommendations provided under subsection 
(c)(3)(C), the Secretary of Transportation shall consult 
with Alaska Native tribes. 
Subtitle D—Other Matters 
SEC. 11401. PLAN FOR WING-IN-GROUND DEMONSTRATION 
PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Commandant, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration with regard to any regulatory or safety mat-
ter regarding airspace, air space authorization, or avia-
tion, shall develop plans for a demonstration program that 
will determine whether wing-in-ground craft, as such term 
is defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code, 
that is capable of carrying at least one individual, can— 
(A) provide transportation in areas in which en-
ergy exploration, development or production activity 
takes place on the Outer Continental Shelf; and 
(B) under the craft’s own power, safely reach 
helidecks or platforms located on offshore energy fa-
cilities. 
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(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The plans required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) examine and explain any safety issues with 
regard to the operation of the such craft as a vessel, 
or as an aircraft, or both; 
(B) include a timeline and technical milestones 
for the implementation of such a demonstration pro-
gram; 
(C) outline resource requirements needed to un-
dertake such a demonstration program; 
(D) describe specific operational circumstances 
under which the craft may be used, including dis-
tance from United States land, altitude, number of 
individuals, amount of cargo, and speed and weight 
of vessel; 
(E) describe the operations under which Fed-
eral Aviation Administration statutes, regulations, 
circulars, or orders apply; and 
(F) describe the certifications, permits, or au-
thorizations required to perform any operations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant, along with 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
with regard to any regulatory or safety matter regarding 
airspace, air space authorization, or aviation, shall brief 
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the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science and Transportation of the Senate on the 
plan developed under subsection (a), including— 
(1) any regulatory changes needed regarding in-
spections and manning, to allow such craft to oper-
ate between onshore facilities and offshore energy 
facilities when such craft is operating as a vessel; 
(2) any regulatory changes that would be nec-
essary to address potential impacts to air traffic 
control, the National Airspace System, and other 
aircraft operations, and to ensure safe operations on 
or near helidecks and platforms located on offshore 
energy facilities when such craft are operating as 
aircraft; and 
(3) any other statutory or regulatory changes 
related to authority of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration over operations of the craft. 
SEC. 11402. NORTHERN MICHIGAN OIL SPILL RESPONSE 
PLANNING. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency and the Administrator 
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of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration, shall update the Northern Michigan Area Contin-
gency Plan to include a worst-case discharge from a pipe-
line in adverse weather conditions. 
SEC. 11403. DOCUMENTATION OF LNG TANKERS. 
Section 7(b) of the America’s Cup Act of 2011 (Pub-
lic Law 112–61) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of the vessel on the date 
of enactment of this Act’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the period the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, unless prior to any such sale the ves-
sel has been operated in a coastwise trade for 
not less than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2020 and prior to sale of ves-
sel’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION
ON
OWNERSHIP.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may only issue a certificate of docu-
mentation with a coastwise endorsement to a vessel 
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designated in paragraph (1) if the owner of the ves-
sel is an individual or individuals who are citizens of 
the United States, or is deemed to be such a citizen 
under section 50501 of title 46, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON REPAIR AND MODIFICA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT.—Any qualified work 
shall be performed at a shipyard facility located 
in the United States. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement in 
subparagraph (A) does not apply to any quali-
fied work— 
‘‘(i) for which the owner or operator 
enters into a binding agreement no later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2020; or 
‘‘(ii) necessary for the safe towage of 
the vessel from outside the United States 
to a shipyard facility in the United States 
for completion of the qualified work. 
‘‘(C) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, 
qualified work means repair and modification 
necessary for the issuance of a certificate of in-
spection issued as a result of the waiver for 
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which a coastwise endorsement is issued under 
paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 11404. REPLACEMENT VESSEL. 
Notwithstanding section 208(g)(5) of the American 
Fisheries Act (Public Law 105–277; 16 U.S.C. 1851 
note), a vessel eligible under section 208(e)(21) of such 
Act that is replaced under section 208(g) of such Act shall 
be subject to a sideboard restriction catch limit of zero 
metric tons in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and 
in the Gulf of Alaska unless that vessel is also a replace-
ment vessel under section 679.4(o)(4) of title 50, Code of 
Federal Regulations, in which case such vessel shall not 
be eligible to be a catcher/processor under section 
206(b)(2) of such Act. 
SEC. 11405. EDUCATIONAL VESSEL. 
(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
section 
12112(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise 
endorsement for the vessel Oliver Hazard Perry (IMO 
number 
8775560; 
United 
States 
official 
number 
1257224). 
(b) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ENDORSE-
MENT.—The coastwise endorsement authorized under sub-
section (a) for the vessel Oliver Hazard Perry (IMO num-
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ber 8775560; United States official number 1257224) 
shall expire on the first date on which any of the following 
occurs: 
(1) The vessel is sold to a person, including an 
entity, that is not related by ownership or control to 
the person, including an entity, that owned the ves-
sel on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) The vessel is rebuilt and not rebuilt in the 
United States (as defined in section 12101(a) of 
title 46, United States Code). 
(3) The vessel is no longer operating in primary 
service as a sailing school vessel. 
SEC. 11406. WATERS DEEMED NOT NAVIGABLE WATERS OF 
THE UNITED STATES FOR CERTAIN PUR-
POSES. 
The Coalbank Slough in Coos Bay, Oregon, is 
deemed to not be navigable waters of the United States 
for all purposes of subchapter J of Chapter I of title 33, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 11407. 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 Yonkers, New York, and Kingston, New 
York, under section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Appro-
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priations Act of 1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) or chapter 700 of 
title 46, United States Code. 
(b) RESTRICTION.—The Commandant may not es-
tablish or expand any anchorage grounds outside of the 
reach on the Hudson River described in subsection (a) 
without first providing notice to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days prior 
to the establishment or expansion of any such anchorage 
grounds. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section— 
(1) prevents the master or pilot of a vessel op-
erating on the reach of the Hudson River described 
in subsection (a) from taking emergency actions nec-
essary to maintain the safety of the vessel or to pre-
vent the loss of life or property; or 
(2) shall be construed as limiting the authority 
of the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating to exercise authority over 
the movement of a vessel under section 70002 of 
title 46, United States Code, or any other applicable 
laws or regulations governing the safe navigation of 
a vessel. 
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(d) STUDY.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
in consultation with the Hudson River Safety, Navigation, 
and Operations Committee, shall conduct a study of the 
Hudson River north of Tarrytown, New York to exam-
ine— 
(1) the nature of vessel traffic including vessel 
types, sizes, cargoes, and frequency of transits; 
(2) the risks and benefits of historic practices 
for commercial vessels anchoring; and 
(3) the risks and benefits of establishing an-
chorage grounds on the Hudson River. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report containing the findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations from the study required 
under subsection (d). 
SEC. 11408. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES STUDY AND REPORT ON VERTICAL 
EVACUATION 
FOR 
TSUNAMIS 
AT 
COAST 
GUARD STATIONS IN WASHINGTON AND OR-
EGON. 
(a) STUDY.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study that exam-
ines the potential use, in the event of a Cascadia 
subduction zone event, of a vertical evacuation of 
Coast Guard personnel stationed at United States 
Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor and Sector Field 
Office Port Angeles, Washington, and at United 
States Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay and 
United States Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Station 
Coos Bay, Oregon, and the dependents of such 
Coast Guard personnel housed in Coast Guard hous-
ing. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The study required under 
paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 
(A) The number of such personnel and de-
pendents to be evacuated. 
(B) The resources available to conduct an 
evacuation, and the feasibility of a successful 
evacuation in a case in which inundation maps 
and timelines are available. 
(C) With the resources available, the 
amount of time needed to evacuate such per-
sonnel and dependents. 
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(D) Any resource that is otherwise avail-
able within a reasonable walking distance to the 
Coast Guard facilities listed in paragraph (1). 
(E) The benefit to the surrounding com-
munity of such a vertical evacuation. 
(F) The interoperability of the tsunami 
warning system with the Coast Guard commu-
nication systems at the Coast Guard facilities 
listed in paragraph (1). 
(G) Current interagency coordination and 
communication policies in place for emergency 
responders to address a Cascadia subduction 
zone event. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report containing the findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations, if any, from the study required 
under subsection (a). 
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SEC. 11409. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS 
WITH NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM AS-
SOCIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 316 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 316. National Coast Guard Museum 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commandant may es-
tablish, accept, operate, maintain and support the Mu-
seum, on lands which will be federally owned and adminis-
tered by the Coast Guard, and are located in New London, 
Connecticut. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall not expend any funds 
appropriated to the Coast Guard on the construction 
of any museum established under this section. 
‘‘(2) Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Secretary may expend funds appropriated 
to the Coast Guard on the engineering and design 
of a Museum. 
‘‘(3) The priority for the use of funds appro-
priated to the Coast Guard shall be to preserve, pro-
tect, and display historic Coast Guard artifacts, in-
cluding the design, fabrication, and installation of 
exhibits or displays in which such artifacts are in-
cluded. 
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‘‘(4) To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall minimize the use of Federal funds 
for the construction of the Museum. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING PLAN.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of the Elijah E. Cummings 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 and at least 90 
days before the date on which the Commandant accepts 
the Museum under subsection (f), 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 Rep-
resentatives a plan for constructing, operating, and main-
taining such Museum, including— 
‘‘(1) estimated planning, engineering, design, 
construction, operation, and maintenance costs; 
‘‘(2) the extent to which appropriated, non-
appropriated, and non-Federal funds will be used for 
such purposes, including the extent to which there is 
any shortfall in funding for engineering, design, or 
construction; 
‘‘(3) an explanation of any environmental reme-
diation issues related to the land associated with the 
Museum; and 
‘‘(4) a certification by the Inspector General of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
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ating that the estimates provided pursuant to para-
graphs (1) and (2) are reasonable and realistic. 
‘‘(d) CONSTRUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) The Association may construct the Mu-
seum described in subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) The Museum shall be designed and con-
structed in compliance with the International Build-
ing Code 2018, and construction performed on Fed-
eral land under this section shall be exempt from 
State and local requirements for building or demoli-
tion permits. 
‘‘(e) AGREEMENTS.—Under such terms and condi-
tions as the Commandant considers appropriate, notwith-
standing section 504, and until the Commandant accepts 
the Museum under subsection (f), the Commandant 
may— 
‘‘(1) license Federal land to the Association for 
the purpose of constructing the Museum described in 
subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2)(A) at a nominal charge, lease the Museum 
from the Association for activities and operations re-
lated to the Museum; and 
‘‘(B) authorize the Association to generate 
revenue from the use of the Museum. 
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‘‘(f) ACCEPTANCE.—Not earlier than 90 days after 
the Commandant submits the plan under subsection (c), 
the Commandant shall accept the Museum from the Asso-
ciation and all right, title, and interest in and to the Mu-
seum shall vest in the United States when— 
‘‘(1) the Association demonstrates, in a manner 
acceptable to the Commandant, that the Museum 
meets the design and construction requirements of 
subsection (d); and 
‘‘(2) all financial obligations of the Association 
incident to the National Coast Guard Museum have 
been satisfied. 
‘‘(g) GIFTS.— 
‘‘(1) The Commandant may solicit from the As-
sociation and accept funds and in-kind gifts from 
nonprofit entities, including services related to ac-
tivities for the construction of the Museum. 
‘‘(2) Funds and in-kind gifts described in para-
graph (1) shall be— 
‘‘(A) accepted and administered consistent 
with section 2601 of title 10; and 
‘‘(B) deposited in the Coast Guard General 
Gift Fund. 
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‘‘(3) The use of any funds and in-kind gifts de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the 
availability of appropriations. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant may not estab-
lish a Museum except as set forth in this section. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) MUSEUM.—The term ‘Museum’ means the 
National Coast Guard Museum. 
‘‘(2) ASSOCIATION.—The term ‘Association’ 
means the National Coast Guard Museum Associa-
tion.’’. 
(b) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than March 1 of the fiscal 
year after the fiscal year in which the report required 
under subsection (d) of section 316 of title 14, United 
States Code, is provided, and not later than March 1 of 
each year thereafter until 1 year after the year in which 
the National Coast Guard Museum is accepted pursuant 
to subsection (f) of such section, the Commandant shall 
brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the 
following issues with respect to the Museum: 
(1) The acceptance of gifts. 
(2) Engineering. 
(3) Design and project status. 
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(4) Land ownership. 
(5) Environmental remediation. 
(6) Operation and support issues. 
(7) Plans. 
SEC. 11410. FORMAL SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICIES FOR PAS-
SENGER VESSELS. 
(d) MAINTENANCE AND PLACEMENT OF VIDEO SUR-
VEILLANCE EQUIPMENT.—Section 3507(b)(1) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The owner’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The owner’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘, as determined by the Sec-
retary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end, the following: 
‘‘(B) PLACEMENT
OF
VIDEO
SURVEIL-
LANCE EQUIPMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of 
the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2020, the Commandant 
in consultation with other relevant Federal 
agencies or entities as determined by the 
Commandant, shall establish guidance for 
performance of the risk assessment de-
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scribed in paragraph (2) regarding the ap-
propriate placement of video surveillance 
equipment in passenger and crew common 
areas where there is no reasonable expecta-
tion of privacy. 
‘‘(ii) RISK
ASSESSMENT.—Not later 
than 1 year after the Commandant estab-
lishes the guidance described in paragraph 
(1), the owner shall conduct the risk as-
sessment required under paragraph (1) 
and shall— 
‘‘(I) evaluate the placement of 
video surveillance equipment to deter, 
prevent, and record a sexual assault 
aboard the vessel considering factors 
such as: ship layout and design, 
itinerary, crew complement, number 
of 
passengers, 
passenger 
demo-
graphics, and historical data on the 
type and location of prior sexual as-
sault incident allegations; 
‘‘(II) incorporate to the max-
imum extent practicable the video sur-
veillance guidance established by the 
Commandant regarding the appro-
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priate placement of video surveillance 
equipment; 
‘‘(III) arrange for the risk as-
sessment to be conducted by an inde-
pendent third party with expertise in 
the use and placement of camera sur-
veillance to deter, prevent and record 
criminal behavior; and 
‘‘(IV) 
the 
independent 
third 
party referred to in paragraph (C) 
shall be a company that has been ac-
cepted by a classification society that 
is a member of the International As-
sociation of Classification Societies 
(hereinafter referred to as ‘IACS’) or 
another classification society recog-
nized by the Secretary as meeting ac-
ceptable standards for such a society 
pursuant to section 3316(b). 
‘‘(C) SURVEILLANCE
PLAN.—Not later 
than 180 days after completion of the risk as-
sessment 
conducted 
under 
subparagraph 
(B)(ii), the owner of a vessel shall develop a 
plan to install video surveillance equipment in 
places determined to be appropriate in accord-
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ance with the results of the risk assessment 
conducted under subparagraph (B)(ii), except 
in areas where a person has a reasonable expec-
tation of privacy. Such plan shall be evaluated 
and approved by an independent third party 
with expertise in the use and placement of cam-
era surveillance to deter, prevent and record 
criminal behavior that has been accepted as set 
forth in paragraph (2)(D). 
‘‘(D) INSTALLATION.—The owner of a ves-
sel to which this section applies shall, consistent 
with the surveillance plan approved under sub-
paragraph (C), install appropriate video surveil-
lance equipment aboard the vessel not later 
than 2 years after approval of the plan, or dur-
ing the next scheduled drydock, whichever is 
later. 
‘‘(E) ATTESTATION.—At the time of initial 
installation under subparagraph (D), the vessel 
owner shall obtain written attestations from— 
‘‘(i) an IACS classification society 
that the video surveillance equipment is in-
stalled in accordance with the surveillance 
plan required under subparagraph (C); and 
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‘‘(ii) the company security officer that 
the surveillance equipment and associated 
systems are operational, which attestation 
shall be obtained each year thereafter. 
‘‘(F) UPDATES.—The vessel owner shall 
ensure the risk assessment described in sub-
paragraph (B)(ii) and installation plan in sub-
paragraph (C) are updated not later than 5 
years after the initial installation conducted 
under subparagraph (D), and every 5 years 
thereafter. The updated assessment and plan 
shall be approved by an independent third party 
with expertise in the use and placement of cam-
era surveillance to deter, prevent, and record 
criminal behavior that has been accepted by an 
IACS classification society. The vessel owner 
shall implement the updated installation plan 
not later than 180 days after approval. 
‘‘(G) AVAILABILITY.—Each risk assess-
ment, installation plan and attestation shall be 
protected from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, section 552 of title 5 but shall 
be available to the Coast Guard— 
‘‘(i) upon request, and 
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‘‘(ii) at the time of the certificate of 
compliance or certificate of inspection ex-
amination. 
‘‘(H) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
section a ‘ship security officer’ is an individual 
that, with the master’s approval, has full re-
sponsibility for vessel security consistent with 
the International Ship and Port Facility Secu-
rity Code.’’. 
(e) ACCESS TO VIDEO RECORDS; NOTICE OF VIDEO 
SURVEILLANCE.—Section 3507(b), of title 46, United 
States Code, is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) NOTICE OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.—The 
owner of a vessel to which this section applies shall 
provide clear and conspicuous signs on board the 
vessel notifying the public of the presence of video 
surveillance equipment.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The owner’’ and inserting 
the following: 
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‘‘(A) LAW
ENFORCEMENT.—The owner’’; 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) CIVIL
ACTIONS.—Except as pro-
scribed by law enforcement authorities or court 
order, the owner of a vessel to which this sec-
tion applies shall, upon written request, provide 
to any individual or the individual’s legal rep-
resentative a copy of all records of video surveil-
lance— 
‘‘(i) in which the individual is a sub-
ject of the video surveillance; and 
‘‘(ii) that may provide evidence of any 
sexual assault incident in a civil action. 
‘‘(C) LIMITED ACCESS.—The owner of a 
vessel to which this section applies shall ensure 
that access to records of video surveillance is 
limited to the purposes described in this para-
graph.’’. 
(f) RETENTION REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3507(b), of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) RETENTION REQUIREMENTS.—The owner 
of a vessel to which this section applies shall retain 
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all records of video surveillance for not less than 20 
days after the footage is obtained. The vessel owner 
shall include a statement in the security guide re-
quired by subsection (c)(1)(A) that the vessel owner 
is required by law to retain video surveillance foot-
age for the period specified in this paragraph. If an 
incident described in subsection (g)(3)(A)(i) is al-
leged and reported to law enforcement, all records of 
video surveillance from the voyage that the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation determines are relevant 
shall— 
‘‘(A) be provided to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation; and 
‘‘(B) be preserved by the vessel owner for 
not less than 4 years from the date of the al-
leged incident.’’. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
(A) STUDY AND REPORT.—Each owner of 
a vessel to which section 3507, of title 46, 
United States Code, applies shall, not later 
than March 1, 2023, 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 detailing the total number 
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of voyages for the preceding year and the per-
centage of those voyages that were 30 days or 
longer. 
(B) INTERIM STANDARDS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant, in consultation with the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall promul-
gate interim standards for the retention of 
records of video surveillance. 
(C) FINAL STANDARDS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant, in consultation with the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, shall promulgate final 
standards for the retention of records of video 
surveillance. 
(D) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating 
standards under subparagraphs (B) and (B), 
the Commandant shall— 
(i) consider factors that would aid in 
the investigation of serious crimes, includ-
ing the results of the report by the Com-
mandant provided under subparagraph 
(A), as well as crimes that go unreported 
until after the completion of a voyage; 
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(ii) consider the different types of 
video surveillance systems and storage re-
quirements in creating standards both for 
vessels currently in operation and for ves-
sels newly built; 
(iii) consider privacy, including stand-
ards for permissible access to and moni-
toring and use of the records of video sur-
veillance; and 
(iv) consider technological advance-
ments, including requirements to update 
technology. 
SEC. 11411. REGULATIONS FOR COVERED SMALL PAS-
SENGER VESSELS. 
Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting ‘‘, including covered small pas-
senger vessels (as defined in subsection (n)(5))’’ 
after ‘‘vessels subject to inspection’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting before 
the period at the end ‘‘, including rechargeable 
devices utilized for personal or commercial elec-
tronic equipment’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(n) COVERED SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall pre-
scribe additional regulations to secure the safety of 
individuals and property on board covered small pas-
senger vessels. 
‘‘(2) COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW.—In order to 
prescribe the regulations under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive review of 
all requirements (including calculations), in existence 
on the date of enactment of the Elijah E. Cummings 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, that apply 
to covered small passenger vessels, with respect to 
fire detection, protection, and suppression systems, 
and avenues of egress, on board such vessels. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the regulations prescribed under 
paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to cov-
ered small passenger vessels, regulations for— 
‘‘(i) marine firefighting training pro-
grams to improve crewmember training 
and 
proficiency, 
including 
emergency 
egress training for each member of the 
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crew, to occur for all members on the 
crew— 
‘‘(I) at least monthly while such 
members are employed on board the 
vessel; and 
‘‘(II) each time a new crew-
member joins the crew of such vessel; 
‘‘(ii) in all areas on board the vessel 
where passengers and crew have access, in-
cluding dining areas, sleeping quarters, 
and lounges— 
‘‘(I) interconnected fire detection 
equipment, including audible and vis-
ual alarms; and 
‘‘(II) additional fire extinguishers 
and other firefighting equipment; 
‘‘(iii) the installation and use of moni-
toring devices to ensure the wakefulness of 
the required night watch; 
‘‘(iv) increased fire detection and sup-
pression systems (including additional fire 
extinguishers) on board such vessels in un-
manned areas with machinery or areas 
with other potential heat sources; 
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‘‘(v) all general areas accessible to 
passengers to have no less than 2 inde-
pendent avenues of escape that are— 
‘‘(I) constructed and arranged to 
allow for free and unobstructed egress 
from such areas; 
‘‘(II) located so that if one ave-
nue of escape is not available, another 
avenue of escape is available; and 
‘‘(III) not located directly above, 
or dependent on, a berth; 
‘‘(vi) the handling, storage, and oper-
ation of flammable items, such as re-
chargeable batteries, including lithium ion 
batteries utilized for commercial purposes 
on board such vessels; 
‘‘(vii) passenger emergency egress 
drills for all areas on the vessel to which 
passengers have access, which shall occur 
prior to the vessel beginning each excur-
sion; and 
‘‘(viii) all passengers to be provided a 
copy of the emergency egress plan for the 
vessel. 
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‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY
TO
CERTAIN
COV-
ERED
SMALL
PASSENGER
VESSELS.—The re-
quirements described in clauses (iii), (v), (vii), 
and (viii) of subparagraph (A) shall only apply 
to a covered small passenger vessel that has 
overnight passenger accommodations. 
‘‘(4) INTERIM REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) INTERIM REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall, prior to issuing final regulations 
under paragraph (1), implement interim re-
quirements to enforce the requirements under 
paragraph (3). 
‘‘(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 
shall implement the interim requirements under 
subparagraph (A) without regard to chapters 5 
and 6 of title 5 and Executive Order Nos. 
12866 and 13563 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating 
to regulatory planning and review and relating 
to improving regulation and regulatory review). 
‘‘(5) DEFINITION
OF
COVERED
SMALL
PAS-
SENGER VESSEL.—In this subsection, the term ‘cov-
ered small passenger vessel’— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), means a small passenger vessel (as defined 
in section 2101) that— 
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‘‘(i) has overnight passenger accom-
modations; or 
‘‘(ii) is operating on a coastwise or 
oceans route; and 
‘‘(B) does not include a ferry (as defined 
in section 2101) or fishing vessel (as defined in 
section 2101).’’. 
TITLE 
V—TECHNICAL, 
CON-
FORMING, AND CLARIFYING 
AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 12001. TRANSFERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) Section 215 of the Coast Guard and Mari-
time Transportation Act of 2004 (Public Law 108– 
293; 14 U.S.C. 504 note) is redesignated as section 
322 of title 14, United States Code, transferred to 
appear after section 321 of such title (as added by 
this division), and amended so that the enumerator, 
section heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to 
those appearing in other sections in title 14, United 
States Code. 
(2) Section 406 of the Maritime Transportation 
Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–295; 14 
U.S.C. 501 note) is redesignated as section 720 of 
title 14, United States Code, transferred to appear 
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after section 719 of such title (as added by this divi-
sion), and amended so that the enumerator, section 
heading, typeface, and typestyle conform to those 
appearing in other sections in title 14, United States 
Code. 
(3) Section 1110 of title 14, United States 
Code, is redesignated as section 5110 of such title 
and transferred to appear after section 5109 of such 
title (as added by this division). 
(4) Section 401 of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281) is amended 
by striking subsection (e). 
(5) Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this division, is 
amended by inserting after section 1109 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1110. Elevation of disputes to the Chief Acquisition 
Officer 
‘‘If, after 90 days following the elevation to the Chief 
Acquisition Officer of any design or other dispute regard-
ing level 1 or level 2 acquisition, the dispute remains unre-
solved, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate 
congressional committees a detailed description of the 
issue and the rationale underlying the decision taken by 
the Chief Acquisition Officer to resolve the issue.’’. 
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(6) Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Appro-
priations Act of 1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) is amended— 
(A) by transferring such section to appear 
after section 70005 of title 46, United States 
Code; 
(B) by striking ‘‘SEC. 7.’’ and inserting 
‘‘§70006. Establishment by Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating of anchorage 
grounds and regulations generally’’; 
and 
(C) by adjusting the margins with respect 
to subsections (a) and (b) for the presence of 
a section heading accordingly. 
(7) Section 217 of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 14 U.S.C. 
504 note)— 
(A) is redesignated as section 5112 of title 
14, United States Code, transferred to appear 
after section 5111 of such title (as added by 
this division), and amended so that the enu-
merator, 
section 
heading, 
typeface, 
and 
typestyle conform to those appearing in other 
sections in title 14, United States Code; and 
(B) is amended— 
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(i) by striking the heading and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘§ 5112. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the 
Coast Guard’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (b), by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(5)(A) The number of instances in which a 
covered individual was accused of misconduct or 
crimes considered collateral to the investigation of a 
sexual assault committed against the individual. 
‘‘(B) The number of instances in which adverse 
action was taken against a covered individual who 
was accused of collateral misconduct or crimes as 
described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) The percentage of investigations of sexual 
assaults that involved an accusation or adverse ac-
tion against a covered individual as described in sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(D) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered indi-
vidual’ means an individual who is identified as a 
victim of a sexual assault in the case files of a mili-
tary criminal investigative organization.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) The analysis for chapter 3 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this division, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘322. Redistricting notification requirement.’’. 
(2) The analysis for chapter 7 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this division, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘720. VHF communication services.’’. 
(3) The analysis for chapter 11 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 1110 and inserting the following: 
‘‘1110. Elevation of disputes to the Chief Acquisition Officer.’’. 
(4) The analysis for chapter 51 of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by this division, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘5110. Mission need statement. 
‘‘5111. Report on diversity at Coast Guard Academy. 
‘‘5112. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Coast Guard.’’. 
(5) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 70005 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘70006. Establishment by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating of anchorage grounds and regulations gen-
erally.’’. 
SEC. 12002. ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS. 
(a) SECTION 204 OF THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION 
SECURITY ACT.— 
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(1) The Maritime Transportation Security Act 
of 2002 is amended by striking section 204 (33 
U.S.C. 1902a). 
(2) Section 3 of the Act to Prevent Pollution 
from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1902)— 
(A) is amended by redesignating sub-
sections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) 
through (j) respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
following: 
‘‘(e) DISCHARGE
OF AGRICULTURAL CARGO RES-
IDUE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
discharge from a vessel of any agricultural cargo residue 
material in the form of hold washings shall be governed 
exclusively by the provisions of this Act that implement 
Annex V to the International Convention for the Preven-
tion of Pollution from Ships.’’. 
(b) LNG TANKERS.— 
(1) The Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2006 is amended by striking section 
304 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 527). 
(2) Section 5 of the Deepwater Port Act of 
1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(j) LNG TANKERS.— 
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‘‘(1) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall develop and implement a program to 
promote the transportation of liquefied natural gas 
to and from the United States on United States flag 
vessels. 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED.—When 
the Coast Guard is operating as a contributing agen-
cy in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 
shoreside licensing process for a liquefied natural 
gas or liquefied petroleum gas terminal located on 
shore or within State seaward boundaries, the Coast 
Guard shall provide to the Commission the informa-
tion described in section 5(c)(2)(K) of the Deep-
water Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2)(K)) 
with respect to vessels reasonably anticipated to be 
servicing that port.’’. 
SEC. 12003. LICENSE EXEMPTIONS; REPEAL OF OBSOLETE 
PROVISIONS. 
(a) SERVICE UNDER LICENSES ISSUED WITHOUT 
EXAMINATION.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 8303 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the item relating to that section in 
the analysis for chapter 83 of that title, are re-
pealed. 
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(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
14305(a)(10) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘sections 8303 and 8304’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 8304’’. 
(b) STANDARDS FOR TANK VESSELS OF THE UNITED 
STATES.—Section 9102 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sentence; 
and 
(2) by striking subsection (b). 
SEC. 12004. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. 
(a) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—Section 
312(b)(4) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘marine transportation system’’ and inserting 
‘‘maritime transportation system’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION
OF REFERENCE
TO MARINE 
TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM
PROGRAMS.—Section 
50307(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘marine transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘maritime 
transportation’’. 
SEC. 12005. REFERENCES TO ‘‘PERSONS’’ AND ‘‘SEAMEN’’. 
(a) TECHNICAL CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO 
‘‘PERSONS’’.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended 
as follows: 
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(1) In section 312(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(2) In section 313(d)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(3) In section 504— 
(A) in subsection (a)(19)(B), by striking 
‘‘a person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(4), by striking ‘‘sea-
men;’’ and inserting ‘‘mariners;’’. 
(4) In section 521, by striking ‘‘persons’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(5) In section 522— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ the second and 
third place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi-
vidual’’. 
(6) In section 525(a)(1)(C)(ii), by striking 
‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(7) In section 526— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 
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(C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 
(8) In section 709— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’. 
(9) In section 933(b), by striking ‘‘Every per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 
(10) In section 1102(d), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(11) In section 1902(b)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘per-
son or persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individual or in-
dividuals’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(12) In section 1941(b), by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(13) In section 2101(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(14) In section 2102(c), by striking ‘‘A person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘An individual’’. 
(15) In section 2104(b)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’. 
(16) In section 2118(d), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 
(17) In section 2147(d), by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(18) In section 2150(f), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual who is’’. 
(19) In section 2161(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(20) In section 2317— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’. 
(21) In section 2531— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
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(22) In section 2709, by striking ‘‘persons’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(23) In section 2710— 
(A) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(24) In section 2711(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(25) In section 2732, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(26) In section 2733— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘that person’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘that individual’’. 
(27) In section 2734, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(28) In section 2735, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(29) In section 2736, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(30) In section 2737, by striking ‘‘a person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
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(31) In section 2738, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(32) In section 2739, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(33) In section 2740— 
(A) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘one’’ the second place it 
appears. 
(34) In section 2741— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘per-
son’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’; and 
(C) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(35) In section 2743, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(36) In section 2744— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking 
‘‘person’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘individual’’. 
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(37) In section 2745, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(38)(A) In section 2761— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘Persons’’ and inserting ‘‘Individuals’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting 
‘‘individuals’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to section 2761 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘2761. Individuals discharged as result of court-martial; allowances to.’’. 
(39)(A) In the heading for section 2767, by 
striking ‘‘persons’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to section 2767 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘2767. Reimbursement for medical-related travel expenses for certain individuals 
residing on islands in the continental United States.’’. 
(40) In section 2769— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’s’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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(41) In section 2772(a)(2), by striking ‘‘per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(42) In section 2773— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘per-
sons’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi-
viduals’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(43) In section 2775, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(44) In section 2776, by striking ‘‘person’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(45)(A) In section 2777— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘persons’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(B) In the analysis for chapter 27, by striking 
the item relating to section 2777 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘2777. Clothing for destitute shipwrecked individuals.’’. 
(46) In section 2779, by striking ‘‘persons’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
(47) In section 2902(c), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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(48) In section 2903(b), by striking ‘‘person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(49) In section 2904(b)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘a 
person’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(50) In section 3706— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’s’’. 
(51) In section 3707— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘person’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individual’s’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a per-
son’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(52) In section 3708, by striking ‘‘person’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(53) In section 3738— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘person’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘individual’s’’; and 
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(C) by striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting 
‘‘An individual’’. 
(b) CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO PERSONS AND 
SEAMEN.— 
(1) Section 2303a(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘persons’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’. 
(2) Section 2306(a)(3) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) An owner, charterer, managing operator, or 
agent of a vessel of the United States notifying the Coast 
Guard under paragraph (1) or (2) shall— 
‘‘(A) provide the name and identification num-
ber of the vessel, the names of individuals on board, 
and other information that may be requested by the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(B) submit written confirmation to the Coast 
Guard within 24 hours after nonwritten notification 
to the Coast Guard under such paragraphs.’’. 
(3) Section 7303 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(4) Section 7319 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
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(5) Section 7501(b) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘seaman’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘holder’’. 
(6) Section 7508(b) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘individual seamen or 
a specifically identified group of seamen’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘an individual or a specifically identified group 
of individuals’’. 
(7) Section 7510 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)(8)(B), by striking 
‘‘merchant seamen’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant 
mariner’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘mer-
chant seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant mar-
iner’’. 
(8) Section 8103(k)(3)(C) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘merchant 
mariners’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘mer-
chant mariner’s’’. 
(9) Section 8104 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘a li-
censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘an 
individual’’; 
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(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘A li-
censed individual or seaman’’ and inserting ‘‘An 
individual’’; 
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a sea-
man’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 
individual’’; and 
(D) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘seaman’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individual’’. 
(10) Section 8302(d) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3 persons’’ and in-
serting ‘‘3 individuals’’. 
(11) Section 11201 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 
(12) Section 11202 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘the individual’’. 
(13) Section 11203 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘a person’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; and 
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(B) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘that 
person’’ and inserting ‘‘that individual’’. 
(14) Section 15109(i)(2) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘additional per-
sons’’ and inserting ‘‘additional individuals’’. 
SEC. 12006. REFERENCES TO ‘‘HIMSELF’’ AND ‘‘HIS’’. 
(a) Section 1927 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by— 
(1) striking ‘‘of his initial’’ and inserting ‘‘of an 
initial’’; and 
(2) striking ‘‘from his pay’’ and inserting ‘‘from 
the pay of such cadet’’. 
(b) Section 2108(b) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘himself’’ and inserting ‘‘such offi-
cer’’. 
(c) Section 2732 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this division, is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself conspicu-
ously by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays conspicuous’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi-
vidual’s’’. 
(d) Section 2736 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this division, is further amended by striking 
‘‘distinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘performs’’. 
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(e) Section 2738 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this division, is further amended by striking 
‘‘distinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 
(f) Section 2739 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this division, is further amended by striking 
‘‘distinguishes himself by’’ and inserting ‘‘displays’’. 
(g) Section 2742 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘he distinguished himself’’ and in-
serting ‘‘of the acts resulting in the consideration of such 
award’’. 
(h) Section 2743 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this division, is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘distinguishes himself’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘such indi-
vidual’’. 
SEC. 12007. MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.— 
(1) Section 3305(d)(3)(B) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 
LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 
(2) Section 4312 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2017’’ each place it appears and in-
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serting ‘‘Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282)’’. 
(3) The analysis for chapter 700 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the first subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—VESSEL OPERATIONS’’; 
(B) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the second subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY’’; 
(C) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the third subchapter and the item 
relating to section 70021 of such chapter and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES 
‘‘70021. Conditions for entry into ports in the United States.’’; 
(D) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the fourth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—DEFINITIONS REGULATIONS, ENFORCEMENT, 
INVESTIGATORY POWERS, APPLICABILITY’’; 
(E) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the fifth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—REGATTAS AND MARINE PARADES’’; 
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and 
(F) by striking the item relating to the 
heading for the sixth subchapter and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—REGULATION OF VESSELS IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF 
THE UNITED STATES’’. 
(4) Section 70031 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(5) Section 70032 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(6) Section 70033 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(7) Section 70034 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(8) Section 70035(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘A through C’’ and in-
serting ‘‘I through III’’. 
(9) Section 70036 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by— 
(A) striking ‘‘A through C’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘I through III’’; and 
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(B) striking ‘‘A, B, or C’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘I, II, or III’’. 
(10) Section 70051 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘immediate Federal re-
sponse,’’ and all that follows through ‘‘subject 
to the approval’’ and inserting ‘‘immediate Fed-
eral response, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating may 
make, subject to the approval’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘authority to issue such 
rules’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Any appro-
priation’’ and inserting ‘‘authority to issue such 
rules and regulations to the Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating. Any appropriation’’. 
(11) Section 70052(e) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating’’ each place it appears. 
(b) 
ALTERATION
OF
BRIDGES; 
TECHNICAL 
CHANGES.—The Act of June 21, 1940 (33 U.S.C. 511 
et seq.), popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is 
amended by striking section 12 (33 U.S.C. 522). 
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(c) REPORT OF DETERMINATION; TECHNICAL COR-
RECTION.—Section 105(f)(2) of the Pribilof Islands Tran-
sition Act (16 U.S.C. 1161 note; Public Law 106–562) 
is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a),’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (1),’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO FRANK LOBIONDO 
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018.— 
(1) Section 408 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 
282) and the item relating to such section in section 
2 of such Act are repealed, and the provisions of law 
redesignated, transferred, or otherwise amended by 
section 408 are amended to read as if such section 
were not enacted. 
(2) Section 514(b) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Chapter 30’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Chapter 3’’. 
(3) Section 810(d) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘within 30 days 
after receiving the notice under subsection (a)(1), 
the Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after 
transmitting such notice,’’ and inserting ‘‘in accord-
ance within subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall’’. 
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(4) Section 820(a) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘years 2018 and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘year’’. 
(5) Section 820(b)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by inserting ‘‘and the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115– 
141)’’ after ‘‘(Public Law 115–31)’’. 
(6) Section 821(a)(2) of the Frank LoBiondo 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–282) is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘Frank 
LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018’’. 
(7) This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282) 
and apply as if included therein. 
(e) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 533(d)(2)(A) 
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public 
Law 114–120) is amended by striking ‘‘Tract 6’’ and in-
serting ‘‘such Tract’’. 
(f) DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET; TECHNICAL COR-
RECTIONS.—Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Mari-
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time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘treaty area’ has the meaning given the term in the 
Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of 
Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of 
the United States of America as in effect on the 
date of the enactment of the Coast Guard and Mari-
time Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 
241).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘12.6 or 12.7’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘13.6’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘Authoriza-
tion Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 12008. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO CODI-
FICATION OF PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFE-
TY ACT. 
Effective upon the enactment of section 401 of the 
Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–282), and notwithstanding section 
402(e) of such Act— 
(1) section 16 of the Ports and Waterways 
Safety Act, as added by section 315 of the Coun-
tering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act 
(Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 947)— 
(A) is redesignated as section 70022 of 
title 46, United States Code, transferred to ap-
pear after section 70021 of that title, and 
amended so that the enumerator, section head-
ing, typeface, and typestyle conform to those 
appearing in other sections in title 46, United 
States Code; and 
(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is 
amended— 
(i) in subsections (b) and (e), by strik-
ing ‘‘section 4(a)(5)’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘section 70001(a)(5)’’; 
(ii) in subsection (c)(2), by striking 
‘‘not later than’’ and all that follows 
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through ‘‘thereafter,’’ and inserting ‘‘peri-
odically’’; and 
(iii) by striking subsection (h); and 
(2) chapter 700 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(A) in section 70002(2), by inserting ‘‘or 
70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; 
(B) in section 70036(e), by inserting ‘‘or 
70022’’ after ‘‘section 70021’’; and 
(C) in the analysis for such chapter— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘Sec.’’ above the sec-
tion items, in accordance with the style 
and form of such an entry in other chapter 
analyses of such title; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘70022. Prohibition on entry and operation.’’. 
SEC. 12009. AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
(a) Section 541 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘In’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) In’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) In the case of pierhead beacons, the Com-
mandant may— 
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‘‘(1) acquire, by donation or purchase in behalf 
of the United States, the right to use and occupy 
sites for pierhead beacons; and 
‘‘(2) properly mark all pierheads belonging to 
the United States situated on the northern and 
northwestern lakes, whenever the Commandant is 
duly notified by the department charged with the 
construction or repair of pierheads that the con-
struction or repair of any such pierheads has been 
completed.’’. 
(b) Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 548. Prohibition against officers and employees 
being interested in contracts for mate-
rials 
‘‘No officer, enlisted member, or civilian member of 
the Coast Guard in any manner connected with the con-
struction, operation, or maintenance of lighthouses, shall 
be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract 
for labor, materials, or supplies for the construction, oper-
ation, or maintenance of lighthouses, or in any patent, 
plan, or mode of construction or illumination, or in any 
article of supply for the construction, operation, or mainte-
nance of lighthouses. 
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‘‘§ 549. Lighthouse and other sites; necessity and suf-
ficiency of cession by State of jurisdiction 
‘‘(a) No lighthouse, beacon, public pier, or landmark, 
shall be built or erected on any site until cession of juris-
diction over the same has been made to the United States. 
‘‘(b) For the purposes of subsection (a), a cession by 
a State of jurisdiction over a place selected as the site 
of a lighthouse, or other structure or work referred to in 
subsection (a), shall be deemed sufficient if the cession 
contains a reservation that process issued under authority 
of such State may continue to be served within such place. 
‘‘(c) If no reservation of service described in sub-
section (b) is contained in a cession, all process may be 
served and executed within the place ceded, in the same 
manner as if no cession had been made. 
‘‘§ 550. Marking pierheads in certain lakes 
‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall properly 
mark all pierheads belonging to the United States situated 
on the northern and northwestern lakes, whenever he is 
duly notified by the department charged with the construc-
tion or repair of pierheads that the construction or repair 
of any such pierhead has been completed.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 547 the following: 
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‘‘548. Prohibition against officers and employees being interested in contracts 
for materials. 
‘‘549. Lighthouse and other sites; necessity and sufficiency of cession by State 
of jurisdiction. 
‘‘550. Marking pierheads in certain lakes.’’. 
SEC. 12010. TRANSFERS RELATED TO EMPLOYEES OF 
LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE. 
(a) Section 6 of chapter 103 of the Act of June 20, 
1918 (33 U.S.C. 763) is repealed. 
(b) Chapter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2531 the following: 
‘‘§ 2532. Retirement of employees 
‘‘(a) OPTIONAL RETIREMENT.—Except as provided 
in subsections (d) and (e), a covered employee may retire 
from further performance of duty if such officer or em-
ployee— 
‘‘(1) has completed 30 years of active service in 
the Government and is at least 55 years of age; 
‘‘(2) has completed 25 years of active service in 
the Government and is at least 62 years of age; or 
‘‘(3) is involuntarily separated from further per-
formance of duty, except by removal for cause on 
charges of misconduct or delinquency, after com-
pleting 25 years of active service in the Government, 
or after completing 20 years of such service and if 
such employee is at least 50 years of age. 
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‘‘(b) COMPULSORY RETIREMENT.—A covered em-
ployee who becomes 70 years of age shall be compulsorily 
retired from further performance of duty. 
‘‘(c) RETIREMENT FOR DISABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A covered employee who 
has completed 15 years of active service in the Gov-
ernment and is found, after examination by a med-
ical officer of the United States, to be disabled for 
useful and efficient service by reason of disease or 
injury not due to vicious habits, intemperance, or 
willful misconduct of such officer or employee, shall 
be retired. 
‘‘(2) RESTORATION TO ACTIVE DUTY.—Any in-
dividual retired under paragraph (1) may, upon re-
covery, be restored to active duty, and shall from 
time to time, before reaching the age at which such 
individual may retire under subsection (a), be reex-
amined by a medical officer of the United States 
upon the request of the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), The annual compensation of a person re-
tired under this section shall be a sum equal to one- 
fortieth of the average annual pay received for the 
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last 3 years of service for each year of active service 
in the Lighthouse Service, or in a department or 
branch of the Government having a retirement sys-
tem, not to exceed thirty-fortieths of such average 
annual pay received. 
‘‘(2) RETIREMENT BEFORE 55.—The retirement 
pay computed under paragraph (1) for any officer or 
employee retiring under this section shall be reduced 
by one-sixth of 1 percent for each full month the of-
ficer or employee is under 55 years of age at the 
date of retirement. 
‘‘(3) NO
ALLOWANCE
OR
SUBSISTENCE.—Re-
tirement pay under this section shall not include any 
amount on account of subsistence or other allow-
ance. 
‘‘(e) EXCEPTION.—The retirement and pay provision 
in this section shall not apply to— 
‘‘(1) any person in the field service of the 
Lighthouse Service whose duties do not require sub-
stantially all their time; or 
‘‘(2) persons of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(f) WAIVER.—Any person entitled to retirement pay 
under this section may decline to accept all or any part 
of such retirement pay by a waiver signed and filed with 
the Secretary of the Treasury. Such waiver may be re-
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voked in writing at any time, but no payment of the retire-
ment pay waived shall be made covering the period during 
which such waiver was in effect. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘covered employee’ means an officer or employee 
engaged in the field service or on vessels of the Lighthouse 
Service, except a person continuously employed in district 
offices or shop.’’. 
(c) 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 2531 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘2532. Retirement of employees.’’. 
SEC. 12011. TRANSFERS RELATED TO SURVIVING SPOUSES 
OF LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE EMPLOYEES. 
(a) BENEFIT TO SURVIVING SPOUSES.—Chapter 25 
of title 14, United States Code, is further amended by in-
serting after section 2532 (as added by this division) the 
following: 
‘‘§ 2533. Surviving spouses 
‘‘The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall pay $100 per month to the sur-
viving spouse of a current or former employee of the 
Lighthouse Service in accordance with section 2532 if 
such employee dies— 
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‘‘(1) at a time when such employee was receiv-
ing or was entitled to receive retirement pay under 
this subchapter; or 
‘‘(2) from non-service-connected causes after 
fifteen or more years of employment in such serv-
ice.’’. 
(b) TRANSFERS RELATED TO SURVIVING SPOUSES 
OF LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE EMPLOYEES.— 
(1) Chapter 25 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 2533 (as added 
by this division) the following: 
‘‘§ 2534. Application for benefits’’. 
(2)(A) Section 3 of chapter 761 of the Act of 
August 19, 1950 (33 U.S.C. 773), is redesignated as 
section 2534(a) of title 14, United States Code, 
transferred to appear after the heading of section 
2534 of that title, and amended so that the enu-
merator, section heading, typeface, and typestyle 
conform to those appearing in other sections in title 
14, United States Code. 
(B) Section 2534(a), as so redesignated, trans-
ferred, and amended is further amended by striking 
‘‘this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2533’’. 
(3)(A) Section 4 of chapter 761 of the Act of 
August 19, 1950 (33 U.S.C. 774), is redesignated as 
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(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 2532 (as 
added by this division) the following: 
‘‘2533. Surviving spouses. 
‘‘2534. Application for benefits.’’. 
SEC. 12012. REPEALS RELATED TO LIGHTHOUSE STATUTES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The following provisions are re-
pealed: 
(1) Section 4680 of the Revised Statutes of the 
United States (33 U.S.C. 725). 
(2) Section 4661 of the Revised Statutes of the 
United States (33 U.S.C. 727). 
(3) Section 4662 of the Revised Statutes of the 
United States (33 U.S.C. 728). 
(4) The final paragraph in the account ‘‘For 
Life-Saving and Life-Boat Stations’’ under the head-
ing Treasury Department in the first section of 
chapter 130 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (33 U.S.C. 
730a). 
(5) Section 11 of chapter 301 of the Act of 
June 17, 1910 (33 U.S.C. 743). 
(6) The first section of chapter 215 of the Act 
of May 13, 1938 (33 U.S.C. 745a). 
(7) The first section of chapter 313 of the Act 
of February 25, 1929 (33 U.S.C. 747b). 
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(8) Section 2 of chapter 103 of the Act of June 
20, 1918 (33 U.S.C. 748). 
(9) Section 4 of chapter 371 of the Act of May 
22, 1926 (33 U.S.C. 754a). 
(10) Chapter 642 of the Act of August 10, 
1939 (33 U.S.C. 763a–1). 
(11) Chapter 788 of the Act of October 29, 
1949 (33 U.S.C. 763–1). 
(12) Chapter 524 of the Act of July 9, 1956 
(33 U.S.C. 763–2). 
(13) The last 2 provisos under the heading 
Lighthouse Service, under the heading Department 
of Commerce, in the first section of chapter 161 of 
the Act of March 4, 1921 (41 Stat. 1417, formerly 
33 U.S.C. 764). 
(14) Section 3 of chapter 215 of the Act of May 
13, 1938 (33 U.S.C. 770). 
(15) The first section and section 2 of chapter 
761 of the Act of August 19, 1950 (33 U.S.C. 771 
and 772). 
(b) SAVINGS.— 
(1) Notwithstanding any repeals made by this 
section, any individual beneficiary currently receiving 
payments under the authority of any provisions re-
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pealed in this section shall continue to receive such 
benefits. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeals made under 
paragraphs (10) and (11) of subsection (a), any pay 
increases made under chapter 788 of the Act of Oc-
tober 29, 1949, and chapter 524 of the Act of July 
9, 1956, as in effect prior to their repeal shall re-
main in effect. 
TITLE VI—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 13001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Maritime 
Commission Authorization Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 13002. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 308 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘$28,012,310 for fiscal year 2018 
and $28,544,543 for fiscal year 2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘$29,086,888 for fiscal year 2020 and $29,639,538 for 
fiscal year 2021’’. 
SEC. 13003. UNFINISHED PROCEEDINGS. 
Section 305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Federal’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(b) TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In conjunction with the 
transmittal by the President to the Congress of the 
Budget of the United States for fiscal year 2021 
and biennially thereafter, the Federal Maritime 
Commission shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives reports 
that describe the Commission’s progress toward ad-
dressing the issues raised in each unfinished regu-
latory proceeding, regardless of whether the pro-
ceeding is subject to a statutory or regulatory dead-
line. 
‘‘(2) FORMAT OF REPORTS.—Each report under 
paragraph (1) shall, among other things, clearly 
identify for each unfinished regulatory proceeding— 
‘‘(A) the popular title; 
‘‘(B) the current stage of the proceeding; 
‘‘(C) an abstract of the proceeding; 
‘‘(D) what prompted the action in ques-
tion; 
‘‘(E) any applicable statutory, regulatory, 
or judicial deadline; 
‘‘(F) the associated docket number; 
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‘‘(G) the date the rulemaking was initi-
ated; 
‘‘(H) a date for the next action; and 
‘‘(I) if a date for the next action identified 
in the previous report is not met, the reason for 
the delay.’’. 
SEC. 13004. TRANSFER OF FEDERAL MARITIME COMMIS-
SION PROVISIONS. 
(a) TRANSFER.— 
(1) Subtitle IV of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘PART D—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
‘‘CHAPTER 461—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION’’. 
(2) Chapter 3 of title 46, United States Code, 
is redesignated as chapter 461 of part D of subtitle 
IV of such title and transferred to appear in such 
part. 
(3) Sections 301 through 308 of such title are 
redesignated as sections 46101 through 46108, re-
spectively, of such title. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 46101(c)(3)(A)(v) of title 46, 
United States Code, as so redesignated, is amended 
by striking ‘‘304’’ and inserting ‘‘46104’’. 
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