I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1987 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 
2017, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 23, 2015 
Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. SHUSTER, and Mr. DEFA-
ZIO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 
years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Author-
ization Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorizations. 
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Sec. 102. Conforming amendments. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
Sec. 201. Vice Commandant. 
Sec. 202. Vice admirals. 
Sec. 203. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness. 
Sec. 204. Acquisition reform. 
Sec. 205. Auxiliary jurisdiction. 
Sec. 206. Long-term major acquisitions plan. 
Sec. 207. Coast Guard communities. 
Sec. 208. ‘‘Polar Sea’’ materiel condition assessment and service life extension 
decision. 
Sec. 209. Repeal. 
Sec. 210. Technical corrections to title 14. 
Sec. 211. Digital boat profile pilot program. 
Sec. 212. Discontinuance of an aid to navigation. 
Sec. 213. Mission performance measures. 
Sec. 214. Communications. 
Sec. 215. Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 
Sec. 301. Treatment of fishing permits. 
Sec. 302. Survival craft. 
Sec. 303. Enforcement. 
Sec. 304. Model years for recreational vessels. 
Sec. 305. Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization. 
Sec. 306. Marine event safety zones. 
Sec. 307. Technical corrections. 
Sec. 308. Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty reporting. 
Sec. 309. Recreational vessel engine weights. 
Sec. 310. Merchant mariner medical certification reform. 
Sec. 311. Atlantic Coast port access route study. 
Sec. 312. Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels. 
Sec. 313. Program guidelines. 
TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman. 
Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Marin County, California. 
Sec. 502. Elimination of reports. 
Sec. 503. Vessel documentation. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘PART III—COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND 
REPORTS TO CONGRESS 
‘‘Chap.
Sec. 
‘‘27. Authorizations ..........................................................................
2701
‘‘29. Reports .........................................................................................
2901. 
‘‘CHAPTER 27—AUTHORIZATIONS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘2702. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 
‘‘§ 2702. Authorization of appropriations 
‘‘Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each 
of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of 
the Coast Guard as follows: 
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for— 
‘‘(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
and 
‘‘(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova-
tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 
related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 
lease, and operation of facilities and equipment— 
‘‘(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
and 
‘‘(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in-
cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 
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‘‘(A) currently; and 
‘‘(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal 
year and each of the 3 fiscal years thereafter; 
and 
‘‘(5) an identification of the actions the Com-
mandant will take to address capability gaps identi-
fied under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATION.—In composing a manpower 
requirements plan for submission under subsection (a), 
the Commandant shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the marine safety strategy required under 
section 2116 of title 46; 
‘‘(2) information on the adequacy of the acqui-
sition workforce included in the most recent report 
under section 2903 of this title; and 
‘‘(3) any other Federal strategic planning effort 
the Commandant considers appropriate.’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 662 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating such section as section 
2701; 
(2) by transferring such section to appear be-
fore section 2702 of such title (as added by sub-
section (a) of this section); and 
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(3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for. 
‘‘(2) For the acquisition, construction, renova-
tion, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 
related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, 
lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 
‘‘(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in-
cluding operations and maintenance of the program, 
personnel and training costs, equipment, and serv-
ices. 
‘‘(4) For the environmental compliance and res-
toration functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 
19 of this title. 
‘‘(5) For research, development, test, and eval-
uation of technologies, materials, and human factors 
directly related to improving the performance of the 
Coast Guard’s mission with respect to search and 
rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine en-
vironmental protection, enforcement of laws and 
treaties, ice operations, oceanographic research, and 
defense readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilita-
tion, lease, and operation of facilities and equipment. 
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‘‘(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over 
navigable waters of the United States constituting 
obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 
administrative costs associated with the Alteration of 
Bridges Program.’’. 
(c) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
PERSONNEL
END 
STRENGTHS.—Section 661 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating such section as section 
2703; and 
(2) by transferring such section to appear be-
fore section 2704 of such title (as added by sub-
section (a) of this section). 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD 
AUTHORIZATION
REQUEST.—Section 662a of title 
14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2901; 
(B) by transferring such section to appear 
before section 2904 of such title (as added by 
subsection (a) of this section); and 
(C) in subsection (b)— 
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(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘de-
scribed in section 661’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in section 2703’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘de-
scribed in section 662’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in section 2701’’. 
(2) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—Section 663 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2902; and 
(B) by transferring such section to appear 
after section 2901 of such title (as so redesig-
nated and transferred by paragraph (1) of this 
subsection). 
(3) MAJOR
ACQUISITIONS.—Section 569a of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating such section as sec-
tion 2903; 
(B) by transferring such section to appear 
after section 2902 of such title (as so redesig-
nated and transferred by paragraph (2) of this 
subsection); and 
(C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘of this 
subchapter’’. 
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(e) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For fiscal 
years 2016 and 2017, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may use funds made available pursuant to section 
2702(2) of title 14, United States Code (as added by sub-
section (a) of this section) for the selection of a design 
for and the construction of an icebreaker that is capable 
of buoy tending to enhance icebreaking capacity on the 
Great Lakes. 
SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ANALYSIS FOR TITLE 14.—The analysis for title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding after the 
item relating to part II the following: 
‘‘III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Con-
gress ............................................................................ 2701’’. 
(b) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 15.—The analysis for 
chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 569a. 
(c) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for 
chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, 
and 663. 
(d) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 27.—The analysis for 
chapter 27 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 
section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting— 
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(1) before the item relating to section 2702 the 
following: 
‘‘2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.’’; 
and 
(2) before the item relating to section 2704 the 
following: 
‘‘2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.’’. 
(e) ANALYSIS FOR CHAPTER 29.—The analysis for 
chapter 29 of title 14, United States Code, as added by 
section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting before 
the item relating to section 2904 the following: 
‘‘2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 
‘‘2902. Capital investment plan. 
‘‘2903. Major acquisitions.’’. 
(f) MISSION NEED STATEMENT.—Section 569(b) of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in section 
569a(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘in section 2903’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘under section 
663(a)(1)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘under 
section 
2902(a)(1)’’. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT. 
(a) GRADES AND RATINGS.—Section 41 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘admirals (two);’’. 
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(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following: 
‘‘(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while 
awaiting orders after being relieved from the posi-
tion, beginning on the day the officer is relieved 
from the position, but not for more than 60 days; 
and’’. 
SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 461 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 461. Remission of indebtedness 
‘‘The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any 
part of a person’s indebtedness to the United States or 
any instrumentality of the United States if— 
‘‘(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the 
person served on active duty as a member of the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or 
cancelling the indebtedness is in the best interest of 
the United States.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 13 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 461 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘461. Remission of indebtedness.’’. 
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SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM. 
(a) MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Section 
572(d)(3) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through 
(H) as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub-
paragraph (C); 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the performance data to be used to 
determine whether the key performance param-
eters have been resolved;’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as re-
designated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the 
following: 
‘‘(D) the results during test and evaluation 
that will be required to demonstrate that a ca-
pability, asset, or subsystem meets performance 
requirements;’’. 
(b) 
CAPITAL
INVESTMENT
PLAN.—Section 
2902(a)(1) of title 14, United States Code, as redesig-
nated and otherwise amended by this Act, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘comple-
tion;’’ and inserting ‘‘completion based on the pro-
posed appropriations included in the budget;’’; and 
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(2) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘at the 
projected funding levels;’’ and inserting ‘‘based on 
the proposed appropriations included in the budg-
et;’’. 
(c) DAYS AWAY FROM HOMEPORT.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— 
(1) implement a standard for tracking oper-
ational days at sea for Coast Guard cutters that 
does not include days during which such cutters are 
undergoing maintenance or repair; and 
(2) notify the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate of the standard imple-
mented under paragraph (1). 
(d) FIXED WING AIRCRAFT FLEET MIX ANALYSIS.— 
Not later than September 30, 2015, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a revised fleet mix analysis 
of Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft. 
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SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 822 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The purpose’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The purpose’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—The Auxiliary may conduct a pa-
trol of a waterway, or a portion thereof, only if— 
‘‘(1) the Commandant has determined such wa-
terway, or portion thereof, is navigable for purposes 
of the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard; or 
‘‘(2) a State or other proper authority has re-
quested such patrol pursuant to section 141 of this 
title or section 13109 of title 46.’’. 
(b) NOTIFICATION.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall— 
(1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast 
Guard Auxiliary in the most recently completed fis-
cal year to determine whether such waterways are 
eligible or ineligible for patrol under section 822(b) 
of title 14, United States Code (as added by sub-
section (a)); and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
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of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written 
notification of— 
(A) any waterways determined ineligible 
for patrol under paragraph (1); and 
(B) the actions taken by the Commandant 
to ensure Auxiliary patrols do not occur on such 
waterways. 
SEC. 206. LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN. 
Section 2903 of title 14, United States Code, as re-
designated and otherwise amended by this Act, is further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.— 
Each report under subsection (a) shall include a plan that 
describes for the upcoming fiscal year, and for each of the 
20 fiscal years thereafter— 
‘‘(1) the numbers and types of cutters and air-
craft to be decommissioned; 
‘‘(2) the numbers and types of cutters and air-
craft to be acquired to— 
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‘‘(A) replace the cutters and aircraft iden-
tified under paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) address an identified capability gap; 
and 
‘‘(3) the estimated level of funding in each fis-
cal year required to— 
‘‘(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft iden-
tified under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) acquire related command, control, 
communications, computer, intelligence, surveil-
lance, and reconnaissance systems; and 
‘‘(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shore-
side infrastructure.’’. 
SEC. 207. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES. 
Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 1998 (14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended by striking the 
second sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘The Com-
mandant may recognize any other community in a similar 
manner if the Commandant determines that such commu-
nity has demonstrated enduring support of the Coast 
Guard, Coast Guard personnel, and the dependents of 
Coast Guard personnel.’’. 
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SEC. 208. ‘‘POLAR SEA’’ MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT 
AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION DECISION. 
Section 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 
1560) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 2015, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall— 
‘‘(1) complete a materiel condition assessment 
with respect to the Polar Sea; 
‘‘(2) make a determination of whether it is cost 
effective to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with 
other options to provide icebreaking services as part 
of a strategy to maintain polar icebreaking services; 
and 
‘‘(3) submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate— 
‘‘(A) the assessment required under para-
graph (1); and 
‘‘(B) written notification of the determina-
tion required under paragraph (2).’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ and 
inserting ‘‘written notification’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c); 
(4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 
as subsections (c) through (g), respectively; 
(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4) of this section)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘based on the analysis required’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 
‘‘analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘written notifica-
tion’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) 
DECOMMISSIONING.—If 
the 
Secretary 
makes a determination under subsection (a) that it 
is not cost effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, 
then, not later than 180 days after written notifica-
tion of that determination is submitted under that 
subsection, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; and 
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If the 
Secretary does not make a determination under sub-
section (a) regarding whether it is cost effective to 
reactivate the Polar Sea, then the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard may decommission the Polar Sea.’’; 
(6) in subsection (d)(1) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘analysis’’ 
and inserting ‘‘written notification’’; and 
(7) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4) of this section) by striking ‘‘in subsection 
(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (c)’’. 
SEC. 209. REPEAL. 
Section 225(b)(2) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113–281; 128 Stat. 3039) is repealed. 
SEC. 210. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14. 
Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, 
is further amended— 
(1) in the analysis for part I by striking the 
item relating to chapter 19 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Pro-
gram ............................................................................
690’’; 
(2) in section 46(a) by striking ‘‘subsection’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section’’; 
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(3) in section 47 in the section heading by 
striking ‘‘commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘Com-
mandant’’; 
(4) in section 93(f) by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) 
LIMITATION.—The 
Commandant 
may 
lease submerged lands and tidelands under para-
graph (1) only if— 
‘‘(A) the lease is for cash exclusively; 
‘‘(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair 
market value of the use of the leased sub-
merged lands or tidelands for the period during 
which such lands are leased, as determined by 
the Commandant; 
‘‘(C) the lease does not provide authority 
to or commit the Coast Guard to use or support 
any improvements to such submerged lands and 
tidelands, or obtain goods and services from the 
lessee; and 
‘‘(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited 
in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established 
under section 687.’’; 
(5) in the analysis for chapter 9 by striking the 
item relating to section 199 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’; 
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(6) in section 427(b)(2) by striking ‘‘this chap-
ter’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 61 of title 10’’; 
(7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the 
item relating to section 571 by striking the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec.’’; 
(8) in section 573(c)(3)(A) by inserting ‘‘and 
shall maintain such cutter in class’’ before the pe-
riod at the end; 
(9) 
in 
section 
581(5)(B) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$300,000,0000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$300,000,000,’’; 
(10) in section 637(c)(3) in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘it is’’ before 
‘‘any’’; 
(11) in section 641(d)(3) by striking ‘‘Guard, 
installation’’ and inserting ‘‘Guard installation’’; 
(12) in section 691(c)(3) by striking ‘‘state’’ 
and inserting ‘‘State’’; 
(13) in the analysis for chapter 21— 
(A) by striking the item relating to section 
709 and inserting the following: 
‘‘709. Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots; appointments in 
commissioned grade.’’; 
and 
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(B) by striking the item relating to section 
740 and inserting the following: 
‘‘740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.’’; 
(14) in section 742(c) by striking ‘‘subsection’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsections’’; 
(15) in section 821(b)(1) by striking ‘‘Chapter 
26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’; and 
(16) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ‘‘Chap-
ter 26’’ and inserting ‘‘Chapter 171’’. 
SEC. 211. DIGITAL BOAT PROFILE PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If, during the 1-year period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating determines that there are at least 2 digital boat 
profile technologies that are commercially available, the 
Secretary shall establish a pilot program, in accordance 
with this section, under which digital boat profiles are uti-
lized for— 
(1) not less than 2 National Security Cutters; 
(2) not less than 4 Fast Response Cutters; and 
(3) not less than 4 Medium Endurance Cutters 
(270 foot). 
(b) TIMING.—With respect to the National Security 
Cutters and Fast Response Cutters participating in the 
pilot program, a digital boat profile shall be established 
prior to the commissioning of the cutters. 
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the estab-
lishment of the pilot program, and annually thereafter for 
the succeeding 4 years, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
describing— 
(1) the implementation of the pilot program; 
and 
(2) the results of the use of digital boat profiles 
under the pilot program with respect to— 
(A) efficient maintenance of the cutters in-
volved; and 
(B) the post-delivery warranty manage-
ment of equipment items, the repair and re-
placement of which are contractually obligated. 
(d) DIGITAL BOAT PROFILE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘digital boat profile’’ means a commercially 
available off-the-shelf technology that creates an electronic 
data source with respect to a vessel that— 
(1) provides lifecycle management support, in-
cluding through the incorporation of systems manu-
als, schematics, and vessel documentation; 
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(2) incorporates all manufacturer recommenda-
tions and operator best practices; 
(3) incorporates the use of real-time analytics 
of deferred tasks, future tasks, readiness assess-
ments, and budgetary planners; 
(4) provides advance electronic notification of 
upcoming maintenance and inspections to multi-level 
permission-based recipients on a daily, weekly, or 
monthly basis; 
(5) facilitates oversight for pre-delivery discrep-
ancy reporting and post-delivery warranty manage-
ment of equipment items, the repair and replace-
ment of which are contractually obligated; and 
(6) is accessible by computing devices. 
SEC. 212. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
establish a process for the discontinuance of an aid to 
navigation established, maintained, or operated by the 
Coast Guard. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—The process established under 
subsection (a) shall include procedures to notify the public 
of any discontinuance of an aid to navigation described 
in that subsection. 
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(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a process under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and con-
sider any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advi-
sory Council. 
(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after es-
tablishing a process under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of the process established. 
SEC. 213. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate an assessment of the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s 
Standard Operational Planning Process with respect to 
annual mission performance measures. 
SEC. 214. COMMUNICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish and 
carry out a response capabilities pilot program to assess, 
at not fewer than 2 Coast Guard command centers, the 
effectiveness of a radio gateway that— 
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(1) provides for— 
(A) multiagency collaboration and inter-
operability; and 
(B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation- 
and-acceptance-based multimedia communica-
tions; 
(2) is certified by the Department of Defense 
Joint Interoperability Test Center; and 
(3) is composed of commercially available, off- 
the-shelf technology. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter 
for the succeeding 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an as-
sessment of the pilot program, including the impacts of 
the program with respect to interagency and Coast Guard 
response capabilities. 
SEC. 215. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPER-
ATIONS EDUCATION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall establish an education pro-
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gram, for members and employees of the Coast Guard, 
that— 
(1) offers a master’s degree in maritime oper-
ations; 
(2) is relevant to the professional development 
of such members and employees; 
(3) provides resident and distant education op-
tions, including the ability to utilize both options; 
and 
(4) to the greatest extent practicable, is con-
ducted using existing academic programs at an ac-
credited public academic institution that— 
(A) is located near a significant number of 
Coast Guard, maritime, and other Department 
of Homeland Security law enforcement per-
sonnel; and 
(B) has an ability to simulate operations 
normally conducted at a command center. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 
NAVIGATION 
SEC. 301. TREATMENT OF FISHING PERMITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 313 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
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‘‘§ 31310. Treatment of fishing permits 
‘‘(a) LIMITATION ON MARITIME LIENS.—This chap-
ter— 
‘‘(1) does not establish a maritime lien on a 
fishing permit; and 
‘‘(2) does not authorize any civil action to en-
force a maritime lien on a fishing permit. 
‘‘(b) TREATMENT
OF FISHING PERMITS UNDER 
STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.—A fishing permit— 
‘‘(1) is governed solely by the State or Federal 
law under which it is issued; and 
‘‘(2) shall not be treated as part of a vessel, or 
as an appurtenance or intangible of a vessel, for any 
purpose under Federal law. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE NOT 
AFFECTED.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
imposing any limitation upon the authority of the Sec-
retary of Commerce— 
‘‘(1) to modify, suspend, revoke, or impose a 
sanction on any fishing permit issued by the Sec-
retary of Commerce; or 
‘‘(2) to bring a civil action to enforce such a 
modification, suspension, revocation, or sanction. 
‘‘(d) FISHING PERMIT DEFINED.—In this section the 
term ‘fishing permit’ means any authorization of a person 
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