H. R. 6395—1332 
merchant mariner’s documents under chapter 73 and for a 
transportation security card issued under this section; and 
‘‘(2) upon receipt of a joint application developed under 
paragraph (1) concurrently process an application from an indi-
vidual for merchant mariner’s documents under chapter 73 
and an application from such individual for a transportation 
security card under this section.’’. 
TITLE LVXXXIV—MISCELLANEOUS 
Subtitle A—Navigation and Shipping 
Sec. 8401. Coastwise trade. 
Sec. 8402. Towing vessels operating outside boundary line. 
Sec. 8403. Sense of Congress regarding the maritime industry of the United States. 
Sec. 8404. Cargo preference study. 
Sec. 8405. Towing vessel inspection fees review. 
Subtitle B—Maritime Domain Awareness 
Sec. 8411. Unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies. 
Sec. 8412. Unmanned aircraft systems testing. 
Sec. 8413. Land-based unmanned aircraft system program of Coast Guard. 
Sec. 8414. Prohibition on operation or procurement of foreign-made unmanned air-
craft systems. 
Sec. 8415. United States commercial space-based radio frequency maritime domain 
awareness testing and evaluation program. 
Sec. 8416. Authorization of use of automatic identification systems devices to mark 
fishing equipment. 
Subtitle C—Arctic 
Sec. 8421. Coast Guard Arctic prioritization. 
Sec. 8422. Arctic PARS Native engagement. 
Sec. 8423. Voting requirement. 
Sec. 8424. Report on the Arctic capabilities of the Armed Forces. 
Sec. 8425. Report on Arctic search and rescue. 
Sec. 8426. Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee. 
Subtitle D—Other Matters 
Sec. 8431. Plan for wing-in-ground demonstration plan. 
Sec. 8432. Northern Michigan oil spill response planning. 
Sec. 8433. Documentation of LNG tankers. 
Sec. 8434. Replacement vessel. 
Sec. 8435. Educational vessel. 
Sec. 8436. Waters deemed not navigable waters of the United States for certain 
purposes. 
Sec. 8437. Anchorages. 
Sec. 8438. Comptroller General of the United States study and report on vertical 
evacuation for tsunamis at Coast Guard Stations in Washington and Or-
egon. 
Sec. 8439. Authority to enter into agreements with National Coast Guard Museum 
Association. 
Sec. 8440. Video equipment; access and retention of records. 
Sec. 8441. Regulations for covered small passenger vessels. 
Subtitle A—Navigation and Shipping 
SEC. 8401. COASTWISE TRADE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall review the adequacy 
of and continuing need for provisions in title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, that require a United States vessel documented under 
chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, possessing a coastwise 
endorsement under that chapter, and engaged in coastwise trade, 
to comply with regulations for vessels engaged in an international 
voyage.
H. R. 6395—1333 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the findings of the 
review required under subsection (a) and a discussion of how 
existing laws and regulations could be amended to ensure the 
safety of vessels described in subsection (a) while infringing as 
little as possible on commerce. 
SEC. 8402. TOWING VESSELS OPERATING OUTSIDE BOUNDARY LINE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Boundary Line’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 103 of title 46, United States Code; 
(2) the term ‘‘Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, 
United States Code; and 
(3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating. 
(b) INTERIM EXEMPTION.—A towing vessel described in sub-
section (c) and a response vessel included on a vessel response 
plan are exempt from any additional requirements of subtitle II 
of title 46, United States Code, and chapter I of title 33 and 
chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act), that would result solely 
from such vessel operating outside the Boundary Line, if— 
(1) the vessel is— 
(A) operating outside the Boundary Line solely to per-
form regular harbor assist operations; or 
(B) listed as a response vessel on a vessel response 
plan and is operating outside the Boundary Line solely 
to perform duties of a response vessel; 
(2) the vessel is approved for operations outside the 
Boundary Line by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection 
and the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center; and 
(3) the vessel has sufficient manning and lifesaving equip-
ment for all persons on board, in accordance with part 15 
and section 141.225 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or any successor regulation). 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to a towing vessel— 
(1) that is subject to inspection under chapter 33 of title 
46, United States Code, and subchapter M of chapter I of 
title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regula-
tion); 
(2) with only ‘‘Lakes, Bays, and Sounds’’ or ‘‘Rivers’’ routes 
recorded on such vessel’s certificate of inspection pursuant to 
section 136.230 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
any successor regulation); 
(3) that, with respect to a vessel described in subsection 
(b)(1)(A), is operating as a harbor assist vessel and regularly 
engaged in harbor assist operations, including the docking, 
undocking, mooring, unmooring, and escorting of vessels with 
limited maneuverability; and 
(4) that, with respect to a vessel that is described in sub-
section (b)(1)(B), is listed—
H. R. 6395—1334 
(A) on a vessel response plan under part 155 of title 
33, Code of Federal Regulations, on the date of approval 
of the vessel response plan; or 
(B) by name or reference in the vessel response plan’s 
geographic-specific appendix on the date of approval of 
the vessel response plan. 
(d) LIMITATIONS.—A vessel exempted under subsection (b) is 
subject to the following operating limitations: 
(1) The voyage of a vessel described in subsection (b)(1)(A) 
shall— 
(A) be less than 12 hours in total duration; 
(B) originate and end in the inspection zone of a single 
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection; and 
(C) occur no further than 10 nautical miles from the 
Boundary Line. 
(2) The voyage of a vessel described in subsection (b)(1)(B) 
shall— 
(A) originate and end in the inspection zone of a single 
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection; and 
(B) either— 
(i) in the case of a voyage in the territorial waters 
of Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands, have sufficient manning 
as determined by the Secretary; or 
(ii) be less than 12 hours. 
(e) SAFETY.— 
(1) SAFETY RESTRICTIONS.—The Officer in Charge, Marine 
Inspection for an inspection zone may restrict operations under 
the interim exemption provided under subsection (b) for safety 
purposes. 
(2) COMPREHENSIVE LISTS.—The Officer in Charge, Marine 
Inspection for an inspection zone shall maintain and periodi-
cally update a comprehensive list of all towing vessels described 
in subsection (c) that operate in the inspection zone. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 24 hours prior to 
intended operations outside of the Boundary Line, a towing 
vessel exempted under subsection (b) shall notify the Office 
in Charge, Marine Inspection for the inspection zone of such 
operations. Such notification shall include— 
(A) the date, time, and length of voyage; 
(B) a crew list, with each crew member’s credentials 
and work hours; and 
(C) an attestation from the master of the towing vessel 
that the vessel has sufficient manning and lifesaving equip-
ment for all persons on board. 
(f) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives regarding the following: 
(1) The impacts of the interim exemption provided under 
this section. 
(2) Any safety concerns regarding the expiration of such 
interim exemption. 
(3) Whether such interim exemption should be extended.
H. R. 6395—1335 
(g) TERMINATION.—The interim exemption provided under sub-
section (b) shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 8403. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE MARITIME INDUSTRY 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
It is the sense of Congress that the maritime industry of the 
United States contributes to the Nation’s economic prosperity and 
national security. 
SEC. 8404. CARGO PREFERENCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct an audit regarding the enforcement of the United 
States Cargo Preference Laws set forth in sections 55302, 55303, 
55304, and 55305 of title 46, United States Code, and section 
2631 of title 10, United States Code (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘United States Cargo Preference Laws’’). 
(b) SCOPE.—The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include, for the period from October 14, 2008, until the date of 
the enactment of this Act— 
(1) a listing of the agencies and organizations required 
to comply with the United States Cargo Preference Laws; 
(2) an analysis of the compliance or noncompliance of such 
agencies and organizations with such laws, including— 
(A) the total amount of oceangoing cargo that each 
such agency, organization, or contractor procured for its 
own account or for which financing was in any way pro-
vided with Federal funds, including loan guarantees; 
(B) the percentage of such cargo shipped on privately 
owned commercial vessels of the United States; 
(C) an assessment of internal programs and controls 
used by each such agency or organization to monitor and 
ensure compliance with the United States Cargo Preference 
Laws, to include education, training, and supervision of 
its contracting personnel, and the procedures and controls 
used to monitor compliance with cargo preference require-
ments by contractors and subcontractors; and 
(D) instances in which cargoes are shipped on foreign- 
flag vessels under non-availability determinations but not 
counted as such for purposes of calculating cargo preference 
compliance; and 
(3) an overview of enforcement activities undertaken by 
the Maritime Administration from October 14, 2008, until the 
date of the enactment of this Act, including a listing of all 
bills of lading collected by the Maritime Administration during 
that period. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate a report detailing the results of the audit and pro-
viding recommendations related to such results, to include— 
(1) actions that should be taken by agencies and organiza-
tions to fully comply with the United States Cargo Preference 
Laws; and 
(2) Other measures that may compel agencies and organiza-
tions, and their contractors and subcontractors, to use United 
States flag vessels in the international transportation of ocean
H. R. 6395—1336 
cargoes as mandated by the United States Cargo Preference 
Laws. 
SEC. 8405. TOWING VESSEL INSPECTION FEES REVIEW. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate— 
(1) the results of the review required under section 815 
of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–282); and 
(2) a copy of any regulation required pursuant to section 
815(b) of such Act to establish specific inspection fees for such 
vessels. 
Subtitle B—Maritime Domain Awareness 
SEC. 8411. UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS AND SATELLITE VESSEL 
TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Commandant, acting through the Blue 
Technology Center of Expertise, shall regularly assess available 
unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking tech-
nologies for potential use to support missions of the Coast Guard. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the 
Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the actual and potential effects of the 
use of then-existing unmanned maritime systems and satellite 
vessel tracking technologies on the mission effectiveness of 
the Coast Guard. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) An inventory of current unmanned maritime sys-
tems used by the Coast Guard, an overview of such usage, 
and a discussion of the mission effectiveness of such sys-
tems, including any benefits realized or risks or negative 
aspects of such usage. 
(B) An inventory of satellite vessel tracking tech-
nologies, and a discussion of the potential mission effective-
ness of such technologies, including any benefits or risks 
or negative aspects of such usage. 
(C) A prioritized list of Coast Guard mission require-
ments that could be met with additional unmanned mari-
time systems, or with satellite vessel tracking technologies, 
and the estimated costs of accessing, acquiring, or operating 
such systems, taking into consideration the interoperability 
of such systems with the current and future fleet of— 
(i) National Security Cutters; 
(ii) Fast Response Cutters; 
(iii) Offshore Patrol Cutters; 
(iv) Polar Security Cutters; and
H. R. 6395—1337 
(v) in-service legacy cutters, including the 210- 
and 270-foot medium endurance cutters and 225-foot 
Buoy Tenders. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘unmanned maritime sys-
tems’’ means— 
(i) remotely operated or autonomous vehicles pro-
duced by the commercial sector designed to travel in 
the air, on or under the ocean surface, on land, or 
any combination thereof, and that function without 
an on-board human presence; and 
(ii) associated components of such vehicles, 
including control and communications systems, data 
transmission systems, and processing systems. 
(B) EXAMPLES.—Such term includes the following: 
(i) Unmanned undersea vehicles. 
(ii) Unmanned surface vehicles. 
(iii) Unmanned aerial vehicles. 
(iv) Autonomous underwater vehicles. 
(v) Autonomous surface vehicles. 
(vi) Autonomous aerial vehicles. 
(2) AVAILABLE UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.—The term 
‘‘available unmanned maritime systems’’ includes systems that 
can be purchased commercially or are in use by the Department 
of Defense or other Federal agencies. 
(3) SATELLITE VESSEL TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES.—The term 
‘‘satellite vessel tracking technologies’’ means shipboard broad-
cast systems that use satellites and terrestrial receivers to 
continually track vessels. 
SEC. 8412. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TESTING. 
(a) TRAINING AREA.—The Commandant shall carry out and 
update, as appropriate, a program for the use of one or more 
training areas to facilitate the use of unmanned aircraft systems 
and small unmanned aircraft to support missions of the Coast 
Guard. 
(b) DESIGNATION OF AREA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall, as part of 
the program under subsection (a), designate an area for the 
training, testing, and development of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems and small unmanned aircraft. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In designating a training area under 
paragraph (1), the Commandant shall— 
(A) ensure that such training area has or receives 
all necessary Federal Aviation Administration flight 
authorization; and 
(B) take into consideration all of the following 
attributes of the training area: 
(i) Direct over-water maritime access from the site. 
(ii) The availability of existing Coast Guard sup-
port facilities, including pier and dock space. 
(iii) Proximity to existing and available offshore 
Warning Area airspace for test and training. 
(iv) Existing facilities and infrastructure to support 
unmanned aircraft system-augmented, and small
H. R. 6395—1338 
unmanned aircraft-augmented, training, evaluations, 
and exercises. 
(v) Existing facilities with a proven track record 
of supporting unmanned aircraft systems and small 
unmanned aircraft systems flight operations. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘existing’’ means as of the date of enactment 
of this Act; and 
(2) the terms ‘‘small unmanned aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned 
aircraft system’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 
44801 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 8413. LAND-BASED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PROGRAM OF 
COAST GUARD. 
(a) FUNDING FOR CERTAIN ENHANCED CAPABILITIES.—Section 
319 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) FUNDING FOR CERTAIN ENHANCED CAPABILITIES.—In each 
of fiscal years 2020 and 2021, the Commandant may provide addi-
tional funding of $5,000,000 for additional long-range maritime 
patrol aircraft, acquired through full and open competition.’’. 
(b) REPORT
ON USE
OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
FOR 
CERTAIN SURVEILLANCE.— 
(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 31, 2021, 
the Commandant, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration on matters related to avia-
tion safety and civilian aviation and aerospace operations, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
setting forth an assessment of the feasibility and advisability 
of using unmanned aircraft systems for surveillance of marine 
protected areas, the transit zone, and the Arctic in order to— 
(A) establish and maintain regular maritime domain 
awareness of such areas; 
(B) ensure appropriate response to illegal activities 
in such areas; and 
(C) collaborate with State, local, and tribal authorities, 
and international partners, in surveillance missions over 
their waters in such areas. 
(2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ 
means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives. 
SEC. 8414. PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OR PROCUREMENT OF FOR-
EIGN-MADE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) PROHIBITION ON AGENCY OPERATION OR PROCUREMENT.— 
The Commandant may not operate or enter into or renew a contract 
for the procurement of— 
(1) an unmanned aircraft system that— 
(A) is manufactured in a covered foreign country or 
by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; 
(B) uses flight controllers, radios, data transmission 
devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured in a covered
H. R. 6395—1339 
foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered 
foreign country; 
(C) uses a ground control system or operating software 
developed in a covered foreign country or by an entity 
domiciled in a covered foreign country; or 
(D) uses network connectivity or data storage located 
in or administered by an entity domiciled in a covered 
foreign country; or 
(2) a system manufactured in a covered foreign country 
or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country for 
the detection or identification of unmanned aircraft systems. 
(b) EXEMPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant is exempt from the 
restriction under subsection (a) if— 
(A) the operation or procurement is for the purposes 
of— 
(i) counter-UAS system surrogate testing and 
training; or 
(ii) intelligence, electronic warfare, and informa-
tion warfare operations, testing, analysis, and training; 
or 
(B) the Commandant receives a certification from the 
Coast Guard unit requesting to operate or procure an 
unmanned aircraft system otherwise restricted under sub-
section (a), which shall include supporting manufacturer 
information, that the unmanned aircraft system does not— 
(i) connect to the internet or an outside tele-
communications service; 
(ii) connect to other devices or electronics, except 
as necessary to perform the mission; or 
(iii) perform any missions in support of classified 
information or that may threaten national security. 
(2) EXPIRATION.—The authority under this subsection to 
operate or procure an unmanned aircraft system otherwise 
restricted under subsection (a) expires on the date that is 
2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) WAIVER.—The Commandant may waive the restriction under 
subsection (a) on a case by case basis by certifying in writing 
to the Department of Homeland Security and the relevant commit-
tees of jurisdiction that the operation or procurement is required 
in the national interest of the United States. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED FOREIGN COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘covered foreign 
country’’ means the People’s Republic of China. 
(2) 
COUNTER-UAS 
SYSTEM.—The 
term 
‘‘counter-UAS 
system’’ has the meaning given such term in section 44801 
of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘unmanned 
aircraft system’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
44801 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 8415. UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE-BASED RADIO FRE-
QUENCY MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS TESTING AND 
EVALUATION PROGRAM. 
(a) TESTING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM.—The Commandant, 
acting through the Blue Technology Center of Expertise, shall carry 
out a testing and evaluation program of United States commercial
H. R. 6395—1340 
space-based radio frequency geolocation and maritime domain 
awareness products and services to support the mission objectives 
of maritime enforcement by the Coast Guard and other components 
of the Coast Guard. The objectives of this testing and evaluation 
program shall include— 
(1) developing an understanding of how United States 
commercial space-based radio frequency data products can meet 
current and future mission requirements; 
(2) establishing how United States commercial space-based 
radio frequency data products should integrate into existing 
work flows; and 
(3) establishing how United States commercial space-based 
radio frequency data products could be integrated into analytics 
platforms. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 240 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant shall prepare and submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the 
testing and evaluation program under subsection (a), including 
recommendations on how the Coast Guard should fully exploit 
United States commercial space-based radio frequency data prod-
ucts to meet current and future mission requirements. 
SEC. 8416. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION 
SYSTEMS DEVICES TO MARK FISHING EQUIPMENT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’ means the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information 
and 
the 
National 
Telecommunications 
and 
Information 
Administration Administrator; 
(2) the term ‘‘Automatic Identification System’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 164.46(a) of title 33, Code 
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; 
(3) the term ‘‘Automatic Identification System device’’ 
means a covered device that operates in radio frequencies 
assigned for Automatic Identification System stations; 
(4) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal Communica-
tions Commission; and 
(5) the term ‘‘covered device’’ means a device used to mark 
fishing equipment. 
(b) RULEMAKING REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination 
with the Assistant Secretary, and in consultation with the Com-
mandant and the Secretary of State, shall initiate a rulemaking 
proceeding to consider whether to authorize covered devices to 
operate in radio frequencies assigned for Automatic Identification 
System stations. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking under sub-
section (b), the Commission shall consider whether imposing 
requirements with respect to the manner in which Automatic Identi-
fication System devices are deployed and used would enable the 
authorization of covered devices to operate in radio frequencies 
assigned for Automatic Identification System stations consistent 
with the core purpose of the Automatic Identification System to 
prevent maritime accidents.