2637 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL REGULATOR.—The 
term ‘Federal functional regulator’ means the Board 
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the 
Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union 
Administration, the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Com-
mission. 
‘‘(2) STATE
BANK
SUPERVISOR.—The term 
‘State bank supervisor’ has the meaning given that 
term under section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insur-
ance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘5333. Innovation Labs.’’. 
SEC. 7303. INNOVATION COUNCIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 53 of 
Title 31, United States Code, as amended by section 7302, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 5334. Innovation Council 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the In-
novation Council (hereinafter in this section referred to 
as the ‘Council’), which shall consist of each Director of 
an Innovation Lab established under section 5334, a rep-
resentative of State bank supervisors (as defined under
2638 
section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 
1813)), and the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforce-
ment Network. 
‘‘(b) CHAIR.—The Director of the Innovation Lab of 
the Department of the Treasury shall serve as the Chair 
of the Council. 
‘‘(c) DUTY.—The members of the Council shall co-
ordinate on activities related to innovation under the Bank 
Secrecy Act, but may not supplant individual agency de-
terminations on innovation. 
‘‘(d) MEETINGS.—The meetings of the Council— 
‘‘(1) shall be at the call of the Chair, but in no 
case may the Council meet less than semi-annually; 
‘‘(2) may include open and closed sessions, as 
determined necessary by the Council; and 
‘‘(3) shall include participation by public and 
private entities and law enforcement agencies. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—The Council shall issue an annual re-
port, for each of the 7 years beginning on the date of en-
actment of this section, to the Secretary of the Treasury 
on the activities of the Council during the previous year, 
including the success of programs as measured by metrics 
of success developed pursuant to section 5334(c)(4), and 
any regulatory or legislative recommendations that the 
Council may have.’’.
2639 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by adding the end the following: 
‘‘5334. Innovation Council.’’. 
SEC. 7304. TESTING METHODS RULEMAKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5318 of title 31, United 
States Code, as amended by section 7301, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(q) TESTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury, in consultation with the head of each 
agency to which the Secretary has delegated duties 
or powers under subsection (a), shall issue a rule to 
specify— 
‘‘(A) with respect to technology and related 
technology-internal processes (‘new technology’) 
designed to facilitate compliance with the Bank 
Secrecy Act requirements, the standards by 
which financial institutions are to test new 
technology; and 
‘‘(B) in what instances or under what cir-
cumstance and criteria a financial institution 
may replace or terminate legacy technology and 
processes for any examinable technology or 
process without the replacement or termination 
being determined an examination deficiency.
2640 
‘‘(2) STANDARDS.—The standards described 
under paragraph (1) may include— 
‘‘(A) an emphasis on using innovative ap-
proaches, such as machine learning, rather than 
rules-based systems; 
‘‘(B) risk-based back-testing of the regime 
to facilitate calibration of relevant systems; 
‘‘(C) requirements for appropriate data 
privacy and security; and 
‘‘(D) a requirement that the algorithms 
used by the regime be disclosed to the Financial 
Crimes Enforcement Network, upon request. 
‘‘(3) CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALGORITHMS.—If a 
financial institution or any director, officer, em-
ployee, or agent of any financial institution, volun-
tarily or pursuant to this subsection or any other au-
thority, discloses the institution’s algorithms to a 
Government agency, such algorithms and any mate-
rials associated with the creation of such algorithms 
shall be considered confidential and not subject to 
public disclosure.’’. 
(b) UPDATE OF MANUAL.—The Financial Institu-
tions Examination Council shall ensure—
2641 
(1) that any manual prepared by the Council is 
updated to reflect the rulemaking required by the 
amendment made by subsection (a); and 
(2) that financial institutions are not penalized 
for the decisions based on such rulemaking to re-
place or terminate technology used for compliance 
with the Bank Secrecy Act (as defined under section 
5312 of title 31, United States Code) or other anti- 
money laundering laws. 
SEC. 7305. FINCEN STUDY ON USE OF EMERGING TECH-
NOLOGIES. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Finan-
cial Crimes Enforcement Network (‘‘FinCEN’’) shall 
carry out a study on— 
(A) the status of implementation and in-
ternal use of emerging technologies, including 
artificial intelligence (‘‘AI’’), digital identity 
technologies, blockchain technologies, and other 
innovative technologies within FinCEN; 
(B) whether AI, digital identity tech-
nologies, blockchain technologies, and other in-
novative technologies can be further leveraged 
to make FinCEN’s data analysis more efficient 
and effective; and
2642 
(C) how FinCEN could better utilize AI, 
digital identity technologies, blockchain tech-
nologies, and other innovative technologies to 
more actively analyze and disseminate the infor-
mation it collects and stores to provide inves-
tigative leads to Federal, State, Tribal, and 
local law enforcement, and other Federal agen-
cies (collective, ‘‘Agencies’’), and better support 
its ongoing investigations when referring a case 
to the Agencies. 
(2) INCLUSION OF GTO DATA.—The study re-
quired under this subsection shall include data col-
lected through the Geographic Targeting Orders 
(‘‘GTO’’) program. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study 
required under this subsection, FinCEN shall con-
sult with the Directors of the Innovations Labs es-
tablished in section 7302. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than the end of the 6-month 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Director shall issue a report to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives containing—
2643 
(1) all findings and determinations made in car-
rying out the study required under subsection (a); 
(2) with respect to each of subparagraphs (A), 
(B) and (C) of subsection (a)(1), any best practices 
or significant concerns identified by the Director, 
and their applicability to AI, digital identity tech-
nologies, blockchain technologies, and other innova-
tive technologies with respect to United States ef-
forts to combat money laundering and other forms 
of illicit finance; and 
(3) any policy recommendations that could fa-
cilitate and improve communication and coordination 
between the private sector, FinCEN, and Agencies 
through the implementation of innovative ap-
proaches, in order to meet their Bank Secrecy Act 
(as defined under section 5312 of title 31, United 
States Code) and anti-money laundering compliance 
obligations. 
SEC. 7306. DISCRETIONARY SURPLUS FUNDS. 
The dollar amount specified under section 7(a)(3)(A) 
of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 289(a)(3)(A)) is 
reduced by $37,000,000.
2644 
DIVISION 
H—ELIJAH 
E. 
CUM-
MINGS 
COAST 
GUARD 
AU-
THORIZATION ACT OF 2020 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Elijah E. Cum-
mings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITION OF COMMANDANT. 
In this division, the term ‘‘Commandant’’ means the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 8001. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘year 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘years 2020 and 
2021’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘provided 
for, $7,914,195,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘provided for— 
‘‘(i) $8,151,620,850 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(ii) 
$8,396,169,475 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘subpara-
graph (A)—’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)(i),
2645 
$17,035,000 shall be for environmental compliance 
and restoration.’’; 
(4) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph 
(1)(B); 
(5) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(C) Of the amount authorized under subpara-
graph, (A)(ii) $17,376,000 shall be for environ-
mental compliance and restoration.’’; 
(6) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘For the procurement’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(A) For the procurement’’; 
(B) 
by 
striking 
‘‘and 
equipment, 
$2,694,745,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and equipment— 
‘‘(i) $2,794,745,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(ii) 
$3,312,114,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) Of the amounts authorized under subpara-
graph (A), the following amounts shall be for the al-
teration of bridges: 
‘‘(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(ii) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’;
2646 
(7) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and equip-
ment, $29,141,000 for fiscal year 2019.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘and equipment— 
‘‘(A) $13,834,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(B) $14,111,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’; 
and 
(8) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) For the Coast Guard’s Medicare-eligible 
retiree health care fund contribution to the Depart-
ment of Defense— 
‘‘(A) $205,107,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
and 
‘‘(B) $209,209,000 for fiscal year 2021.’’. 
SEC. 8002. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 
AND TRAINING. 
Section 4904 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘43,000 for 
fiscal year 2018 and 44,500 for fiscal year 2019’’ 
and inserting ‘‘44,500 for each of fiscal years 2020 
and 2021’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 
2018 and 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2020 
and 2021’’.
2647 
SEC. 8003. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this division, for the purpose 
of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest state-
ment titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ 
for this division, submitted for printing in the Congres-
sional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Com-
mittee, provided that such statement has been submitted 
prior to the vote on passage. 
SEC. 8004. AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS FOR ACQUISITION 
OF ADDITIONAL NATIONAL SECURITY CUT-
TER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to be 
appropriated by— 
(1) section 4902(2)(A)(i) of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this di-
vision, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
(2) section 4902(2)(A)(ii) of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this di-
vision, $550,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, 
is authorized for the acquisition of a National Security 
Cutter. 
(b) TREATMENT OF ACQUIRED CUTTER.—Any cutter 
acquired using amounts available pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall be in addition to the National Security Cutters
2648 
approved under the existing acquisition baseline in the 
program of record for the National Security Cutter. 
SEC. 8005. PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR POLAR SECU-
RITY CUTTERS. 
(a) FUNDING.—Of the amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated by— 
(1) section 4902(2)(A)(i) of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this di-
vision, $135,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
(2) section 4902(2)(A)(ii) of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this di-
vision, $610,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, 
is authorized for construction of a Polar Security Cutter. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTS OR USE OF FUNDS 
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON HULL DESIGN.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
may not enter into any contract for, and no funds shall 
be obligated or expended on, the development of a common 
hull design for medium Polar Security Cutters and Great 
Lakes icebreakers. 
SEC. 8006. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON NEED FOR NEW 
GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
2649 
(1) The Great Lakes shipping industry is cru-
cial to the American economy, including the United 
States manufacturing base, providing important eco-
nomic and national security benefits. 
(2) A recent study found that the Great Lakes 
shipping industry supports 237,000 jobs and tens of 
billions of dollars in economic activity. 
(3) United States Coast Guard icebreaking ca-
pacity is crucial to full utilization of the Great Lakes 
shipping system, as during the winter icebreaking 
season up to 15 percent of annual cargo loads are 
delivered, and many industries would have to reduce 
their production if Coast Guard icebreaking services 
were not provided. 
(4) Six of the Coast Guard’s nine icebreaking 
cutters in the Great Lakes are more than 30 years 
old and are frequently inoperable during the winter 
icebreaking season, including those that have com-
pleted a recent service life extension program. 
(5) During the previous 10 winters, Coast 
Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutters have been in-
operable for an average of 65 cutter-days during the 
winter icebreaking season, with this annual lost ca-
pability exceeding 100 cutter days, with a high of 
246 cutter days during the winter of 2017–2018.
2650 
(6) The 2019 ice season provides further proof 
that current Coast Guard icebreaking capacity is in-
adequate for the needs of the Great Lakes shipping 
industry, as only six of the nine icebreaking cutters 
are operational, and millions of tons of cargo was 
not loaded or was delayed due to inadequate Coast 
Guard icebreaking assets during a historically aver-
age winter for Great Lakes ice coverage. 
(7) The Congress has authorized the Coast 
Guard to acquire a new Great Lakes icebreaker as 
capable as Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB– 
30), the most capable Great Lakes icebreaker, and 
$10 million has been appropriated to fund the de-
sign and initial acquisition work for this icebreaker. 
(8) The Coast Guard has not initiated a new 
acquisition program for this Great Lakes icebreaker. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
the Congress of the United States that a new Coast Guard 
icebreaker as capable as Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw 
(WLBB–30) is needed on the Great Lakes, and the Coast 
Guard should acquire this icebreaker as soon as possible. 
SEC. 8007. PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR GREAT LAKES 
ICEBREAKER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to be 
appropriated by section 4902(2)(A)(ii) of title 14, United
2651 
States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this division, 
$160,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 is authorized for the 
acquisition of a Great Lakes icebreaker at least as capable 
as USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB–30). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
a plan for acquiring an icebreaker as required by section 
820(b) of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–282). 
SEC. 8008. POLAR SECURITY CUTTER ACQUISITION RE-
PORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
Armed Services of the Senate a report on— 
(1) the extent to which specifications, key draw-
ings, and detail design for the Polar Security Cutter 
are complete before the start of construction;
2652 
(2) the extent to which Polar Security Cutter 
hulls numbers one, two, and three are science ready; 
and 
(3) what actions will be taken to ensure that 
Polar Security Cutter hull number four is science ca-
pable, as described in the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on 
Polar Icebreaker Cost Assessment letter report enti-
tled ‘‘Acquisition and Operation of Polar Ice-
breakers: Fulfilling the Nation’s Needs’’ and dated 
July 11, 2017. 
SEC. 8009. SHORESIDE INFRASTRUCTURE. 
Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by sec-
tion 4902(2)(A) of title 14, United States Code, as amend-
ed by section 8001 of this division, for each of fiscal years 
2020 and 2021, $167,500,000 is authorized for the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating to fund the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, 
or improvement of the Coast Guard shoreside infrastruc-
ture and facilities necessary to support Coast Guard oper-
ations and readiness. 
SEC. 8010. MAJOR ACQUISITION SYSTEMS INFRASTRUC-
TURE. 
Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by sec-
tion 4902(2)(A)(ii) of title 14, United States Code, as
2653 
amended by section 8001 of this division, $105,000,000 
is authorized for the hangar replacement listed in the fis-
cal year 2020 Unfunded Priority List. 
SEC. 8011. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 561 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 561. Icebreaking in polar regions 
‘‘(a) PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into one or more contracts for the procurement of— 
‘‘(A) the Polar Security Cutters approved 
as part of a major acquisition program as of 
November 1, 2019; and 
‘‘(B) 3 additional Polar Security Cutters. 
‘‘(2) CONDITION
FOR
OUT-YEAR
CONTRACT 
PAYMENTS.—A contract entered into under para-
graph (1) shall provide that any obligation of the 
United States to make a payment under the contract 
during a fiscal year after fiscal year 2019 is subject 
to the availability of appropriations or funds for that 
purpose for such later fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) PLANNING.—The Secretary shall facilitate plan-
ning for the design, procurement, maintenance, deploy-
ment, and operation of icebreakers as needed to support 
the statutory missions of the Coast Guard in the polar
2654 
regions by allocating all funds to support icebreaking oper-
ations in such regions, except for recurring incremental 
costs associated with specific projects, to the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the Secretary from seeking reimbursement for 
operation and maintenance costs of the Polar Star, Healy, 
or any other Polar Security Cutter from other Federal 
agencies and entities, including foreign countries, that 
benefit from the use of those vessels. 
‘‘(d) RESTRICTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant may 
not— 
‘‘(A) transfer, relinquish ownership of, dis-
mantle, or recycle the Polar Sea or Polar Star; 
‘‘(B) change the current homeport of the 
Polar Sea or Polar Star; or 
‘‘(C) expend any funds— 
‘‘(i) for any expenses directly or indi-
rectly associated with the decommissioning 
of the Polar Sea or Polar Star, including 
expenses for dock use or other goods and 
services; 
‘‘(ii) for any personnel expenses di-
rectly or indirectly associated with the de-
commissioning of the Polar Sea or Polar
2655 
Star, including expenses for a decommis-
sioning officer; 
‘‘(iii) for any expenses associated with 
a decommissioning ceremony for the Polar 
Sea or Polar Star; 
‘‘(iv) to appoint a decommissioning of-
ficer to be affiliated with the Polar Sea or 
Polar Star; or 
‘‘(v) to place the Polar Sea or Polar 
Star in inactive status. 
‘‘(2) SUNSET.—This subsection shall cease to 
have effect on September 30, 2022. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not ex-
pend amounts appropriated for the Coast Guard for 
any of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, for— 
‘‘(A) design activities related to a capa-
bility of a Polar Security Cutter that is based 
solely on an operational requirement of a Fed-
eral department or agency other than the Coast 
Guard, except for amounts appropriated for de-
sign activities for a fiscal year before fiscal year 
2016; or
2656 
‘‘(B) long-lead-time materials, production, 
or postdelivery activities related to such a capa-
bility. 
‘‘(2) OTHER AMOUNTS.—Amounts made avail-
able to the Secretary under an agreement with a 
Federal department or agency other than the Coast 
Guard and expended on a capability of a Polar Secu-
rity Cutter that is based solely on an operational re-
quirement of such Federal department or agency 
shall not be treated as amounts expended by the 
Secretary for purposes of the limitation under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(f) ENHANCED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR THE 
POLAR STAR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Commandant shall conduct an 
enhanced maintenance program on the Polar Star to 
extend the service life of such vessel until at least 
December 31, 2025. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
The Commandant may use funds made available 
pursuant to section 4902(1)(A), to carry out this 
subsection. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
2657 
‘‘(1) POLAR SEA.—The term ‘Polar Sea’ means 
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea (WAGB 11). 
‘‘(2) POLAR
STAR.—The term ‘Polar Star’ 
means Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10). 
‘‘(3) HEALY.—The term ‘Healy’ means Coast 
Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20).’’. 
(b) CONTRACTING FOR MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 1137(a) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘and 3 Polar Security Cutters 
in addition to those approved as part of a major acquisi-
tion program on November 1, 2019’’ before the period at 
the end. 
(c) REPEALS.— 
(1) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPOR-
TATION
ACT
OF
2006.—Section 210 of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 
(14 U.S.C. 504 note) is repealed. 
(2) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPOR-
TATION
ACT
OF
2012.—Section 222 of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–213) is repealed. 
(3) HOWARD COBLE COAST GUARD AND MARI-
TIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2014.—Section 505 
of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime
2658 
Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–281) 
is repealed. 
(4) FRANK LOBIONDO COAST GUARD AUTHOR-
IZATION ACT OF 2018.—Section 821 of the Frank 
LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–282) is repealed. 
SEC. 8012. ACQUISITION OF FAST RESPONSE CUTTER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to be 
appropriated under section 4902(2)(A)(ii) of title 14, 
United States Code, as amended by section 8001 of this 
division, $265,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 shall be made 
available for the acquisition of four Fast Responses Cut-
ters. 
(b) TREATMENT OF ACQUIRED CUTTERS.—Any cut-
ter acquired pursuant to subsection (a) shall be in addition 
to the 58 cutters approved under the existing acquisition 
baseline. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
Subtitle A—Military Personnel 
Matters 
SEC. 9101. GRADE ON RETIREMENT. 
(a) RETIREMENT OF COMMANDANT OR VICE COM-
MANDANT.—Section 303 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
2659 
‘‘(d) Retirement under this section is subject to sec-
tion 2501(a) of this title.’’. 
(b) RETIREMENT.—Section 306 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘satisfac-
torily, as determined under section 2501 of this 
title’’ before the period; 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘satisfac-
torily, as determined under section 2501 of this 
title’’ before the period; and 
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘if perform-
ance of duties in such grade is determined to have 
been satisfactory pursuant to section 2501 of this 
title’’ before the period. 
(c) GRADE ON RETIREMENT.—Section 2501 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Any commissioned officer, 
other than a commissioned warrant officer,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A commissioned officer’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
commissioned officer’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
commissioned officer’s’’; and
2660 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONAL DETERMINATION.—When a 
commissioned officer is under investigation for al-
leged misconduct at the time of retirement— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary may conditionally de-
termine the highest grade of satisfactory service 
of the commissioned officer pending completion 
of the investigation; and 
‘‘(B) the grade under subparagraph (A) is 
subject to resolution under subsection (c)(2).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘WARRANT OFFICERS.— 
’’ after ‘‘(b)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘him’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
warrant officer’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘his’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
warrant officer’s’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) RETIREMENT IN LOWER GRADE.— 
‘‘(1) MISCONDUCT IN LOWER GRADE.—In the 
case of a commissioned officer whom the Secretary 
determines committed misconduct in a lower grade, 
the Secretary may determine the commissioned offi-
cer has not served satisfactorily in any grade equal 
to or higher than that lower grade.
2661 
‘‘(2) ADVERSE FINDINGS.—A determination of 
the retired grade of a commissioned officer shall be 
resolved following a conditional determination under 
subsection (a)(2) if the investigation of or personnel 
action against the commissioned officer results in 
adverse findings. 
‘‘(3) RECALCULATION OF RETIRED PAY.—If the 
retired grade of a commissioned officer is reduced 
pursuant to this subsection, the retired pay of the 
commissioned officer shall be recalculated under 
chapter 71 of title 10, and any modification of the 
retired pay of the commissioned officer shall go into 
effect on the effective date of the reduction in re-
tired grade. 
‘‘(d) FINALITY
OF RETIRED GRADE DETERMINA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a determination of the retired grade of a 
commissioned officer under this section is adminis-
tratively final on the day the commissioned officer is 
retired, and may not be reopened. 
‘‘(2) REOPENING DETERMINATIONS.—A deter-
mination of the retired grade of a commissioned offi-
cer may be reopened if—
2662 
‘‘(A) the retirement or retired grade of the 
commissioned officer was procured by fraud; 
‘‘(B) substantial evidence comes to light 
after the retirement that could have led to a 
lower retired grade under this section and such 
evidence was known by competent authority at 
the time of retirement; 
‘‘(C) a mistake of law or calculation was 
made in the determination of the retired grade; 
‘‘(D) in the case of a retired grade fol-
lowing a conditional determination under sub-
section (a)(2), the investigation of or personnel 
action against the commissioned officer results 
in adverse findings; or 
‘‘(E) the Secretary determines, under regu-
lations prescribed by the Secretary, that good 
cause exists to reopen the determination. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—If a determination of 
the retired grade of a commissioned officer is re-
opened under paragraph (2), the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall notify the commissioned officer 
of the reopening; and 
‘‘(B) may not make an adverse determina-
tion on the retired grade of the commissioned 
officer until the commissioned officer has had a
2663 
reasonable opportunity to respond regarding the 
basis of the reopening. 
‘‘(4) RECALCULATION OF RETIRED PAY.—If the 
retired grade of a commissioned officer is reduced 
through the reopening of the commissioned officer’s 
retired grade under paragraph (2), the retired pay 
of the commissioned officer shall be recalculated 
under chapter 71 of title 10, and any modification 
of the retired pay of the commissioned officer shall 
go into effect on the effective date of the reduction 
in retired grade. 
‘‘(e) INAPPLICABILITY TO COMMISSIONED WARRANT 
OFFICERS.—This section, including subsection (b), shall 
not apply to commissioned warrant officers.’’. 
SEC. 9102. AUTHORITY FOR OFFICERS TO OPT OUT OF PRO-
MOTION BOARD CONSIDERATION. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY OF OFFICERS FOR CONSIDERATION 
FOR PROMOTION.—Section 2113 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Com-
mandant may provide that an officer may, upon the offi-
cer’s request and with the approval of the Commandant, 
be excluded from consideration by a selection board con-
vened under section 2106.
2664 
‘‘(2) The Commandant shall approve a request under 
paragraph (1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow the of-
ficer to complete a broadening assignment, advanced 
education, another assignment of significant value to 
the Coast Guard, a career progression requirement 
delayed by the assignment or education, or a quali-
fying personal or professional circumstance, as de-
termined by the Commandant; 
‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the exclusion 
from consideration is in the best interest of the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of se-
lection for promotion to the grade for which the offi-
cer requests the exclusion from consideration.’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE OFFICER FOR PRO-
MOTION.—Section 3743 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3743. Eligibility for promotion 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), a Reserve officer is eligible for consideration for pro-
motion and for promotion under this subchapter if that 
officer is in an active status. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—A Reserve officer who has been 
considered but not recommended for retention in an active
2665 
status by a board convened under subsection 3752(a) of 
this title is not eligible for consideration for promotion. 
‘‘(c) REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may pro-
vide that an officer may, upon the officer’s request 
and with the approval of the Commandant, be ex-
cluded from consideration by a selection board con-
vened under section 3740(b) of this title to consider 
officers for promotion to the next higher grade. 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL
OF
REQUEST.—The Com-
mandant shall approve a request under paragraph 
(1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the basis for the request is to allow 
an officer to complete a broadening assignment, 
advanced education, another assignment of sig-
nificant value to the Coast Guard, a career pro-
gression requirement delayed by the assignment 
or education, or a qualifying personal or profes-
sional circumstance, as determined by the Com-
mandant; 
‘‘(B) the Commandant determines the ex-
clusion from consideration is in the best inter-
est of the Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(C) the officer has not previously failed of 
selection for promotion to the grade for which
2666 
the officer requests the exclusion from consider-
ation.’’. 
SEC. 9103. TEMPORARY PROMOTION AUTHORITY FOR OFFI-
CERS IN CERTAIN GRADES WITH CRITICAL 
SKILLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with 
critical skills: captain, commander, lieu-
tenant commander, lieutenant 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An officer in the grade of lieu-
tenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, 
or commander who is described in subsection (b) may be 
temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieuten-
ant commander, commander, or captain under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary. Appointments under this sec-
tion shall be made by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) COVERED OFFICERS.—An officer described in 
this subsection is any officer in a grade specified in sub-
section (a) who— 
‘‘(1) has a skill in which the Coast Guard has 
a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by 
the Secretary); and
2667 
‘‘(2) is serving in a position (as determined by 
the Secretary) that— 
‘‘(A) is designated to be held by a lieuten-
ant, lieutenant commander, commander, or cap-
tain; and 
‘‘(B) requires that an officer serving in 
such position have the skill possessed by such 
officer. 
‘‘(c) PRESERVATION OF POSITION AND STATUS OF 
OFFICERS APPOINTED.— 
‘‘(1) The temporary positions authorized under 
this section shall not be counted among or included 
in the list of positions on the active duty promotion 
list. 
‘‘(2) An appointment under this section does 
not change the position on the active duty list or the 
permanent, probationary, or acting status of the of-
ficer so appointed, prejudice the officer in regard to 
other promotions or appointments, or abridge the 
rights or benefits of the officer. 
‘‘(d) BOARD RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED.—A tem-
porary promotion under this section may be made only 
upon the recommendation of a board of officers convened 
by the Secretary for the purpose of recommending officers 
for such promotions.
2668 
‘‘(e) ACCEPTANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF AP-
POINTMENT.—Each appointment under this section, un-
less expressly declined, is, without formal acceptance, re-
garded as accepted on the date such appointment is made, 
and a member so appointed is entitled to the pay and al-
lowances of the grade of the temporary promotion under 
this section beginning on the date the appointment is 
made. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT.—Unless soon-
er terminated, an appointment under this section termi-
nates— 
‘‘(1) on the date the officer who received the 
appointment is promoted to the permanent grade of 
lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain; 
‘‘(2) on the date the officer is detached from a 
position described in subsection (b)(2), unless the of-
ficer is on a promotion list to the permanent grade 
of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or 
captain, in which case the appointment terminates 
on the date the officer is promoted to that grade; 
‘‘(3) when the appointment officer determines 
that the officer who received the appointment has 
engaged in misconduct or has displayed substandard 
performance; or
2669 
‘‘(4) when otherwise determined by the Com-
mandant to be in the best interests of the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE POSI-
TIONS.—An appointment under this section may only be 
made for service in a position designated by the Secretary 
for the purposes of this section. The number of positions 
so designated may not exceed the following percentages 
of the respective grades: 
‘‘(1) As lieutenant, 0.5 percent. 
‘‘(2) As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent. 
‘‘(3) As commander, 2.6 percent. 
‘‘(4) As captain, 2.6 percent.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 21 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2130. Promotion to certain grades for officers with critical skills: captain, com-
mander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant.’’. 
SEC. 9104. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of 
members 
‘‘(a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 
may carry out a program under which members of the
2670 
Coast Guard may be inactivated from active service in 
order to meet personal or professional needs and returned 
to active service at the end of such period of inactivation 
from active service. 
‘‘(b) PERIOD OF INACTIVATION FROM ACTIVE SERV-
ICE; EFFECT OF INACTIVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The period of inactivation 
from active service under a program under this sec-
tion of a member participating in the program shall 
be such period as the Commandant shall specify in 
the agreement of the member under subsection (c), 
except that such period may not exceed 3 years. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION FROM YEARS OF SERVICE.— 
Any service by a Reserve officer while participating 
in a program under this section shall be excluded 
from computation of the total years of service of 
that officer pursuant to section 14706(a) of title 10. 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSION FROM RETIREMENT.—Any pe-
riod of participation of a member in a program 
under this section shall not count toward— 
‘‘(A) eligibility for retirement or transfer 
to the Ready Reserve under either chapter 841 
or 1223 of title 10; or 
‘‘(B) computation of retired or retainer 
pay under chapter 71 or 1223 of title 10.
2671 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENT.—Each member of the Coast 
Guard who participates in a program under this section 
shall enter into a written agreement with the Commandant 
under which that member shall agree as follows: 
‘‘(1) To accept an appointment or enlist, as ap-
plicable, and serve in the Coast Guard Ready Re-
serve during the period of the inactivation of the 
member from active service under the program. 
‘‘(2) To undergo during the period of the inac-
tivation of the member from active service under the 
program such inactive service training as the Com-
mandant shall require in order to ensure that the 
member retains proficiency, at a level determined by 
the Commandant to be sufficient, in the military 
skills, professional qualifications, and physical readi-
ness of the member during the inactivation of the 
member from active service. 
‘‘(3) Following completion of the period of the 
inactivation of the member from active service under 
the program, to serve 2 months as a member of the 
Coast Guard on active service for each month of the 
period of the inactivation of the member from active 
service under the program. 
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS OF RELEASE.—The Commandant 
shall prescribe regulations specifying the guidelines re-
2672 
garding the conditions of release that must be considered 
and addressed in the agreement required by subsection 
(c). At a minimum, the Commandant shall prescribe the 
procedures and standards to be used to instruct a member 
on the obligations to be assumed by the member under 
paragraph (2) of such subsection while the member is re-
leased from active service. 
‘‘(e) ORDER TO ACTIVE SERVICE.—Under regula-
tions prescribed by the Commandant, a member of the 
Coast Guard participating in a program under this section 
may, in the discretion of the Commandant, be required 
to terminate participation in the program and be ordered 
to active service. 
‘‘(f) PAY AND ALLOWANCES.— 
‘‘(1) BASIC PAY.—During each month of par-
ticipation in a program under this section, a member 
who participates in the program shall be paid basic 
pay in an amount equal to two-thirtieths of the 
amount of monthly basic pay to which the member 
would otherwise be entitled under section 204 of title 
37 as a member of the uniformed services on active 
service in the grade and years of service of the mem-
ber when the member commences participation in 
the program. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL OR INCENTIVE PAY OR BONUS.—
2673 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION.—A member who par-
ticipates in such a program shall not, while par-
ticipating in the program, be paid any special 
or incentive pay or bonus to which the member 
is otherwise entitled under an agreement under 
chapter 5 of title 37 that is in force when the 
member commences participation in the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(B) NOT TREATED AS FAILURE TO PER-
FORM SERVICES.—The inactivation from active 
service of a member participating in a program 
shall not be treated as a failure of the member 
to perform any period of service required of the 
member in connection with an agreement for a 
special or incentive pay or bonus under chapter 
5 of title 37 that is in force when the member 
commences participation in the program. 
‘‘(3) RETURN TO ACTIVE SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) SPECIAL
OR
INCENTIVE
PAY
OR 
BONUS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), upon 
the return of a member to active service after 
completion by the member of participation in a 
program— 
‘‘(i) any agreement entered into by 
the member under chapter 5 of title 37 for
2674 
the payment of a special or incentive pay 
or bonus that was in force when the mem-
ber commenced participation in the pro-
gram shall be revived, with the term of 
such agreement after revival being the pe-
riod of the agreement remaining to run 
when the member commenced participation 
in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) any special or incentive pay or 
bonus shall be payable to the member in 
accordance with the terms of the agree-
ment concerned for the term specified in 
clause (i). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (A) 
shall not apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by such 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
at the time of the return of the member to 
active service as described in that subpara-
graph— 
‘‘(I) such pay or bonus is no 
longer authorized by law; or 
‘‘(II) the member does not satisfy 
eligibility criteria for such pay or
2675 
bonus as in effect at the time of the 
return of the member to active serv-
ice. 
‘‘(ii) PAY OR BONUS CEASES BEING 
AUTHORIZED.—Subparagraph 
(A) 
shall 
cease to apply to any special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by such 
subparagraph with respect to a member if, 
during the term of the revived agreement 
of the member under subparagraph (A)(i), 
such pay or bonus ceases being authorized 
by law. 
‘‘(C) REPAYMENT.—A member who is in-
eligible for payment of a special or incentive 
pay or bonus otherwise covered by this para-
graph by reason of subparagraph (B)(i)(II) 
shall be subject to the requirements for repay-
ment of such pay or bonus in accordance with 
the terms of the applicable agreement of the 
member under chapter 5 of title 37. 
‘‘(D) 
REQUIRED
SERVICE
IS
ADDI-
TIONAL.—Any service required of a member 
under an agreement covered by this paragraph 
after the member returns to active service as 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be in addi-
2676 
tion to any service required of the member 
under an agreement under subsection (c). 
‘‘(4) TRAVEL
AND
TRANSPORTATION
ALLOW-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), a member who participates in a pro-
gram is entitled, while participating in the pro-
gram, to the travel and transportation allow-
ances authorized by section 474 of title 37 
for— 
‘‘(i) travel performed from the resi-
dence of the member, at the time of release 
from active service to participate in the 
program, to the location in the United 
States designated by the member as the 
member’s residence during the period of 
participation in the program; and 
‘‘(ii) travel performed to the residence 
of the member upon return to active serv-
ice at the end of the participation of the 
member in the program. 
‘‘(B) SINGLE
RESIDENCE.—An allowance 
is payable under this paragraph only with re-
spect to travel of a member to and from a sin-
gle residence.
2677 
‘‘(5) LEAVE BALANCE.—A member who partici-
pates in a program is entitled to carry forward the 
leave balance existing as of the day on which the 
member begins participation and accumulated in ac-
cordance with section 701 of title 10, but not to ex-
ceed 60 days. 
‘‘(g) PROMOTION.— 
‘‘(1) OFFICERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An officer partici-
pating in a program under this section shall 
not, while participating in the program, be eligi-
ble for consideration for promotion under chap-
ter 21 or 37 of this title. 
‘‘(B) RETURN TO SERVICE.—Upon the re-
turn of an officer to active service after comple-
tion by the officer of participation in a pro-
gram— 
‘‘(i) the Commandant may adjust the 
date of rank of the officer in such manner 
as the Commandant may prescribe in regu-
lations for purposes of this section; and 
‘‘(ii) the officer shall be eligible for 
consideration for promotion when officers 
of the same competitive category, grade,
2678 
and seniority are eligible for consideration 
for promotion. 
‘‘(2) ENLISTED MEMBERS.—An enlisted mem-
ber participating in a program under this section 
shall not be eligible for consideration for advance-
ment during the period that— 
‘‘(A) begins on the date of the inactivation 
of the member from active service under the 
program; and 
‘‘(B) ends at such time after the return of 
the member to active service under the program 
that the member is treatable as eligible for pro-
motion by reason of time in grade and such 
other requirements as the Commandant shall 
prescribe in regulations for purposes of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(h) CONTINUED ENTITLEMENTS.—A member par-
ticipating in a program under this section shall, while par-
ticipating in the program, be treated as a member of the 
Armed Forces on active duty for a period of more than 
30 days for purposes of— 
‘‘(1) the entitlement of the member and of the 
dependents of the member to medical and dental 
care under the provisions of chapter 55 of title 10; 
and
2679 
‘‘(2) retirement or separation for physical dis-
ability under the provisions of chapter 61 of title 10 
and chapters 21 and 23 of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 25 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2514. Career flexibility to enhance retention of members.’’. 
SEC. 9105. DIRECT COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY FOR INDI-
VIDUALS WITH CRITICAL SKILLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 37 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 3738 the following: 
‘‘§ 3738a. Direct commissioning authority for individ-
uals with critical skills 
‘‘An individual with critical skills that the Com-
mandant considers necessary for the Coast Guard to com-
plete its missions who is not currently serving as an officer 
in the Coast Guard may be commissioned into the Coast 
Guard at a grade up to and including commander.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 37 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
3738 the following: 
‘‘3738a. Direct commissioning authority for individuals with critical skills.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading for the 
first chapter of subtitle III of title 14, United States Code,
2680 
is amended by striking ‘‘CHAPTER 1’’ and inserting 
‘‘CHAPTER 37’’. 
SEC. 9106. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 27 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 2713. Employment assistance 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to improve the accuracy 
and completeness of a certification or verification of job 
skills and experience required by section 1143(a)(1) of 
title 10, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a database to record all training 
performed by members of the Coast Guard that may 
have application to employment in the civilian sector; 
and 
‘‘(2) make unclassified information regarding 
such information available to States and other po-
tential employers referred to in section 1143(c) of 
title 10 so that States and other potential employers 
may allow military training to satisfy licensing or 
certification requirements to engage in a civilian pro-
fession. 
‘‘(b) FORM OF CERTIFICATION OR VERIFICATION.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that a certification or 
verification of job skills and experience required by section
2681 
1143(a)(1) of title 10 is rendered in such a way that 
States and other potential employers can confirm the ac-
curacy and authenticity of the certification or verification. 
‘‘(c) REQUESTS BY STATES.—A State may request 
that the Secretary confirm the accuracy and authenticity 
of a certification or verification of job skills and experience 
provided under section 1143(c) of title 10.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2713. Employment assistance.’’. 
Subtitle B—Organization and 
Management Matters 
SEC. 9201. CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS; DIRECTOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 321. Congressional affairs; Director 
‘‘The Commandant shall appoint a Director of Con-
gressional Affairs from among officers of the Coast Guard 
who are in a grade above captain. The Director of Con-
gressional Affairs is separate and distinct from the Direc-
tor of Governmental and Public Affairs for the Coast 
Guard and is the principal advisor to the Commandant 
on all congressional and legislative matters for the Coast 
Guard and may have such additional functions as the 
Commandant may direct.’’.
2682 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘321. Congressional affairs; Director.’’. 
SEC. 9202. LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS. 
(a) ADMIRALTY CLAIMS.—Section 937(a) of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$425,000’’. 
(b) CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF THE 
UNITED STATES.—Section 938 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$425,000’’. 
SEC. 9203. RENEWAL OF TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 219 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 10 U.S.C. 
1293 note) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘For fiscal years 2013 through 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘For fiscal years 2019 through 2025’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(c)(2)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)(1)’’. 
SEC. 
9204. 
MAJOR 
ACQUISITIONS; 
OPERATION 
AND 
SUSTAINMENT COSTS. 
Section 5103(e)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended—
2683 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) operate and sustain the cutters and 
aircraft described in paragraph (2);’’. 
SEC. 9205. SUPPORT OF WOMEN SERVING IN THE COAST 
GUARD. 
(a) ACTION PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall— 
(A) determine which recommendations in 
the RAND gender diversity report can prac-
ticably be implemented to promote gender di-
versity in the Coast Guard; and 
(B) submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a re-
port on the actions the Coast Guard has taken, 
or plans to take, to implement such rec-
ommendations.
2684 
(2) CURRICULUM
AND
TRAINING.—The Com-
mandant shall update curriculum and training mate-
rials used at— 
(A) officer accession points, including the 
Coast Guard Academy and the Leadership De-
velopment Center; 
(B) enlisted member accession at the 
United States Coast Guard Training Center 
Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey; and 
(C) the officer, enlisted member, and civil-
ian leadership courses managed by the Leader-
ship Development Center. 
Such updates shall reflect actions the Coast Guard 
has taken, or plans to take, to carry out the rec-
ommendations of the RAND gender diversity report. 
(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘RAND gender diversity report’’ means the RAND 
Corporation’s Homeland Security Operational Anal-
ysis Center 2019 report entitled ‘‘Improving Gender 
Diversity in the U.S. Coast Guard: Identifying Bar-
riers to Female Retention’’. 
(b) ADVISORY BOARD ON WOMEN AT THE COAST 
GUARD ACADEMY.—Chapter 19 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended—
2685 
(1) by redesignating section 1904 as section 
1906; 
(2) by inserting after section 1903 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1904. Advisory Board on Women at the Coast 
Guard Academy 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Superintendent of the Acad-
emy shall establish at the Coast Guard Academy an advi-
sory board to be known as the Advisory Board on Women 
at the Coast Guard Academy (referred to in this section 
as the ‘Advisory Board’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Board shall be 
composed of not fewer than 12 current cadets of the Coast 
Guard Academy, including not fewer than 3 cadets from 
each current class. 
‘‘(c) APPOINTMENT; TERM.—Cadets shall serve on 
the Advisory Board pursuant to appointment by the Su-
perintendent of the Academy. Appointments shall be made 
not later than 60 days after the date of the swearing in 
of a new class of cadets at the Academy. The term of 
membership of a cadet on the Advisory Board shall be 1 
academic year. 
‘‘(d) REAPPOINTMENT.—The Superintendent of the 
Academy may reappoint not more than 6 cadets from the 
previous term to serve on the Advisory Board for an addi-
2686 
tional academic year if the Superintendent of the Academy 
determines such reappointment to be in the best interests 
of the Coast Guard Academy. 
‘‘(e) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Board shall meet 
with the Commandant at least once each academic year 
on the activities of the Advisory Board. The Advisory 
Board shall meet in person with the Superintendent of the 
Academy not less than twice each academic year on the 
duties of the Advisory Board. 
‘‘(f) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall identify op-
portunities and challenges facing cadets at the Academy 
who are women, including an assessment of culture, lead-
ership development, and access to health care of cadets 
at the Academy who are women. 
‘‘(g) WORKING GROUPS.—The Advisory Board may 
establish one or more working groups to assist the Advi-
sory Board in carrying out its duties, including working 
groups composed in part of cadets at the Academy who 
are not current members of the Advisory Board. 
‘‘(h) REPORTS
AND
BRIEFINGS.—The Advisory 
Board shall regularly provide the Commandant and the 
Superintendent reports and briefings on the results of its 
duties, including recommendations for actions to be taken 
in light of such results. Such reports and briefings may 
be provided in writing, in person, or both.’’; and
2687 
(3) by amending the analysis for such chap-
ter— 
(A) by amending the item relating to sec-
tion 1904 to read as follows: 
‘‘1904. Advisory Board on Women at the Coast Guard Academy.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘1906. Participation in Federal, State, or other educational research grants.’’. 
(c) ADVISORY BOARD ON WOMEN IN THE COAST 
GUARD.—Chapter 25 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subchapter II as sub-
chapter III; 
(2) by inserting after subchapter I the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—ADVISORY BOARD ON 
WOMEN IN THE COAST GUARD 
‘‘§ 2521. Advisory Board on Women in the Coast 
Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall establish 
within the Coast Guard an Advisory Board on Women in 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Board established 
under subsection (a) shall be composed of such number 
of members as the Commandant considers appropriate, se-
lected by the Commandant through a public selection proc-
ess from among applicants for membership on the Board.
2688 
The members of the Board shall, to the extent practicable, 
represent the diversity of the Coast Guard. The members 
of the Committee shall include an equal number of each 
of the following: 
‘‘(1) Active duty officers of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) Active duty enlisted members of the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(3) Members of the Coast Guard Reserve. 
‘‘(4) Retired members of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board established 
under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) shall advise the Commandant on improve-
ments to the recruitment, retention, wellbeing, and 
success of women serving in the Coast Guard and 
attending the Coast Guard Academy, including rec-
ommendations for the report on gender diversity in 
the Coast Guard required by section 5109 of chapter 
51 of title 14; 
‘‘(2) may submit to the Commandant rec-
ommendations in connection with its duties under 
this subsection, including recommendations to imple-
ment the advice described in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(3) may brief Congress on its duties under 
this subsection, including the advice described in
2689 
paragraph (1) and any recommendations described 
in paragraph (2).’’; and 
(3) by amending the analysis for such chapter 
by striking the items relating to subchapter II and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—ADVISORY BOARD ON WOMEN IN THE COAST GUARD 
‘‘2521. Advisory Board on Women in the Coast Guard. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE 
‘‘2531. Personnel of former Lighthouse Service.’’. 
(d) RECURRING REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast 
Guard 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 
2022, and biennially thereafter, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall contain the following: 
‘‘(1) GENDER DIVERSITY OVERVIEW.—An over-
view of Coast Guard active duty and reserve mem-
bers, including the number of officers and enlisted
2690 
members and the percentages of men and women in 
each. 
‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.— 
‘‘(A) An analysis of the changes in the re-
cruitment and retention of women over the pre-
vious 2 years. 
‘‘(B) A discussion of any changes to Coast 
Guard recruitment and retention over the pre-
vious 2 years that were aimed at increasing the 
recruitment and retention of female members. 
‘‘(3) PARENTAL LEAVE.— 
‘‘(A) The number of men and women who 
took parental leave during each year covered by 
the report, including the average length of such 
leave periods. 
‘‘(B) A discussion of the ways in which the 
Coast Guard worked to mitigate the impacts of 
parental leave on Coast Guard operations and 
on the careers of the members taking such 
leave. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS.—An analysis of current 
gender-based limitations on Coast Guard career op-
portunities, including discussion of— 
‘‘(A) shipboard opportunities;
2691 
‘‘(B) opportunities to serve at remote 
units; and 
‘‘(C) any other limitations on the opportu-
nities of female members. 
‘‘(5) PROGRESS UPDATE.—An update on the 
Coast Guard’s progress on the implementation of the 
action plan required under subsection (a) of section 
9205 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2020.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘5109. Report on gender diversity in the Coast Guard.’’. 
SEC. 9206. DISPOSITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO 
E–LORAN. 
Section 914 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘date’’ and inserting ‘‘later 
of the date of the conveyance of the properties 
directed under section 533(a) of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114–120) or the date’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘determination by the Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘determination by the
2692 
Secretary of Transportation under section 
312(d) of title 49’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY
OF
PROCEEDS.—The pro-
ceeds of such sales, less the costs of sale incurred by 
the General Services Administration, shall be depos-
ited into the Coast Guard Housing Fund for uses 
authorized under section 2946 of this title.’’. 
SEC. 9207. POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSI-
BILITY. 
Section 2103(c)(3) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘rear admiral (lower half)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘vice admiral’’. 
SEC. 9208. RESEARCH PROJECTS; TRANSACTIONS OTHER 
THAN CONTRACTS AND GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 719. Research projects; transactions other than 
contracts and grants 
‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL FORMS
OF TRANSACTIONS AU-
THORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant may 
enter into—
2693 
‘‘(A) transactions (other than contracts, 
cooperative agreements, and grants) in carrying 
out basic, applied, and advanced research 
projects; and 
‘‘(B) agreements with the Director of the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 
the Secretary of a military department, or any 
other official designated by the Secretary of De-
fense under section 2371b of title 10 to partici-
pate in prototype projects and follow-on produc-
tion contracts or transactions that are being 
carried out by such official and are directly rel-
evant to the Coast Guard’s cyber capability and 
Command, Control, Communications, Com-
puters, and intelligence initiatives. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—The authority 
under this subsection is in addition to the authority 
provided in section 717 to use contracts, cooperative 
agreements, and grants in carrying out such 
projects. 
‘‘(3) FUNDING.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1)(B), the Commandant may use funds made avail-
able for— 
‘‘(A) operations and support;
2694 
‘‘(B) research, development, test, and eval-
uation; and 
‘‘(C) procurement, construction, and im-
provement. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE PAYMENTS.—The authority under 
subsection (a) may be exercised without regard to section 
3324 of title 31. 
‘‘(c) RECOVERY OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (d), a 
cooperative agreement for performance of basic, ap-
plied, or advanced research authorized by section 
717, and a transaction authorized by subsection (a), 
may include a clause that requires a person or other 
entity to make payments to the Coast Guard or any 
other department or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment as a condition for receiving support under the 
agreement or transaction, respectively. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The amount of 
any payment received by the Federal Government 
pursuant to a requirement imposed under paragraph 
(1) may be credited, to the extent authorized by the 
Commandant, to an appropriate appropriations ac-
count. Amounts so credited shall be merged with 
other funds in the account and shall be available for
2695 
the same purposes and the same period for which 
other funds in such account are available. 
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall en-
sure that to the extent that the Commandant deter-
mines practicable, no cooperative agreement con-
taining a clause described in subsection (c)(1), and 
no transaction entered into under subsection (a), 
provides for research that duplicates research being 
conducted under existing programs carried out by 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) OTHER AGREEMENTS NOT FEASIBLE.—A 
cooperative agreement containing a clause described 
in subsection (c)(1), or under a transaction author-
ized by subsection (a), may be used for a research 
project only if the use of a standard contract, grant, 
or cooperative agreement for such project is not fea-
sible or appropriate. 
‘‘(e) EDUCATION AND TRAINING.—The Commandant 
shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure that management, technical, and 
contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in 
the award or administration of transactions under 
this section or other innovative forms of contracting
2696 
are afforded opportunities for adequate education 
and training; and 
‘‘(2) establish minimum levels and requirements 
for continuous and experiential learning for such 
personnel, including levels and requirements for ac-
quisition certification programs. 
‘‘(f) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM 
DISCLOSURE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Disclosure of information 
described in paragraph (2) is not required, and may 
not be compelled, under section 552 of title 5 for 5 
years after the date on which the information is re-
ceived by the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) applies 
to information described in subparagraph (B) 
that is in the records of the Coast Guard only 
if the information was submitted to the Coast 
Guard in a competitive or noncompetitive proc-
ess having the potential for resulting in an 
award, to the party submitting the information, 
of a cooperative agreement for performance of 
basic, applied, or advanced research authorized 
by section 717 or another transaction author-
ized by subsection (a).
2697 
‘‘(B) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The in-
formation referred to in subparagraph (A) is 
the following: 
‘‘(i) A proposal, proposal abstract, 
and supporting documents. 
‘‘(ii) A business plan submitted on a 
confidential basis. 
‘‘(iii) Technical information submitted 
on a confidential basis. 
‘‘(g) REGULATIONS.—The Commandant shall pre-
scribe regulations, as necessary, to carry out this section. 
‘‘(h) ANNUAL REPORT.—On the date on which the 
President submits to Congress a budget pursuant to sec-
tion 1105 of title 31, the Commandant shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations and Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committees on Appropriations and Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report de-
scribing each use of the authority provided under this sec-
tion during the most recently completed fiscal year, includ-
ing details of each use consisting of— 
‘‘(1) the amount of each transaction; 
‘‘(2) the entities or organizations involved; 
‘‘(3) the product or service received;
2698 
‘‘(4) the research project for which the product 
or service was required; and 
‘‘(5) the extent of the cost sharing among Fed-
eral Government and non-Federal sources.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘719. Research projects; transactions other than contracts and grants.’’. 
SEC. 9209. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 1111. Acquisition workforce authorities 
‘‘(a) EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of section 
3304 of title 5, the Commandant may— 
‘‘(A) designate any category of acquisition 
positions within the Coast Guard as shortage 
category positions; and 
‘‘(B) use the authorities in such section to 
recruit and appoint highly qualified persons di-
rectly to positions so designated. 
‘‘(2) REPORTS.—The Commandant shall in-
clude in reports under section 1102 information de-
scribed in such section regarding positions des-
ignated under this subsection.
2699 
‘‘(b) REEMPLOYMENT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), if an annuitant receiving an annuity from 
the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund be-
comes employed in any category of acquisition posi-
tions designated by the Commandant under sub-
section (a), the annuity of the annuitant so em-
ployed shall continue. The annuitant so reemployed 
shall not be considered an employee for purposes of 
subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 
5. 
‘‘(2)(A) 
ELECTION.—An 
annuitant 
retired 
under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, 
receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retire-
ment and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in 
any category of acquisition positions designated by 
the Commandant under subsection (a) after the date 
of the enactment of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2020, may elect to be 
subject to section 8344 or 8468 of such title (as the 
case may be). 
‘‘(i) DEADLINE.—An election for coverage 
under this subsection shall be filed not later 
than 90 days after the Commandant takes rea-
2700 
sonable actions to notify an employee who may 
file an election. 
‘‘(ii) COVERAGE.—If an employee files an 
election under this subsection, coverage shall be 
effective beginning on the first day of the first 
applicable pay period beginning on or after the 
date of the filing of the election. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 
to an individual who is eligible to file an election 
under subparagraph (A) and does not file a timely 
election under clause (i) of such subparagraph.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘1111. Acquisition workforce authorities.’’. 
(c) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED AUTHORITY.—Section 
404 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public 
Law 111–281) is repealed. 
SEC. 9210. VESSEL CONVERSION, ALTERATION, AND RE-
PAIR PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provision of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) and any 
regulation or policy implementing such Act, the Com-
mandant may use full and open competitive procedures, 
as prescribed in section 2304 of title 10, United States
2701 
Code, to acquire maintenance and repair services for ves-
sels with a homeport in Coast Guard District 17. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) shall apply only 
if there are not at least 2 qualified small businesses lo-
cated in Coast Guard District 17 that are able and avail-
able to provide the services described in such subsection. 
(c) LIMITATION.—The full and open competitive pro-
cedures described in subsection (a) may only be used to 
acquire such services from a business located in Coast 
Guard District 17 that is able and available to provide 
such services. 
SEC. 9211. MODIFICATION OF ACQUISITION PROCESS AND 
PROCEDURES. 
(a) EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 
11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 1157. Extraordinary relief 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—With respect to any prime con-
tracting entity receiving extraordinary relief pursuant to 
the Act entitled ‘An Act to authorize the making, amend-
ment, and modification of contracts to facilitate the na-
tional defense’, approved August 28, 1958 (Public Law 
85–804; 50 U.S.C. 1432 et seq.) for a major acquisition, 
the Secretary shall not consider any further request by
2702 
the prime contracting entity for extraordinary relief under 
such Act for such major acquisition. 
‘‘(b) INAPPLICABILITY TO SUBCONTRACTORS.—The 
limitation under subsection (a) shall not apply to sub-
contractors of a prime contracting entity. 
‘‘(c) QUARTERLY REPORT.—Not less frequently than 
quarterly during each fiscal year in which extraordinary 
relief is approved or provided to an entity under the Act 
referred to in subsection (a) for the acquisition of Offshore 
Patrol Cutters, the Commandant shall provide to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report that 
describes in detail such relief and the compliance of the 
entity with the oversight measures required as a condition 
of receiving such relief.’’. 
(3) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 11.—The analysis 
for chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 1156 the following: 
‘‘1157. Extraordinary relief.’’. 
(b) NOTICE
TO
CONGRESS
WITH
RESPECT
TO 
BREACH OF CONTRACT.—Section 1135 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
2703 
‘‘(d) NOTICE
TO CONGRESS WITH RESPECT
TO 
BREACH OF CONTRACT.—Not later than 48 hours after 
the Commandant becomes aware that a major acquisition 
contract cannot be carried out under the terms specified 
in the contract, the Commandant shall provide a written 
notification to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives that includes— 
‘‘(1) a description of the terms of the contract 
that cannot be met; and 
‘‘(2) an assessment of whether the applicable 
contract officer has issued a cease and desist order 
to the contractor based on the breach of such terms 
of the contract.’’. 
SEC. 9212. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF FUND; DEFI-
NITION. 
Section 1461(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and the Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘liabil-
ities of the Department of Defense’’. 
SEC. 9213. PAYMENTS FROM FUND. 
Section 1463(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended—
2704 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and Marine 
Corps’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, and Coast 
Guard’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘(other than 
retired pay payable by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security)’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4) by inserting ‘‘and the De-
partment of Homeland Security that’’ after ‘‘De-
partment of Defense’’. 
SEC. 9214. DETERMINATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUND. 
Section 1465 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(a) NOT’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a)(1) Not’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Not later than October 1, 2022, the Board of 
Actuaries shall determine the amount that is the present 
value (as of September 30, 2022) of future benefits pay-
able from the Fund that are attributable to service in the 
Coast Guard performed before October 1, 2022. That 
amount is the original Coast Guard unfunded liability of 
the Fund. The Board shall determine the period of time 
over which the original Coast Guard unfunded liability
2705 
should be liquidated and shall determine an amortization 
schedule for the liquidation of such liability over that pe-
riod. Contributions to the Fund for the liquidation of the 
original Coast Guard unfunded liability in accordance with 
such schedule shall be made as provided in section 1466(b) 
of this title.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating,’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’ ; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘and Coast 
Guard’’ after ‘‘Department of De-
fense’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by strik-
ing ‘‘(other than the Coast Guard)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘members of the Armed Forces’’; 
and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii) by strik-
ing ‘‘(other than the Coast Guard)’’;
2706 
(B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘the 
Coast Guard Retired Pay account and the’’ 
after ‘‘appropriated to’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘and 
Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘Department of Defense’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A) by inserting ‘‘, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating,’’ after 
‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘(other than the Coast Guard)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘members of the Armed Forces’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B) by striking 
‘‘(other than the Coast Guard)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘, in 
consultation with the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating,’’ 
after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘, in 
consultation with the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating,’’ 
after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’;
2707 
(4) in subsection (e) by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
Defense shall’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Defense 
and, with regard to the Coast Guard, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’. 
SEC. 9215. PAYMENTS INTO FUND. 
Section 1466 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Defense 
shall’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating, with 
respect to the Coast guard, shall’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘each month as the 
Department of Defense contribution’’ and 
inserting ‘‘each month the respective pro 
rata share contribution of the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)(B) by striking 
‘‘(other than the Coast Guard)’’; and
2708 
(C) by striking the flush language fol-
lowing paragraph (1)(B) and inserting the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(b) Amounts paid into the Fund under this sub-
section shall be paid from funds available for as appro-
priate— 
‘‘(1) the pay of members of the armed forces 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military 
department; or 
‘‘(2) the Retired Pay appropriation for the 
Coast Guard.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and 
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking ‘‘liabil-
ity of the Fund.’’ and inserting ‘‘liabilities of 
the Fund for the Department of Defense and 
the Coast Guard.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘and the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating’’ before ‘‘shall promptly’’.
2709 
Subtitle C—Access to Child Care 
for Coast Guard Families 
SEC. 9301. REPORT ON CHILD CARE AND SCHOOL-AGE 
CARE ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFIED FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report on 
child care and school-age care options available to quali-
fied families. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) An assessment of— 
(i) the subsidies and financial assist-
ance for child care and school-age care 
made available by the Coast Guard to 
qualified families; and 
(ii) the extent to which qualified fami-
lies have taken advantage of such subsidies 
and assistance. 
(B) The average number of days be-
tween—
2710 
(i) the date on which an application 
for a subsidy or other financial assistance 
for child care or school-age care is sub-
mitted by a qualified family; and 
(ii) upon approval of an application, 
the date on which such subsidy or assist-
ance is received by the qualified family. 
(C) Recommendations for streamlining the 
payment of such subsidies and financial assist-
ance. 
(D) The amount of funding allocated to 
such subsidies and financial assistance. 
(E) The remaining costs for child care or 
school-age care to qualified families that are not 
covered by the Coast Guard. 
(F) A description of barriers to access to 
such subsidies and financial assistance. 
(G) The number of qualified families that 
do not receive any such subsidies or financial 
assistance. 
(2) REGULATION OF CHILD CARE SERVICES.— 
(A) An assessment of— 
(i) the regulations of States with re-
spect to child care services (such as staff-
ing, space and furnishings, safety, cur-
2711 
riculum requirements, and allowable care 
hours); and 
(ii) the effect that differences in such 
regulations may have on access to child 
care for qualified families. 
(B) An assessment of— 
(i) the regulations of the Coast Guard 
and the Department of Defense with re-
spect to child development centers and 
other 
child 
care 
providers 
(including 
school-age care providers), and a compari-
son of such regulations with similar State 
regulations; and 
(ii) the effect that such regulations 
may have on access to child care and 
school-age care for qualified families. 
(C) The number of qualified families, and 
children, that do not have access to a Coast 
Guard child development center for child care. 
(3) 
PARITY
WITH
DEPARTMENT
OF
DE-
FENSE.—The differences between child care and 
school-age care services offered by the Coast Guard 
and child care and school-age care authorities of the 
Coast Guard and the Department of Defense relat-
ing to the following:
2712 
(A) Authorized uses of appropriated funds 
for child care and school-age care services. 
(B) Access to, and total capacity of, Coast 
Guard child development centers and Depart-
ment of Defense child development centers. 
(C) Child care and school-age care pro-
grams or policy. 
(D) Coast Guard and Department of De-
fense programs to provide additional assistance 
to members and civilian employees with respect 
to child care and school-age care options. 
(E) Respite care programs. 
(F) Nonappropriated funds. 
(G) Coast Guard family child care centers. 
(H) Coast Guard and Department of De-
fense publicly available online resources for 
families seeking military child care and school- 
age care. 
(4) FEASIBILITY.—An analysis of the feasibility 
of the Commandant entering into agreements with 
private child care and school-age care service pro-
viders to provide child care and school-age care for 
qualified families. 
(5) AVAILABILITY.—An analysis of the avail-
ability of child care and school-age care for qualified
2713 
families, including accessibility after normal work 
hours, proximity, and total capacity. 
(6) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Recommendations— 
(A) to improve access to child care and 
school-age care for qualified families; 
(B) to ensure parity between the Coast 
Guard and the Department of Defense with re-
spect to child care and school-age care; 
(C) to expand access to child care and 
school-age care for all qualified families, includ-
ing qualified families that have a child with spe-
cial needs; and 
(D) to ensure that regional child care and 
child development center needs at the unit, sec-
tor, or district level are identified, assessed, and 
reasonably evaluated by the Commandant for 
future infrastructure needs. 
(7) OTHER MATTERS.—A description or anal-
ysis of any other matter the Comptroller General 
considers relevant to the improvement of expanded 
access to child care and school-age care for qualified 
families. 
SEC. 
9302. 
REVIEW 
OF 
FAMILY 
SUPPORT 
SERVICES 
WEBSITE AND ONLINE TRACKING SYSTEM. 
(a) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—
2714 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 
Secretary of Defense to enable qualified families to 
access the website at https://militarychildcare.com 
(or a successor website) for purposes of Coast Guard 
family access to information with respect to State- 
accredited child development centers and other child 
care support services as such services become avail-
able from the Department of Defense through such 
website. The memorandum shall provide for the ex-
pansion of the geographical areas covered by such 
website, including regions in which qualified families 
live that are not yet covered by the program. 
(2) INCLUSION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT CEN-
TERS ACCESSIBLE UNDER PILOT PROGRAM.—The in-
formation accessible pursuant to the memorandum 
of understanding required by paragraph (1) shall in-
clude information with respect to any child develop-
ment center accessible pursuant to the pilot program 
under section 9304. 
(3) ELECTRONIC
REGISTRATION, 
PAYMENT, 
AND
TRACKING
SYSTEM.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall develop and maintain an internet
2715 
website of the Coast Guard accessible to qualified 
families to carry out the following activities: 
(A) Register children for a Coast Guard 
child development center. 
(B) Make online child care payments to a 
Coast Guard child development center. 
(C) Track the status of a child on the wait 
list of a Coast Guard child development center, 
including the placement and position of the 
child on the wait list. 
(b) WAIT LIST.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
maintain a record of the wait list for each Coast 
Guard child development center. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Each record 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The total number of children of quali-
fied families on the wait list. 
(B) With respect to each child on the wait 
list— 
(i) the age of the child; 
(ii) the number of days the child has 
been on the wait list; 
(iii) the position of the child on the 
wait list;
2716 
(iv) any special needs consideration; 
and 
(v) information on whether a sibling 
of the child is on the wait list of, or cur-
rently enrolled in, the Coast Guard child 
development center concerned. 
(3) REQUIREMENT TO ARCHIVE.—Information 
placed in the record of a Coast Guard child develop-
ment center under paragraph (1) shall be archived 
for a period of not less than 10 years after the date 
of its placement in the record. 
SEC. 9303. STUDY AND SURVEY ON COAST GUARD CHILD 
CARE NEEDS. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and for each 
of the 2 fiscal years thereafter, the Commandant 
shall conduct a study on the child care needs of 
qualified families that incorporates— 
(A) the results of the survey under sub-
section (b); and 
(B) any other information the Com-
mandant considers appropriate to ensure ade-
quate tracking and future needs-based assess-
2717 
ments with respect to adequate access to Coast 
Guard child development centers. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In conducting a study 
under paragraph (1), the Commandant may consult 
a federally funded research and development center. 
(3) SCOPE
OF
DATA.—The data obtained 
through each study under paragraph (1) shall be ob-
tained on a regional basis, including by Coast Guard 
unit, sector, and district. 
(b) SURVEY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Together with each study 
under subsection (a), and annually as the Com-
mandant considers appropriate, the Commandant 
shall carry out a survey of individuals described in 
paragraph (2) on access to Coast Guard child devel-
opment centers. 
(2) PARTICIPANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
seek the participation in the survey of the fol-
lowing Coast Guard individuals: 
(i) Commanding officers, regardless of 
whether the commanding officers have chil-
dren. 
(ii) Regular and reserve personnel.
2718 
(iii) Spouses of individuals described 
in clauses (i) and (ii). 
(B) SCOPE
OF
PARTICIPATION.—Individ-
uals described in clauses (i) through (iii) of sub-
paragraph (A) shall be surveyed regardless of 
whether such individuals use or have access to 
Coast Guard child development centers or other 
Federal child care facilities. 
(C) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Partici-
pation of any individual described in subpara-
graph (A) in a survey shall be on a voluntary 
basis. 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—On request, the Commandant 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives the results of any study or survey under this 
section. 
SEC. 9304. PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CHILD 
CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 60 
days after the date on which the report under section 9301 
is submitted, the Commandant shall carry out a pilot pro-
gram, based on the recommendations provided in such re-
2719 
port, to expand access to public or private child develop-
ment centers for qualified families. 
(b) DURATION.—The duration of the pilot program 
under subsection (a) shall be not more than 3 years begin-
ning on the date on which the pilot program is established. 
(c) DISCHARGE
ON DISTRICT BASIS.—The Com-
mandant— 
(1) may carry out the pilot program on a dis-
trict basis; and 
(2) shall include in the pilot program remote 
and urban locations. 
(d) RESERVATION OF CHILD CARE SLOTS.—As part 
of the pilot program, the Commandant shall seek to enter 
into one or more memoranda of understanding with one 
or more child development centers to reserve slots for 
qualified families in locations in which— 
(1) the Coast Guard lacks a Coast Guard child 
development center; or 
(2) the wait lists for the nearest Coast Guard 
child development center or Department of Defense 
child development center, where applicable, indicate 
that qualified families may not be accommodated. 
(e) ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS.—As part of 
any study conducted pursuant to section 9303(a) after the 
end of the 1-year period beginning with the commence-
2720 
ment of the pilot program, the Commandant shall also un-
dertake a current assessment of the impact of the pilot 
program on access to child development centers for quali-
fied families. The Commandant shall include the results 
of any such assessment in the results of the most current 
study or survey submitted pursuant to section 9303(a). 
SEC. 9305. IMPROVEMENTS TO COAST GUARD-OWNED FAM-
ILY HOUSING. 
Section 2922(b) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Commandant shall ensure that, in a location in 
which Coast Guard family child care centers (as 
such term is defined in section 9309 of the Elijah 
E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
2020) are necessary to meet the demand for child 
care for qualified families (as such term is defined 
in such section), not fewer than two housing units 
are maintained in accordance with safety inspection 
standards so as to accommodate family child care 
providers.’’.
2721 
SEC. 9306. BRIEFING ON TRANSFER OF FAMILY CHILD 
CARE PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS AND CER-
TIFICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the 
feasibility of developing a policy to allow the transfer of 
a Coast Guard-mandated family child care provider quali-
fication or certification between Coast Guard-owned hous-
ing units if, as determined by the Commandant— 
(1) the qualification or certification is not ex-
pired; 
(2) the transfer of the qualification or certifi-
cation would not pose a danger to any child in the 
care of the family child care provider; and 
(3) the transfer would expedite the ability of 
the family child care provider to establish, admin-
ister, and provide family home daycare in a Coast 
Guard-owned housing unit. 
(b) BRIEFING ELEMENT.—The briefing required by 
subsection (a) shall include analysis of options for trans-
ferring a Coast Guard-mandated family child care pro-
vider qualification or certification as described in that sub-
2722 
section, and of any legal challenges associated with such 
transfer. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The policy under sub-
section (a) shall not be construed to supersede any other 
applicable Federal, State, or local law (including regula-
tions) relating to the provision of child care services. 
SEC. 9307. INSPECTIONS OF COAST GUARD CHILD DEVEL-
OPMENT CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE 
PROVIDERS. 
(a) INSPECTIONS.—Section 2923 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) INSPECTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than twice annu-
ally, the Commandant shall ensure that each Coast 
Guard child development center is subject to an un-
announced inspection. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITY
FOR
INSPECTIONS.—Of 
the biannual inspections under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) 1 shall be carried out by a represent-
ative of the Coast Guard installation served by 
the Coast Guard child development center con-
cerned; and
2723 
‘‘(B) 1 shall be carried out by a represent-
ative of the Coast Guard child development 
services work-life programs.’’. 
(b) FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 29 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 2926. Family child care providers 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than quar-
terly, the Commandant shall ensure that each family child 
care provider is subject to inspection. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITY
FOR INSPECTIONS.—Of the 
quarterly inspections under subsection (a) each year— 
‘‘(1) 3 inspections shall be carried out by a rep-
resentative of the Coast Guard installation served by 
the family child care provider concerned; and 
‘‘(2) 1 inspection shall be carried out by a rep-
resentative of the Coast Guard child development 
services work-life programs.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘2926. Family child care providers.’’.
2724 
SEC. 9308. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY CHILD 
CARE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant shall— 
(1) establish a procedure to allow Coast Guard 
family child care centers to occur at off-base hous-
ing, including off-base housing owned or subsidized 
by the Coast Guard; and 
(2) establish a procedure to ensure that all re-
quirements with respect to such family child care 
programs are met, including home inspections. 
SEC. 9309. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) COAST GUARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CEN-
TER.—The term ‘‘Coast Guard child development 
center’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
2921(3) of title 14, United States Code. 
(2) COAST GUARD FAMILY CHILD CARE CEN-
TER.—The term ‘‘Coast Guard family child care 
center’’ means a location at which family home 
daycare is provided. 
(3) FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER.—The term 
‘‘family child care provider’’ means an individual 
who provides family home daycare.
2725 
(4) FAMILY HOME DAYCARE.—The term ‘‘fam-
ily home daycare’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 2921(5) of title 14, United States Code. 
(5) QUALIFIED FAMILY.—The term ‘‘qualified 
family’’ means any regular, reserve, or retired mem-
ber of the Coast Guard, and any civilian employee 
of the Coast Guard, with one or more dependents. 
Subtitle D—Reports 
SEC. 9401. MODIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
(a) ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS CARGO.—Subsection 
(e) of section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS CARGO.— 
‘‘(1) ENFORCEMENT
OF
SECURITY
ZONES.— 
Consistent with other provisions of Federal law, the 
Coast Guard shall coordinate and be responsible for 
the enforcement of any Federal security zone estab-
lished by the Coast Guard around a vessel con-
taining especially hazardous cargo. The Coast Guard 
shall allocate available resources so as to deter and 
respond to a transportation security incident, to the 
maximum extent practicable, and to protect lives or 
protect property in danger.
2726 
‘‘(2) ESPECIALLY
HAZARDOUS
CARGO
DE-
FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘especially haz-
ardous cargo’ means anhydrous ammonia, ammo-
nium nitrate, chlorine, liquefied natural gas, lique-
fied petroleum gas, and any other substance, mate-
rial, or group or class of material, in a particular 
amount and form that the Secretary determines by 
regulation poses a significant risk of creating a 
transportation security incident while being trans-
ported in maritime commerce.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY STANDARDS.— 
Section 809 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–293; 46 U.S.C. 
70101 note) is amended by striking subsections (g) and 
(i). 
(c) MARINE SAFETY LONG-TERM STRATEGY.—Sec-
tion 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The strategy 
shall include the issuance of a triennial plan’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The 5-year strategy shall include the 
issuance of a plan’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘CONTENTS
OF
STRATEGY
AND
TRIENNIAL
2727 
PLANS’’ and inserting ‘‘5–YEAR STRATEGY AND 
PLAN’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘strategy 
and triennial plans’’ and inserting ‘‘5-year 
strategy and plan’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘strategy and tri-
ennial plans’’ and inserting ‘‘5-year strat-
egy and plan’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘plans’’ and inserting ‘‘plan’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Beginning with fiscal year 
2020 and triennially thereafter, the Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of the Elijah E. Cum-
mings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, 
and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘triennial’’; and 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘No less 
frequently than semiannually’’ and inserting
2728 
‘‘In conjunction with the submission of the 5- 
year strategy and plan’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘RE-
PORT TO CONGRESS’’ and inserting ‘‘PERI-
ODIC BRIEFINGS’’; 
(ii) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘report triennially’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘the Senate’’ 
and inserting ‘‘periodically brief the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘annual’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘for the year cov-
ered by the report’’ and inserting ‘‘for 
the period covered by the briefing’’; 
and 
(iv) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘plans’’ and inserting ‘‘plan’’. 
(d) 
ABANDONED
SEAFARERS
FUND.—Section 
11113(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
2729 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘On the date’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (5), 
on the date’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) NO REPORT REQUIRED.—A report under 
paragraph (4) shall not be required if there were no 
expenditures from the Fund in the preceding fiscal 
year. The Commandant shall notify Congress in the 
event a report is not required under paragraph (4) 
by reason of this paragraph.’’. 
(e) MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM RISK ASSESS-
MENT.—Section 5107 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘April 15 and 
October 15’’ and inserting ‘‘October 15’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the 2 
fiscal-year quarters preceding such assessment’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the previous fiscal year’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘such 2 
fiscal-year quarters’’ and inserting ‘‘such fiscal 
year’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘such 2 
fiscal-year quarters’’ and inserting ‘‘such fiscal 
year’’; and
2730 
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘such 2 
fiscal-year quarters’’ and inserting ‘‘such fiscal 
year’’. 
SEC. 9402. REPORT ON CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on how the Coast Guard plans to 
establish a workforce with the cybersecurity expertise to 
provide prevention assessments and response capacity to 
Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems in 
national port and maritime environments. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the number and skills of 
active duty and reserve Coast Guard members ex-
pected for initial operating capacity and full oper-
ating capacity of the workforce described in sub-
section (a). 
(2) A description of the career development 
path for officers and enlisted members participating 
in the workforce.
2731 
(3) A determination of how the workforce will 
fulfill the cybersecurity needs of the Area Maritime 
Security Council and United States port environ-
ments. 
(4) A determination of how the workforce will 
integrate with the Hunt and Incident Response and 
Assessment Teams of the Cyber and Infrastructure 
Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Se-
curity. 
(5) An assessment of successful models used by 
other Armed Forces, including the National Guard, 
to recruit, maintain, and utilize a cyber workforce, 
including the use of Reserve personnel for that pur-
pose. 
SEC. 9403. REPORT ON NAVIGATION AND BRIDGE RE-
SOURCE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the training and qualification 
processes of the Coast Guard for deck watch officers, with 
a specific focus on basic navigation, bridge resource man-
agement, crew rest, and qualification processes.
2732 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) Recommendations for improving prearrival 
training, if necessary, and an assessment of how 
commercial industry best practices on prearrival 
training can be incorporated into military at sea 
watchkeeping. 
(2) A detailed description of the deck watch of-
ficer assessment process of the Coast Guard. 
(3) A list of programs that have been approved 
for credit toward merchant mariner credentials. 
(4) A complete analysis of the gap between the 
existing curriculum for deck watch officer training 
and the Standards of Training, Certification, and 
Watchkeeping for officer in charge of a navigational 
watch at the operational level, Chief level, and Mas-
ter level. 
(5) A complete analysis of the gap between the 
existing training curriculum for deck watch officers 
and the licensing requirement for 3rd mate unlim-
ited, Chief, and Master. 
(6) An assessment of deck watch officer options 
to complete the 3rd mate unlimited license and the 
qualification under the Standards of Training, Cer-
2733 
tification, and Watchkeeping for officer in charge of 
a navigational watch. 
(7) An assessment of senior deck watch officer 
options to complete the Chief Mate and Master un-
limited license and the qualification under the 
Standards 
of 
Training, 
Certification, 
and 
Watchkeeping for Chief Mate and Master. 
SEC. 9404. REPORT ON HELICOPTER LIFE-CYCLE SUPPORT 
AND RECAPITALIZATION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives a report 
that— 
(1) includes an updated fleet life-cycle analysis 
and service life extension plan that includes dynamic 
components, and which clearly demonstrates the 
mission viability of the MH–65 through anticipated 
fleet recapitalization; 
(2) includes a realistic sustainment budget nec-
essary to achieve the operational availability rates 
necessary to meet MH–65 mission requirements 
through fleet recapitalization;
2734 
(3) includes an update on the status of the 
Coast Guard MH–65 helicopter recapitalization; and 
(4) includes a description of any alternative, 
available, and cost-effective Government and civil 
systems, or updates, that the Coast Guard is consid-
ering for MH–65 operational missions, including 
Coast Guard cutter deployability requirements, in 
the event of delays to the future vertical lift program 
of the Coast Guard. 
SEC. 9405. REPORT ON COAST GUARD RESPONSE CAPABILI-
TIES FOR CYBER INCIDENTS ON VESSELS EN-
TERING PORTS OR WATERS OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the response capabilities of the 
Coast Guard with respect to cyber incidents on vessels en-
tering ports or waters of the United States. 
(b) REVIEW.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
include a review of each of the following: 
(1) The number and type of commercial vessels 
of the United States subject to regulations under
2735 
part 104 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
any corresponding similar regulation or ruling). 
(2) Policies and guidance issued by the Com-
mandant, in accordance with guidelines on cyber risk 
management of the International Maritime Organi-
zation, to vessels of the United States. 
(3) Measures to be taken by owners or opera-
tors of commercial vessels of the United States to 
increase cybersecurity posture on such vessels. 
(4) Responses of the Commandant to cyber in-
cidents on vessels described in paragraph (1) prior 
to the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(5) Response protocols followed by personnel of 
the Coast Guard to a cyber incident on any vessel 
described in paragraph (1) experienced while that 
vessel is traveling to ports or waters of the United 
States. 
(6) Oversight by the Commandant of— 
(A) vessel-to-facility interface, as defined 
in section 101.105 of title 33, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any corresponding similar regu-
lation or ruling); and 
(B) actions taken by the Coast Guard in 
coordination with vessel and facility owners and 
operators to protect commercial vessels and
2736 
port facility infrastructure from cyber attacks 
and proliferation. 
(7) Requirements of the Commandant for the 
reporting of cyber incidents that occur on the vessels 
described in paragraph (1). 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS
AND APPROPRIATIONS.— 
The Commandant shall include in the report under sub-
section (a)— 
(1) recommendations— 
(A) to improve cyber incident response; 
and 
(B) for policies to address gaps identified 
by the review under subsection (b); and 
(2) a description of authorities and appropria-
tions necessary to improve the preparedness of the 
Coast Guard for cyber incidents on vessels entering 
ports or waters of the United States and the ability 
of the Coast Guard to prevent and respond to such 
incidents. 
(d) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex. 
(e) VESSEL OF THE UNITED STATES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘vessel of the United States’’ has
2737 
the meaning given such term in section 116 of title 46, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 9406. STUDY AND REPORT ON COAST GUARD INTER-
DICTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS IN TRANSIT 
ZONES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) The Coast Guard seizes an average of 1,221 
pounds of cocaine and 85 pounds of marijuana each 
day in the transit zones of the Eastern Pacific 
Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Southern maritime bor-
der approaches. 
(2) The Joint Interagency Task Force–South 
(JIATF–South) estimates that it has a spectrum of 
actionable intelligence on more than 80 percent of 
drug movements into the United States from Central 
America and South America. 
(3) The Coast Guard must balance asset alloca-
tion across 11 statutory missions. As such, the 
Coast Guard interdicts less than 10 percent of mari-
time noncommercial smuggling of illicit drugs into 
the United States from Central America and South 
America.
2738 
(4) In 2017, the Government Accountability Of-
fice recommended that the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard— 
(A) develop new performance goals relating 
to the interdiction of illicit drugs smuggled into 
the United States, or describe the manner in 
which existing goals are sufficient; 
(B) report such goals to the public; 
(C) assess the extent to which limitations 
in performance data with respect to such goals 
are documented; 
(D) document measurable corrective ac-
tions and implementation timeframes with re-
spect to such goals; and 
(E) document efforts to monitor implemen-
tation of such corrective actions. 
(b) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, shall conduct a study in order to identify 
gaps in resources that contribute to low interdiction rates 
for maritime noncommercial smuggling of illicit drugs into 
the United States from Central America and South Amer-
ica despite having actionable intelligence on more than 80 
percent of drug movements in the transit zones of the
2739 
Eastern Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Southern mar-
itime border approaches. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a re-
port on the results of the study under subsection (b). Such 
report shall include— 
(1) a statement of the Coast Guard mission re-
quirements for drug interdiction in the Caribbean 
basin; 
(2) the number of maritime surveillance hours 
and Coast Guard assets used in each of fiscal years 
2017 through 2019 to counter the illicit trafficking 
of drugs and other related threats throughout the 
Caribbean basin; and 
(3) a determination of whether such hours and 
assets satisfied the Coast Guard mission require-
ments for drug interdiction in the Caribbean basin. 
(d) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex.
2740 
SEC. 9407. REPORT ON LIABILITY LIMITS SET IN SECTION 
1004 OF THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives a report set-
ting forth the following: 
(1) Each liability limit set under section 1004 
of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2704), 
including the statutory or regulatory authority es-
tablishing such limit. 
(2) If the Commandant determines that any li-
ability limit listed in such section should be modi-
fied— 
(A) a description of the modification; 
(B) a justification for such modification; 
and 
(C) a recommendation for legislative or 
regulatory action to achieve such modification. 
SEC. 9408. REPORT ON COAST GUARD DEFENSE READINESS 
RESOURCES ALLOCATION. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
2741 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the allocation of resources by the Coast Guard to sup-
port its defense readiness mission. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following elements: 
(1) Funding levels allocated by the Coast Guard 
to support defense readiness missions for each of the 
past 10 fiscal years. 
(2) Funding levels transferred or otherwise pro-
vided by the Department of Defense to the Coast 
Guard in support of the Coast Guard’s defense read-
iness missions for each of the past 10 fiscal years. 
(3) The number of Coast Guard detachments 
assigned in support of the Coast Guard’s defense 
readiness mission for each of the past 10 fiscal 
years. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—In addition to the elements de-
tailed in subsection (b), the report shall include an assess-
ment of the impacts on the Coast Guard’s non-defense 
mission readiness and operational capabilities due to the 
annual levels of reimbursement provided by the Depart-
ment of Defense to compensate the Coast Guard for its 
expenses to fulfill its defense readiness mission.
2742 
SEC. 9409. REPORT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF LIQUEFIED 
NATURAL GAS FUELED VESSELS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant 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 Senate a report on the 
following: 
(1) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 
of using liquefied natural gas to fuel new Coast 
Guard vessels. 
(2) The feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness 
of converting existing vessels to run on liquefied nat-
ural gas fuels. 
(3) The operational feasibility of using liquefied 
natural gas to fuel Coast Guard vessels. 
SEC. 9410. COAST GUARD AUTHORITIES STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of 
Sciences not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act under which the Academy shall prepare 
an assessment of Coast Guard authorities. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The assessment under subsection 
(a) shall provide—
2743 
(1) an examination of emerging issues that may 
require Coast Guard oversight, regulation, or action; 
(2) a description of potential limitations and 
shortcomings of relying on current Coast Guard au-
thorities to address emerging issues; and 
(3) an overview of adjustments and additions 
that could be made to existing Coast Guard authori-
ties to fully address emerging issues. 
(c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after entering into an arrangement with the Sec-
retary under subsection (a), the National Academy of 
Sciences shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate the assessment under this section. 
(d) EMERGING ISSUES.—In this section, the term 
‘‘emerging issues’’ means changes in the maritime indus-
try and environment that in the determination of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences are reasonably likely to occur 
within 10 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, including— 
(1) the introduction of new technologies in the 
maritime domain; 
(2) the advent of new processes or operational 
activities in the maritime domain; and
2744 
(3) changes in the use of navigable waterways. 
(e) FORM.—The assessment required under sub-
section (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 
may contain a classified annex. 
SEC. 9411. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON 
COAST GUARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on vulnerabilities of Coast Guard installa-
tions and requirements resulting from climate change over 
the next 20 years. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A list of the 10 most vulnerable Coast 
Guard installations based on the effects of climate 
change, including rising sea tides, increased flooding, 
drought, desertification, wildfires, thawing perma-
frost, or any other categories the Commandant de-
termines necessary. 
(2) An overview of— 
(A) mitigations that may be necessary to 
ensure the continued operational viability and
2745 
to increase the resiliency of the identified vul-
nerable installations; and 
(B) the cost of such mitigations. 
(3) A discussion of the climate-change-related 
effects on the Coast Guard, including— 
(A) the increase in the frequency of hu-
manitarian assistance and disaster relief mis-
sions; and 
(B) campaign plans, contingency plans, 
and operational posture of the Coast Guard. 
(4) An overview of mitigations that may be nec-
essary to ensure mission resiliency and the cost of 
such mitigations. 
(c) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 9412. SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall— 
(1) develop a plan to standardize Coast Guard 
facility condition assessments; 
(2) establish shore infrastructure performance 
goals, measures, and baselines to track the effective-
2746 
ness of maintenance and repair investments and pro-
vide feedback on progress made; 
(3) develop a process to routinely align the 
Coast Guard shore infrastructure portfolio with mis-
sion needs, including disposing of unneeded assets; 
(4) establish guidance for planning boards to 
document 
inputs, 
deliberations, 
and 
project 
prioritization decisions for infrastructure mainte-
nance projects; 
(5) employ models for Coast Guard infrastruc-
ture asset lines for— 
(A) predicting the outcome of investments 
in shore infrastructure; 
(B) analyzing tradeoffs; and 
(C) optimizing decisions among competing 
investments; 
(6) include supporting details about competing 
project alternatives and report tradeoffs in congres-
sional budget requests and related reports; and 
(7) explore the development of real property 
management expertise within the Coast Guard work-
force, including members of the Senior Executive 
Service. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than December 31, 2020, 
the Commandant shall brief the Committee on Transpor-
2747 
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on the status of the actions required 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 9413. COAST GUARD HOUSING; STATUS AND AUTHORI-
TIES BRIEFING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a brief-
ing on Coast Guard housing, including— 
(1) a description of the material condition of 
Coast Guard housing facilities; 
(2) the amount of current Coast Guard housing 
construction and deferred maintenance backlogs; 
(3) an overview of the manner in which the 
Coast Guard manages and maintains housing facili-
ties; 
(4) a discussion of whether reauthorizing hous-
ing authorities for the Coast Guard similar to those 
provided in section 208 of the Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–324); and
2748 
(5) recommendations regarding how the Con-
gress could adjust those authorities to prevent mis-
management of Coast Guard housing facilities. 
SEC. 9414. PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM REPORT. 
Not later 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and annually for each of the 4 years there-
after, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report regarding the 
status of the Coast Guard’s compliance with Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD–12) and Fed-
eral Information Processing Standard 201 (FIPS–201), 
including— 
(1) the status of Coast Guard efforts to field a 
comprehensive Physical Access Control System at 
Coast Guard installations and locations necessary to 
bring the Service into compliance with HSPD–12 
and FIPS–201B; 
(2) the status of the selection of a technological 
solution; 
(3) the estimated phases and timeframe to com-
plete the implementation of such a system; and 
(4) the estimated cost for each phase of the 
project.
2749 
SEC. 9415. STUDY ON CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE IN-
SPECTION PROGRAM WITH RESPECT TO VES-
SELS THAT CARRY BULK LIQUEFIED GASES 
AS CARGO AND LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS 
TANK VESSELS. 
(a) GAO REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the resources, regula-
tions, policies, protocols, and other actions designed 
to carry out the Coast Guard Certificate of Compli-
ance program with respect to liquefied natural gas 
tank vessels (including examinations under section 
153.808 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations) 
and vessels that carry bulk liquefied gases as cargo 
(including examinations under part 154 of title 46, 
Code of Federal Regulations) for purposes of main-
taining the efficiency of examinations under that 
program. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include an assessment of the adequacy of 
current Coast Guard resources, regulations, policies,
2750 
and protocols to maintain vessel examination effi-
ciency while carrying out the program referred to in 
paragraph (1) as United States bulk liquefied gases 
cargo, liquefied natural gas exports, and associated 
vessel traffic at United States ports increase. 
(b) NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date on which the report required under 
subsection (a) is submitted, the Commandant shall 
enter into an agreement with the National Acad-
emies under which the National Academies shall— 
(A) conduct an evaluation of the con-
straints and challenges to maintaining examina-
tion efficiency under the program as United 
States bulk liquefied gases cargo, liquefied nat-
ural gas exports, and associated vessel traffic at 
United States ports increase; and 
(B) issue recommendations for changes to 
resources, regulations, policies, and protocols to 
maintain the efficiency of the program, includ-
ing analysis of the following alternatives: 
(i) Establishment of a Coast Guard 
marine examination unit near the Panama 
Canal to conduct inspections under the 
program on liquefied natural gas tank ves-
2751 
sels bound for the United States, similar to 
Coast Guard operations carried out by 
Coast Guard Activities Europe and Coast 
Guard Activities Far East, including the 
effects of the establishment of such a unit 
on the domestic aspects of the program. 
(ii) Management of all marine exam-
iners with gas carrier qualification within 
each Coast Guard District by a single Offi-
cer in Charge, Marine Inspection (as de-
fined in section 50.10–10 of title 46, Code 
of Federal Regulations) to improve the ef-
ficiency of their vessel examination assign-
ments. 
(iii) Extension of the duration of as-
signment of marine examiners with a gas 
carrier qualification at Coast Guard units 
that most frequently inspect vessels that 
carry bulk liquefied gases as cargo and liq-
uefied natural gas tank vessels. 
(iv) Increase in the use of civilians to 
conduct and support examinations under 
the program. 
(v) Extension of the duration of cer-
tificates of compliance under the program
2752 
for vessels that carry bulk liquefied gases 
as cargo and liquefied natural gas tank 
vessels that are less than 10 years of age 
and participate in a Coast Guard vessel 
quality program. 
SEC. 9416. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES REVIEW AND REPORT ON COAST 
GUARD’S INTERNATIONAL PORT SECURITY 
PROGRAM. 
(a) GAO REPORT.—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 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report setting forth the 
results of a comprehensive review, conducted by the Comp-
troller General for purposes of the report, on the Coast 
Guard’s International Port Security Program, including 
the findings, and any recommendations for improvement 
of the program, of the Comptroller General. 
(b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The review 
required under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) review of the actions of the Coast Guard 
under the Coast Guard’s International Port Security
2753 
Program, since 2014, to enhance foreign port in-
spections; 
(2) review of the actions of the Coast Guard to 
recognize and monitor port inspection programs of 
foreign governments; 
(3) identification and review of the actions the 
Coast Guard takes to address any deficiencies it ob-
serves during visits at foreign ports; 
(4) identify and review the benchmarks of the 
Coast Guard for measuring the effectiveness of the 
program; and 
(5) review of the extent to which the Coast 
Guard and United States Customs and Border Pro-
tection coordinate efforts to screen and inspect cargo 
at foreign ports. 
SEC. 9417. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES REVIEW AND REPORT ON SURGE CA-
PACITY OF THE COAST GUARD. 
(a) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report setting for the re-
sults of a comprehensive review, conducted by the Comp-
2754 
troller General for purposes of the report, on the surge 
capacity of the Coast Guard to respond to a catastrophic 
incident (such as a hurricane), including the findings, and 
any recommendations for improvement, of the Comptroller 
General. 
(b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The review 
required under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) a description and review of each Coast 
Guard deployment in response to a catastrophic inci-
dent after 2005; 
(2) identification of best practices informed by 
the deployments described in paragraph (1); 
(3) a review of the ability of the surge force of 
the Coast Guard to meet the demands of the re-
sponse roles in which it was serving during each de-
ployment described in paragraph (1); 
(4) identification of any statutory or regulatory 
impediments, such as adaptability, planning, train-
ing, mobilization, or information and resource inte-
gration, to the surge capacity of the Coast Guard in 
response to a catastrophic incident; 
(5) review of the impacts of a surge of the 
Coast Guard in response to a catastrophic incident 
on the capacity of the Coast Guard to perform its 
statutory missions;
2755 
(6) review of the capability of the Coast Guard 
to surge in response to concurrent or subsequent 
catastrophic incidents; and 
(7) review and description of existing voluntary 
and involuntary deployments of Coast Guard per-
sonnel and assets in support of a United States Cus-
toms and Border Protection response to a national 
emergency (as defined in Presidential Proclamation 
9844) on the surge capacity of the Coast Guard in 
the event of a catastrophic incident. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘cata-
strophic incident’’ and ‘‘surge capacity’’ have the meaning 
given such terms in section 602 of the Post-Katrina Emer-
gency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 701). 
SEC. 9418. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES REVIEW AND REPORT ON MARINE IN-
SPECTIONS PROGRAM OF COAST GUARD. 
(a) GAO REPORT.—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 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report setting forth the 
results of a comprehensive review, conducted by the Comp-
troller General for purposes of the report, on the marine
2756 
inspections program of the Coast Guard, including the 
findings, and any recommendations for improvement of 
the program, of the Comptroller General. 
(b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The review 
required under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an analysis of the demand for marine in-
spectors; 
(2) an identification of the number of fully 
qualified marine inspectors; 
(3) a determination of whether the number of 
marine inspectors identified in paragraph (2) is suf-
ficient to meet the demand described in paragraph 
(1); 
(4) a review of the enlisted marine inspector 
workforce compared to the civilian marine inspector 
workforce and whether there is any discernable dis-
tinction or impact between such workforces in the 
performance of the marine safety mission; 
(5) an evaluation of the training continuum of 
marine inspectors; 
(6) a description and review of what actions, if 
any, the Coast Guard is taking to adapt to the cur-
rent rise in United States export of crude oil and 
other fuels, such as implementing a safety inspection 
regime for barges; and
2757 
(7) an analysis of extending tours of duty for 
marine inspectors and increasing the number of ci-
vilian marine inspectors. 
SEC. 9419. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES REVIEW AND REPORT ON INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM OF COAST 
GUARD. 
(a) GAO REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report setting forth the results of 
a comprehensive review, conducted by the Comp-
troller General for purposes of the report, on the 
Coast Guard Command, Control, Communications, 
Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence Service Center, 
including the findings, and any recommendations for 
improvement of the program, of the Comptroller 
General. 
(2) REQUIRED
ELEMENTS
OF
REVIEW.—The 
review required under paragraph (1) shall include—
2758 
(A) analysis of how the Coast Guard man-
ages its information technology program, in-
cluding information technology acquisitions, to 
meet its various mission needs and reporting re-
quirements; 
(B) analysis of the adequacy of the phys-
ical information technology infrastructure with-
in Coast Guard districts, including network in-
frastructure, for meeting mission needs and re-
porting requirements; 
(C) analysis of whether and, if so, how the 
Coast Guard— 
(i) identifies and satisfies any knowl-
edge and skill requirements; and 
(ii) recruits, trains, and develops its 
information technology personnel; 
(D) analysis of whether and, if so, how the 
Coast Guard separates information technology 
from operational technology for cybersecurity 
purposes; 
(E) analysis of how the Coast Guard in-
tends to update its Marine Information for 
Safety and Law Enforcement system, per-
sonnel, accounting and other databases, and im-
2759 
plement an electronic health records system; 
and 
(F) analysis of the goals and acquisition 
strategies for all proposed Coast Guard enter-
prise-wide cloud computing service procure-
ments. 
(b) REVIEW ON CLOUD COMPUTING.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 detailed description of the Coast 
Guard’s strategy to implement cloud computing for the en-
tire Coast Guard, including— 
(1) the goals and acquisition strategies for all 
proposed enterprise-wide cloud computing service 
procurements; 
(2) a strategy to sustain competition and inno-
vation throughout the period of performance of each 
contract for procurement of cloud-computing goods 
and services for the Coast Guard, including defining 
opportunities for multiple cloud-service providers 
and insertion of new technologies;
2760 
(3) an assessment of potential threats and secu-
rity vulnerabilities of the strategy, and plans to miti-
gate such risks; and 
(4) an estimate of the cost and timeline to im-
plement cloud computing service for all Coast Guard 
computing. 
SEC. 9420. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESS TO 
HEALTH 
CARE 
BY 
MEMBERS 
OF 
COAST 
GUARD AND DEPENDENTS. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study that exam-
ines access to, experience with, and needs under the 
TRICARE program of members of the Coast Guard 
and their dependents. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 
(A) The record of the TRICARE program 
in meeting the standards for care for primary 
and specialty care for members of the Coast 
Guard and dependents of those members, in-
cluding members stationed in remote units.
2761 
(B) The accuracy and update periodicity of 
lists of providers under the TRICARE program 
in areas serving Coast Guard families. 
(C) The wait times under the TRICARE 
program for appointments, specialty care, and 
referrals for members of the Coast Guard and 
dependents of those members. 
(D) The availability of providers under the 
TRICARE program in remote locations, includ-
ing providers for mental health, juvenile spe-
cialty care, dental, and female health. 
(E) The access of members of the Coast 
Guard and dependents of those members to 
services under the TRICARE program in com-
parison to the access to such services by per-
sonnel of the Department of Defense and de-
pendents of such personnel. 
(F) The liaison assistance between mem-
bers of the Coast Guard and dependents of 
those members and the TRICARE program 
provided by the Coast Guard in comparison to 
such assistance provided by the Department of 
Defense. 
(G) How delayed access to care, timeliness 
of care, and distance traveled to care may im-
2762 
pact personnel readiness of members of the 
Coast Guard. 
(H) The regions particularly impacted by 
lack of access to care and recommendations to 
address those access issues. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report containing the findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations to improve access to quality, timely, 
and effective health care for members of the Coast Guard 
and dependents of those members from the study required 
under subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘de-
pendent’’ and ‘‘TRICARE program’’ have the meanings 
given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 9421. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES STUDY AND REPORT ON MEDICAL 
STAFFING 
STANDARDS 
AND 
NEEDS 
FOR 
COAST GUARD. 
(a) STUDY.—
2763 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study that exam-
ines the health care system of the Coast Guard. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 
(A) The billets in clinics of the Coast 
Guard, whether for personnel of the Coast 
Guard or otherwise, including the number of 
billets, vacancies, and length of vacancies. 
(B) The wait times for patients to attain 
an appointment for urgent care, routine physi-
cian care, and dental care. 
(C) The impact of billet vacancies on such 
wait times. 
(D) The ability of the Coast Guard to use 
other medical personnel of the Department of 
Defense, including physicians and physician as-
sistants, to fill provider vacancies for the Coast 
Guard. 
(E) The barriers, if any, to improving co-
ordination and access to physicians within the 
health care system of the Department of De-
fense. 
(F) The accessibility and availability of be-
havioral health medical personnel at clinics of
2764 
the Coast Guard, including personnel available 
for family counseling, therapy, and other needs. 
(G) The staffing models of clinics of the 
Coast Guard, including recommendations to 
modernize such models. 
(H) The locations and needs of Coast 
Guard units with or without clinics. 
(I) How access to care models for members 
of the Coast Guard are managed, including 
models with respect to the time and distance 
traveled to receive care, the cost of that travel, 
and alternate options to secure care quickly and 
efficiently for members serving in units without 
a clinic. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report 
containing the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations from the study required under sub-
section (a).
2765 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An identification of the number of 
members of the Coast Guard and types of units 
of the Coast Guard serviced by the health care 
system of the Coast Guard. 
(B) An assessment of the ability of the 
Coast Guard to conduct medical support at out-
lying units, including remote units. 
(C) An assessment of the capacity of the 
Coast Guard to support surge operations using 
historical data from the 10-year period pre-
ceding the date of the report. 
(D) An assessment of the impact to oper-
ations of the Coast Guard by extended wait 
times or travel times to receive care or other 
issues identified by the report. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date on which the report is submitted under sub-
section (b), the Commandant shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives written rec-
ommendations for medical staffing standards for the 
Coast Guard based on each finding and conclusion con-
2766 
tained in the report, including recommendations for health 
service technicians, flight surgeons, physician assistants, 
dentists, dental hygienists, family advocate services, phar-
macists, and administrators, and other recommendations, 
as appropriate. 
SEC. 9422. REPORT ON FAST RESPONSE CUTTERS, OFF-
SHORE PATROL CUTTERS, AND NATIONAL SE-
CURITY CUTTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the combination of Fast Response 
Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and National Security 
Cutters necessary to carry out Coast Guard missions. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) an updated cost estimate for each type of 
cutter described in such subsection; and 
(2) a cost estimate for a Sensitive Compart-
mented Information Facility outfitted to manage 
data in a manner equivalent to the National Security 
Cutter Sensitive Compartmented Information Facili-
ties.
2767 
Subtitle E—Coast Guard Academy 
Improvement Act 
SEC. 9501. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Acad-
emy Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 9502. COAST GUARD ACADEMY STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 
Administration not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of the this Act under which the National 
Academy of Public Administration shall— 
(1) conduct an assessment of the cultural com-
petence of the Coast Guard Academy as an organi-
zation and of individuals at the Coast Guard Acad-
emy to carry out effectively the primary duties of 
the United States Coast Guard listed in section 102 
of title 14, United States Code, when interacting 
with individuals of different races, ethnicities, gen-
ders, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic 
backgrounds, or from different geographic origins; 
and 
(2) issue recommendations based upon the find-
ings in such assessment. 
(b) ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE.—
2768 
(1) CULTURAL
COMPETENCE
OF
THE
COAST 
GUARD
ACADEMY.—The arrangement described in 
subsection (a) shall require the National Academy of 
Public Administration to, not later than 1 year after 
entering into an arrangement with the Secretary 
under subsection (a), submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the as-
sessment described under subsection (a)(1). 
(2) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment de-
scribed under subsection (a)(1) shall— 
(A) describe the level of cultural com-
petence described in subsection (a)(1) based on 
the National Academy of Public Administra-
tion’s assessment of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy’s relevant practices, policies, and struc-
tures, including an overview of discussions with 
faculty, staff, students, and relevant Coast 
Guard Academy affiliated organizations; 
(B) examine potential changes which could 
be used to further enhance such cultural com-
petence by— 
(i) modifying institutional practices, 
policies, and structures; and
2769 
(ii) any other changes deemed appro-
priate by the National Academy of Public 
Administration; and 
(C) make recommendations to enhance the 
cultural competence of the Coast Guard Acad-
emy described in subparagraph (A), including 
any specific plans, policies, milestones, perform-
ance measures, or other information necessary 
to implement such recommendations. 
(c) FINAL ACTION MEMORANDUM.—Not later than 
6 months after submission of the assessment under sub-
section (b)(1), the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, a final action memorandum in response to all rec-
ommendations contained in the assessment. The final ac-
tion memorandum shall include the rationale for accept-
ing, accepting in part, or rejecting each recommendation, 
and shall specify, where applicable, actions to be taken to 
implement such recommendations, including an expla-
nation of how each action enhances the ability of the Coast 
Guard to carry out the primary duties of the United 
States Coast Guard listed in section 102 of title 14, 
United States Code.
2770 
(d) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the submission of the final action 
memorandum required under subsection (c), the 
Commandant, in coordination with the Chief Human 
Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Se-
curity, shall submit a plan to carry out the rec-
ommendations or the parts of the recommendations 
accepted in the final action memorandum to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate. 
(2) STRATEGY WITH MILESTONES.—If any rec-
ommendation or parts of recommendations accepted 
in the final action memorandum address any of the 
following actions, then the plan required in para-
graph (1) shall include a strategy with appropriate 
milestones to carry out such recommendations or 
parts of recommendations: 
(A) Improve outreach and recruitment of a 
more diverse Coast Guard Academy cadet can-
didate pool based on race, ethnicity, gender, re-
ligion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic back-
ground, and geographic origin.
2771 
(B) Modify institutional structures, prac-
tices, and policies to foster a more diverse cadet 
corps body, faculty, and staff workforce based 
on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual ori-
entation, socioeconomic background, and geo-
graphic origin. 
(C) Modify existing or establish new poli-
cies and safeguards to foster the retention of 
cadets, faculty, and staff of different races, 
ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orienta-
tions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geo-
graphic origins at the Coast Guard Academy. 
(D) Restructure the admissions office of 
the Coast Guard Academy to be headed by a ci-
vilian with significant relevant higher education 
recruitment experience. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—Unless otherwise di-
rected by an Act of Congress, the Commandant shall 
begin implementation of the plan developed under 
this subsection not later than 180 days after the 
submission of such plan to Congress. 
(4) UPDATE.—The Commandant shall include 
in the first annual report required under chapter 51 
of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 
division, submitted after the date of enactment of
2772 
this section, the strategy with milestones required in 
paragraph (2) and shall report annually thereafter 
on actions taken and progress made in the imple-
mentation of such plan. 
SEC. 9503. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Chapter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 5111. Report on diversity at Coast Guard Academy 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 
2021, and annually thereafter, the Commandant shall sub-
mit a report on diversity at the Coast Guard Academy to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) the status of the implementation of the 
plan required under section 9502 of the Elijah E. 
Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020; 
‘‘(2) specific information on outreach and re-
cruitment activities for the preceding year, including 
the effectiveness of the Coast Guard Academy mi-
nority outreach team program described under sec-
tion 1905 and of outreach and recruitment activities
2773 
in the territories and other possessions of the United 
States; 
‘‘(3) enrollment information about the incoming 
class, including the gender, race, ethnicity, religion, 
socioeconomic background, and State of residence of 
Coast Guard Academy cadets; 
‘‘(4) information on class retention, outcomes, 
and graduation rates, including the race, gender, 
ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, and 
State of residence of Coast Guard Academy cadets; 
‘‘(5) information on efforts to retain diverse ca-
dets, including through professional development 
and professional advancement programs for staff 
and faculty; and 
‘‘(6) a summary of reported allegations of dis-
crimination on the basis of race, color, national ori-
gin, sex, gender, or religion for the preceding 5 
years.’’. 
SEC. 9504. ASSESSMENT OF COAST GUARD ACADEMY AD-
MISSION PROCESSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 
Administration under which the National Academy of 
Public Administration shall, not later than 1 year after
2774 
submitting an assessment under section 9502(a), submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an 
assessment of the Coast Guard Academy admissions proc-
ess. 
(b) ASSESSMENT SCOPE.—The assessment required 
to be sought under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, 
include— 
(1) a study, or an audit if appropriate, of the 
process the Coast Guard Academy uses to— 
(A) identify candidates for recruitment; 
(B) recruit applicants; 
(C) assist applicants in the application 
process; 
(D) evaluate applications; and 
(E) make admissions decisions; 
(2) discussion of the consideration during the 
admissions process of diversity, including— 
(A) race; 
(B) ethnicity; 
(C) gender; 
(D) religion; 
(E) sexual orientation; 
(F) socioeconomic background; and
2775 
(G) geographic origin; 
(3) an overview of the admissions processes at 
other Federal service academies, including— 
(A) discussion of consideration of diversity, 
including any efforts to attract a diverse pool of 
applicants, in those processes; and 
(B) an analysis of how the congressional 
nominations requirement in current law related 
to military service academies and the Merchant 
Marine Academy impacts those processes and 
the overall demographics of the student bodies 
at those academies; 
(4) a determination regarding how a congres-
sional nominations requirement for Coast Guard 
Academy admissions could impact diversity among 
the student body and the ability of the Coast Guard 
to carry out effectively the Service’s primary duties 
described in section 102 of title 14, United States 
Code; and 
(5) recommendations for improving Coast 
Guard Academy admissions processes, including 
whether a congressional nominations process should 
be integrated into such processes.
2776 
SEC. 9505. COAST GUARD ACADEMY MINORITY OUTREACH 
TEAM PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 
1904 (as amended by this division) the following: 
‘‘§ 1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach 
team program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the 
Coast Guard Academy a minority outreach team program 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Program’ ) under which 
officers, including minority officers and officers from terri-
tories and other possessions of the United States, who are 
Academy graduates may volunteer their time to recruit 
minority students and strengthen cadet retention through 
mentorship of cadets. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Not later than January 1, 
2021, the Commandant, in consultation with Program vol-
unteers and Academy alumni that participated in prior 
programs at the Academy similar to the Program, shall 
appoint a permanent civilian position at the Academy to 
administer the Program by, among other things— 
‘‘(1) overseeing administration of the Program; 
‘‘(2) serving as a resource to volunteers and 
outside stakeholders;
2777 
‘‘(3) advising Academy leadership on recruit-
ment and retention efforts based on recommenda-
tions from volunteers and outside stakeholders; 
‘‘(4) establishing strategic goals and perform-
ance metrics for the Program with input from active 
volunteers and Academy leadership; and 
‘‘(5) reporting annually to the Commandant on 
academic year and performance outcomes of the 
goals for the Program before the end of each aca-
demic year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1904 (as 
amended by this division) the following: 
‘‘1905. Coast Guard Academy minority outreach team program.’’. 
SEC. 9506. COAST GUARD COLLEGE STUDENT PRE-COMMIS-
SIONING INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 2131. College student pre-commissioning initiative 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized within the 
Coast Guard a college student pre-commissioning initia-
tive program (in this section referred to as the ‘Program’ 
) for eligible undergraduate students to enlist and receive 
a guaranteed commission as an officer in the Coast Guard.
2778 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.—To be eligible for 
the Program a student must meet the following require-
ments upon submitting an application: 
‘‘(1) AGE.—A student must be not less than 19 
years old and not more than 27 years old as of Sep-
tember 30 of the fiscal year in which the Program 
selection panel selecting such student convenes. 
‘‘(2) CHARACTER.— 
‘‘(A) ALL
APPLICANTS.—All applicants 
must be of outstanding moral character and 
meet other character requirements as set forth 
by the Commandant. 
‘‘(B) COAST GUARD APPLICANTS.—An ap-
plicant serving in the Coast Guard may not be 
commissioned if in the 36 months prior to the 
first Officer Candidate School class convening 
date in the selection cycle, such applicant was 
convicted by a court-martial or awarded non-
judicial punishment, or did not meet perform-
ance or character requirements set forth by the 
Commandant. 
‘‘(3) CITIZENSHIP.—A student must be a 
United States citizen. 
‘‘(4) CLEARANCE.—A student must be eligible 
for a secret clearance.
2779 
‘‘(5) DEPENDENCY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A student may not 
have more than 2 dependents. 
‘‘(B) SOLE CUSTODY.—A student who is 
single may not have sole or primary custody of 
dependents. 
‘‘(6) EDUCATION.— 
‘‘(A) INSTITUTION.—A student must be an 
undergraduate sophomore or junior— 
‘‘(i) at a historically Black college or 
university described in section 322(2) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1061(2)) or an institution of higher 
education described in section 371(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067q(a)); or 
‘‘(ii) an undergraduate sophomore or 
junior enrolled at an institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001)) that, at the time of application of 
the sophomore or junior, has had for 3 
consecutive years an enrollment of under-
graduate full-time equivalent students (as 
defined in section 312(e) of such Act (20
2780 
U.S.C. 1058(e))) that is a total of at least 
50 percent Black American, Hispanic, 
Asian American (as defined in section 
371(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c))), 
Native American Pacific Islander (as de-
fined in such section), or Native American 
(as defined in such section), among other 
criteria, as determined by the Com-
mandant. 
‘‘(B) LOCATION.—The institution at which 
such student is an undergraduate must be with-
in 100 miles of a Coast guard unit or Coast 
Guard Recruiting Office unless otherwise ap-
proved by the Commandant. 
‘‘(C) RECORDS.—A student must meet 
credit and grade point average requirements set 
forth by the Commandant. 
‘‘(7) MEDICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.—A stu-
dent must meet other medical and administrative re-
quirements as set forth by the Commandant. 
‘‘(c) ENLISTMENT
AND OBLIGATION.—Individuals 
selected and accept to participate in the Program shall en-
list in the Coast Guard in pay grade E–3 with a 4-year 
duty obligation and 4-year inactive Reserve obligation.
2781 
‘‘(d) MILITARY ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO OFFICER CAN-
DIDATE SCHOOL.—Individuals enrolled in the Program 
shall participate in military activities each month, as re-
quired by the Commandant, prior to attending Officer 
Candidate School. 
‘‘(e) 
PARTICIPATION
IN
OFFICER
CANDIDATE 
SCHOOL.—Each graduate of the Program shall attend the 
first enrollment of Officer Candidate School that com-
mences after the date of such graduate’s graduation. 
‘‘(f) COMMISSIONING.—Upon graduation from Offi-
cer Candidate School, Program graduates shall be dis-
charged from enlisted status and commissioned as an O– 
1 with an initial 3-year duty obligation. 
‘‘(g) BRIEFING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than August 15 
of each year, the Commandant shall provide a brief-
ing to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on the Program. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The briefing required under 
paragraph (1) shall describe— 
‘‘(A) outreach and recruitment efforts over 
the previous year; and
2782 
‘‘(B) demographic information of enrollees 
including— 
‘‘(i) race; 
‘‘(ii) ethnicity; 
‘‘(iii) gender; 
‘‘(iv) geographic origin; and 
‘‘(v) educational institution.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis chapter 
21 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 2130 (as added by this 
division) the following: 
‘‘2131. College student pre-commissioning initiative.’’. 
SEC. 9507. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS. 
Section 1903(d) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) recruitment and retention, including diver-
sity, inclusion, and issues regarding women specifi-
cally;’’.
2783 
SEC. 9508. HOMELAND SECURITY ROTATIONAL CYBERSE-
CURITY 
RESEARCH 
PROGRAM 
AT 
COAST 
GUARD ACADEMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title VIII of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 411 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 846. ROTATIONAL CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘To enhance the Department’s cybersecurity capac-
ity, the Secretary may establish a rotational research, de-
velopment, and training program for— 
‘‘(1) detail to the Cybersecurity and Infrastruc-
ture Security Agency (including the national cyber-
security and communications integration center au-
thorized by section 2209) of Coast Guard Academy 
graduates and faculty; and 
‘‘(2) detail to the Coast Guard Academy, as 
faculty, of individuals with expertise and experience 
in cybersecurity who are employed by— 
‘‘(A) the Agency (including the center); 
‘‘(B) the Directorate of Science and Tech-
nology; or 
‘‘(C) institutions that have been designated 
by the Department as a Center of Excellence 
for Cyber Defense, or the equivalent.’’.
2784 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end of 
the items relating to subtitle E of such Act the following: 
‘‘Sec. 846. Rotational cybersecurity research program.’’. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 9601. STRATEGY ON LEADERSHIP OF COAST GUARD. 
(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 
develop and make available to the public a strategy to im-
prove leadership development in the Coast Guard, includ-
ing mechanisms to address counterproductive leadership 
in the Coast Guard. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Mechanisms to foster positive and produc-
tive leadership qualities in emerging Coast Guard 
leaders, beginning, at minimum, members at grade 
O–2 for officers, members at grade E–6 for enlisted 
members, and members training to become an offi-
cer in charge. 
(2) Mechanisms for the ongoing evaluation of 
unit commanders, including identification of counter-
productive leadership qualities in commanders.
2785 
(3) Formal training on the recognition of coun-
terproductive leadership qualities (in self and oth-
ers), including at leadership seminars and school 
houses in the Coast Guard, including means to cor-
rect such qualities. 
(4) Clear and transparent policies on standards 
for command climate, leadership qualities, and inclu-
sion. 
(5) Policy to ensure established and emerging 
leaders have access to hands-on training and tools to 
improve diversity and inclusion. 
(6) Policy and procedures for commanders to 
identify and hold accountable counterproductive 
leaders. 
(c) COUNTERPRODUCTIVE LEADERSHIP DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘counterproductive leadership’’ 
has the meaning given that term for purposes of Army 
Doctrine Publication 6–22. 
SEC. 9602. EXPEDITED TRANSFER IN CASES OF SEXUAL AS-
SAULT; DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE 
COAST GUARD. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish a policy 
to allow the transfer of a member of the Coast Guard 
whose dependent is the victim of sexual assault per-
2786 
petrated by a member of the Armed Forces who is not 
related to the victim. 
SEC. 9603. ACCESS TO RESOURCES DURING CREOSOTE-RE-
LATED 
BUILDING 
CLOSURES 
AT 
COAST 
GUARD BASE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—With respect to the creosote-re-
lated building closures at Coast Guard Base Seattle, 
Washington, the Commandant shall, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, enter into 1 or more agreements or other-
wise take actions to secure access to resources, including 
a gym, that are not otherwise available to members of the 
Coast Guard during such closures. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief 
Congress with respect to actions taken by the Com-
mandant to comply with subsection (a). 
SEC. 9604. SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA CONSERVATION 
AND ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) REPORT AND ACTION PLAN ON ORCA ENFORCE-
MENT OPPORTUNITIES.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant, 
in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere, shall submit to Congress a report 
on Coast Guard efforts to enforce southern resident orca 
vessel buffer zones and other vessel-related regulations in
2787 
Puget Sound in coordination with existing Coast Guard 
fisheries enforcement, maritime domain awareness, the Be 
Whale Wise campaign, and other related missions. Such 
report shall include recommendations on what resources, 
appropriations, and assets are needed to meet orca con-
servation and related fisheries enforcement targets in the 
13th Coast Guard District within 1 year of the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) SOUTHERN
RESIDENT
ORCAS.—The Com-
mandant, in coordination with the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall undertake 
efforts to reduce vessel noise impacts on Southern resident 
orcas in Puget Sound, the Salish Sea, and the Strait of 
Juan de Fuca. 
(c) PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall— 
(A) support the development, implementa-
tion, and enforcement of commercial vessel 
noise reduction measures that are technically 
feasible and economically achievable; 
(B) establish procedures for timely commu-
nication of information to commercial vessel op-
erators regarding orca sightings in Puget 
Sound and make navigational safety rec-
2788 
ommendations in accordance with the Coopera-
tive Vessel Traffic Service Agreement; and 
(C) collaborate on studies or trials ana-
lyzing vessel noise impacts on Southern resident 
orcas. 
(2) VESSEL NOISE IMPACTS.—The Undersecre-
tary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall 
assess vessel noise impacts on Southern resident 
orcas in the program area and make recommenda-
tions to reduce that noise and noise related impacts 
to Southern resident orcas to the Commandant. 
(3) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Commandant shall coordinate with Cana-
dian agencies affiliated with the Enhancing Cetacean 
Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program and 
other international organizations as appropriate. 
(4) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Commandant and the Undersecretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall consult 
with State, local, and Tribal governments and mari-
time industry and conservation stakeholders includ-
ing ports, higher education institutions, and non-
governmental organizations.
2789 
SEC. 9605. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND REPORT ON IMPLE-
MENTATION OF POLICY ON ISSUANCE OF 
WARRANTS AND SUBPOENAS AND WHISTLE-
BLOWER PROTECTIONS BY AGENTS OF THE 
COAST GUARD INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) Coast Guard components with investigative 
authority should exercise such authority with due re-
spect for the rights of whistleblowers; and 
(2) the Commandant should— 
(A) ensure compliance with the legal re-
quirements intended to protect whistleblowers; 
(B) seek to shield the disclosure of the 
identities of whistleblowers; and 
(C) create an environment in which whis-
tleblowers do not fear reprisal for reporting 
misconduct. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant 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 the policy of the Coast 
Guard on the issuance of warrants and subpoenas and
2790 
whistleblower protections by agents of the Coast Guard 
Investigative Service. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(b) shall include the following: 
(1) A discussion of current and any new policy 
of the Coast Guard on the issuance of warrants and 
subpoenas and whistleblower protections by agents 
of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, including 
Coast Guard Investigative Service Criminal Inves-
tigation Operating Procedure CIOP 2019–02, and 
the differences between such current policies and 
new policies. 
(2) A plan (including milestones) for the imple-
mentation of the following: 
(A) Incorporation of Coast Guard Inves-
tigative Service Criminal Investigation Oper-
ating Procedure CIOP 2019–02 into the next 
revision of the relevant Coast Guard investiga-
tive manual. 
(B) Training on the policy described in 
paragraph (1) for the following: 
(i) Agents and legal counsel of the 
Coast Guard Investigative Service. 
(ii) Personnel of the Office of General 
Law.
2791 
(iii) Relevant Coast Guard head-
quarters personnel. 
(iv) Such other Coast Guard per-
sonnel as the Commandant considers ap-
propriate. 
SEC. 9606. INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON ACCESS TO 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORS AND EQUAL 
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SPECIALISTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the inspector general 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall conduct a study and develop recommendations on the 
need to separate Equal Opportunity Advisors and Equal 
Employment Opportunity Specialists, as practicable, 
through the pre-complaint and formal discrimination com-
plaint processes, for the complainant, the opposing party, 
and the commanding officers and officers in charge. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after the 
completion of the study required by subsection (a), the 
Commandant shall brief the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives on the manner in which the Coast 
Guard plans to implement the recommendations developed 
as a result of the study.
2792 
SEC. 9607. INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on a plan to 
expand the Coast Guard Insider Threat Program to in-
clude the monitoring of all Coast Guard devices, including 
mobile devices. 
TITLE III—MARITIME 
Subtitle A—Navigation 
SEC. 10101. ELECTRONIC CHARTS; EQUIVALENCY. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3105(a)(1) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ELECTRONIC CHARTS IN LIEU OF MARINE 
CHARTS, CHARTS, AND MAPS.—Subject to paragraph 
(2), the following vessels, while operating on the 
navigable waters of the United States, equipped with 
and operating electronic navigational charts that are 
produced by a government hydrographic office or 
conform to a standard acceptable to the Secretary, 
shall be deemed in compliance with any requirement 
under title 33 or title 46, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, to have a chart, marine chart, or map on 
board such vessel:
2793 
‘‘(A) A self-propelled commercial vessel of 
at least 65 feet in overall length. 
‘‘(B) A vessel carrying more than a num-
ber of passengers for hire determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(C) A towing vessel of more than 26 feet 
in overall length and 600 horsepower. 
‘‘(D) Any other vessel for which the Sec-
retary decides that electronic charts are nec-
essary for the safe navigation of the vessel.’’. 
(b) 
EXEMPTIONS
AND
WAIVERS.—Section 
3105(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘operates; 
and’’ and inserting ‘‘operates;’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘those 
waters.’’ and inserting ‘‘those waters; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) permit vessels described in subpara-
graphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) that 
operate solely landward of the baseline from 
which the territorial sea of the United States is 
measured to utilize software-based, platform- 
independent electronic chart systems that the 
Secretary determines are capable of displaying 
electronic navigational charts with necessary
2794 
scale and detail to ensure safe navigation for 
the intended voyage.’’. 
SEC. 10102. SUBROGATED CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1012(b) of the Oil Pollu-
tion Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) SUBROGATED RIGHTS.—Except for a guar-
antor claim pursuant to a defense under section 
1016(f)(1), Fund compensation of any claim by an 
insurer or other indemnifier of a responsible party or 
injured third party is subject to the subrogated 
rights of that responsible party or injured third 
party to such compensation.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall take effect 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 10103. LOAN PROVISIONS UNDER OIL POLLUTION ACT 
OF 1990. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1013 of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2713) is amended by striking sub-
section (f).
2795 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1012(a) 
of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (6). 
SEC. 10104. OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
Section 7001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 
U.S.C. 2761) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, tech-
nology,’’ after ‘‘research’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘which are effective in 
preventing or mitigating oil discharges and 
which’’ and inserting ‘‘and methods that 
are effective in preventing, mitigating, or 
restoring damage from oil discharges and 
that’’;
2796 
(C) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘this sub-
section’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ each 
place it appears; 
(D) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
(4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘oil discharges. Such 
program shall’’ and inserting ‘‘acute and 
chronic oil discharges on coastal and ma-
rine resources (including impacts on pro-
tected areas such as sanctuaries) and pro-
tected species, and such program shall’’; 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (iii) and 
(iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively; 
(iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
following: 
‘‘(iii) Research to understand and quantify 
the effects of sublethal impacts of oil discharge 
on living natural marine resources, including 
impacts on pelagic fish species, marine mam-
mals, and commercially and recreationally tar-
geted fish and shellfish species.’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
2797 
‘‘(vi) Research to understand the long-term 
effects of major oil discharges and the long- 
term effects of smaller endemic oil discharges. 
‘‘(vii) The identification of potential im-
pacts on ecosystems, habitat, and wildlife from 
the additional toxicity, heavy metal concentra-
tions, and increased corrosiveness of mixed 
crude, such as diluted bitumen crude. 
‘‘(viii) The development of methods to re-
store and rehabilitate natural resources and 
ecosystem functions damaged by oil dis-
charges.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5) by striking ‘‘this sub-
section’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(F) by striking paragraph (7) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(7) SIMULATED ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Agencies represented 
on the Interagency Committee shall ensure the 
long-term use and operation of the Oil and 
Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental 
Test Tank (OHMSETT) Research Center in 
New Jersey for oil pollution technology testing 
and evaluations.
2798 
‘‘(B) OTHER TESTING FACILITIES.—Noth-
ing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed as 
limiting the ability of the Interagency Com-
mittee to contract or partner with a facility or 
facilities other than the Center described in 
subparagraph (A) for the purpose of oil pollu-
tion technology testing and evaluations, pro-
vided such a facility or facilities have testing 
and evaluation capabilities equal to or greater 
than those of such Center. 
‘‘(C) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency may ac-
cept donations of crude oil and crude oil 
product samples in the form of in-kind 
contributions for use by the Federal Gov-
ernment for product testing, research and 
development, and for other purposes as the 
Secretary and the Administrator determine 
appropriate. 
‘‘(ii) USE OF DONATED OIL.—Oil ac-
cepted under clause (i) may be used di-
rectly by the Secretary and shall be pro-
2799 
vided to other Federal agencies or depart-
ments through interagency agreements to 
carry out the purposes of this Act.’’; 
(G) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(d)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D)(iii), by strik-
ing ‘‘subsection (b)(1)(F)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsection (d)’’; and 
(H) in paragraph (10)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘agencies represented 
on the Interagency Committee’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Under Secretary’’; 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘, and States and In-
dian tribes’’ after ‘‘other persons’’; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’; 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘Chairman of 
the Interagency Committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Chair’’;
2800 
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(c)(8)’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (e)(8)’’; 
(5) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) 
as subsections (e) through (h), respectively; and 
(6) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘Chair’ means the Chairperson of 
the Interagency Committee designated under sub-
section (c)(2); 
‘‘(2) the term ‘Commandant’ means the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard; 
‘‘(3) the term ‘institution of higher education’ 
means an institution of higher education, as defined 
in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); 
‘‘(4) the term ‘Interagency Committee’ means 
the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pol-
lution Research established under subsection (b); 
‘‘(5) the term ‘Under Secretary’ means the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At-
mosphere; and
2801 
‘‘(6) the term ‘Vice Chair’ means the Vice 
Chairperson of the Interagency Committee des-
ignated under subsection (c)(3). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF INTERAGENCY COORDI-
NATING COMMITTEE ON OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollu-
tion Research. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The Interagency Committee 
shall coordinate a comprehensive program of oil pol-
lution research, technology development, and dem-
onstration among the Federal agencies, in coopera-
tion and coordination with industry, 4-year institu-
tions of higher education and research institutions, 
State governments, and other nations, as appro-
priate, and shall foster cost-effective research mech-
anisms, including the joint funding of research. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) COMPOSITION.—The Interagency Com-
mittee shall be composed of— 
‘‘(A) at least 1 representative of the Coast 
Guard; 
‘‘(B) at least 1 representative of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
2802 
‘‘(C) at least 1 representative of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency; 
‘‘(D) at least 1 representative of the De-
partment of the Interior; 
‘‘(E) at least 1 representative of the Bu-
reau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; 
‘‘(F) at least 1 representative of the Bu-
reau of Ocean Energy Management; 
‘‘(G) at least 1 representative of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
‘‘(H) at least 1 representative of the De-
partment of Energy; 
‘‘(I) at least 1 representative of the Pipe-
line and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration; 
‘‘(J) at least 1 representative of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency; 
‘‘(K) at least 1 representative of the Navy; 
‘‘(L) at least 1 representative of the Corps 
of Engineers; 
‘‘(M) at least 1 representative of the 
United States Arctic Research Commission; and 
‘‘(N) at least 1 representative of each of 
such other Federal agencies as the President 
considers to be appropriate.
2803 
‘‘(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commandant shall 
designate a Chairperson from among the members 
of the Interagency Committee selected under para-
graph (1)(A). 
‘‘(3) VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The Under Sec-
retary shall designate a Vice Chairperson from 
among the members of the Interagency Committee 
selected under paragraph (1)(B). 
‘‘(4) MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(A) QUARTERLY MEETINGS.—At a min-
imum, the members of the Interagency Com-
mittee shall meet once each quarter. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC
SUMMARIES.—After each 
meeting, a summary shall be made available by 
the Chair or Vice Chair, as appropriate. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF THE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) RESEARCH.—The Interagency Committee 
shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate a comprehensive program 
of oil pollution research, technology develop-
ment, and demonstration among the Federal 
agencies, in cooperation and coordination with 
industry, 4-year institutions of higher education 
and research institutions, States, Indian tribes, 
and other countries, as appropriate; and
2804 
‘‘(B) foster cost-effective research mecha-
nisms, including the joint funding of research 
and the development of public-private partner-
ships for the purpose of expanding research. 
‘‘(2) OIL
POLLUTION
RESEARCH
AND
TECH-
NOLOGY PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2020, the Interagency Committee 
shall submit to Congress a research plan to re-
port on the state of oil discharge prevention and 
response capabilities that— 
‘‘(i) identifies current research pro-
grams conducted by Federal agencies, 
States, Indian tribes, 4-year institutions of 
higher education, and corporate entities; 
‘‘(ii) assesses the current status of 
knowledge on oil pollution prevention, re-
sponse, and mitigation technologies and ef-
fects of oil pollution on the environment; 
‘‘(iii) identifies significant oil pollution 
research gaps, including an assessment of 
major technological deficiencies in re-
sponses to past oil discharges;
2805 
‘‘(iv) establishes national research pri-
orities and goals for oil pollution tech-
nology development related to prevention, 
response, mitigation, and environmental ef-
fects; 
‘‘(v) assesses the research on the ap-
plicability and effectiveness of the preven-
tion, response, and mitigation technologies 
to each class of oil; 
‘‘(vi) estimates the resources needed 
to conduct the oil pollution research and 
development program established pursuant 
to subsection (e), and timetables for com-
pleting research tasks; 
‘‘(vii) summarizes research on re-
sponse equipment in varying environmental 
conditions, such as in currents, ice cover, 
and ice floes; and 
‘‘(viii) includes such other information 
or recommendations as the Interagency 
Committee determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(B) ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.— 
‘‘(i) 
NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF 
SCIENCES CONTRACT.—The Chair, through 
the department in which the Coast Guard
2806 
is operating, shall contract with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences to— 
‘‘(I) provide advice and guidance 
in the preparation and development of 
the research plan; 
‘‘(II) assess the adequacy of the 
plan as submitted, and submit a re-
port to Congress on the conclusions of 
such assessment; and 
‘‘(III) provide organization guid-
ance regarding the implementation of 
the research plan, including delegation 
of topics and research among Federal 
agencies represented on the Inter-
agency Committee. 
‘‘(ii) NIST ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.— 
The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall provide the Interagency 
Committee with advice and guidance on 
issues relating to quality assurance and 
standards measurements relating to its ac-
tivities under this section. 
‘‘(C) 10-YEAR UPDATES.—Not later than 
10 years after the date of enactment of the Eli-
jah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization
2807 
Act of 2020, and every 10 years thereafter, the 
Interagency Committee shall submit to Con-
gress a research plan that updates the informa-
tion contained in the previous research plan 
submitted under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 10105. LIMITED INDEMNITY PROVISIONS IN STANDBY 
OIL SPILL RESPONSE CONTRACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), 
a contract for the containment or removal of a discharge 
entered into by the President under section 311(c) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(c)) 
shall contain a provision to indemnify a contractor for li-
abilities and expenses incidental to the containment or re-
moval arising out of the performance of the contract that 
is substantially identical to the terms contained in sub-
sections (d) through (h) of section H.4 (except for para-
graph (1) of subsection (d)) of the contract offered by the 
Coast Guard in the solicitation numbered DTCG89–98– 
A–68F953 and dated November 17, 1998. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) SOURCE
OF
FUNDS.—The provision re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include a provision 
that the obligation to indemnify is limited to funds 
available in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund estab-
lished by section 9509(a) of the Internal Revenue
2808 
Code of 1986 at the time the claim for indemnity is 
made. 
(2) UNCOMPENSATED REMOVAL.—A claim for 
indemnity under a contract described in subsection 
(a) shall be made as a claim for uncompensated re-
moval costs under section 1012(a)(4) of the Oil Pol-
lution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(4)). 
(3) LIMITATION.—The total indemnity for a 
claim under a contract described in subsection (a) 
may not be more than $50,000 per incident. 
(c) APPLICABILITY
OF
EXEMPTIONS.—Notwith-
standing subsection (a), the United States shall not be ob-
ligated to indemnify a contractor for any act or omission 
of the contractor carried out pursuant to a contract en-
tered into under this section where such act or omission 
is grossly negligent or which constitutes willful mis-
conduct. 
Subtitle B—Shipping 
SEC. 10201. PASSENGER VESSEL SECURITY AND SAFETY RE-
QUIREMENTS; APPLICATION. 
Section 3507(k)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon at the end;
2809 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (D). 
SEC. 
10202. 
SMALL 
PASSENGER 
VESSELS 
AND 
UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS. 
Section 12121 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) was built in the United States; 
‘‘(B) was not built in the United States 
and is at least 3 years old; or 
‘‘(C) if rebuilt, was rebuilt— 
‘‘(i) in the United States; or 
‘‘(ii) outside the United States at 
least 3 years before the certificate re-
quested under subsection (b) would take 
effect.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘12132,’’ 
after ‘‘12113,’’. 
SEC. 10203. NON-OPERATING INDIVIDUAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall not enforce 
section 8701 of title 46, United States Code, with respect 
to the following:
2810 
(1) A vessel with respect to individuals, other 
than crew members required by the Certificate of In-
spection or to ensure the safe navigation of the ves-
sel and not a member of the steward’s department, 
engaged on board for the sole purpose of carrying 
out spill response activities, salvage, marine fire-
fighting, or commercial diving business or functions 
from or on any vessel, including marine firefighters, 
spill response personnel, salvage personnel, and com-
mercial divers and diving support personnel. 
(2) An offshore supply vessel, an industrial ves-
sel (as such term is defined in section 90.10–16 of 
title 46, Code of Federal Regulations), or other simi-
larly engaged vessel with respect to persons engaged 
in the business of the ship on board the vessel— 
(A) for— 
(i) supporting or executing the indus-
trial business or function of the vessel; 
(ii) brief periods to conduct surveys or 
investigations, assess crew competence, 
conduct vessel trials, provide extraordinary 
security resources, or similar tasks not tra-
ditionally performed by the vessel crew; or 
(iii) performing maintenance tasks on 
equipment under warranty, or on equip-
2811 
ment not owned by the vessel owner, or 
maintenance beyond the capability of the 
vessel crew to perform; and 
(B) not the master or crew members re-
quired by the certificate of inspection and not 
a member of the steward’s department. 
(b) SUNSET.—The prohibition in subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report 
detailing recommendations to ensure that personnel 
working on a vessel who perform work or operate 
equipment on such vessel not related to the oper-
ation of the vessel itself undergo a background check 
and the appropriate training necessary to ensure 
personnel safety and the safety of the vessel’s crew. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, a discus-
sion of—
2812 
(A) options and recommendations for en-
suring that the individuals covered by sub-
section (a) are appropriately screened to miti-
gate security and safety risks, including to de-
tect substance abuse; 
(B) communication and collaboration be-
tween the Coast Guard, the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating, and rel-
evant stakeholders regarding the development 
of processes and requirements for conducting 
background checks and ensuring such individ-
uals receive basic safety familiarization and 
basic safety training approved by the Coast 
Guard; 
(C) any identified legislative changes nec-
essary to implement effective training and 
screening requirements for individuals covered 
by subsection (a); and 
(D) the timeline and milestones for imple-
menting such requirements. 
SEC. 10204. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS: TRAINING; PUB-
LIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. 
Chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in section 70107—
2813 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(8), by striking ‘‘law 
enforcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel—’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking 
‘‘law enforcement agency personnel’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘public safety personnel’’; and 
(2) in section 70132— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel—’’ and inserting ‘‘public 
safety personnel—’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘law en-
forcement personnel’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘public safety personnel’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL DEFINED.—For 
the purposes of this section, the term ‘public safety per-
sonnel’ includes any Federal, State (or political subdivi-
sion thereof), territorial, or Tribal law enforcement officer, 
firefighter, or emergency response provider.’’. 
SEC. 10205. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT. 
Section 55501(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
2814 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an assess-
ment of the condition’’ and inserting ‘‘a conditions 
and performance analysis’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) a compendium of the Federal programs 
engaged in the maritime transportation system.’’. 
SEC. 10206. ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES; USE REQUIRE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4312 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
(d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) USE REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual operating a 
covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut- 
off switch link while operating on plane or above dis-
placement speed. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply if—
2815 
‘‘(A) the main helm of the covered vessel 
is installed within an enclosed cabin; or 
‘‘(B) the vessel does not have an engine 
cut-off switch and is not required to have one 
under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 4311 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by— 
(1) redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), 
and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), re-
spectively; and 
(2) inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) A person violating section 4312(b) of this title 
is liable to the United States Government for a civil pen-
alty of not more than— 
‘‘(1) $100 for the first offense; 
‘‘(2) $250 for the second offense; and 
‘‘(3) $500 for any subsequent offense.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made in 
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, unless the Com-
mandant, prior to the date that is 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, determines that the use 
requirement enacted in subsection (a) would not promote 
recreational boating safety.
2816 
SEC. 10207. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE OPERATOR OF SELF- 
PROPELLED UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VES-
SEL REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 8905 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) After consultation with the Governor of Alaska 
and the State boating law administrator of Alaska, the 
Secretary may exempt an individual operating a self-pro-
pelled uninspected passenger vessel from the requirements 
of section 8903 of this title, if— 
‘‘(1) the individual only operates such vessel 
wholly within waters located in Alaska; and 
‘‘(2) such vessel is— 
‘‘(A) 26 feet or less in length; and 
‘‘(B) carrying not more than 6 pas-
sengers.’’. 
SEC. 10208. EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4305 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 4305. Exemptions and equivalents’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘If the Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) EXEMPTIONS.—If the Secretary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
2817 
‘‘(b) EQUIVALENTS.—The Secretary may accept a 
substitution for associated equipment performance or 
other safety standards for a recreational vessel if the sub-
stitution provides an equivalent level of safety.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 43 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 4305 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘4305. Exemptions and equivalents.’’. 
SEC. 10209. WAIVER OF NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPEC-
TION LAWS. 
Section 501(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘On request’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXPLANATION.—Not later than 24 hours 
after making a request under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and Armed Services of the Senate a written 
explanation of the circumstances requiring such a 
waiver in the interest of national defense, including
2818 
a confirmation that there are insufficient qualified 
vessels to meet the needs of national defense without 
such a waiver.’’. 
SEC. 10210. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES 
AND DOCUMENTS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a brief-
ing on the Coast Guard’s implementation of section 7106 
of title 46, United States Code— 
(1) an overview of the manner in which the 
Coast Guard manages and processes renewal appli-
cations under such section, including communication 
with the applicant regarding application status; 
(2) the number of applications received and ap-
proved over the previous 2 years, or in the event ap-
plications were denied, a summary detailing the rea-
sons for such denial; 
(3) an accounting of renewal applications filed 
up to 8 months in advance of the expiration of a 
pre-existing license, including the processing of such 
applications and communication with the applicant
2819 
regarding application status or any other extenu-
ating circumstances; and 
(4) any other regulatory or statutory changes 
that would be necessary to further improve the 
Coast Guard’s issuance of credentials to fully quali-
fied mariners in the most effective and efficient 
manner possible in order to ensure a safe, secure, 
economically and environmentally sound marine 
transportation system. 
SEC. 10211. CERTIFICATE EXTENSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 121 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 12108. Authority to extend duration of vessel cer-
tificates 
‘‘(a) CERTIFICATES.—Provided a vessel is in compli-
ance with inspection requirements in section 3313, the 
Secretary of the department in which in the Coast Guard 
is operating may, if the Secretary makes the determina-
tion described in subsection (b), extend, for a period of 
not more than 1 year, an expiring certificate of docu-
mentation issued for a vessel under chapter 121. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION.—The determination referred 
to in subsection (a) is a determination that such extension 
is required to enable the Coast Guard to—
2820 
‘‘(1) eliminate a backlog in processing applica-
tions for such certificates; or 
‘‘(2) act in response to a national emergency or 
natural disaster. 
‘‘(c) MANNER OF EXTENSION.—Any extension grant-
ed under this section may be granted to individual vessels 
or to a specifically identified group of vessels.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter I of chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘12108. Authority to extend duration of vessel certificates.’’. 
SEC. 10212. VESSEL SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) FISHING
SAFETY
TRAINING
GRANTS
PRO-
GRAM.—Subsection (i) of section 4502 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2021’’. 
(b) FISHING
SAFETY
RESEARCH
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—Subsection (j) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘50 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2021’’.
2821 
(c) FISHING SAFETY GRANTS.—The cap on the Fed-
eral share of the cost of any activity carried out with a 
grant under subsections (i) and (j) of section 4502 of title 
46, United States Code, as in effect prior to the date of 
enactment of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2018, shall apply to any funds appropriated 
under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public 
Law 115–31) for the purpose of making such grants. 
SEC. 10213. MEDICAL STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 35 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 3509. Medical standards 
‘‘The owner of a vessel to which section 3507 applies 
shall ensure that— 
‘‘(1) a physician is always present and available 
to treat any passengers who may be on board the 
vessel in the event of an emergency situation; 
‘‘(2) the vessel is in compliance with the Health 
Care Guidelines for Cruise Ship Medical Facilities 
established by the American College of Emergency 
Physicians; and 
‘‘(3) the initial safety briefing given to the pas-
sengers on board the vessel includes—
2822 
‘‘(A) the location of the vessel’s medical fa-
cilities; and 
‘‘(B) the appropriate steps passengers 
should follow during a medical emergency.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 35 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘3509. Medical standards.’’. 
Subtitle C—Advisory Committees 
SEC. 10301. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) NATIONAL OFFSHORE SAFETY ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE; REPRESENTATION.—Section 15106(c)(3) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and oil operations, including geophysical services’’ 
and inserting ‘‘operations’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘explo-
ration and recovery’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in diving services related to offshore construction, 
inspection, and maintenance’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
viding diving services to the offshore industry’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in safety and training services related to offshore ex-
ploration and construction’’ and inserting ‘‘providing
2823 
safety and training services to the offshore indus-
try’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘engaged 
in pipelaying services related to offshore construc-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘providing subsea engineering, 
construction, or remotely operated vehicle support to 
the offshore industry’’; 
(6) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘mineral 
and energy’’; 
(7) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ‘‘and enti-
ties providing environmental protection, compliance, 
or response services to the offshore industry’’ after 
‘‘national environmental entities’’; and 
(8) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘deepwater 
ports’’ and inserting ‘‘entities engaged in offshore oil 
exploration and production on the Outer Continental 
Shelf adjacent to Alaska’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 15109 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
to which this chapter applies’’ after ‘‘committee estab-
lished under this chapter’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 10302. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NA-
TIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Chapter 555 of title 46, United