II 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4188 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 14, 2015 
Received 
AN ACT 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 
years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorizations. 
Sec. 102. Conforming amendments. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
Sec. 201. Vice Commandant. 
Sec. 202. Vice admirals. 
Sec. 203. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 
Sec. 204. Acquisition reform. 
Sec. 205. Auxiliary jurisdiction. 
Sec. 206. Coast Guard communities. 
Sec. 207. Polar icebreakers. 
Sec. 208. Air facility closures. 
Sec. 209. Technical corrections to title 14, United States Code. 
Sec. 210. Discontinuance of an aid to navigation. 
Sec. 211. Mission performance measures. 
Sec. 212. Communications. 
Sec. 213. Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education. 
Sec. 214. Professional development. 
Sec. 215. Senior enlisted member continuation boards. 
Sec. 216. Coast Guard member pay. 
Sec. 217. Transfer of funds necessary to provide medical care. 
Sec. 218. Participation of the Coast Guard Academy in Federal, State, or other 
educational research grants. 
Sec. 219. National Coast Guard Museum. 
Sec. 220. Investigations. 
Sec. 221. Clarification of eligibility of members of the Coast Guard for combat- 
related special compensation. 
Sec. 222. Leave policies for the Coast Guard. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 
Sec. 301. Survival craft. 
Sec. 302. Vessel replacement. 
Sec. 303. Model years for recreational vessels. 
Sec. 304. Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization. 
Sec. 305. Safety zones for permitted marine events. 
Sec. 306. Technical corrections. 
Sec. 307. Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty reporting. 
Sec. 308. Recreational vessel engine weights. 
Sec. 309. Merchant mariner medical certification reform. 
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Sec. 310. Atlantic Coast port access route study. 
Sec. 311. Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels. 
Sec. 312. Program guidelines. 
Sec. 313. Repeals. 
Sec. 314. Maritime drug law enforcement. 
Sec. 315. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials. 
Sec. 316. Higher volume port area regulatory definition change. 
Sec. 317. Recognition of port security assessments conducted by other entities. 
Sec. 318. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification. 
Sec. 319. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research. 
Sec. 320. International port and facility inspection coordination. 
TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman. 
Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards. 
TITLE V—CONVEYANCES 
Subtitle A—Miscellaneous Conveyances 
Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station, Cali-
fornia. 
Sec. 502. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska. 
Subtitle B—Pribilof Islands 
Sec. 521. Short title. 
Sec. 522. Transfer and disposition of property. 
Sec. 523. Notice of certification. 
Sec. 524. Redundant capability. 
Subtitle C—Conveyance of Coast Guard Property at Point Spencer, Alaska 
Sec. 531. Findings. 
Sec. 532. Definitions. 
Sec. 533. Authority to convey land in Point Spencer. 
Sec. 534. Environmental compliance, liability, and monitoring. 
Sec. 535. Easements and access. 
Sec. 536. Relationship to Public Land Order 2650. 
Sec. 537. Archeological and cultural resources. 
Sec. 538. Maps and legal descriptions. 
Sec. 539. Chargeability for land conveyed. 
Sec. 540. Redundant capability. 
Sec. 541. Port Coordination Council for Point Spencer. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 601. Modification of reports. 
Sec. 602. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes. 
Sec. 603. Use of vessel sale proceeds. 
Sec. 604. National Academy of Sciences cost assessment. 
Sec. 605. Penalty wages. 
Sec. 606. Recourse for noncitizens. 
Sec. 607. Coastwise endorsements. 
Sec. 608. International Ice Patrol. 
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Sec. 609. Assessment of oil spill response and cleanup activities in the Great 
Lakes. 
Sec. 610. Report on status of technology detecting passengers who have fallen 
overboard. 
Sec. 611. Venue. 
Sec. 612. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN. 
Sec. 613. Parking. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND 
REPORTS TO CONGRESS 
‘‘Chap.
Sec. 
‘‘27. Authorizations ..........................................................................
2701 
‘‘29. Reports .........................................................................................
2901 
‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 
‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 
‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each 
of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of 
the Coast Guard as follows: 
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for— 
‘‘(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
and 
‘‘(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova-
tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
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facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 
related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 
lease, and operation of facilities and equipment— 
‘‘(A) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
and 
‘‘(B) $1,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in-
cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 
personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv-
ices— 
‘‘(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
and 
‘‘(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res-
toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 
19 of this title— 
‘‘(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
for research, development, test, and evaluation of 
technologies, materials, and human factors directly 
related to improving the performance of the Coast 
Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 
aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ-
mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 
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ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 
readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, 
and operation of facilities and equipment— 
‘‘(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘§ 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and 
training 
‘‘(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is 
authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty per-
sonnel of 43,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 
‘‘(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 
Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu-
dent loads for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 
student years. 
‘‘(2) For flight training, 165 student years. 
‘‘(3) For professional training in military and 
civilian institutions, 350 student years. 
‘‘(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student 
years. 
‘‘CHAPTER 29—REPORTS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘2904. Manpower requirements plan. 
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‘‘§ 2904. Manpower requirements plan 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the Presi-
dent submits to the Congress a budget for fiscal year 2017 
under section 1105 of title 31, on the date on which the 
President submits to the Congress a budget for fiscal year 
2019 under such section, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
Commandant 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 manpower requirements plan. 
‘‘(b) SCOPE.—A manpower requirements plan sub-
mitted under subsection (a) shall include for each mission 
of the Coast Guard— 
‘‘(1) an assessment of all projected mission re-
quirements for the upcoming fiscal year and for each 
of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 
‘‘(2) the number of active duty, reserve, and ci-
vilian personnel assigned or available to fulfill such 
mission requirements— 
‘‘(A) currently; and 
‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal 
year and each of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 
‘‘(3) the number of active duty, reserve, and ci-
vilian personnel required to fulfill such mission re-
quirements— 
‘‘(A) currently; and 
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(b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating such section as section 
2701; 
(2) by transferring such section to appear be-
fore section 2702 of such title (as added by sub-
section (a) of this section); and 
(3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for. 
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova-
tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 
related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 
lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in-
cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 
personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv-
ices. 
‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res-
toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 
19 of this title. 
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‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and eval-
uation of technologies, materials, and human factors 
directly related to improving the performance of the 
Coast Guard. 
‘‘(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over 
navigable waters of the United States constituting 
obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 
administrative costs associated with the Alteration of 
Bridges Program.’’. 
(c) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
PERSONNEL
END 
STRENGTHS.—Section 661 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating such section as section 
2703; and 
(2) by transferring such section to appear be-
fore section 2704 of such title (as added by sub-
section (a) of this section). 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD 
AUTHORIZATION
REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 
14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2901; 
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(B) by transferring such section to appear 
before section 2904 of such title (as added by 
subsection (a) of this section); and 
(C) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘de-
scribed in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in section 2703’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘de-
scribed in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in section 2701’’. 
(2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2902; and 
(B) by transferring such section to appear 
after section 2901 of such title (as so redesig-
nated and transferred by paragraph (1) of this 
subsection). 
(3) MAJOR
ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2903; 
(B) by transferring such section to appear 
after section 2902 of such title (as so redesig-
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nated and transferred by paragraph (2) of this 
subsection); and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this 
subchapter’’. 
(e) ICEBREAKERS.— 
(1) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For 
fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may use funds made available pursuant 
to section 2702(2) of title 14, United States Code 
(as added by subsection (a) of this section), for the 
selection of a design for and the construction of an 
icebreaker that is capable of buoy tending to en-
hance icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. 
(2) POLAR ICEBREAKING.—Of the amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated under section 2702(2) of 
title 14, United States Code, as amended by sub-
section (a), there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Coast Guard $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 
and 
$10,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2017 
for 
preacquisition activities for a new polar icebreaker, 
including initial specification development and feasi-
bility studies. 
(f) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS.—The Commandant 
of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives— 
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(1) each plan required under section 2904 of 
title 14, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a) of this section; 
(2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of 
title 14, United States Code, as added by section 
206 of this Act; 
(3) each plan required under section 2902 of 
title 14, United States Code, as redesignated by sub-
section (d) of this section; and 
(4) each mission need statement required under 
section 569 of title 14, United States Code. 
SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ANALYSIS FOR TITLE 14.—The analysis for title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding after the 
item relating to part II the following: 
‘‘III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Con-
gress ............................................................................ 2701’’. 
(b) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 15.—The analysis for 
chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 569a. 
(c) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for 
chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, 
and 663. 
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(d) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 27.—The analysis for 
chapter 27 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 
section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting— 
(1) before the item relating to section 2702 the 
following: 
‘‘2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.’’; 
and 
(2) before the item relating to section 2704 the 
following: 
‘‘2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.’’. 
(e) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 29.—The analysis for 
chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 
section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting before 
the item relating to section 2904 the following: 
‘‘2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 
‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 
‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 
(f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 
569a(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 
663(a)(1)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘under 
section 
2902(a)(1)’’. 
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TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 
(a) GRADES AND RATINGS.—Section 41 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘admirals (two);’’. 
(b) VICE COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT.—Section 47 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘vice admiral’’ and inserting ‘‘admiral’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 
before ‘‘vice admiral,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 
before ‘‘vice admiral,’’ each place it appears; and 
(3) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘admiral or’’ 
before ‘‘vice admiral,’’. 
SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS. 
Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) The President may— 
‘‘(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no 
more than five positions of importance and responsi-
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bility that shall be held by officers who, while so 
serving— 
‘‘(i) shall have the grade of vice admiral, 
with the pay and allowances of that grade; and 
‘‘(ii) shall perform such duties as the Com-
mandant may prescribe, except that if the 
President designates five such positions, one po-
sition shall be the Chief of Staff of the Coast 
Guard; and 
‘‘(B) designate, within the executive branch, 
other than within the Coast Guard or the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, positions 
of importance and responsibility that shall be held 
by officers who, while so serving, shall have the 
grade of vice admiral, with the pay and allowances 
of that grade.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking 
‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘under 
paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (D); and 
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(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following: 
‘‘(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while 
awaiting orders after being relieved from the posi-
tion, beginning on the day the officer is relieved 
from the position, but not for more than 60 days; 
and’’. 
SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 
(a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO REMIT INDEBT-
EDNESS.—Section 461 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 
‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any 
part of a person’s indebtedness to the United States or 
any instrumentality of the United States if— 
‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the 
person served on active duty as a member of the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or 
cancelling the indebtedness is in the best interest of 
the United States.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 13 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 461 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 
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SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM. 
(a) MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Section 
572(d)(3) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through 
(H) as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub-
paragraph (C); 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the performance data to be used to 
determine whether the key performance param-
eters have been resolved;’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as re-
designated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the 
following: 
‘‘(D) the results during test and evaluation 
that will be required to demonstrate that a ca-
pability, asset, or subsystem meets performance 
requirements;’’. 
(b) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 2902 of 
title 14, United States Code, as redesignated and other-
wise amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘completion;’’ and inserting ‘‘completion based 
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on the proposed appropriations included in the 
budget;’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘at 
the projected funding levels;’’ and inserting 
‘‘based on the proposed appropriations included 
in the budget;’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c), and inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) NEW CAPITAL ASSETS.—In the fiscal year fol-
lowing each fiscal year for which appropriations are en-
acted for a new capital asset, the report submitted under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) an estimated life-cycle cost estimate for 
the new capital asset; 
‘‘(2) an assessment of the impact the new cap-
ital asset will have on— 
‘‘(A) delivery dates for each capital asset; 
‘‘(B) estimated completion dates for each 
capital asset; 
‘‘(C) the total estimated cost to complete 
each capital asset; and 
‘‘(D) other planned construction or im-
provement projects; and 
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‘‘(3) recommended funding levels for each cap-
ital asset necessary to meet the estimated completion 
dates and total estimated costs included in the such 
asset’s approved acquisition program baseline.’’; and 
(3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘unfunded priority’ means a pro-
gram or mission requirement that— 
‘‘(A) has not been selected for funding in 
the applicable proposed budget; 
‘‘(B) is necessary to fulfill a requirement 
associated with an operational need; and 
‘‘(C) the Commandant would have rec-
ommended for inclusion in the applicable pro-
posed budget had additional resources been 
available or had the requirement emerged be-
fore the budget was submitted; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘new capital asset’ means— 
‘‘(A) an acquisition program that does not 
have an approved acquisition program baseline; 
or 
‘‘(B) the acquisition of a capital asset in 
excess of the number included in the approved 
acquisition program baseline.’’. 
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(c) DAYS AWAY FROM HOMEPORT.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 
(1) implement a standard for tracking oper-
ational days at sea for Coast Guard cutters that 
does not include days during which such cutters are 
undergoing maintenance or repair; and 
(2) notify the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate of the standard imple-
mented under paragraph (1). 
(d) FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FLEET MIX ANALYSIS.— 
Not later than September 30, 2016, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall submit 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 a revised fleet mix analysis 
of Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft. 
(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.—Sec-
tion 2903 of title 14, United States Code, as redesignated 
and otherwise amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (g); and 
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(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.— 
Each report under subsection (a) shall include a plan that 
describes for the upcoming fiscal year, and for each of the 
20 fiscal years thereafter— 
‘‘(1) the numbers and types of cutters and air-
craft to be decommissioned; 
‘‘(2) the numbers and types of cutters and air-
craft to be acquired to— 
‘‘(A) replace the cutters and aircraft iden-
tified under paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) address an identified capability gap; 
and 
‘‘(3) the estimated level of funding in each fis-
cal year required to— 
‘‘(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft iden-
tified under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) acquire related command, control, 
communications, computer, intelligence, surveil-
lance, and reconnaissance systems; and 
‘‘(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shore-
side infrastructure. 
‘‘(f) QUARTERLY UPDATES
ON RISKS
OF PRO-
GRAMS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days 
after the end of each fiscal year quarter, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
committees of Congress specified in subsection (a) 
an update setting forth a current assessment of the 
risks associated with all current major acquisition 
programs. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—Each update under this sub-
section shall set forth, for each current major acqui-
sition program, the following: 
‘‘(A) The top five current risks to such 
program. 
‘‘(B) Any failure of such program to dem-
onstrate a key performance parameter or 
threshold during operational test and evaluation 
conducted during the fiscal year quarter pre-
ceding such update. 
‘‘(C) Whether there has been any decision 
during such fiscal year quarter to order full- 
rate production before all key performance pa-
rameters or thresholds are met. 
‘‘(D) Whether there has been any breach 
of major acquisition program cost (as defined 
by the Major Systems Acquisition Manual) dur-
ing such fiscal year quarter. 
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‘‘(E) Whether there has been any breach 
of major acquisition program schedule (as so 
defined) during such fiscal year quarter.’’. 
SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 822 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The purpose’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Auxiliary may conduct a pa-
trol of a waterway, or a portion thereof, only if— 
‘‘(1) the Commandant has determined such wa-
terway, or portion thereof, is navigable for purposes 
of the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard; or 
‘‘(2) a State or other proper authority has re-
quested such patrol pursuant to section 141 of this 
title or section 13109 of title 46.’’. 
(b) NOTIFICATION.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall— 
(1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast 
Guard Auxiliary in the most recently completed fis-
cal year to determine whether such waterways are 
eligible or ineligible for patrol under section 822(b) 
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of title 14, United States Code (as added by sub-
section (a)); and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written 
notification of— 
(A) any waterways determined ineligible 
for patrol under paragraph (1); and 
(B) the actions taken by the Commandant 
to ensure Auxiliary patrols do not occur on such 
waterways. 
SEC. 206. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 
Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 1998 (14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended in the second 
sentence by striking ‘‘90 days’’ and inserting ‘‘30 days’’. 
SEC. 207. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 
(a) INCREMENTAL FUNDING AUTHORITY FOR POLAR 
ICEBREAKERS.—In fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year 
thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may 
enter into a contract or contracts for the acquisition of 
polar icebreakers and associated equipment using incre-
mental funding. 
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(b) ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESS-
MENT AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION.—Section 222 of 
the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 
2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 2015, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall— 
‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment 
with respect to the Polar Sea; 
‘‘(2) make a determination of whether it is cost 
effective to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with 
other options to provide icebreaking services as part 
of a strategy to maintain polar icebreaking services; 
and 
‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate— 
‘‘(A) the assessment required under para-
graph (1); and 
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‘‘(B) written notification of the determina-
tion required under paragraph (2).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and 
inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c); 
(4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 
as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 
(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4) of this section)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘based on the analysis required’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 
‘‘analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘written notifica-
tion’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘written notifica-
tion’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)(B)’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘that sub-
section’’; and 
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‘‘(A) close a Coast Guard air facility that 
was in operation on November 30, 2014; or 
‘‘(B) retire, transfer, relocate, or deploy an 
aviation asset from an air facility described in 
subparagraph (A) for the purpose of closing 
such facility. 
‘‘(2) SUNSET.—Paragraph (1) shall have no 
force or effect beginning on the later of— 
‘‘(A) January 1, 2018; or 
‘‘(B) the date on which the Secretary sub-
mits to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, 
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, rotary wing 
strategic plans prepared in accordance with sec-
tion 208(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 2015. 
‘‘(b) CLOSURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on January 1, 
2018, the Secretary may not close a Coast Guard air 
facility, except as specified by this section. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATIONS.—The Secretary may 
not propose closing or terminating operations at a 
Coast Guard air facility unless the Secretary deter-
mines that— 
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‘‘(A) remaining search and rescue capabili-
ties maintain the safety of the maritime public 
in the area of the air facility; 
‘‘(B) regional or local prevailing weather 
and marine conditions, including water tem-
peratures or unusual tide and current condi-
tions, do not require continued operation of the 
air facility; and 
‘‘(C) Coast Guard search and rescue 
standards related to search and response times 
are met. 
‘‘(3) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Prior to 
closing an air facility, the Secretary shall provide op-
portunities for public comment, including the con-
vening of public meetings in communities in the area 
of responsibility of the air facility with regard to the 
proposed closure or cessation of operations at the air 
facility. 
‘‘(4) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—Prior to closure, 
cessation of operations, or any significant reduction 
in personnel and use of a Coast Guard air facility 
that is in operation on or after December 31, 2015, 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) submit to the Congress a proposal for 
such closure, cessation, or reduction in oper-
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ations along with the budget of the President 
submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of 
title 31 for the fiscal year in which the action 
will be carried out; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 7 days after the date 
a proposal for an air facility is submitted pur-
suant to subparagraph (A), provide written no-
tice of such proposal to each of the following: 
‘‘(i) Each member of the House of 
Representatives who represents a district 
in which the air facility is located. 
‘‘(ii) Each member of the Senate who 
represents a State in which the air facility 
is located. 
‘‘(iii) Each member of the House of 
Representatives who represents a district 
in which assets of the air facility conduct 
search and rescue operations. 
‘‘(iv) Each member of the Senate who 
represents a State in which assets of the 
air facility conduct search and rescue oper-
ations. 
‘‘(v) The Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives. 
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‘‘(vi) The Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives. 
‘‘(vii) The Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate. 
‘‘(viii) The Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(c) OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary 
may implement any reasonable management efficiencies 
within the air station and air facility network, such as 
modifying the operational posture of units or reallocating 
resources as necessary to ensure the safety of the mari-
time public nationwide.’’. 
(b) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
prepare the plans specified in paragraph (2) to ade-
quately address contingencies arising from potential 
future aviation casualties or the planned or un-
planned retirement of rotary wing airframes to avoid 
to the greatest extent practicable any substantial 
gap or diminishment in Coast Guard operational ca-
pabilities. 
(2) ROTARY WING STRATEGIC PLANS.— 
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(A) ROTARY WING CONTINGENCY PLAN.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall develop and submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a contingency plan— 
(i) to address the planned or un-
planned losses of rotary wing airframes; 
(ii) to reallocate resources as nec-
essary to ensure the safety of the maritime 
public nationwide; and 
(iii) to ensure the operational posture 
of Coast Guard units. 
(B) ROTARY WING REPLACEMENT CAPITAL 
INVESTMENT PLAN.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
develop and submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Com-
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mittee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate a capital invest-
ment plan for the acquisition of new rotary 
wing airframes to replace the Coast 
Guard’s legacy helicopters and fulfil all ex-
isting mission requirements. 
(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The plan devel-
oped under this subparagraph shall pro-
vide— 
(I) a total estimated cost for 
completion; 
(II) a timetable for completion of 
the acquisition project and phased in 
transition to new airframes; and 
(III) projected annual funding 
levels for each fiscal year. 
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis 
for chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 676 the following: 
‘‘676a. Air facility closures.’’. 
(2) REPEAL OF PROHIBITION.—Section 225 of 
the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281; 
128 Stat. 3022) is amended— 
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(A) by striking subsection (b); and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’. 
SEC. 209. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14, UNITED 
STATES CODE. 
Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, 
is further amended— 
(1) in the analysis for part I, by striking the 
item relating to chapter 19 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Pro-
gram ............................................................................
690’’; 
(2) in section 46(a), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section’’; 
(3) in section 47, in the section heading by 
striking ‘‘commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘Com-
mandant’’; 
(4) in section 93(f), by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) 
LIMITATION.—The 
Commandant 
may 
lease submerged lands and tidelands under para-
graph (1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the lease is for cash exclusively; 
‘‘(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair 
market value of the use of the leased sub-
merged lands or tidelands for the period during 
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which such lands are leased, as determined by 
the Commandant; 
‘‘(C) the lease does not provide authority 
to or commit the Coast Guard to use or support 
any improvements to such submerged lands and 
tidelands, or obtain goods and services from the 
lessee; and 
‘‘(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited 
in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established 
under section 687.’’; 
(5) in the analysis for chapter 9, by striking the 
item relating to section 199 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’; 
(6) in section 427(b)(2), by striking ‘‘this chap-
ter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 
(7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the 
item relating to section 571, by striking the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec.’’; 
(8) 
in 
section 
581(5)(B), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 
(9) in section 637(c)(3), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘it is’’ before 
‘‘any’’; 
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(10) in section 641(d)(3), by striking ‘‘Guard, 
installation’’ and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 
(11) in section 691(c)(3), by striking ‘‘state’’ 
and inserting ‘‘State’’; 
(12) in the analysis for chapter 21— 
(A) by striking the item relating to section 
709 and inserting the following: 
‘‘709. Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots; appointments in 
commissioned grade.’’; 
and 
(B) by striking the item relating to section 
740 and inserting the following: 
‘‘740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.’’; 
(13) in section 742(c), by striking ‘‘subsection’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsections’’; 
(14) in section 821(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chapter 
26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’; and 
(15) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chap-
ter 26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’. 
SEC. 210. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—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 
establish a process for the discontinuance of an aid to 
navigation (other than a seasonal or temporary aid) estab-
lished, maintained, or operated by the Coast Guard. 
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(b) REQUIREMENT.—The process established under 
subsection (a) shall include procedures to notify the public 
of any discontinuance of an aid to navigation described 
in that subsection. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a process under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and con-
sider any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advi-
sory Council. 
(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after es-
tablishing a process under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of the process established. 
SEC. 211. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an as-
sessment of the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s Standard 
Operational Planning Process with respect to annual mis-
sion performance measures. 
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SEC. 212. COMMUNICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity determines that there are at least two communica-
tions systems described under paragraph (1)(B) and cer-
tified under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish 
and carry out a pilot program across not less than three 
components of the Department of Homeland Security to 
assess the effectiveness of a communications system 
that— 
(1) provides for— 
(A) multiagency collaboration and inter-
operability; and 
(B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation- 
and acceptance-based multimedia communica-
tions; 
(2) is certified by the Department of Defense 
Joint Interoperability Test Center; and 
(3) is composed of commercially available, off- 
the-shelf technology. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date on which the pilot program is completed, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
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the Senate an assessment of the pilot program, including 
the impacts of the program with respect to interagency 
and Coast Guard response capabilities. 
(c) STRATEGY.—The pilot program shall be con-
sistent with the strategy required by the Department of 
Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act 
(Public Law 114–29). 
(d) TIMING.—The pilot program shall commence 
within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act 
or within 60 days after the completion of the strategy re-
quired by the Department of Homeland Security Inter-
operable Communications Act (Public Law 114–29), 
whichever is later. 
SEC. 213. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPER-
ATIONS EDUCATION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall establish an education pro-
gram, for members and employees of the Coast Guard, 
that— 
(1) offers a master’s degree in maritime oper-
ations; 
(2) is relevant to the professional development 
of such members and employees; 
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(3) provides resident and distant education op-
tions, including the ability to utilize both options; 
and 
(4) to the greatest extent practicable, is con-
ducted using existing academic programs at an ac-
credited public academic institution that— 
(A) is located near a significant number of 
Coast Guard, maritime, and other Department 
of Homeland Security law enforcement per-
sonnel; and 
(B) has an ability to simulate operations 
normally conducted at a command center. 
SEC. 214. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 428 the following: 
‘‘§ 429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel 
‘‘(a) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PER-
SONNEL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard shall develop and implement a 
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plan to conduct every 2 years a multirater assess-
ment for each of the following: 
‘‘(A) Each flag officer of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(B) Each member of the Senior Executive 
Service of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(C) Each officer of the Coast Guard nom-
inated for promotion to the grade of flag offi-
cer. 
‘‘(2) POST-ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS.—Following 
an assessment of an individual pursuant to para-
graph (1), the individual shall be provided appro-
priate post-assessment counseling and leadership 
coaching. 
‘‘(b) MULTIRATER ASSESSMENT DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘multirater assessment’ means a review 
that seeks opinion from members senior to the reviewee 
and the peers and subordinates of the reviewee.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by insert-
ing after the item related to section 428 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘429. Multirater assessment of certain personnel.’’. 
(b) TRAINING COURSE
ON WORKINGS
OF CON-
GRESS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 60. Training course on workings of Congress 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2015, the Commandant, in consultation with 
the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy and such 
other individuals and organizations as the Commandant 
considers appropriate, shall develop a training course on 
the workings of the Congress and offer that training 
course at least once each year. 
‘‘(b) COURSE
SUBJECT
MATTER.—The training 
course required by this section shall provide an overview 
and introduction to the Congress and the Federal legisla-
tive process, including— 
‘‘(1) the history and structure of the Congress 
and the committee systems of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate, including the functions 
and responsibilities of the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
‘‘(2) the documents produced by the Congress, 
including bills, resolutions, committee reports, and 
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conference reports, and the purposes and functions 
of those documents; 
‘‘(3) the legislative processes and rules of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate, including 
similarities and differences between the two proc-
esses and rules, including— 
‘‘(A) the congressional budget process; 
‘‘(B) the congressional authorization and 
appropriation processes; 
‘‘(C) the Senate advice and consent process 
for Presidential nominees; and 
‘‘(D) the Senate advice and consent proc-
ess for treaty ratification; 
‘‘(4) the roles of Members of Congress and con-
gressional staff in the legislative process; and 
‘‘(5) the concept and underlying purposes of 
congressional oversight within our governance frame-
work of separation of powers. 
‘‘(c) LECTURERS AND PANELISTS.— 
‘‘(1) OUTSIDE
EXPERTS.—The Commandant 
shall ensure that not less than 60 percent of the lec-
turers, panelists, and other individuals providing 
education and instruction as part of the training 
course required by this section are experts on the 
Congress and the Federal legislative process who are 
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not employed by the executive branch of the Federal 
Government. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PRO BONO SERV-
ICES.—In satisfying the requirement under para-
graph (1), the Commandant shall seek, and may ac-
cept, educational and instructional services of lec-
turers, panelists, and other individuals and organiza-
tions provided to the Coast Guard on a pro bono 
basis. 
‘‘(d) COMPLETION OF REQUIRED TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) CURRENT FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOY-
EES.—A Coast Guard flag officer appointed or as-
signed to a billet in the National Capital Region on 
the date of the enactment of this section, and a 
Coast Guard Senior Executive Service employee em-
ployed in the National Capital Region on the date of 
the enactment of this section, shall complete a train-
ing course that meets the requirements of this sec-
tion within 60 days after the date on which the 
Commandant completes the development of the 
training course. 
‘‘(2) NEW FLAG OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.— 
A Coast Guard flag officer who is newly appointed 
or assigned to a billet in the National Capital Re-
gion, and a Coast Guard Senior Executive Service 
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employee who is newly employed in the National 
Capital Region, shall complete a training course that 
meets the requirements of this section not later than 
60 days after reporting for duty.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘60. Training course on workings of Congress.’’. 
(c) REPORT ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard 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 Coast Guard leadership de-
velopment. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include the 
following: 
(A) An assessment of the feasibility of— 
(i) all officers (other than officers cov-
ered by section 429(a) of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this section) 
completing a multirater assessment; 
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(ii) all members (other than officers 
covered by such section) in command posi-
tions completing a multirater assessment; 
(iii) all enlisted members in a super-
visory position completing a multirater as-
sessment; and 
(iv) 
members 
completing 
periodic 
multirater assessments. 
(B) Such recommendations as the Com-
mandant considers appropriate for the imple-
mentation or expansion of a multirater assess-
ment in the personnel development programs of 
the Coast Guard. 
(C) An overview of each of the current 
leadership development courses of the Coast 
Guard, an assessment of the feasibility of the 
expansion of any such course, and a description 
of the resources, if any, required to expand 
such courses. 
(D) An assessment on the state of leader-
ship training in the Coast Guard, and rec-
ommendations on the implementation of a pol-
icy to prevent leadership that has adverse ef-
fects on subordinates, the organization, or mis-
sion performance, including— 
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(i) a description of methods that will 
be used by the Coast Guard to identify, 
monitor, and counsel individuals whose 
leadership may have adverse effects on 
subordinates, the organization, or mission 
performance; 
(ii) the implementation of leadership 
recognition training to recognize such lead-
ership in one’s self and others; 
(iii) the establishment of procedures 
for the administrative separation of leaders 
whose leadership may have adverse effects 
on subordinates, the organization, or mis-
sion performance; and 
(iv) a description of the resources 
needed to implement this section. 
SEC. 215. SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBER CONTINUATION 
BOARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 357 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (h) and 
subsection (j); and 
(2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘(i)’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) HEADING
AMENDMENT.—The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in 
retired pay’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended 
by striking the item relating to such section and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘357. Retirement of enlisted members: increase in retired pay.’’. 
SEC. 216. COAST GUARD MEMBER PAY. 
(a) ANNUAL AUDIT OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF 
MEMBERS UNDERGOING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STA-
TION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of mem-
bers undergoing permanent change of 
station 
‘‘The Commandant shall conduct each calendar year 
an audit of member pay and allowances for the members 
who transferred to new units during such calendar year. 
The audit for a calendar year shall be completed by the 
end of the calendar year.’’. 
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(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘519. Annual audit of pay and allowances of members undergoing permanent 
change of station.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives a report on alternative methods for no-
tifying members of the Coast Guard of their monthly earn-
ings. The report shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the feasibility of providing 
members a monthly notification of their earnings, 
categorized by pay and allowance type; and 
(2) a description and assessment of mechanisms 
that may be used to provide members with notifica-
tion of their earnings, categorized by pay and allow-
ance type. 
SEC. 217. TRANSFER OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 
MEDICAL CARE. 
(a) TRANSFER REQUIRED.—In lieu of the reimburse-
ment required under section 1085 of title 10, United 
States Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
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transfer to the Secretary of Defense an amount that rep-
resents the actuarial valuation of treatment or care— 
(1) that the Department of Defense shall pro-
vide to members of the Coast Guard, former mem-
bers of the Coast Guard, and dependents of such 
members and former members (other than former 
members and dependents of former members who 
are a Medicare-eligible beneficiary or for whom the 
payment for treatment or care is made from the 
Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund) at fa-
cilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of 
Defense or a military department; and 
(2) for which a reimbursement would otherwise 
be made under section 1085. 
(b) AMOUNT.—The amount transferred under sub-
section (a) shall be— 
(1) in the case of treatment or care to be pro-
vided to members of the Coast Guard and their de-
pendents, derived from amounts appropriated for the 
operating expenses of the Coast Guard; 
(2) in the case of treatment or care to be pro-
vided former members of the Coast Guard and their 
dependents, derived from amounts appropriated for 
retired pay; 
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(3) determined under procedures established by 
the Secretary of Defense; 
(4) transferred during the fiscal year in which 
treatment or care is provided; and 
(5) subject to adjustment or reconciliation as 
the Secretaries determine appropriate during or 
promptly after such fiscal year in cases in which the 
amount transferred is determined excessive or insuf-
ficient based on the services actually provided. 
(c) NO TRANSFER WHEN SERVICE IN NAVY.—No 
transfer shall be made under this section for any period 
during which the Coast Guard operates as a service in the 
Navy. 
(d) RELATIONSHIP
TO TRICARE.—This section 
shall not be construed to require a payment for, or the 
transfer of an amount that represents the value of, treat-
ment or care provided under any TRICARE program. 
SEC. 218. PARTICIPATION OF THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY 
IN 
FEDERAL, 
STATE, 
OR 
OTHER 
EDU-
CATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS. 
Section 196 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
the first sentence; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(b) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may— 
‘‘(A) enter into a contract, cooperative 
agreement, lease, or licensing agreement with a 
qualified organization; 
‘‘(B) allow a qualified organization to use, 
at no cost, personal property of the Coast 
Guard; and 
‘‘(C) notwithstanding section 93, accept 
funds, supplies, and services from a qualified 
organization. 
‘‘(2) SOLE-SOURCE
BASIS.—Notwithstanding 
chapter 65 of title 31 and chapter 137 of title 10, 
the Commandant may enter into a contract or coop-
erative agreement under paragraph (1)(A) on a sole- 
source basis. 
‘‘(3) MAINTAINING
FAIRNESS, 
OBJECTIVITY, 
AND
INTEGRITY.—The Commandant shall ensure 
that contributions under this subsection do not— 
‘‘(A) reflect unfavorably on the ability of 
the Coast Guard, any of its employees, or any 
member of the armed forces to carry out any 
responsibility or duty in a fair and objective 
manner; or 
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‘‘(B) compromise the integrity or appear-
ance of integrity of any program of the Coast 
Guard, or any individual involved in such a pro-
gram. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, employees or personnel of a qualified organi-
zation shall not be employees of the United States. 
‘‘(5) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In 
this subsection the term ‘qualified organization’ 
means an organization— 
‘‘(A) described under section 501(c)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt 
from taxation under section 501(a) of that 
Code; and 
‘‘(B) established by the Coast Guard Acad-
emy Alumni Association solely for the purpose 
of supporting academic research and applying 
for and administering Federal, State, or other 
educational research grants on behalf of the 
Coast Guard Academy.’’. 
SEC. 219. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 
Section 98(b) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘any appro-
priated Federal funds for’’ and insert ‘‘any funds 
appropriated to the Coast Guard on’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘artifacts.’’ 
and inserting ‘‘artifacts, including the design, fab-
rication, and installation of exhibits or displays in 
which such artifacts are included.’’. 
SEC. 220. INVESTIGATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Exec-
utive Service employees 
‘‘In conducting an investigation into an allegation of 
misconduct by a flag officer or member of the Senior Ex-
ecutive Service serving in the Coast Guard, the Inspector 
General of the Department of Homeland Security shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct the investigation in a manner con-
sistent with Department of Defense policies for such 
an investigation; and 
‘‘(2) consult with the Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is further amended by inserting 
after the item related to section 429 the following: 
‘‘430. Investigations of flag officers and Senior Executive Service employees.’’. 
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SEC. 221. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF 
THE COAST GUARD FOR COMBAT-RELATED 
SPECIAL COMPENSATION. 
(a) CONSIDERATION OF ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the department is which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating shall issue procedures and criteria to use in 
determining whether the disability of a member of 
the Coast Guard is a combat-related disability for 
purposes of the eligibility of such member for com-
bat-related special compensation under section 
1413a of title 10, United States Code. Such proce-
dures and criteria shall include the procedures and 
criteria prescribed by the Secretary of Defense pur-
suant to subsection (e)(2) of such section. Such pro-
cedures and criteria shall apply in determining 
whether the disability of a member of the Coast 
Guard is a combat-related disability for purposes of 
determining the eligibility of such member for com-
bat-related special compensation under such section. 
(2) DISABILITY FOR WHICH A DETERMINATION 
IS MADE.—For the purposes of this section, and in 
the case of a member of the Coast Guard, a dis-
ability under section 1413a(e)(2)(B) of title 10, 
United States Code, includes a disability incurred 
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during aviation duty, diving duty, rescue swimmer or 
similar duty, and hazardous service duty onboard a 
small vessel (such as duty as a surfman)— 
(A) in the performance of duties for which 
special or incentive pay was paid pursuant to 
section 301, 301a, 304, 307, 334, or 351 of 
title 37, United States Code; 
(B) in the performance of duties related 
to— 
(i) law enforcement, including drug or 
migrant interdiction; 
(ii) defense readiness; or 
(iii) search and rescue; or 
(C) while engaged in a training exercise for 
the performance of a duty described in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B). 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF GUIDANCE.—The guidance 
issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply to disabilities 
described in that subsection that are incurred on or after 
the effective date provided in section 636(a)(2) of the Bob 
Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2003 (Public Law 107–314; 116 Stat. 2574; 10 
U.S.C. 1413a note). 
(c) REAPPLICATION
FOR
COMPENSATION.—Any 
member of the Coast Guard who was denied combat-re-
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lated special compensation under section 1413a of title 10, 
United States Code, during the period beginning on the 
effective date specified in subsection (b) and ending on 
the date of the issuance of the guidance required by sub-
section (a) may reapply for combat-related special com-
pensation under such section on the basis of such guidance 
in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall specify. 
SEC. 222. LEAVE POLICIES FOR THE COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 
430 the following: 
‘‘§ 431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard 
‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
Secretary of the Navy promulgates a new rule, policy, or 
memorandum pursuant to section 704 of title 10, United 
States Code, with respect to leave associated with the birth 
or adoption of a child, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall promulgate 
a similar rule, policy, or memorandum that provides leave 
to officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard that 
is equal in duration and compensation to that provided 
by the Secretary of the Navy.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is further amended by inserting 
after the item related to section 430 the following: 
‘‘431. Leave policies for the Coast Guard.’’. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 
NAVIGATION 
SEC. 301. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall 
require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival 
craft that ensures that no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water, if— 
‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major 
conversion after January 1, 2016; and 
‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD
OF SAFETY.—The Sec-
retary may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code 
of Federal Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 
2016, if such revision provides a higher standard of safety 
than is provided by the regulations in effect on or before 
the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2015. 
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‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Sec-
retary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 
117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2015, allow a passenger vessel 
to be equipped with a life-saving appliance or arrangement 
of an innovative or novel design that— 
‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water; and 
‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of 
safety than is provided by such requirements as in 
effect before such date of the enactment. 
‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘built’ has the meaning that term has under section 
4503(e).’’. 
(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 
2016, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a review of— 
(A) the number of casualties for individ-
uals with disabilities, children, and the elderly 
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as a result of immersion in water, reported to 
the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year pe-
riod, by vessel type and area of operation; 
(B) the risks to individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly as a result of im-
mersion in water, by passenger vessel type and 
area of operation; 
(C) the effect that carriage of survival 
craft that ensure that no part of an individual 
is immersed in water has on— 
(i) passenger vessel safety, including 
stability and safe navigation; 
(ii) improving the survivability of indi-
viduals, including individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly; and 
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost 
difference to vessel operators, and the cost 
effectiveness of requiring the carriage of 
such survival craft to address the risks to 
individuals with disabilities, children, and 
the elderly; 
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety sys-
tems, devices, or measures in improving surviv-
ability of individuals with disabilities, children, 
and the elderly; and 
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(E) the number of small businesses and 
nonprofit vessel operators that would be af-
fected by requiring the carriage of such survival 
craft on passenger vessels to address the risks 
to individuals with disabilities, children, and the 
elderly. 
(2) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regu-
lations concerning the carriage of survival craft pur-
suant to section 3104(c) of title 46, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 302. VESSEL REPLACEMENT. 
(a) LOANS AND GUARANTEES.—Chapter 537 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 53701— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(8) 
through (14) as paragraphs (9) through (15), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 
following: 
‘‘(8) HISTORICAL USES.—The term ‘historical 
uses’ includes— 
‘‘(A) refurbishing, repairing, rebuilding, or 
replacing equipment on a fishing vessel, without 
materially increasing harvesting capacity; 
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‘‘(B) purchasing a used fishing vessel; 
‘‘(C) purchasing, constructing, expanding, 
or reconditioning a fishery facility; 
‘‘(D) refinancing existing debt; 
‘‘(E) reducing fishing capacity; and 
‘‘(F) making upgrades to a fishing vessel, 
including upgrades in technology, gear, or 
equipment, that improve— 
‘‘(i) collection and reporting of fish-
ery-dependent data; 
‘‘(ii) bycatch reduction or avoidance; 
‘‘(iii) gear selectivity; 
‘‘(iv) adverse impacts caused by fish-
ing gear; or 
‘‘(v) safety.’’; and 
(2) in section 53702(b), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM
OBLIGATIONS
AVAILABLE
FOR 
HISTORIC
USES.—Of the direct loan obligations 
issued by the Secretary under this chapter, the Sec-
retary shall make a minimum of $59,000,000 avail-
able each fiscal year for historic uses. 
‘‘(4) USE OF OBLIGATIONS IN LIMITED ACCESS 
FISHERIES.—In addition to the other eligible pur-
poses and uses of direct loan obligations provided for 
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in this chapter, the Secretary may issue direct loan 
obligations for the purpose of— 
‘‘(A) financing the construction or recon-
struction of a fishing vessel in a fishery man-
aged under a limited access system; or 
‘‘(B) financing the purchase of harvesting 
rights in a fishery that is federally managed 
under a limited access system.’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION TO CERTAIN FISH-
ING VESSELS
OF PROHIBITION UNDER VESSEL CON-
STRUCTION PROGRAM.—Section 302(b)(2) of the Fish-
eries Financing Act (title III of Public Law 104–297; 46 
U.S.C. 53706 note) is amended— 
(1) in the second sentence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or in’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
in’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the period the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, in fisheries that are under the juris-
diction of the North Pacific Fishery Manage-
ment Council and managed under a fishery 
management plan issued under the Magnuson- 
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or in the Pacific 
whiting fishery that is under the jurisdiction of 
the Pacific Fishery Management Council and 
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managed under a fishery management plan 
issued under that Act’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Any 
fishing vessel operated in fisheries under the juris-
diction of the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and managed under a fishery management 
plan issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.), or in the Pacific whiting fishery under the 
jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and managed under a fishery management 
plan issued under that Act, and that is replaced by 
a vessel that is constructed or rebuilt with a loan or 
loan guarantee provided by the Federal Government 
may not be used to harvest fish in any fishery under 
the jurisdiction of any regional fishery management 
council, other than a fishery under the jurisdiction 
of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council or 
the Pacific Fishery Management Council.’’. 
SEC. 303. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4302 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this sec-
tion the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational 
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vessels and associated equipment, such model year shall, 
except as provided in paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 
31 of the following year; and 
‘‘(B) be designated by the year in which it ends. 
‘‘(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel manu-
facturer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may 
alter a model year for a model of recreational vessel of 
the manufacturer and associated equipment, by no more 
than 6 months from the model year described in para-
graph (1).’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall only apply with 
respect to recreational vessels and associated equipment 
constructed or manufactured, respectively, on or after 
June 1, 2015. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
publish guidance to implement section 4302(d)(2) of title 
46, United States Code. 
SEC. 304. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION 
HARMONIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(c) and not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
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the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process to 
harmonize the expiration dates of merchant mariner cre-
dentials, mariner medical certificates, and radar observer 
endorsements for individuals applying to the Secretary for 
a new merchant mariner credential or for renewal of an 
existing merchant mariner credential. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the process established under subsection (a)— 
(1) does not require an individual to renew a 
merchant mariner credential earlier than the date on 
which the individual’s current credential expires; and 
(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates 
for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical 
certificates, and radar observer endorsements for all 
individuals by not later than 6 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) EXCEPTION.—The process established under sub-
section (a) does not apply to individuals— 
(1) holding a merchant mariner credential 
with— 
(A) an active Standards of Training, Cer-
tification, and Watchkeeping endorsement; or 
(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; 
or 
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(2) who have been issued a time-restricted med-
ical certificate. 
SEC. 305. SAFETY ZONES FOR PERMITTED MARINE EVENTS. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall establish and imple-
ment a process to— 
(1) account for the number of safety zones es-
tablished for permitted marine events; 
(2) differentiate whether the event sponsor who 
requested a permit for such an event is— 
(A) an individual; 
(B) an organization; or 
(C) a government entity; and 
(3) account for Coast Guard resources utilized 
to enforce safety zones established for permitted ma-
rine events, including for— 
(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. 
SEC. 306. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 46.—Title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in section 103, by striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 
151).’’ and inserting ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).’’; 
(2) in section 2118— 
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘title,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subtitle,’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘title’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subtitle’’; 
(3) in the analysis for chapter 35— 
(A) by adding a period at the end of the 
item relating to section 3507; and 
(B) by adding a period at the end of the 
item relating to section 3508; 
(4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(5) in section 4506, by striking ‘‘(a)’’; 
(6) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking 
‘‘Academy.’’ and inserting ‘‘Academy; and’’; 
(7) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking 
‘‘under this Act’’; 
(8) in the analysis for chapter 701— 
(A) by adding a period at the end of the 
item relating to section 70107A; 
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(B) in the item relating to section 70112, 
by striking ‘‘security advisory committees.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Security Advisory Committees.’’; and 
(C) in the item relating to section 70122, 
by striking ‘‘watch program.’’ and inserting 
‘‘Watch Program.’’; 
(9) in section 70105(c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(xv)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘18, popularly’’ and in-
serting ‘‘18 (popularly’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘Act)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(D) 
paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘(D) of paragraph’’; 
(10) in section 70107— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking 
‘‘5121(j)(8)),’’ and inserting ‘‘5196(j)(8)),’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (m)(3)(C)(iii), by strik-
ing ‘‘that is’’ and inserting ‘‘that the appli-
cant’’; 
(11) in section 70122, in the section heading, 
by striking ‘‘watch program’’ and inserting 
‘‘Watch Program’’; and 
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(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’; and 
(C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 
(3) ACT OF AUGUST 18, 1894.—Section 5 of the 
Act entitled ‘‘An Act making appropriations for the 
construction, repair, and preservation of certain pub-
lic works on rivers and harbors, and for other pur-
poses’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499), 
is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transpor-
tation’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating’’. 
(4) ACT OF JUNE 21, 1940.—The Act of June 
21, 1940, popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs 
Act, is amended— 
(A) in section 1 (33 U.S.C. 511), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 
‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating’’; 
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(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 
‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating’’; 
(C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
and 
(D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’. 
(5) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The Gen-
eral Bridge Act of 1946 is amended— 
(A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), 
by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 
(B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’. 
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(6) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The 
International Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 
(A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
(B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’; and 
(C) by striking section 11 (33 U.S.C. 
535h). 
SEC. 307. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MA-
RINE CASUALTY REPORTING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of the actions the Commandant will take to imple-
ment recommendations on improvements to the Coast 
Guard’s marine casualty reporting requirements and pro-
cedures included in— 
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(1) the Department of Homeland Security Of-
fice of Inspector General report entitled ‘‘Marine Ac-
cident Reporting, Investigations, and Enforcement 
in the United States Coast Guard’’, released on May 
23, 2013; and 
(2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee re-
port entitled ‘‘Recommendations for Improvement of 
Marine Casualty Reporting’’, released on March 26, 
2015. 
SEC. 308. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations 
amending table 4 to subpart H of part 183 of title 33, 
Code of Federal Regulations (relating to Weights 
(Pounds) of Outboard Motor and Related Equipment for 
Various Boat Horsepower Ratings), as appropriate to re-
flect ‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and Related Equip-
ment Weights’’ published by the American Boat and Yacht 
Council, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
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SEC. 309. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION 
REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law and pursuant to regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary, a trusted agent may issue a medical certifi-
cate to an individual who— 
‘‘(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a 
license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s 
document, or endorsement thereto under this part; 
and 
‘‘(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and phys-
ical condition to perform the duties of such license, 
certificate, document, or endorsement, as determined 
by the trusted agent. 
‘‘(b) PROCESS FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES BY 
SECRETARY.—A final rule implementing this section shall 
include a process for— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating to issue medical certifi-
cates to mariners who submit applications for such 
certificates to the Secretary; and 
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‘‘(2) a trusted agent to defer to the Secretary 
the issuance of a medical certificate. 
‘‘(c) TRUSTED AGENT DEFINED.—In this section the 
term ‘trusted agent’ means a medical practitioner certified 
by the Secretary to perform physical examinations of an 
individual for purposes of a license, certificate of registry, 
or merchant mariner’s document under this part.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
issue a final rule implementing section 7509 of title 46, 
United States Code, as added by this section. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.’’. 
SEC. 310. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY. 
(a) 
ATLANTIC
COAST
PORT
ACCESS
ROUTE 
STUDY.—Not later than April 1, 2016, the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard shall conclude the Atlantic Coast Port 
Access Route Study and submit the results of such study 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(b) NANTUCKET SOUND.—Not later than December 
1, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall com-
plete and submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
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Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a port access route study of Nantucket Sound 
using the standards and methodology of the Atlantic Coast 
Port Access Route Study, to determine whether the Coast 
Guard should revise existing regulations to improve navi-
gation safety in Nantucket Sound due to factors such as 
increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, 
weather conditions, or navigational difficulty in the vicin-
ity. 
SEC. 311. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR REC-
REATIONAL VESSELS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations that— 
(1) make certificates of documentation for rec-
reational vessels effective for 5 years; and 
(2) require the owner of such a vessel— 
(A) to notify the Coast Guard of each 
change in the information on which the 
issuance of the certificate of documentation is 
based, that occurs before the expiration of the 
certificate; and 
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(B) apply for a new certificate of docu-
mentation for such a vessel if there is any such 
change. 
SEC. 312. PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) develop guidelines to implement the pro-
gram authorized under section 304(a) of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 
(Public Law 109–241), including specific actions to 
ensure 
the 
future 
availability 
of 
able 
and 
credentialed United States licensed and unlicensed 
seafarers including— 
(A) incentives to encourage partnership 
agreements with operators of foreign-flag ves-
sels that carry liquified natural gas, that pro-
vide no less than one training billet per vessel 
for United States merchant mariners in order 
to meet minimum mandatory sea service re-
quirements; 
(B) development of appropriate training 
curricula for use by public and private maritime 
training institutions to meet all United States 
merchant mariner license, certification, and 
document laws and requirements under the 
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International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978; and 
(C) steps to promote greater outreach and 
awareness of additional job opportunities for 
sea service veterans of the United States Armed 
Forces; and 
(2) submit such guidelines to the Committee 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 313. REPEALS. 
(a) REPEALS, MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936.—Sec-
tions 601 through 606, 608 through 611, 613 through 
616, 802, and 809 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 
U.S.C. 53101 note) are repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 575 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 57501, by striking ‘‘titles V and 
VI’’ and inserting ‘‘title V’’; and 
(2) in section 57531(a), by striking ‘‘titles V 
and VI’’ and inserting ‘‘title V’’. 
(c) TRANSFER FROM MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 
1936.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 801 of the Merchant 
Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note)— 
(A) is redesignated as section 57522 of 
title 46, United States Code, and transferred to 
appear after section 57521 of such title; and 
(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is 
amended— 
(i) by striking so much as precedes 
the first sentence and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and in-
spection and auditing’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the provision of title 
VI or VII of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this 
chapter’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘: Provided, That’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Commis-
sion’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 575, of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 57521 the following: 
‘‘57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection and auditing.’’. 
(d) REPEALS, TITLE 46, U.S.C.—Section 8103 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended in subsections 
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(c) and (d) by striking ‘‘or operating’’ each place it ap-
pears. 
SEC. 314. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) PROHIBITIONS.—Section 70503(a) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITIONS.—While on board a covered ves-
sel, an individual may not knowingly or intentionally— 
‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, or possess with 
intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled sub-
stance; 
‘‘(2) destroy (including jettisoning any item or 
scuttling, burning, or hastily cleaning a vessel), or 
attempt or conspire to destroy, property that is sub-
ject to forfeiture under section 511(a) of the Com-
prehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act 
of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 881(a)); or 
‘‘(3) conceal, or attempt or conspire to conceal, 
more than $100,000 in currency or other monetary 
instruments on the person of such individual or in 
any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or 
other container, or compartment of or aboard the 
covered vessel if that vessel is outfitted for smug-
gling.’’. 
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(b) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—Section 70503 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(e) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—In this section 
the term ‘covered vessel’ means— 
‘‘(1) a vessel of the United States or a vessel 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or 
‘‘(2) any other vessel if the individual is a cit-
izen of the United States or a resident alien of the 
United States.’’. 
(c) PENALTIES.—Section 70506 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘A person vio-
lating section 70503’’ and inserting ‘‘A person vio-
lating paragraph (1) of section 70503(a)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PENALTY.—A person violating paragraph (2) or 
(3) of section 70503(a) shall be fined in accordance with 
section 3571 of title 18, imprisoned not more than 15 
years, or both.’’. 
(d) SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE.—Section 70507(a) 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘section 70503’’ and inserting ‘‘section 70503 or 70508’’. 
(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) The heading of section 70503 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 70503. Prohibited acts’’. 
(2) The analysis for chapter 705 of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by striking 
the item relating to section 70503 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘70503. Prohibited acts.’’. 
SEC. 315. EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CRE-
DENTIALS. 
(a) DISCLOSURE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 7510. Examinations for merchant mariner creden-
tials 
‘‘(a) 
DISCLOSURE
NOT
REQUIRED.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Secretary is not 
required to disclose to the public— 
‘‘(1) a question from any examination for a 
merchant mariner credential; 
‘‘(2) the answer to such a question, including 
any correct or incorrect answer that may be pre-
sented with such question; and 
‘‘(3) any quality or characteristic of such a 
question, including— 
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‘‘(A) the manner in which such question 
has been, is, or may be selected for an examina-
tion; 
‘‘(B) the frequency of such selection; and 
‘‘(C) the frequency that an examinee cor-
rectly or incorrectly answered such question. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN QUESTIONS.—Not-
withstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may, for the 
purpose of preparation by the general public for examina-
tions required for merchant mariner credentials, release 
an examination question and answer that the Secretary 
has retired or is not presently on or part of an examina-
tion, or that the Secretary determines is appropriate for 
release. 
‘‘(c) EXAM REVIEW.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2015, and once every 2 years 
thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall commission a working group to review new 
questions for inclusion in examinations required for 
merchant mariner credentials, composed of— 
‘‘(A) one subject matter expert from the 
Coast Guard; 
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‘‘(B) representatives from training facili-
ties and the maritime industry, of whom— 
‘‘(i) one-half shall be representatives 
from approved training facilities; and 
‘‘(ii) one-half shall be representatives 
from the appropriate maritime industry; 
‘‘(C) at least one representative from the 
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Com-
mittee; 
‘‘(D) at least two representatives from the 
State maritime academies, of whom one shall be 
a representative from the deck training track 
and one shall be a representative of the engine 
license track; 
‘‘(E) representatives from other Coast 
Guard Federal advisory committees, as appro-
priate, for the industry segment associated with 
the subject examinations; 
‘‘(F) at least one subject matter expert 
from the Maritime Administration; and 
‘‘(G) at least one human performance tech-
nology representative. 
‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF PERSONS KNOWLEDGEABLE 
ABOUT
EXAMINATION
TYPE.—The working group 
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shall include representatives knowledgeable about 
the examination type under review. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The requirement to convene 
a working group under paragraph (1) does not apply 
unless there are new examination questions to re-
view. 
‘‘(4) BASELINE REVIEW.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall 
convene the working group to complete a base-
line review of the Coast Guard’s Merchant Mar-
iner Credentialing Examination, including re-
view of— 
‘‘(i) the accuracy of examination ques-
tions; 
‘‘(ii) the accuracy and availability of 
examination references; 
‘‘(iii) the length of merchant mariner 
examinations; and 
‘‘(iv) the use of standard technologies 
in administering, scoring, and analyzing 
the examinations. 
‘‘(B) 
PROGRESS
REPORT.—The 
Coast 
Guard shall provide a progress report to the ap-
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propriate congressional committees on the re-
view under this paragraph. 
‘‘(5) FULL MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED.—The 
Coast Guard may convene the working group with-
out all members present if any non-Coast-Guard 
representative is present. 
‘‘(6) NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall require all members of the working 
group to sign a nondisclosure agreement with the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(7) TREATMENT
OF
MEMBERS
AS
FEDERAL 
EMPLOYEES.—A member of the working group who 
is not a Federal Government employee shall not be 
considered a Federal employee in the service or the 
employment of the Federal Government, except that 
such a member shall be considered a special govern-
ment employee, as defined in section 202(a) of title 
18 for purposes of sections 203, 205, 207, 208, and 
209 of such title and shall be subject to any admin-
istrative standards of conduct applicable to an em-
ployee of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating. 
‘‘(8) FORMAL
EXAM
REVIEW.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that the Coast Guard Performance 
Technology Center— 
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‘‘(A) prioritizes the review of examinations 
required for merchant mariner credentials; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 2015, completes a formal review, includ-
ing an appropriate analysis, of the topics and 
testing methodology employed by the National 
Maritime Center for merchant seamen licensing. 
‘‘(9) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any working 
group created under this section to review the Coast 
Guard’s merchant mariner credentialing examina-
tions. 
‘‘(d) 
MERCHANT
MARINER
CREDENTIAL
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner cre-
dential’ means a merchant seaman license, certificate, or 
document that the Secretary is authorized to issue pursu-
ant to this title.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such chapter is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials.’’. 
(b) EXAMINATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINER CRE-
DENTIALS.— 
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