‘‘(A) 2 members shall represent entities 
engaged in the production of petroleum. 
‘‘(B) 2 members shall represent entities 
engaged in offshore drilling. 
‘‘(C) 2 members shall represent entities en-
gaged in the support, by offshore supply vessels 
or other vessels, of offshore mineral and oil op-
erations, including geophysical services. 
‘‘(D) 1 member shall represent entities en-
gaged in the construction of offshore explo-
ration and recovery facilities. 
‘‘(E) 1 member shall represent entities en-
gaged in diving services related to offshore con-
struction, inspection, and maintenance. 
‘‘(F) 1 member shall represent entities en-
gaged in safety and training services related to 
offshore exploration and construction. 
‘‘(G) 1 member shall represent entities en-
gaged in pipelaying services related to offshore 
construction. 
‘‘(H) 2 members shall represent individuals 
employed in offshore operations and, of the 2, 
1 shall have recent practical experience on a 
vessel or offshore unit involved in the offshore 
mineral and energy industry.
‘‘(I) 1 member shall represent national en-
vironmental entities. 
‘‘(J) 1 member shall represent deepwater 
ports. 
‘‘(K) 1 member shall represent the general 
public (but not a specific environmental group). 
‘‘§ 1307. National Navigation Safety Advisory Com-
mittee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Na-
tional Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 
Secretary on matters relating to maritime collisions, 
rammings, and groundings, Inland Rules of the Road, 
International Rules of the Road, navigation regulations 
and equipment, routing measures, marine information, 
and aids to navigation systems. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of not more than 21 members appointed by the 
Secretary in accordance with this section and section 
1309 of this chapter. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com-
mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge,
and experience in matters relating to the function of 
the Committee. 
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Each member of the 
Committee shall represent 1 of the following: 
‘‘(A) Commercial vessel owners or opera-
tors. 
‘‘(B) Professional mariners. 
‘‘(C) Recreational boaters. 
‘‘(D) The recreational boating industry. 
‘‘(E) State agencies responsible for vessel 
or port safety. 
‘‘(F) The Maritime Law Association. 
‘‘(4) 
DISTRIBUTION.—The 
Secretary 
shall, 
based on the needs of the Coast Guard, determine 
the number of members of the Committee who rep-
resent each entity specified in paragraph (3). Nei-
ther this paragraph nor any other provision of law 
shall be construed to require an equal distribution of 
members representing each entity specified in para-
graph (3). 
‘‘§ 1308. National Towing Safety Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Na-
tional Towing Safety Advisory Committee (in this section 
referred to as the ‘Committee’).
‘‘(b) FUNCTION.—The Committee shall advise the 
Secretary on matters relating to shallow-draft inland navi-
gation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of 18 members appointed by the Secretary in ac-
cordance with this section and section 1309 of this 
chapter. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Com-
mittee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
and experience in matters relating to the function of 
the Committee. 
‘‘(3) REPRESENTATION.—Members of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed as follows: 
‘‘(A) 7 members shall represent the barge 
and towing industry, reflecting a regional geo-
graphic balance. 
‘‘(B) 1 member shall represent the offshore 
mineral and oil supply vessel industry. 
‘‘(C) 1 member shall represent masters 
and pilots of towing vessels who hold active li-
censes and have experience on the Western Riv-
ers and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
‘‘(D) 1 member shall represent masters of 
towing vessels in offshore service who hold ac-
tive licenses. 
‘‘(E) 1 member shall represent masters of 
active ship-docking or harbor towing vessels. 
‘‘(F) 1 member shall represent licensed 
and unlicensed towing vessel engineers with for-
mal training and experience. 
‘‘(G) 2 members shall represent port dis-
tricts, authorities, or terminal operators. 
‘‘(H) 2 members shall represent shippers 
and, of the 2, 1 shall be engaged in the ship-
ment of oil or hazardous materials by barge. 
‘‘(I) 2 members shall represent the general 
public. 
‘‘§ 1309. Administration 
‘‘(a) MEETINGS.—Each committee established under 
this chapter shall, at least once each year, meet at the 
call of the Secretary or a majority of the members of the 
committee. 
‘‘(b) EMPLOYEE STATUS.—A member of a committee 
established under this chapter shall not be considered an 
employee of the Federal Government by reason of service 
on such committee, except for the purposes of the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(1) Chapter 81 of title 5. 
‘‘(2) Chapter 171 of title 28 and any other 
Federal law relating to tort liability. 
‘‘(c) COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(b), a member of a committee established under this chap-
ter, when actually engaged in the performance of the du-
ties of such committee, may— 
‘‘(1) receive compensation at a rate established 
by the Secretary, not to exceed the maximum daily 
rate payable under section 5376 of title 5; or 
‘‘(2) if not compensated in accordance with 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) be reimbursed for actual and reason-
able expenses incurred in the performance of 
such duties; or 
‘‘(B) be allowed travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
section 5703 of title 5. 
‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE
OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—A 
member of a committee established under this chapter 
may serve on such committee on a voluntary basis without 
pay without regard to section 1342 of title 31 or any other 
law. 
‘‘(e) STATUS OF MEMBERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), with respect to a member of a committee 
established under this chapter whom the Secretary 
appoints to represent an entity or group— 
‘‘(A) the member is authorized to rep-
resent the interests of the applicable entity or 
group; and 
‘‘(B) requirements under Federal law that 
would interfere with such representation and 
that apply to a special Government employee 
(as defined in section 202(a) of title 18), in-
cluding requirements relating to employee con-
duct, political activities, ethics, conflicts of in-
terest, and corruption, do not apply to the 
member. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(b), a member of a committee established under this 
chapter shall be treated as a special Government em-
ployee for purposes of the committee service of the 
member if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary appointed the member 
to represent the general public; or 
‘‘(B) the member, without regard to serv-
ice on the committee, is a special Government 
employee.
‘‘(f) SERVICE ON COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) SOLICITATION OF NOMINATIONS.—Before 
appointing an individual as a member of a com-
mittee established under this chapter, the Secretary 
shall publish, in the Federal Register, a timely no-
tice soliciting nominations for membership on such 
committee. 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—After 
considering 
nominations received pursuant to a notice pub-
lished under paragraph (1), the Secretary may, 
as necessary, appoint a member to the applica-
ble committee established under this chapter. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary shall 
not seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
concerning the political affiliation of a nominee 
in making an appointment to any committee es-
tablished under this chapter. 
‘‘(3) SERVICE
AT
PLEASURE
OF
THE
SEC-
RETARY.—Each member of a committee established 
under this chapter shall serve at the pleasure of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(4) SECURITY BACKGROUND EXAMINATIONS.— 
The Secretary may require an individual to have 
passed an appropriate security background examina-
tion before appointment to a committee established 
under this chapter. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), a Federal employee may not 
be appointed as a member of a committee es-
tablished under this chapter. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR NATIONAL MER-
CHANT
MARINE
PERSONNEL
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE.—The Secretary may appoint a Federal 
employee to serve as a member of the National 
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Com-
mittee to represent the interests of the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy and, notwith-
standing paragraphs (1) and (2), may do so 
without soliciting, receiving, or considering 
nominations for such appointment. 
‘‘(6) TERMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term of each 
member of a committee established under this 
chapter shall expire— 
‘‘(i) December 31 of the third full 
year after the effective date of the appoint-
ment; or
‘‘(ii) in the case of a member filling a 
vacancy caused by another member not 
completing a full term, at the end of the 
unexpired term of the member succeeded. 
‘‘(B) TOTAL NUMBER.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), members first ap-
pointed to a committee established under 
this chapter after January 1, 2018, may 
not serve more than 2 terms. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(I) VACANCIES.—A member ap-
pointed to a committee established 
under this chapter to fill a vacancy 
caused by another member not com-
pleting a full term may be appointed 
to 2 terms in addition to the unex-
pired term of the member succeeded. 
‘‘(II) 
CHAIRMEN.—A 
member 
elected Chairman of a committee es-
tablished under this chapter may 
serve up to 3 terms. 
‘‘(C) CONTINUED SERVICE AFTER TERM.— 
When the term of a member of a committee es-
tablished under this chapter ends, the member,
for a period not to exceed 1 year, may continue 
to serve as a member until a successor is ap-
pointed. 
‘‘(7) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on a committee 
established under this chapter shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointment. 
‘‘(8) SPECIAL RULE FOR REAPPOINTMENTS.— 
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Sec-
retary may reappoint a member of a committee es-
tablished under this chapter for any term, other 
than the first term of the member, without solic-
iting, receiving, or considering nominations for such 
appointment. 
‘‘(g) STAFF SERVICES.—The Secretary shall furnish 
to each committee established under this chapter any staff 
and services considered by the Secretary to be necessary 
for the conduct of the committee’s functions. 
‘‘(h) CHAIRMAN; VICE CHAIRMAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each committee established 
under this chapter shall elect a Chairman and Vice 
Chairman from among the committee’s members. 
‘‘(2) VICE CHAIRMAN ACTING AS CHAIRMAN.— 
The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the ab-
sence or incapacity of, or in the event of a vacancy 
in the office of, the Chairman.
‘‘(i) SUBCOMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of a com-
mittee established under this chapter may establish 
and disestablish subcommittees and working groups 
for any purpose consistent with the function of the 
committee. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Subject to conditions im-
posed by the Chairman, members of a committee es-
tablished under this chapter and additional persons 
drawn from entities or groups designated by this 
chapter to be represented on the committee or the 
general public may be assigned to subcommittees 
and working groups established under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) CHAIR.—Only committee members may 
chair subcommittees and working groups established 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(j) CONSULTATION.—Before taking any significant 
action, the Secretary shall consult with, and consider the 
information, advice, and recommendations of, a committee 
established under this chapter if the function of the com-
mittee is to advise the Secretary on matters related to the 
significant action. 
‘‘(k) TERMINATION.—Each committee established 
under this chapter shall terminate on September 30, 2027.
‘‘(l) ADVICE, REPORTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each committee established 
under this chapter shall submit its advice, reports, 
and recommendations to the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—The Sec-
retary shall submit such advice, reports, and rec-
ommendations to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(m) OBSERVERS.—Any Federal agency with mat-
ters under such agency’s administrative jurisdiction re-
lated to the function of a committee established under this 
chapter may designate a representative to— 
‘‘(1) attend any meeting of such committee; and 
‘‘(2) participate as an observer at meetings of 
such committee that relate to such a matter.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
title I of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to chapter 11 the following: 
‘‘13. National Maritime Transportation Advisory Com-
mittees ....................................................................... 1301’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) COMMERCIAL
FISHING
SAFETY
ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE.—Section 4508 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the item relating to that section in