157 
to the Sector Commander regarding marine 
safety matters in that sector. 
‘‘(i) SIGNATORIES OF LETTER OF QUALIFICATION.— 
Each individual signing a letter of qualification for marine 
safety personnel must hold a letter of qualification for the 
type being certified. 
‘‘§ 58. Centers of Expertise for Marine Safety 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may establish and operate one or more Cen-
ters of Expertise for Marine Safety (in this section re-
ferred to as a ‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) MISSIONS.—The Centers shall— 
‘‘(1) be used to provide and facilitate education, 
training, and research in marine safety including 
vessel inspection and causality investigation; 
‘‘(2) develop a repository of information on ma-
rine safety; and 
‘‘(3) perform any other missions as the Com-
mandant may specify. 
‘‘(c) JOINT OPERATION WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTI-
TUTION AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant may enter into 
an agreement with an appropriate official of an institution 
of higher education to— 
‘‘(1) provide for joint operation of a Center; 
and
158 
‘‘(2) provide necessary administrative services 
for a Center, including administration and allocation 
of funds. 
‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—(1) Except as 
provided in paragraph (2), the Commandant may accept, 
on behalf of a Center, donations to be used to defray the 
costs of the Center or to enhance the operation of the Cen-
ter. Those donations may be accepted from any State or 
local government, any foreign government, any foundation 
or other charitable organization (including any that is or-
ganized or operates under the laws of a foreign country), 
or any individual. 
‘‘(2) The Commandant may not accept a donation 
under paragraph (1) if the acceptance of the donation 
would compromise or appear to compromise— 
‘‘(A) the ability of the Coast Guard or the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating, any 
employee of the Coast Guard or the department, or 
any member of the Armed Forces to carry out any 
responsibility or duty in a fair and objective manner; 
or 
‘‘(B) the integrity of any program of the Coast 
Guard, the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating, or of any person involved in such a pro-
gram.
159 
‘‘(3) The Commandant shall prescribe written guid-
ance setting forth the criteria to be used in determining 
whether or not the acceptance of a donation from a foreign 
source would have a result described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘§ 59. Marine industry training program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall, by pol-
icy, establish a program under which an officer, member, 
or employee of the Coast Guard may be assigned to a pri-
vate entity to further the institutional interests of the 
Coast Guard with regard to marine safety, including for 
the purpose of providing training to an officer, member, 
or employee. Policies to carry out the program— 
‘‘(1) with regard to an employee of the Coast 
Guard, shall include provisions, consistent with sec-
tions 3702 through 3704 of title 5, as to matters 
concerning— 
‘‘(A) the duration and termination of as-
signments; 
‘‘(B) reimbursements; and 
‘‘(C) status, entitlements, benefits, and ob-
ligations of program participants; and 
‘‘(2) shall require the Commandant, before ap-
proving the assignment of an officer, member, or 
employee of the Coast Guard to a private entity, to 
determine that the assignment is an effective use of
160 
the Coast Guard’s funds, taking into account the 
best interests of the Coast Guard and the costs and 
benefits of alternative methods of achieving the same 
results and objectives. 
‘‘(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than the date of 
the submission each year of the President’s budget request 
under section 1105 of title 31, the Commandant shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report that describes— 
‘‘(1) the number of officers, members, and em-
ployees of the Coast Guard assigned to private enti-
ties under this section; and 
‘‘(2) the specific benefit that accrues to the 
Coast Guard for each assignment.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new items: 
‘‘57. Marine safety workforce. 
‘‘58. Centers of Expertise for Marine Safety. 
‘‘59. Marine industry training program.’’. 
SEC. 723. MARINE SAFETY MISSION PRIORITIES AND LONG- 
TERM GOALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section:
161 
‘‘§ 2116. Marine safety strategy, goals, and perform-
ance assessments 
‘‘(a) LONG-TERM STRATEGY AND GOALS.—In con-
junction with existing federally required strategic planning 
efforts, the Secretary shall develop a long-term strategy 
for improving vessel safety and the safety of individuals 
on vessels. The strategy shall include the issuance each 
year of an annual plan and schedule for achieving the fol-
lowing goals: 
‘‘(1) Reducing the number and rates of marine 
casualties. 
‘‘(2) Improving the consistency and effective-
ness of vessel and operator enforcement and compli-
ance programs. 
‘‘(3) Identifying and targeting enforcement ef-
forts at high-risk vessels and operators. 
‘‘(4) Improving research efforts to enhance and 
promote vessel and operator safety and performance. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS
OF
STRATEGY
AND
ANNUAL 
PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) MEASURABLE GOALS.—The strategy and 
annual plans shall include specific numeric or meas-
urable goals designed to achieve the goals set forth 
in subsection (a). The purposes of the numeric or 
measurable goals are the following:
162 
‘‘(A) To increase the number of safety ex-
aminations on all high-risk vessels. 
‘‘(B) To eliminate the backlog of marine 
safety-related rulemakings. 
‘‘(C) To improve the quality and effective-
ness of marine safety information databases by 
ensuring that all Coast Guard personnel accu-
rately and effectively report all safety, casualty, 
and injury information. 
‘‘(D) To provide for a sufficient number of 
Coast Guard marine safety personnel, and pro-
vide adequate facilities and equipment to carry 
out the functions referred to in section 93(c). 
‘‘(2) RESOURCE NEEDS.—The strategy and an-
nual plans shall include estimates of— 
‘‘(A) the funds and staff resources needed 
to accomplish each activity included in the 
strategy and plans; and 
‘‘(B) the staff skills and training needed 
for timely and effective accomplishment of each 
goal. 
‘‘(c) SUBMISSION WITH THE PRESIDENT’S BUDG-
ET.—Beginning with fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the 
strategy and annual plan not later than 60 days following