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ber to repay the United States, on a pro rata basis, all 
sums paid under this section. The Secretary may charge 
interest on the amount repaid at a rate, to be determined 
quarterly, equal to 150 percent of the average of the yields 
on the 91-day Treasury bills auctioned during the calendar 
quarter preceding the date on which the amount to be re-
paid is determined.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 11 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting the following after the item 
relating to section 373:
‘‘374. Critical skill training bonus.’’.
SEC. 205. INDEMNIFICATION FOR DISABLING VESSELS LIA-
BLE TO SEIZURE OR EXAMINATION. 
(a) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT TO FIRE WARNING 
SHOT.—Subsection (a) of section 637 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘after a’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘signal,’’ and inserting ‘‘subject to para-
graph (2),’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Before firing at or into a vessel as authorized 
in paragraph (1), the person in command or in charge of 
the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft shall fire a gun 
as a warning signal, except that the prior firing of a gun
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as a warning signal is not required if that person deter-
mines that the firing of a warning signal would unreason-
ably endanger persons or property in the vicinity of the 
vessel to be stopped.’’. 
(b) EXTENSION TO MILITARY AIRCRAFT OF COAST 
GUARD INTERDICTION AUTHORITY.—Subsection (c) of 
such section is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘or’’ after the 
semicolon; and 
(2) in paragraph (2) by—
(A) inserting ‘‘or military aircraft’’ after 
‘‘surface naval vessel’’; and 
(B) striking ‘‘; or’’ and all that follows 
through paragraph (3) and inserting a period. 
(c) REPEAL OF TERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY TO 
NAVAL AIRCRAFT.—Subsection (d) of such section is re-
pealed. 
(d) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—
(1) CORRECTION.—Section 637 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended in the section head-
ing by striking ‘‘immunity’’ and inserting ‘‘indem-
nification’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 17 of title 14,
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United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 637 and inserting the following:
‘‘637. Stopping vessels; indemnification for firing at or into vessel.’’.
SEC. 206. ADMINISTRATIVE, COLLECTION, AND ENFORCE-
MENT 
COSTS 
FOR 
CERTAIN 
FEES 
AND 
CHARGES. 
Section 664 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (f); 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) In addition to the collection of fees and charges 
established under this section, the Secretary may recover 
from the person liable for the fee or charge the costs of 
collecting delinquent payments of the fee or charge, and 
enforcement costs associated with delinquent payments of 
the fees and charges. 
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary may employ any Federal, 
State, or local agency or instrumentality, or any private 
enterprise or business, to collect a fee or charge estab-
lished under this section. 
‘‘(2) A private enterprise or business employed by the 
Secretary to collect fees or charges—
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‘‘(A) shall be subject to reasonable terms and 
conditions agreed to by the Secretary and the enter-
prise or business; 
‘‘(B) shall provide appropriate accounting to 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) may not institute litigation as part of that 
collection. 
‘‘(e) The Secretary shall account for the agency’s 
costs of collecting a fee or charge as a reimbursable ex-
pense, subject to the availability of appropriations, and the 
costs shall be credited to the account from which ex-
pended.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) In this section the term ‘costs of collecting a fee 
or charge’ includes the reasonable administrative, account-
ing, personnel, contract, equipment, supply, training, and 
travel expenses of calculating, assessing, collecting, enforc-
ing, reviewing, adjusting, and reporting on a fee or 
charge.’’.
SEC. 207. EXPANSION OF COAST GUARD HOUSING AU-
THORITIES. 
(a) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—Section 680 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) in 
order as paragraphs (4) and (5); and
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(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘eligible entity’ means any pri-
vate person, corporation, firm, partnership, or com-
pany and any State or local government or housing 
authority of a State or local government.’’. 
(b) DIRECT LOANS FOR PROVIDING HOUSING.—Sec-
tion 682 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘LOAN 
GUARANTEES’’ and inserting ‘‘DIRECT LOANS AND 
LOAN GUARANTEES’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as 
(b) and (c) respectively; 
(3) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(a) DIRECT LOANS.—(1) Subject to subsection (c), 
the Secretary may make direct loans to an eligible entity 
in order to provide funds to the eligible entity for the ac-
quisition or construction of housing units that the Sec-
retary determines are suitable for use as military family 
housing or as military unaccompanied housing. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish such terms and 
conditions with respect to loans made under this sub-
section as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect 
the interests of the United States, including the period
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and frequency for repayment of such loans and the obliga-
tions of the obligors on such loans upon default.’’; 
(4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated) by 
striking ‘‘subsection (b),’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(c),’’; and 
(5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)—
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘GUAR-
ANTEE’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Loan guarantees’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Direct loans and loan guarantees’’.
(c) LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS WITH ELIGIBLE ENTI-
TIES.—Section 684 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘NON-
GOVERNMENTAL’’ and inserting ‘‘ELIGIBLE’’; 
(2) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘nongovern-
mental’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ‘‘a non-
governmental’’ and inserting ‘‘an eligible’’; 
(4) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ‘‘a non-
governmental’’ and inserting ‘‘an eligible’’; and 
(5) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘nongovern-
mental’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible’’.
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(d) HOUSING DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IN ALAS-
KA.—Section 687(g) of title 14, United Sates Code, is 
amended—
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘PROJECT’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PROJECTS’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘a demonstra-
tion 
project’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘demonstration 
projects’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Kodiak, Alas-
ka;’’ and inserting ‘‘Kodiak, Alaska, or any other 
Coast Guard installation in Alaska;’’; 
(4) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘the dem-
onstration project’’ and inserting ‘‘such a dem-
onstration project’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘the dem-
onstration project’’ and inserting ‘‘such demonstra-
tion projects’’. 
(e) DIFFERENTIAL LEASE PAYMENTS.—Chapter 18 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 687 the following: 
‘‘§ 687a. Differential lease payments 
‘‘Pursuant to an agreement entered into by the Sec-
retary and a lessor of military family housing or military 
unaccompanied housing to members of the armed forces, 
the Secretary may pay the lessor an amount, in addition
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to the rental payments for the housing made by the mem-
bers, as the Secretary determines appropriate to encour-
age the lessor to make the housing available to members 
of the armed forces as military family housing or as mili-
tary unaccompanied housing.’’. 
(f) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 18 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended—
(1) by striking the item related to section 682 
and inserting the following:
‘‘682. Direct loans and loan guarantees.’’;
(2) in the item related to section 684 by strik-
ing ‘‘nongovernmental’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible’’; and 
(3) by inserting after the item related to section 
687 the following:
‘‘687a. Differential lease payments.’’.
SEC. 208. REQUIREMENT FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CREDIT. 
Section 727 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended in the second sentence by striking ‘‘three years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘one year’’.
SEC. 209. MAXIMUM AGE FOR RETENTION IN AN ACTIVE 
STATUS. 
Section 742 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
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‘‘§ 742. Maximum age for retention in an active status 
‘‘(a) A Reserve officer, if qualified, shall be trans-
ferred to the Retired Reserve on the day the officer be-
comes 60 years of age unless on active duty. If not quali-
fied for retirement, a Reserve officer shall be discharged 
effective upon the day the officer becomes 60 years of age 
unless on active duty. 
‘‘(b) A Reserve officer on active duty shall, if quali-
fied, be retired effective upon the day the officer become 
62 years of age. If not qualified for retirement, a Reserve 
officer on active duty shall be discharged effective upon 
the day the officer becomes 62 years of age. 
‘‘(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a)and (b), the Sec-
retary may authorize the retention of a Reserve rear admi-
ral or rear admiral (lower half) in an active status not 
longer than the day on which the officer concerned be-
comes 64 years of age. 
‘‘(d) For purposes of this section, ‘active duty’ does 
not include active duty for training, duty on a board, or 
duty of a limited or temporary nature if assigned to active 
duty from an inactive duty status.’’. 
SEC. 210. PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘§ 517. Payments 
‘‘(a) The Secretary may require that travel or trans-
portation allowances due a civilian employee or military 
member of the Coast Guard be disbursed directly to the 
issuer of a Federal contractor-issued travel charge card, 
but only in an amount not to exceed the authorized travel 
expenses charged by that Coast Guard member to that 
travel charge card issued to that employee or member. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary may also establish requirements 
similar to those established by the Secretary of Defense 
pursuant to section 2784a of title 10 for deduction or 
withholding of pay or retired pay from a Coast Guard em-
ployee, member, or retired member who is delinquent in 
payment under the terms of the contract under which the 
card was issued and does not dispute the amount of the 
delinquency.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 13 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘517. Payments.’’.
SEC. 211. COAST GUARD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end of chapter 11 the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘§ 337. Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship Pro-
gram 
‘‘(a) There is established in the Coast Guard a Coast 
Guard Congressional Fellowship Program to broaden 
Coast Guard officers’ knowledge of the Congress. 
‘‘(b) The Commandant may appoint 4 mid-grade offi-
cers as fellows under the program, subject to the following 
limitations: 
‘‘(1) The maximum length of a fellowship is one 
year. 
‘‘(2) A fellow may be assigned to an office of 
the House of Representatives or the Senate, includ-
ing a committee, during the period of the fellowship, 
or may rotate between such offices. 
‘‘(3) To protect against abuses of separation of 
powers principles and conflicts of interest, a fellow 
may not engage in duties that will result in any di-
rect or indirect benefit to the Coast Guard, other 
than broadening the fellow’s knowledge. 
‘‘(c) An individual violating this section is subject to 
appropriate discipline by the Commandant.’’. 
(b) 
LIMITATION
ON
APPLICATION.—Section 
337(b)(1) of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 
this section, does not apply to an individual serving on 
June 10, 2003, as a Coast Guard congressional fellow.
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(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 11 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 336 the following:
‘‘337. Coast Guard Congressional Fellowship Program.’’.
SEC. 212. AIR SEARCH AND RESCUE FACILITY IN MUS-
KEGON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 
(a) LEASE AUTHORITY.—The Commandant may 
enter into a long-term lease for a period of up to 20 years 
with Muskegon County, Michigan, for use of a facility con-
structed by the County at Muskegon County Airport as 
an air search and rescue station, if such a facility that 
meets criteria established under subsection (b) is available. 
(b) CRITERIA.—Any facility leased under subsection 
(a) must meet criteria established by the Commandant. 
SEC. 213. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 98. National Coast Guard Museum 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may, subject to subsections (b) and (c), es-
tablish a National Coast Guard Museum on Federal lands 
that are administered by the Coast Guard and specified 
by the Commandant.
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‘‘(b) LOCATION.—The National Coast Guard Mu-
seum may be located at, or in close proximity to, the Coast 
Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION
ON EXPENDITURES.—The Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall not expend any Federal funds for the plan-
ning, engineering, design, construction, operation, or 
maintenance of any museum established under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(d) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN.—Before 
the date on which the Commandant establishes a museum 
under subsection (a), the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a plan for operating and main-
taining such a museum, including—
‘‘(1) estimated operation and maintenance 
costs; 
‘‘(2) proposed sources of operation and mainte-
nance funds; and 
‘‘(3) a certification by the Inspector General of 
the Department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating that items included in the plan pursuant to 
paragraph (1) and (2) are reasonable and realistic.’’.
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 5 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘98. National Coast Guard Museum.’’.
SEC. 214. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF COMMISSIONED OF-
FICERS. 
Notwithstanding section 42(a) of title 14, United 
States Code, the total number of commissioned officers, 
excluding commissioned warrant officers, on active duty 
in the Coast Guard shall not exceed 6,700 in fiscal year 
2004. 
SEC. 215. REDISTRICTING NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT. 
The Commandant shall notify the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives at least 180 days before—
(1) implementing any plan to reduce the num-
ber of, change the location of, or change the geo-
graphic area covered by any existing Coast Guard 
Districts; or 
(2) shifting of more than 10 per cent of the 
personnel or equipment from the station where such 
personnel or equipment is based.
SEC. 216. ROTC DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of preparing se-
lected students for commissioned service in the Coast 
Guard, the Secretary of the Department in which the
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Coast Guard is operating (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Secretary’’), in consultation with the Superintendent 
of the Coast Guard Academy, may establish and maintain 
a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps demonstration 
project at the University of Alaska (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘University’’). 
(b) OBLIGATIONS OF UNIVERSITY, GENERALLY.—As 
part of any demonstration project undertaken under this 
section, the University shall—
(1) give the senior commissioned Coast Guard 
officer who is assigned to the project the academic 
rank of professor; 
(2) adopt, as a part of its curriculum, a 4-year 
course of military instruction as prescribed by the 
Secretary; and 
(3) provide advanced training to eligible mem-
bers of the project. 
(c) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for mem-
bership in the project an individual must—
(1) be a student at the University; 
(2) be a citizen of the United States; 
(3) be selected for advanced training under pro-
cedures prescribed by the Secretary; 
(4) enlist in the Coast Guard for the period 
prescribed by the Secretary;
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(5) contract (with the consent of the individ-
ual’s parent or guardian if the individual is a minor) 
with the Secretary, or a designated representative of 
the Secretary, to serve for the period required by the 
program; 
(6) agree in writing to accept an appointment, 
if offered, as a commissioned officer in the Coast 
Guard and to serve for the period prescribed by the 
Secretary; 
(7) either—
(A) complete successfully—
(i) the first 2 years of the 4-year Sen-
ior Coast Guard Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps course; or 
(ii) field training or a practice cruise 
of a duration prescribed by the Secretary 
as a preliminary requirement for admission 
to the advanced course; or 
(B) at the discretion of the Secretary con-
cerned, agree in writing to complete field train-
ing or a practice cruise, as prescribed by the 
Secretary, within 2 years after admission to the 
advanced course; and
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(8) execute a certificate of loyalty in such form 
as the Secretary prescribes or take a loyalty oath as 
prescribed by the Secretary. 
(d) SERVICE OBLIGATION.—A member of the project 
who is selected for advanced training under subsection (c), 
and who does not complete the course of instruction, or 
who completes the course but declines to accept a commis-
sion when offered, may be ordered to active duty by the 
Secretary to serve in the member’s enlisted grade or rating 
for such period of time as the Secretary prescribes but 
not for more than 2 years. 
(e) APPOINTMENT AS OFFICER.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Upon satisfactorily com-
pleting the academic and military requirements of 
the program of advanced training under subsection 
(c), a member of the project who was selected for 
advanced training under subsection (c) may be ap-
pointed as a regular or reserve officer in the Coast 
Guard in the grade of second lieutenant or ensign, 
even if under 21 years of age. 
(2) DATE OF RANK.—The date of rank of offi-
cers appointed under this subsection in May or June 
of any year is the date of graduation of cadets from 
the Coast Guard Academy. The Secretary shall es-
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tablish the date of rank of all other officers ap-
pointed under this subsection. 
(3) COMPUTATION OF LENGTH OF SERVICE.—
In computing length of service for any purpose, an 
officer appointed under this subsection may not be 
credited with enlisted service for the period covered 
by advanced training under this section, other than 
any period of enlisted service performed in the Coast 
Guard. 
(f) APPOINTMENT AS CADET.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may appoint 
as a cadet in the Coast Guard reserve any eligible 
member of the project who will be under 31 years 
of age on December 31 of the calendar year in which 
the member is eligible under this section for appoint-
ment as an ensign in the Coast Guard. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be an el-
igible member of the project for purposes of para-
graph (1) a member must—
(A) be a citizen of the United States; 
(B) be specially selected for the financial 
assistance program under procedures prescribed 
by the Secretary;
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(C) enlist in the Coast Guard reserve as a 
cadet for the period prescribed by the Sec-
retary; 
(D) contract (with the consent of the mem-
ber’s parent or guardian if the member is a 
minor) with the Secretary, or a designated rep-
resentative of the Secretary, to serve for the pe-
riod required by the project; and 
(E) agree in writing that, at the discretion of 
the Secretary, the member will—
(i)(I) accept an appointment, if offered, as 
a commissioned officer in Coast Guard, and, if 
the member is commissioned as a regular offi-
cer and the member’s regular commission is 
terminated before the sixth anniversary of the 
member’s date of rank, the member accept an 
appointment, if offered, in the Coast Guard re-
serve and not resign before that anniversary or 
before such other date, not beyond the eighth 
anniversary of the member’s date of rank, that 
the Secretary may prescribe; and 
(II) serve on active duty for 4 or more 
years; 
(ii)(I) accept an appointment, if offered, as 
a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard; and
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(II) serve in the Coast Guard reserve until 
the eighth anniversary of the receipt of such ap-
pointment, unless otherwise extended under 
subsection (g)(4), under such terms and condi-
tions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary; or 
(iii)(I) accept an appointment, if offered, 
as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard; 
and 
(II) serve in the Coast Guard reserve until 
at least the sixth anniversary and, at the discre-
tion of the Secretary, up to the eighth anniver-
sary of the receipt of such appointment, unless 
such appointment is otherwise extended under 
subsection (g)(4), under such terms and condi-
tions as may be prescribed by the Secretary. 
The performance of service under subparagraph 
(E)(ii) or (E)(iii) may include periods of active duty, 
active duty for training, and other service in an ac-
tive or inactive status in the Coast Guard reserve, 
except that performance of service under subpara-
graph (E)(iii) shall include not less than 2 years of 
active duty. 
(3) APPOINTMENT
AS
OFFICER.—Upon satis-
factorily completing the academic and military re-
quirements of the project, a cadet may be appointed
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as a regular or reserve officer in the grade of second 
lieutenant or ensign, even if under 21 years of age.
(4) DATE OF RANK.—The date of rank of offi-
cers appointed under this subsection in May or June 
of any year is the date of graduation of cadets from 
Coast Guard Academy in that year. The Secretary 
shall establish the date of rank of all other officers 
appointed under this subsection. 
(5) SERVICE OBLIGATION.—A cadet who does 
not complete the 4-year course of instruction, or who 
completes the course but declines to accept a com-
mission when offered, may be ordered to active duty 
by the Secretary to serve in the member’s enlisted 
grade or rating for such period of time as the Sec-
retary prescribes but not for more than 4 years. 
(g) ADVANCED STANDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may give to 
any enlisted member of the Coast Guard, or any per-
son who has served on active duty in any armed 
force, such advanced standing in the program as 
may be justified by the member’s education and 
training. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY FOR ADVANCED TRAINING.—In 
determining a member’s eligibility for advanced 
training, the Secretary may credit the member with
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any military training that is substantially equivalent 
in kind to that prescribed for admission to advanced 
training and was received while the member was tak-
ing a course of instruction in a program under the 
jurisdiction of another armed force or while the 
member was on active duty in the armed forces. 
(3) EXCUSE
FROM
PRESCRIBED
INSTRUC-
TION.—The Secretary may excuse from a portion of 
the prescribed course of military instruction, includ-
ing field training and practice cruises, any member 
found qualified on the basis of the member’s pre-
vious education, military experience, or both. 
(4) 
PARTICIPATION
FOLLOWING
UNDER-
GRADUATE
STUDIES.—An individual may become, 
remain, or be readmitted as, a member of the ad-
vanced training program after receiving a bacca-
laureate degree or completing preprofessional studies 
if the member has not completed the course of mili-
tary instruction or all field training or practice 
cruises prescribed by the Secretary. If a member of 
the project has been accepted for resident graduate 
or professional study, the Secretary may delay the 
commencement of the member’s obligated period of 
active duty, and any obligated period of active duty 
for training or other service in an active or inactive
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status in the Coast Reserve, until the member has 
completed that study. 
(5) RELEASE FROM PROJECT.—The Secretary, 
if the Secretary determines that the interest of the 
service so requires, may release any individual from 
the project and discharge the member from the 
Coast Guard. 
(h) MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORITIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue to 
the senior commissioned Coast Guard officer who is 
assigned to the project, or to the officers of the 
Coast Guard who are designated as accountable or 
responsible for such property—
(A) supplies, means of transportation in-
cluding aircraft, arms and ammunition, and 
military textbooks and educational materials; 
and 
(B) uniform clothing, except that he may 
pay monetary allowances for uniform clothing 
at such rate as he may prescribe. 
(2) FLIGHT INSTRUCTION.—The Secretary may 
provide, or contract with civilian flying or aviation 
schools or educational institutions to provide, the 
personnel, aircraft, supplies, facilities, services, and 
instruction necessary for flight instruction and ori-
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entation for properly designated members of the 
project. 
(3) MEDICAL CARE.—The Secretary—
(A) may transport members of, and des-
ignated applicants for membership in, the 
project to and from installations when it is nec-
essary for them to undergo medical or other ex-
aminations or for the purposes of making visits 
of observation; and 
(B) may furnish to such members subsist-
ence, quarters, and necessary medical care, in-
cluding hospitalization, while they are at, or 
traveling to or from, such an installation. 
(4) 
PARTICIPATION
IN
FLIGHTS
AND 
CRUISES.—The Secretary may authorize members 
of, and designated applicants for membership in, the 
project to participate in aerial flights in Coast 
Guard aircraft and in indoctrination cruises in naval 
vessels. 
(5) FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may, to the extent amounts are available, provide for 
the payment of financial assistance to students par-
ticipating in the project, including for tuition, fees, 
books, and laboratory expenses.
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(i) DETAIL OF RESERVE OFFICERS.—The Secretary 
may detail regular or reserve Coast Officers for instruc-
tional and administrative duties related to the project. 
SEC. 217. SHOCK MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United 
Sates Code, is amended by adding the end the following: 
‘‘§ 675. Shock mitigation requirements 
‘‘(a) The Secretary shall establish a shock standard 
for Coast Guard vessels. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary shall include shock mitigation re-
quirements for boat decking in each procurement of a ves-
sel for the Coast Guard that does not meet the standard 
established under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) Requirements under subsection (a) shall specify 
the weight and durability of decking material, effects on 
decking material of repeated use and weather conditions, 
and the capability of decking material to mitigate im-
pacts.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 17, of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘675. Shock mitigation requirements.’’.
SEC. 218. COAST GUARD YARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 648 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by—
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(1) amending the section heading to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘§ 648. Industrial work’’; 
(2) inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before the existing text; and 
(3) adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) The Commandant may enter into a contract or 
cooperative agreement with any person for the perform-
ance of work on a local, State, or Federal government ves-
sel, or the engine, ordnance, electronics, or other equip-
ment related to such a vessel.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 17 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by amending the item relating to section 
648 to read as follows:
‘‘648. Industrial work.’’.
SEC. 219. RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS BY COM-
MANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD. 
Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed—
(1) in paragraph (w) by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (x) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(y) after informing the Secretary, make such 
recommendations to the Congress relating to the
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Coast Guard as the Commandant considers appro-
priate.’’.
SEC. 220. ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICER TO NATIONAL WAR 
COLLEGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 152. Assignment of officer to National War College 
‘‘The Commandant shall assign an officer in the 
grade of captain to serve as the Coast Guard’s Service 
Chair at the National War College.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘152. Assignment of officer to National War College.’’.
SEC. 221. COAST GUARD EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—Chapter 13 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
471 the following: 
‘‘§ 472. Education loan repayment program 
‘‘(a)(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the 
Secretary may repay—
‘‘(A) any loan made, insured, or guaranteed 
under part B of title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.);
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‘‘(B) any loan made under part D of such title 
(the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, 
20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.); or 
‘‘(C) any loan made under part E of such title 
(20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.). 
Repayment of any such loan shall be made on the basis 
of each complete year of service performed by the bor-
rower. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may repay loans described in 
paragraph (1) in the case of any person for service per-
formed on active duty as an enlisted member of the Coast 
Guard in a specialty specified by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) The portion or amount of a loan that may be 
repaid under subsection (a) is 331⁄3 percent or $1,500, 
whichever is greater, for each year of service. 
‘‘(c) If a portion of a loan is repaid under this section 
for any year, interest on the remainder of such loan shall 
accrue and be paid in the same manner as is otherwise 
required. 
‘‘(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to au-
thorize refunding any repayment of a loan. 
‘‘(e) The Secretary shall, by regulation, prescribe a 
schedule for the allocation of funds made available to carry 
out this section during any year for which funds are not
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sufficient to pay the sum of the amounts eligible for repay-
ment under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 13 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 471 the following:
‘‘472. Education loan repayment program.’’.
TITLE III—NAVIGATION 
SEC. 301. MARKING OF UNDERWATER WRECKS. 
Section 15 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 
409), is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘day and’’ and inserting ‘‘day 
and, unless otherwise authorized by the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard,’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘lighted lantern’’ and inserting 
‘‘light’’. 
SEC. 302. USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES; COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS. 
Section 4(a) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act 
of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1223(a)) is amended by—
(1)(A) striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (4); 
(B) striking the period at the end of paragraph 
(5) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(6) may prohibit the use on the bridge of a 
vessel of electronic or other devices that interfere 
with communications and navigation equipment.’’; 
and 
(2) adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative agreements with public 
or private agencies, authorities, associations, institutions, 
corporations, organizations, or other persons to carry out 
the functions under subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) A nongovernmental entity may not under this 
subsection carry out an inherently governmental function. 
‘‘(3) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘inherently 
governmental function’ means any activity that is so inti-
mately related to the public interest as to mandate per-
formance by an officer or employee of the Federal Govern-
ment, including an activity that requires either the exer-
cise of discretion in applying the authority of the Govern-
ment or the use of judgment in making a decision for the 
Government.’’.
SEC. 303. INLAND NAVIGATION RULES PROMULGATION AU-
THORITY. 
(a) REPEAL OF INLAND RULES.—Section 2 of the 
Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2001–
38) is repealed.
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(b) AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REGULATIONS.—Section 3 
of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 
2001) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 3. INLAND NAVIGATION RULES. 
‘‘The Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may issue inland navigation regula-
tions applicable to all vessels upon the inland waters of 
the United States and technical annexes that are as con-
sistent as possible with the respective annexes to the Inter-
national Regulations.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) is effective on 
the effective date of final regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating under section 3 of the Inland Navigation 
Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2001), as amended by this 
Act. 
TITLE IV—SHIPPING 
SEC. 401. REPORTS FROM CHARTERERS. 
Section 12120 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘owners and masters’’ and inserting 
‘‘owners, masters, and charterers’’.
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SEC. 402. SUSPENSION OF DOCUMENTS IN LIEU OF MANDA-
TORY REVOCATION FOR PROVED DRUG CON-
VICTIONS. 
Section 7704(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘suspended or’’ after ‘‘shall be’’.
SEC. 403. INSPECTION OF RECORDS OF MERCHANT MARI-
NERS’ DOCUMENTS. 
Section 7319 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘The records are not open to general 
or public inspection.’’. 
SEC. 404. EXEMPTION OF UNMANNED BARGES FROM CITI-
ZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS REGARDING COM-
MAND OF VESSEL. 
(a) EXEMPTION FROM LIMITATION ON COMMAND.—
Section 12110(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘or an unmanned barge not engaged 
on a coastwise voyage’’ after ‘‘recreational endorsement’’. 
(b) 
EXEMPTION
FROM
SEIZURE
AND
FOR-
FEITURE.—Section 12122(b)(6) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or an unmanned barge not 
engaged on a coastwise voyage’’ after ‘‘recreational en-
dorsement’’.
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SEC. 405. COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL SAFETY 
MANAGEMENT CODE. 
(a) APPLICATION
OF
EXISTING
LAW.—Section 
3202(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(a) MANDATORY APPLICATION.—This chapter ap-
plies to a vessel that—
‘‘(1)(A) is transporting more than 12 pas-
sengers described in section 2101(21)(A) of this 
title; or 
‘‘(B) is of at least 500 gross tons as measured 
under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate 
tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title 
as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 
of this title, that is a tanker, freight vessel, bulk 
freight vessel, high speed freight vessel, or self-pro-
pelled mobile offshore drilling unit; and 
‘‘(2)(A) is engaged on a foreign voyage; or 
‘‘(B) is a foreign vessel departing from a place 
under the jurisdiction of the United States on a voy-
age, any part of which is on the high seas.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE OF REGULATIONS WITH INTER-
NATIONAL
SAFETY
MANAGEMENT
CODE.—Section 
3203(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘vessels engaged on a foreign voyage.’’ and insert-
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ing ‘‘vessels to which this chapter applies under section 
3202(a) of this title.’’. 
SEC. 406. CIVIL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH 
RECREATIONAL VESSEL AND ASSOCIATED 
EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS. 
Section 4311(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by striking the first sentence and inserting 
‘‘A person violating section 4307(a) of this title is 
liable to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty of not more than $5,000, except that the 
maximum civil penalty may be not more than 
$250,000 for a related series of violations.’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘4307(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘4307(a)’’. 
SEC. 407. REVISION OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION CRITERIA 
IN DOCUMENT SUSPENSION AND REVOCA-
TION CASES. 
Section 7702(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘if, when act-
ing under the authority of that license, certificate, or 
document—’’ and inserting ‘‘if—’’;
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(2) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by inserting ‘‘, while 
acting under the authority of that license, certificate, 
or document,’’ after ‘‘has’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (1)(B)(ii); 
(4) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (1)(B)(iii) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end of paragraph (1)(B) 
the following: 
‘‘(iv) is a threat to the safety or security 
of a vessel or a public or commercial structure 
located within or adjacent to the marine envi-
ronment.’’. 
SEC. 408. REVISION OF BASES FOR DOCUMENT SUSPEN-
SION AND REVOCATION CASES. 
Section 7703 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘incompetence,’’; and 
(B) by striking the comma after ‘‘mis-
conduct’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (2); 
(3) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting a semicolon; and
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(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) has committed an act of incompetence; or 
‘‘(5) is a threat to the safety or security of a 
vessel or a structure located within or adjacent to 
the marine environment.’’. 
SEC. 409. HOURS OF SERVICE ON TOWING VESSELS. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Section 8904 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary may prescribe by regulation re-
quirements for maximum hours of service (including re-
cording and record-keeping of that service) of individuals 
engaged on a towing vessel that is at least 26 feet in 
length measured from end to end over the deck (excluding 
the sheer).’’. 
(b) DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT.—Prior to pre-
scribing regulations under this section the Secretary shall 
conduct and report to the Congress on the results of a 
demonstration project involving the implementation of 
Crew Endurance Management Systems on towing vessels. 
The report shall include a description of the public and 
private sector resources needed to enable implementation 
of Crew Endurance Management Systems on all United 
States-flag towing vessels.
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SEC. 410. AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM ELEC-
TRONIC CHARTS. 
Section 70114(a)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘, including an electronic chart 
and related display,’’ after ‘‘automatic identification sys-
tem’’ the first place it appears. 
SEC. 411. PREVENTION OF DEPARTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3505 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3505. Prevention of departure 
‘‘Notwithstanding section 3303 of this title, a foreign 
vessel carrying a citizen of the United States as a pas-
senger or that embarks passengers from a United States 
port may not depart from a United States port if the Sec-
retary finds that the vessel does not comply with the 
standards stated in the International Convention for the 
Safety of Life at Sea to which the United States Govern-
ment is currently a party.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3303 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
section 3505’’ after ‘‘chapter 37’’. 
SEC. 412. SERVICE OF FOREIGN NATIONALS FOR MARITIME 
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. 
Section 8103(b)(1)(A) of title 46, United State Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) each unlicensed seaman must be—
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‘‘(i) a citizen of the United States; 
‘‘(ii) an alien lawfully admitted to the 
United States for permanent residence; or 
‘‘(iii) a foreign national who is enrolled in 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy.’’. 
SEC. 413. CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3316 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c)(1) A person shall not operate in interstate or for-
eign commerce as a classification society unless the Sec-
retary has reviewed and approved the person with respect 
to the conduct of those operations. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may approve a person for pur-
poses of paragraph (1) only if the Secretary determines 
that—
‘‘(A) the vessels surveyed by the person while 
acting as a classification society have an adequate 
safety record; and 
‘‘(B) the person has an adequate program to— 
‘‘(i) develop safety standards for vessels 
surveyed by the person; 
‘‘(ii) make the safety records of the person 
available to the Secretary in an electronic for-
mat;
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‘‘(iii) provide the safety records of a vessel 
surveyed by the person to any other classifica-
tion society that requests those records for the 
purpose of conducting a survey of the vessel; 
and 
‘‘(iv) request the safety records of a vessel 
the person will survey from any classification 
society that previously surveyed the vessel. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall issue regulations imple-
menting this subsection, including regulations describing 
activities that constitute operation in interstate or foreign 
commerce as a classification society.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Section 3316(c)(1) of title 46, 
United States Code, shall apply with respect to operation 
as a classification society on or after January 1, 2005. 
SEC. 414. MEMBERSHIP OF AREA MARITIME SECURITY AD-
VISORY COMMITTEES. 
Section 70112(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end to following: 
‘‘(5) Membership of an Area Maritime Security Advi-
sory Committee shall include representatives of the port 
industry, terminal operators, port labor organizations, and 
other users of the port areas.’’.
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SEC. 415. SECURITY PLANS. 
Section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘operator of a vessel or fa-
cility’’ and inserting ‘‘operator of a vessel (in-
cluding a foreign vessel) or facility’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘a security plan’’ and in-
serting ‘‘in writing a detailed security plan’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘A vessel’’ 
and inserting ‘‘A vessel (including a foreign vessel)’’; 
(3) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘(including a 
foreign vessel)’’ after ‘‘authorize a vessel’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘(including a 
foreign vessel)’’ after ‘‘operator of a vessel’’. 
TITLE V—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FED-
ERAL MARITIME COMMISSION. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 
Maritime Commission $18,471,000 for Fiscal Year 2004. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. INCREASE IN CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS 
OF CERTAIN BRIDGE STATUTES. 
(a) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1906.—Section 5(b) 
of Act of March 23, 1906 (chapter 1130; 33 U.S.C. 495),
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popularly known as the General Bridge Act, is amended 
by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$5,000 for a violation 
occurring in 2004; $10,000 for a violation occurring in 
2005; $15,000 for a violation occurring in 2006; $20,000 
for a violation occurring in 2007; and $25,000 for a viola-
tion occurring in 2008 and any year thereafter’’. 
(b) DRAWBRIDGES.—Section 5(c) of the Act entitled 
‘‘An Act making appropriations for the construction, re-
pair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers 
and harbors, and for other purposes’’, approved August 
18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499(c)), is amended by striking 
‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$5,000 for a violation occurring 
in 2004; $10,000 for a violation occurring in 2005; 
$15,000 for a violation occurring in 2006; $20,000 for a 
violation occurring in 2007; and $25,000 for a violation 
occurring in 2008 and any year thereafter’’. 
(c) 
ALTERATION, 
REMOVAL, 
OR
REPAIR
OF 
BRIDGES.—Section 18(c) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act 
making appropriations for the construction, repair, and 
preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, 
and for other purposes’’, approved March 3, 1899 (33 
U.S.C. 502(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$5,000 for a violation occurring in 2004; $10,000 
for a violation occurring in 2005; $15,000 for a violation 
occurring in 2006; $20,000 for a violation occurring in
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2007; and $25,000 for a violation occurring in 2008 and 
any year thereafter’’. 
(d) GENERAL
BRIDGE
ACT
OF
1946.—Section 
510(b) of the General Bridge Act of 1946 (33 U.S.C. 
533(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$5,000 for a violation occurring in 2004; $10,000 for a 
violation occurring in 2005; $15,000 for a violation occur-
ring in 2006; $20,000 for a violation occurring in 2007; 
and $25,000 for a violation occurring in 2008 and any 
year thereafter’’.
SEC. 602. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST 
GUARD CUTTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall convey all right, title, and interest of the 
United States in and to a vessel described in subsection 
(b) to the person designated in subsection (b) with respect 
to the vessel (in this section referred to as the ‘‘recipi-
ent’’), without consideration, if the person complies with 
the conditions under subsection (c). 
(b) VESSELS DESCRIBED.—The vessels referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) The Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE, to be 
conveyed to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and 
History (a nonprofit corporation under the laws of
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the State of Michigan), located in Port Huron, 
Michigan. 
(2) The Coast Guard Cutter PLANETREE, to 
be conveyed to Jewish Life (a nonprofit corporation 
under the laws of the State of California), located in 
Sherman Oaks, California. 
(3) The Coast Guard Cutter SUNDEW, to be 
conveyed to Duluth Entertainment and Convention 
Center Authority (a nonprofit corporation under the 
laws of the State of Minnesota), located in Duluth, 
Minnesota. 
(c) CONDITIONS.—As a condition of any conveyance 
of a vessel under subsection (a), the Commandant shall 
require the recipient to—
(1) agree—
(A) to use the vessel for purposes of edu-
cation and historical display; 
(B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
transportation purposes; 
(C) to make the vessel available to the 
United States Government if needed for use by 
the Commandant in time of war or a national 
emergency; and 
(D) to hold the Government harmless for 
any claims arising from exposure to hazardous
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materials, 
including 
asbestos 
and 
poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), after conveyance 
of the vessel, except for claims arising from use 
of the vessel by the Government under subpara-
graph (C); 
(2) have funds available that will be committed 
to operate and maintain the vessel conveyed in good 
working condition—
(A) in the form of cash, liquid assets, or 
a written loan commitment; and 
(B) in an amount of at least $700,000; 
and 
(3) agree to any other conditions the Com-
mandant considers appropriate. 
(d) MAINTENANCE AND DELIVERY OF VESSEL.—
Prior to conveyance of a vessel under this section, the 
Commandant shall, to the extent practical, and subject to 
other Coast Guard mission requirements, make every ef-
fort to maintain the integrity of the vessel and its equip-
ment until the time of delivery. The Commandant shall 
deliver a vessel conveyed under this section at the place 
where the vessel is located, in its present condition, and 
without cost to the Government. The conveyance of a ves-
sel under this section shall not be considered a distribution
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in commerce for purposes of section 6(e) of Public Law 
94–469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)). 
(e) OTHER EXCESS EQUIPMENT.—The Commandant 
may convey to the recipient of a vessel under this section 
any excess equipment or parts from other decommissioned 
Coast Guard vessels for use to enhance the vessel’s oper-
ability and function as an historical display. 
SEC. 603. TONNAGE MEASUREMENT. 
(a) M/V BLUEFIN.—The gross tonnage of the M/
V BLUEFIN (United States official number 620431) as
measured under regulations prescribed under section 
14502 of title 46, United States Code, is deemed to be 
488 tons. 
(b) M/V COASTAL MERCHANT.—The gross ton-
nage of the M/V COASTAL MERCHANT (United States 
official number 1038382) as measured under regulations 
prescribed under section 14502 of title 46, United States 
Code, is deemed to be 493 tons. 
(c) TERMINATION OF APPLICATION.—Subsection (a) 
or (b) shall not apply on and after any date on which the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating determines, respectively, that the vessel M/
V BLUEFIN or the vessel M/V COASTAL MERCHANT 
has undergone any major modification.
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SEC. 604. OPERATION OF VESSEL STAD AMSTERDAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 8 of the 
Act of June 19, 1886 (46 App. U.S.C. 289), and the rul-
ing by the Acting Director of the International Trade 
Compliance Division of the Customs Service on May 17, 
2002 (Customs Bulletins and Decisions, Vol. 36, No. 23, 
June 5, 2002), the vessel STAD AMSTERDAM (Inter-
national Maritime Organization number 9185554) shall be 
authorized to carry within United States waters and be-
tween ports or places in the United States individuals who 
are not directly and substantially connected with the oper-
ation, navigation, ownership, or business of the vessel, who 
are friends, guests, or employees of the owner of the ves-
sel, and who are not actual or prospective customers for 
hire of the vessel. 
(b) LIMITATION.—This section does not authorize the 
vessel STAD AMSTERDAM to be used to carry individ-
uals for a fare or to be chartered on a for-hire basis in 
the coastwise trade. 
SEC. 605. GREAT LAKES NATIONAL MARITIME ENHANCE-
MENT INSTITUTE. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may designate a National Maritime Enhancement Insti-
tute for the Great Lakes Region. 
(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—In addition to the ac-
tivities that may be undertaken by that Institute under
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section 8(b) of Public Law 101–115 (46 App. U.S.C. 
1121–2), the Great Lakes National Maritime Enhance-
ment Institute may—
(1) conduct research and evaluate short sea 
shipping market opportunities on the Great Lakes, 
including the expanded use of freight ferries, im-
proved mobility, and regional supply chain efficiency; 
(2) evaluate markets for foreign trade between 
ports on the Great Lakes and draft-limited ports in 
Europe and Africa; 
(3) evaluate the environmental benefits of wa-
terborne transportation in the Great Lakes region; 
(4) analyze the effect of the Harbor Mainte-
nance Tax on Great Lakes shipping; 
(5) study the state of shipbuilding and ship re-
pair base on the Great Lakes; 
(6) evaluate opportunities for passenger vessel 
services on the Great Lakes; 
(7) analyze the origin to destination flow of 
freight cargo in the Great Lakes region that may be 
transported on vessels to relieve congestion in other 
modes of transportation; 
(8) evaluate the economic viability establishing 
transshipment facilities for oceangoing cargoes;
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(9) evaluate the adequacy of the infrastructure 
in ports to meet the needs of marine commerce; and 
(10) study and develop new vessel designs for 
domestic and international shipping on the Great 
Lakes. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for the activi-
ties described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 606. AGILE PORT AND INTELLIGENT BORDER SECU-
RITY NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may carry out an Agile Port and Intelligent Border Secu-
rity National Demonstration Project under the Center for 
the Commercial Deployment of Transportation Tech-
nologies to develop and deploy dual use transportation 
technologies for commercial applications, including the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Agile port facilities, including inland multi-
modal transportation facilities. 
(2) Advanced cargo and passenger vessel hull 
design, propulsion systems, and construction. 
(3) Regional supply chain efficiency, improved 
mobility, and air quality.
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(4) Maritime, port, cargo, and supply chain se-
curity, and total asset visibility. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out the demonstration project under subsection (a) there 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Trans-
portation $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
SEC. 607. KOSS COVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law or existing policy, the cove described in sub-
section (b) shall be known and designated as ‘‘Koss Cove’’, 
in honor of the late Able Bodied Seaman Eric Steiner 
Koss of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration vessel RAINIER who died in the performance of 
a nautical charting mission off the coast of Alaska. 
(b) COVE DESCRIBED.—The cove referred to in sub-
section (a) is—
(1) adjacent to and southeast of Point 
Elrington, Alaska, and forms a portion of the south-
ern coast of Elrington Island; 
(2) 3⁄4 mile across the mouth; 
(3) centered at 59 degrees 56.1 minutes North, 
148 degrees 14 minutes West; and 
(4) 45 miles from Seward, Alaska. 
(c) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any law, regula-
tion, document, record, map, or other paper of the United
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States to the cove described in subsection (b) is deemed 
to be a reference to Koss Cove. 
SEC. 608. MISCELLANEOUS CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTA-
TION. 
Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine 
Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883), section 8 of the Act of 
June 19, 1886 (24 Stat. 81, chapter 421; 46 App. U.S.C. 
289), and section 12106 of title 46, United States Code, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with 
appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise 
trade for the following vessels:
(1) OCEAN LEADER (United States official 
number 679511). 
(2) REVELATION (United States official 
number 1137565).
SEC. 609. REGULATIONS. 
No later than February 1, 2004, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
implement final regulations to carry out section 12106(e), 
title 46, United States Code.
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SEC. 610. REPORT REGARDING SECURITY INSPECTION OF 
VESSELS AND VESSEL-BORNE CARGO CON-
TAINERS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
report to the Congress regarding the numbers and types 
of vessels and vessel-borne cargo containers that enter the 
United States in a year. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under this section shall 
include the following: 
(1) A section regarding security inspection of 
vessels that includes the following: 
(A) A complete breakdown of the numbers 
and types of vessels that entered the United 
States in the most recent 1-year period for 
which information is available. 
(B) The cost incurred by the Federal Gov-
ernment in inspecting such vessels in such 1-
year period, including specification and com-
parison of such cost for each type of vessel. 
(C) An estimate of the per-vessel cost that 
would be incurred by the Federal Government 
in inspecting in a foreign port each type of ves-
sel that enters the United States each year, in-
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cluding costs for personnel, vessels, equipment, 
and funds. 
(D) An estimate of the annual total cost 
that would be incurred by the Federal Govern-
ment in inspecting in foreign ports all vessels 
that enter the United States each year, includ-
ing costs for personnel, vessels, equipment, and 
funds. 
(2) A section regarding security inspection of 
containers that includes the following: 
(A) A complete breakdown of the numbers 
and types of vessel-borne cargo containers that 
entered the United States in the most recent 1-
year period for which information is available, 
including specification of the number of 1 TEU 
containers and the number of 2 TEU con-
tainers. 
(B) The cost incurred by the Federal Gov-
ernment in inspecting such containers in such 
1-year period, including specification and com-
parison of such cost for a 1 TEU container and 
for a 2 TEU container. 
(C) An estimate of the per-container cost 
that would be incurred by the Federal Govern-
ment in inspecting in a foreign port each type
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of vessel-borne container that enters the United 
States each year, including costs for personnel, 
vessels, equipment, and funds. 
(D) An estimate of the annual total cost 
that would be incurred by the Federal Govern-
ment in inspecting in foreign ports all vessel-
borne containers that enter the United States 
each year, including costs for personnel, vessels, 
equipment, and funds. 
SEC. 611. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST 
GUARD VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the scheduled decommis-
sioning of a Coast Guard vessel listed in subsection (d), 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall convey all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
that vessel to the respective recipient listed in subsection 
(d) for that vessel, if—
(1) the recipient agrees—
(A) to use the vessel for public safety ac-
tivities; 
(B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
transportation purposes; 
(C) to make the vessel available to the 
United States Government if needed for use by
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the Commandant in time of war or a national 
emergency; and 
(D) to hold the Government harmless for 
any claims arising from exposure to hazardous 
materials, 
including 
asbestos 
and 
poly-
chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), after conveyance 
of the vessel, except for claims arising from use 
by the Government under subparagraph (C); 
(2) the recipient has funds available that will be 
committed to operate and maintain the vessel con-
veyed in good working condition, in the form of 
cash, liquid assets, or a written loan commitment; 
and 
(3) the recipient agrees to any other conditions 
the Commandant considers appropriate. 
(b) MAINTENANCE AND DELIVERY OF VESSEL.—
Prior to conveyance of the vessel under this section, the 
Commandant shall, to the extent practical, and subject to 
other Coast Guard mission requirements, make every ef-
fort to maintain the integrity of the vessel and its equip-
ment until the time of delivery. If a conveyance is made 
under this section, the Commandant shall deliver the ves-
sel at the place where the vessel is located, in its present 
condition, and without cost to the Government. The con-
veyance of the vessel under this section shall not be consid-
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ered a distribution in commerce for purposes of section 
6(e) of Public Law 94–469 (15 U.S.C. 2605(e)). 
(c) OTHER EXCESS EQUIPMENT.—The Commandant 
may convey to the recipient any excess equipment or parts 
from other decommissioned Coast Guard vessels for use 
to enhance the vessel’s operability and function. 
(d) VESSELS AND RECIPIENTS.—The vessels and re-
cipients referred to in subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) A 21-foot rigid hull Coast Guard vessel, to 
the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Berrien 
County, Michigan. 
(2) A 44-foot motor life boat, to the Port Nor-
ris Fire Company, Commercial Township, New Jer-
sey. 
(3) A 44-foot motor life boat, to the City of 
Margate, New Jersey. 
(4) A 44-foot motor life boat, to the Lower 
Alloway Creek Fire Company, Hancocks Bridge, 
New Jersey. 
(5) A 44-foot motor life boat, to the Fortescue 
Fire Rescue Company 1, Downe Township, New 
Jersey. 
(6) A 21-foot rigid hull inflatable, to the 
Longport Volunteer Fire Department, Longport, 
New Jersey.
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(7) A 21-foot rigid hull inflatable, to West 
Wildwood Fire Company, West Wildwood, New Jer-
sey. 
(8) A 21-foot rigid hull inflatable, to the San 
Diego Unified Port District, California. 
SEC. 612. ASSATEAGUE LIGHTHOUSE LENS. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall convey to the Oyster and Mari-
time Museum, located in Chincoteague, Virginia, without 
consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United 
States in and to the first order Fresnel lens formerly used 
in the Assateague Lighthouse located on Assateague Is-
land, Virginia. 
SEC. 613. STUDY OF THE ROLE OF COAST GUARD ICE 
BREAKERS IN SUPPORTING UNITED STATES 
OPERATIONS IN THE ANTARCTIC AND THE 
ARCTIC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may enter into an arrangement with the Polar Re-
search Board and the Marine Board of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences to—
(1) conduct a study of the role of Coast Guard 
icebreakers in supporting United States operations 
in the Antarctic and the Arctic, including—
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(A) roles in logistics and material support 
and a general inventory of contributions to 
science in both regions; 
(B) alternative methods for staging, sup-
porting, and conducting Arctic and Antarctic 
activities other than by use of Coast Guard ice-
breakers; 
(C) the operational status of the POLAR 
STAR and POLAR SEA, including the pro-
jected life expectancy of vessel systems, and 
strategies for extending the service life of these 
vessels; and 
(D) key short-term and long-term func-
tions provided by the Coast Guard icebreaker 
fleet and how these functions might be ad-
dressed under different service life extension 
and replacement scenarios; and 
(2) conduct a study of changes in the roles and 
missions of Coast Guard icebreakers in the support 
of future marine operations in the Arctic that may 
develop due to environmental change, including—
(A) the amount and kind of icebreaking 
support that may be required in the future to 
support marine operations in the Northern Sea 
Route and the Northwest Passage;
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(B) the suitability of the Polar Class ice-
breakers for these new roles; and 
(C) appropriate changes in existing laws 
governing Coast Guard icebreaking operations 
and the potential for new operating regimes. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of the Act, the Commandant shall sub-
mit a report on the studies required under subsection (a) 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(c) CHARGE
FOR ICEBREAKING SERVICES.—After 
the date on which the Commandant submits the report 
under subsection (b), and notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating may charge other Federal 
agencies for the Secretary’s cost of providing icebreaking 
and related transportation services to those agencies.
SEC. 614. CORRECTION OF REFERENCES TO NATIONAL 
DRIVER REGISTER. 
Title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in section 7302—
(A) by striking ‘‘section 206(b)(7) of the 
National Driver Register Act of 1982 (23
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U.S.C. 401 note)’’ and inserting ‘‘30305(b)(5) 
of title 49’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘section 205(a)(3)(A) or 
(B) of that Act’’ and inserting ‘‘30304(a)(3)(A) 
or (B) of title 49’’;
(2) in section 7702(d)(1)(B)(iii) by striking 
‘‘section 205(a)(3)(A) or (B) of the National Driver 
Register Act of 1982’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
30304(a)(3)(A) or (B) of title 49’’; and 
(3) in section 7703(3) by striking ‘‘section 
205(a)(3)(A) or (B) of the National Driver Register 
Act of 1982’’ and inserting ‘‘section 30304(a)(3)(A) 
or (B) of title 49’’.
SEC. 615. WATEREE RIVER. 
For purposes of bridge administration, the portion of 
the Wateree River in the State of South Carolina, from 
a point 100 feet upstream of the railroad bridge located 
at approximately mile marker 10.0 to a point 100 feet 
downstream of such bridge, is declared to not be navigable 
waters of the United States for purposes of the General 
Bridge Act of 1946 (33 U.S.C. 525 et seq.). 
SEC. 616. ALASKA MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS 
PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a pilot
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program in the 17th Coast Guard District to demonstrate 
methods to improve processing and procedures for issuing 
merchant mariners’ documents. 
(b) USE OF EXISTING TOOLS.—Before conducting 
the pilot program authorized under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Air Force 
regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the content 
management technology and information management 
tools that are currently used by the department of the Air 
Force in the Air Force Publishing Directorate. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
$5,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under sub-
section (a).
SEC. 617. CONVEYANCE OF SENTINEL ISLAND LIGHT STA-
TION, ALASKA. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of the Department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall convey, by 
an appropriate means of conveyance, all right, title, 
and interest of the United States in and to the Sen-
tinel Island Light Station and Sentinel Island, Alas-
ka, to the Gastineau Channel Historical Society.
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(2) IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTY.—The Sec-
retary may identify, describe, and determine the 
property to be conveyed under this subsection. 
(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not 
under this section convey— 
(A) any historical artifact, including any 
lens or lantern, located on property conveyed 
under this section at or before the time of the 
conveyance; or 
(B) any interest in submerged land. 
(b) GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any conveyance of property 
under this section shall be made—
(A) without payment of consideration; and 
(B) subject to the terms and conditions re-
quired by this section and other terms and con-
ditions the Secretary may consider appropriate, 
including the reservation of easements and 
other rights on behalf of the United States. 
(2) REVERSIONARY INTEREST.—In addition to 
any term or condition established under this section, 
any conveyance of property under this section shall 
be subject to the condition that all right, title, and 
interest in the property, at the option of the Sec-
retary shall revert to the United States and be
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placed under the administrative control of the Sec-
retary, if—
(A) the property, or any part of the prop-
erty—
(i) ceases to be available and acces-
sible to the public, on a reasonable basis, 
for educational, park, recreational, cul-
tural, historic preservation, or other simi-
lar purposes specified for the property in 
the terms of conveyance; 
(ii) ceases to be maintained in a man-
ner that is consistent with its present or 
future use as a site for Coast Guard aids 
to navigation or compliance with this sec-
tion; or 
(iii) ceases to be maintained in a man-
ner consistent with the conditions in para-
graph (4) established by the Secretary pur-
suant to the National Historic Preserva-
tion Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.); or 
(B) at least 30 days before that reversion, 
the Secretary provides written notice to the 
owner that the property is needed for national 
security purposes.
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(3) MAINTENANCE
OF
NAVIGATION
FUNC-
TIONS.—Any conveyance of property under this sec-
tion shall be made subject to the conditions that the 
Secretary considers to be necessary to assure that—
(A) the lights, antennas, and associated 
equipment located on the property conveyed 
that are active aids to navigation shall continue 
to be operated and maintained by the United 
States for as long as they are needed for this 
purpose; 
(B) the owner of the property may not 
interfere or allow interference in any manner 
with aids to navigation without express written 
permission from the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard; 
(C) there is reserved to the United States 
the right to relocate, replace, or add any aids 
to navigation or make any changes to the prop-
erty conveyed as may be necessary for naviga-
tional purposes; 
(D) the United States shall have the right, 
at any time, to enter the property without no-
tice for the purpose of operating, maintaining, 
and inspecting aids to navigation and for the
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purpose of enforcing compliance with this sub-
section; and 
(E) the United States shall have an ease-
ment of access to and across the property for 
the purpose of maintaining the aids to naviga-
tion in use on the property. 
(4) MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the owner of a property conveyed 
under this section shall maintain the property 
in a proper, substantial, and workmanlike man-
ner, and in accordance with any conditions es-
tablished by the Secretary pursuant to the Na-
tional Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 
et seq.) and other applicable laws. 
(B) LIMITATION.—The owner of a prop-
erty conveyed under this section is not required 
to maintain any active aids to navigation on the 
property, except private aids to navigation au-
thorized under section 83 of title 14, United 
States Code. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) AIDS TO NAVIGATION.—The term ‘‘aids to 
navigation’’ means equipment used for navigation
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purposes, including a light, antenna, radio, sound 
signal, electronic navigation equipment, or other as-
sociated equipment that are operated or maintained 
by the United States. 
(2) OWNER.—The term ‘‘owner’’ means, for 
property conveyed under this section, the person to 
which property is conveyed under subsection (a)(1), 
and any successor or assign of that person.
SEC. 618. MARITIME INTELLIGENCE AND LONG-RANGE VES-
SEL TRACKING SYSTEM. 
(a) MARITIME INTELLIGENCE.—
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to im-
plement a system to carry out section 70113(a) of 
title 46, United States Code. 
(2) SYSTEM REQUIREMENT.—Any system im-
plemented with amounts made available under this 
subsection shall—
(A) include a vessel terrorism risk profiling 
system that assigns incoming vessels a risk rat-
ing; and 
(B) be based on independently verified in-
telligence data.
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(b) VESSEL TRACKING SYSTEM.—
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to 
carry out section 70115 of title 46, United States 
Code. 
(2) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.—Any automated 
vessel tracking system implemented with amounts 
made available under this subsection shall be oper-
ated by an existing nonprofit maritime organization 
that—
(A) operates satellite communications sys-
tems, and vessel tracking software and hard-
ware; and 
(B) can have nationwide vessel tracking 
capability in operation by no later than 90 days 
after the date the organization enters into a 
contract with the Coast Guard to establish and 
operate the system. 
SEC. 619. COLUMBIA SLOUGH. 
Section 325 of Public Law 97–369 (96 Stat. 1785) 
is repealed.
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SEC. 620. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CARBON MON-
OXIDE AND WATERCRAFT. 
It is the sense of the Congress that the Coast Guard 
should continue—
(1) to place a high priority on addressing the 
safety risks posed to boaters by elevated levels of 
carbon monoxide that are unique to watercraft; and 
(2) to work with vessel and engine manufactur-
ers, the American Boat & Yacht Council, other Fed-
eral agencies, and the entire boating community in 
order to determine the best ways to adequately ad-
dress this public safety issue and minimize the num-
ber of tragic carbon monoxide-related boating deaths 
that occur each year.
SEC. 621. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING NEW 
VESSELS UNDER THE DEEPWATER PROGRAM 
FOR CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
It is the sense of the Congress that the Coast Guard 
should consider including in its naming protocols for new 
vessels constructed under the Deepwater Program the 
names of cities of the United States and its territories and 
possessions.
SEC. 622. PORT SECURITY GRANT AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 70107 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended—
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(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
Transportation, acting through the Maritime Admin-
istrator,’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary, acting through 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard,’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary, act-
ing through the Commandant of the Coast Guard,’’; 
and 
(3) by striking ‘‘Department of Transportation’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a)—
(1) shall take effect October 1, 2004; and 
(2) shall not affect any grant made before that 
date.
SEC. 623. SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF INDIAN POINT EN-
ERGY CENTER. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall—
(1) conduct a vulnerability assessment under 
section 70102(b) of title 46, United States Code, of 
the navigable waters adjacent to Indian Point En-
ergy Center, located in Westchester County, New 
York; and
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(2) submit a report on that assessment to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Sen-
ate.
SEC. 624. MITIGATION OF PENALTY DUE TO AVOIDANCE OF 
A CERTAIN HAZARDOUS CONDITION. 
(a) TREATMENT OF VIOLATION.—For purposes of 
any administrative proceeding to consider mitigation of 
any civil penalty for a violation described in subsection (b), 
such violation is deemed to have been committed by reason 
of a safety concern. 
(b) VIOLATION DESCRIBED.—A violation referred to 
in subsection (a) is any violation of the Act of June 19, 
1886 (chapter 421; 46 App. U.S.C. 289), occurring before 
August 1, 2003, and consisting of operation of a passenger 
vessel in transporting passengers—
(1) between the Port of New Orleans and an-
other port on the Gulf of Mexico at a time when the 
power 
lines 
across 
the 
Mississippi 
River 
at 
Chalmette, Louisiana, are a hazard to the safe re-
turn transport of passengers on that vessel to the 
Port of New Orleans; or
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(2) in repositioning the vessel to the Port of 
New Orleans after that hazard is temporarily re-
solved. 
SEC. 625. DESIGNATION OF EMPRESS OF THE NORTH AS A 
TOUR VESSEL. 
Notwithstanding any other law, the passenger vessel 
EMPRESS OF THE NORTH (United States official 
number 1140867) is deemed to be a tour vessel for the 
purpose of the regulations promulgated by the Secretary 
of the Interior under section 3(h) of Public Law 91–383 
(16 U.S.C. 1a–2(h)) and section 3 of the Act of August 
25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 3), with respect to vessel operations 
in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska. 
SEC. 626. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TIMELY RE-
VIEW AND ADJUSTMENT OF GREAT LAKES PI-
LOTAGE RATES. 
It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
should, on a timely basis, review and adjust the rates pay-
able under part 401 of title 46, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, for services performed by United States registered 
pilots on the Great Lakes.
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SEC. 627. PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYS-
TEMS IN MAKING GRANTS FOR IMPLEMENTA-
TION OF SECURITY PLANS. 
Section 70107(e) of title 46, United State Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEMS.—
‘‘(A) PRIORITY.—In making grants under 
subsection (a) the Secretary of Transportation 
shall give priority to otherwise eligible projects 
concerning implementation of security plans 
with respect to public transportation systems. 
‘‘(B) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
issue regulations establishing procedures and 
requirements for awarding grants pursuant to 
the priority required by this paragraph.’’.
SEC. 628. LIMITATION ON BRIDGE ALTERATION PROJECTS. 
The Coast Guard may conduct bridge alteration 
projects 
using 
amounts 
authorized 
under 
section 
101(1)(B)(iv) of this Act only to the extent that the steel, 
iron, and manufactured products used in such projects are 
produced in the United States, unless the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard determines such action to be incon-
sistent with the public interest or the cost unreasonable.
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TITLE 
VII—AMENDMENTS 
RE-
LATING TO OIL POLLUTION 
ACT OF 1990
SEC. 701. VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS FOR NONTANK VES-
SELS OVER 400 GROSS TONS. 
(a) NONTANK VESSEL DEFINED.—Section 311(j) of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1321(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) NONTANK VESSEL DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘nontank vessel’ means a self-pro-
pelled vessel of 400 gross tons (as measured under 
section 14502 of title 46, United States Code, or an 
alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of 
such title as prescribed by the Secretary under sec-
tion 14104 of such title) or greater, other than a 
tank vessel, that carries oil of any kind as fuel for 
main propulsion and that—
‘‘(A) is a vessel of the United States; or 
‘‘(B) operates on the navigable waters of 
the United States.’’. 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO REQUIRE RESPONSE PLANS.—
Section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1321(j)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (5) in the heading by inserting 
‘‘, NONTANK VESSEL,’’ after ‘‘VESSEL’’;
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‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—For pur-
poses of paragraph (1)(C), the responsible party 
must establish by a preponderance of the evidence 
that the responsible party—
‘‘(A) has satisfied the requirements of sec-
tion 1003(a)(3)(A) and (B); 
‘‘(B) has provided full cooperation, assist-
ance, and facility access to the persons that are 
authorized to conduct removal actions, includ-
ing the cooperation and access necessary for the 
installation, integrity, operation, and mainte-
nance of any complete or partial removal action; 
‘‘(C) is in compliance with any land use re-
strictions established or relied on in connection 
with the removal action; and 
‘‘(D) has not impeded the effectiveness or 
integrity of any institutional control employed 
in connection with the removal action. 
‘‘(4) REASON TO KNOW.—
‘‘(A) APPROPRIATE INQUIRIES.—To estab-
lish that the responsible party had no reason to 
know of the matter described in paragraph 
(2)(A), the responsible party must demonstrate 
that—