H. R. 3619—16 
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or unaccom-
panied’’ and inserting ‘‘or military unaccompanied’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘or lease’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘or facilities’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘military family and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘military family housing and’’; and 
(iii) by repealing paragraph (4); 
(B) subsection (c), by amending paragraph (1) to read 
as follows:(1) In such amounts as provided in appropria-
tions Acts, and except as provided in subsection (d), the 
Secretary may use amounts in the Coast Guard Housing 
Fund to carry out activities under this chapter with respect 
to military family housing and military unaccompanied 
housing, including— 
‘‘(A) the planning, execution, and administration of 
the conveyance of real property; 
‘‘(B) all necessary expenses, including expenses for 
environmental compliance and restoration, to prepare real 
property for conveyance; and 
‘‘(C) the conveyance of real property.’’; 
(C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘or (b)(3)’’; and 
(D) by repealing subsections (f) and (g); 
(7) by repealing 687a; 
(8) by amending section 688 to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 688. Reports 
‘‘The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress, concur-
rent with the budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, a report identifying the contracts or agreements for the convey-
ance of properties pursuant to this chapter executed during the 
prior calendar year.’’; and 
(9) by repealing section 689. 
(b) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—This section shall not affect any action 
commenced prior to the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended— 
(1) by striking the items relating to sections 682, 683, 
684, 686, 687a, and 689; and 
(2) by amending the item relating to section 685 to read 
as follows: 
‘‘685. Conveyance of real property.’’. 
SEC. 222. CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. 
Section 515 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b)(1) The Commandant is authorized to use appropriated 
funds available to the Coast Guard to provide child development 
services. 
‘‘(2)(A) The Commandant is authorized to establish, by regula-
tions, fees to be charged parents for the attendance of children 
at Coast Guard child development centers. 
‘‘(B) Fees to be charged, pursuant to subparagraph (A), shall 
be based on family income, except that the Commandant may, 
on a case-by-base basis, establish fees at lower rates if such rates 
would not be competitive with rates at local child development 
centers.
H. R. 3619—17 
‘‘(C) The Commandant is authorized to collect and expend fees, 
established pursuant to this subparagraph, and such fees shall, 
without further appropriation, remain available until expended for 
the purpose of providing services, including the compensation of 
employees and the purchase of consumable and disposable items, 
at Coast Guard child development centers. 
‘‘(3) The Commandant is authorized to use appropriated funds 
available to the Coast Guard to provide assistance to family home 
daycare providers so that family home daycare services can be 
provided to uniformed service members and civilian employees of 
the Coast Guard at a cost comparable to the cost of services provided 
by Coast Guard child development centers.’’; 
(2) by repealing subsections (d) and (e); and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
(d) and (e), respectively. 
SEC. 223. CHAPLAIN ACTIVITY EXPENSE. 
Section 145 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) detail personnel from the Chaplain Corps to provide 
services, pursuant to section 1789 of title 10, to the Coast 
Guard.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d)(1) As part of the services provided by the Secretary of 
the Navy pursuant to subsection (a)(4), the Secretary may provide 
support services to chaplain-led programs to assist members of 
the Coast Guard on active duty and their dependents, and members 
of the reserve component in an active status and their dependents, 
in building and maintaining a strong family structure. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘support services’ include 
transportation, food, lodging, child care, supplies, fees, and training 
materials for members of the Coast Guard on active duty and 
their dependents, and members of the reserve component in an 
active status and their dependents, while participating in programs 
referred to in paragraph (1), including participation at retreats 
and conferences. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘dependents’ has the same 
meaning as defined in section 1072(2) of title 10.’’. 
SEC. 224. COAST GUARD CROSS; SILVER STAR MEDAL. 
(a) COAST GUARD CROSS.—Chapter 13 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 491 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 491a. Coast Guard cross 
‘‘The President may award a Coast Guard cross of appropriate 
design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while 
serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, when the Coast 
Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy, distin-
guishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying 
the award of a medal of honor— 
‘‘(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the 
United States;
H. R. 3619—18 
‘‘(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict 
with an opposing foreign force or international terrorist 
organization; or 
‘‘(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in 
an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which 
the United States is not a belligerent party.’’. 
(b) SILVER STAR MEDAL.—Such chapter is further amended— 
(1) by striking the designation and heading of section 492a 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘§ 492b. Distinguished flying cross’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 492 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 492a. Silver star medal 
‘‘The President may award a silver star medal of appropriate 
design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while 
serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, when the Coast 
Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy, is 
cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant a medal of 
honor or Coast Guard cross— 
‘‘(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the 
United States; 
‘‘(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict 
with an opposing foreign force or international terrorist 
organization; or 
‘‘(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in 
an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which 
the United States is not a belligerent party.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Such chapter is further 
amended— 
(1) in section 494, by striking ‘‘distinguished service medal, 
distinguished flying cross,’’ and inserting ‘‘Coast Guard cross, 
distinguished service medal, silver star medal, distinguished 
flying cross,’’ in both places it appears; 
(2) in section 496— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection 
(a), by striking ‘‘distinguished service medal, distinguished 
flying cross,’’ and inserting ‘‘Coast Guard cross, distin-
guished service medal, silver star medal, distinguished 
flying cross,’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘distinguished 
service medal, distinguished flying cross,’’ and inserting 
‘‘Coast Guard cross, distinguished service medal, silver star 
medal, distinguished flying cross,’’; and 
(3) in section 497, by striking ‘‘distinguished service medal, 
distinguished flying cross,’’ and inserting ‘‘Coast Guard cross, 
distinguished service medal, silver star medal, distinguished 
flying cross,’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis at the beginning 
of such chapter is amended— 
(1) by inserting after the item relating to section 491 the 
following new item: 
‘‘491a. Coast Guard cross.’’.
H. R. 3619—19 
(2) by striking the item relating to section 492a and 
inserting the following new items: 
‘‘492a. Silver star medal. 
‘‘492b. Distinguished flying cross.’’. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 
SEC. 301. SEAWARD EXTENSION OF ANCHORAGE GROUNDS JURISDIC-
TION. 
Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 
1915 (33 U.S.C. 471) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘That the’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The’’. 
(2) in subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1)) by 
striking ‘‘$100; and the’’ and inserting ‘‘up to $10,000. Each 
day during which a violation continues shall constitute a sepa-
rate violation. The’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—As used in this section ‘navigable waters 
of the United States’ includes all waters of the territorial sea 
of the United States as described in Presidential Proclamation 
No. 5928 of December 27, 1988.’’. 
SEC. 302. MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT AMENDMENT- 
SIMPLE POSSESSION. 
Section 70506 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) SIMPLE POSSESSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any individual on a vessel subject to 
the jurisdiction of the United States who is found by the Sec-
retary, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to have 
knowingly or intentionally possessed a controlled substance 
within the meaning of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 
812) shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty 
of not to exceed $5,000 for each violation. The Secretary shall 
notify the individual in writing of the amount of the civil 
penalty. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION
OF
AMOUNT.—In determining the 
amount of the penalty, the Secretary shall consider the nature, 
circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts com-
mitted and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpa-
bility, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other 
matters that justice requires. 
‘‘(3) TREATMENT OF CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT.—Assess-
ment of a civil penalty under this subsection shall not be 
considered a conviction for purposes of State or Federal law 
but may be considered proof of possession if such a determina-
tion is relevant.’’. 
SEC. 303. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO TONNAGE MEASUREMENT 
LAW. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 14101(4) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘engaged’’ the first place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘that engages’’;
H. R. 3619—20 
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘arriving’’ and inserting 
‘‘that arrives’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘making’’ and inserting ‘‘that makes’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(except a foreign vessel engaged on 
that voyage)’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘departing’’ and 
inserting ‘‘that departs’’; and 
(5) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘making’’ and inserting 
‘‘that makes’’. 
(b) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 14103(c) of that title 
is amended by striking ‘‘intended to be engaged on’’ and inserting 
‘‘that engages on’’. 
(c) APPLICATION.—Section 14301 of that title is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this chapter 
applies to any vessel for which the application of an international 
agreement or other law of the United States to the vessel depends 
on the vessel’s tonnage.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘, unless the government of the country 
to which the vessel belongs elects to measure the vessel 
under this chapter.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘of United States 
or Canadian registry or nationality, or a vessel operated 
under the authority of the United States or Canada, and 
that is’’ after ‘‘vessel’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘a vessel (except a 
vessel engaged’’ and inserting ‘‘a vessel of United States 
registry or nationality, or one operated under the authority 
of the United States (except a vessel that engages’’; 
(D) by striking paragraph (5); 
(E) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5); 
and 
(F) by amending paragraph (5), as so redesignated, 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) a barge of United States registry or nationality, or 
a barge operated under the authority of the United States 
(except a barge that engages on a foreign voyage) unless the 
owner requests.’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c); 
(4) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
(c) and (d), respectively; and 
(5) in subsection (c), as redesignated, by striking ‘‘After 
July 18, 1994, an existing vessel (except an existing vessel 
referred to in subsection (b)(5)(A) or (B) of this section)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘An existing vessel that has not undergone a change 
that the Secretary finds substantially affects the vessel’s gross 
tonnage (or a vessel to which IMO Resolutions A.494 (XII) 
of November 19, 1981, A.540 (XIII) of November 17, 1983, 
or A.541 (XIII) of November 17, 1983, apply)’’. 
(d) MEASUREMENT.—Section 14302(b) of that title is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) A vessel measured under this chapter may not be required 
to be measured under another law.’’.
H. R. 3619—22 
vessel of that foreign country as complying with this chapter and 
the regulations prescribed under this chapter.’’. 
(j) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for subchapter II of 
chapter 145 of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘14514. Reciprocity for foreign vessels.’’. 
SEC. 304. MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENT STANDARDS. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, 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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
(1) a plan, including estimated costs, to ensure that the 
process for an application, by an individual who has, or has 
applied for, a transportation security card under section 70105 
of title 46, United States Code, for a merchant mariner docu-
ment can be completed entirely by mail; and 
(2) a report on the feasibility of, and a timeline to, redesign 
the merchant mariner document to comply with the require-
ments of such section, including a biometric identifier, and 
all relevant international conventions, including the Inter-
national Labour Organization Convention Number 185 con-
cerning the seafarers identity document, and include a review 
on whether or not such redesign will eliminate the need for 
separate identity credentials and background screening and 
streamline the application process for mariners. 
SEC. 305. SHIP EMISSION REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in conjunc-
tion with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, shall conduct a study— 
(1) that surveys new technology and new applications of 
existing technology for reducing air emissions from cargo or 
passenger vessels that operate in United States waters and 
ports; and 
(2) that identifies the impediments, including any laws 
or regulations, to demonstrating the technology identified in 
paragraph (1). 
(b) REPORT.—Within 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant shall submit a report on the results 
of the study conducted under subsection (a) to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate. 
SEC. 306. PHASEOUT OF VESSELS SUPPORTING OIL AND GAS DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 12111(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, foreign-flag vessels may be chartered by, or 
on behalf of, a lessee to be employed for the setting, relocation, 
or recovery of anchors or other mooring equipment of a mobile 
offshore drilling unit that is located over the Outer Continental 
Shelf (as defined in section 2(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf
H. R. 3619—23 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(a)) for operations in support of explo-
ration, or flow-testing and stimulation of wells, for offshore mineral 
or energy resources in the Beaufort Sea or the Chukchi Sea adjacent 
to Alaska— 
(1) for a 1-year period from the date the lessee gives the 
Secretary of Transportation written notice of the commence-
ment of such exploration drilling if the Secretary determines, 
after publishing notice in the Federal Register, that insufficient 
vessels documented under section 12111(d) of title 46, United 
States Code, are reasonably available and suitable for these 
support operations and all such reasonably available and suit-
able vessels are employed in support of such operations; and 
(2) for an additional period until such vessels are available 
if the Secretary of Transportation determines— 
(A) that, by April 30 of the year following the 
commencement of exploration drilling, the lessee has 
entered into a binding agreement to employ a suitable 
vessel or vessels to be documented under section 12111(d) 
of title 46, United States Code, in sufficient numbers and 
with sufficient suitability to replace any foreign-flag vessel 
or vessels operating under this section; and 
(B) after publishing notice in the Federal Register, 
that insufficient vessels documented under section 12111(d) 
of title 46, United States Code, are reasonably available 
and suitable for these support operations and all such 
reasonably available and suitable vessels are employed in 
support of such operations. 
(b) EXPIRATION.—Irrespective of the year in which the commit-
ment referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A) occurs, foreign-flag anchor 
handling vessels may not be employed for the setting, relocation, 
or recovery of anchors or other mooring equipment of a mobile 
offshore drilling unit after December 31, 2017. 
(c) LESSEE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘lessee’’ means 
the holder of a lease (as defined in section 1331(c) of title 43, 
United States Code), who, prior to giving the written notice in 
subsection (a)(1), has entered into a binding agreement to employ 
a suitable vessel documented or to be documented under 12111(d) 
of title 46, United States Code. 
(d) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in subsection (a) may be con-
strued to authorize the employment in the coastwise trade of a 
vessel that does not meet the requirements of 12111 of title 46, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 307. ARCTIC MARINE SHIPPING ASSESSMENT IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to ensure safe 
and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic including the availability 
of aids to navigation, vessel escorts, spill response capability, and 
maritime search and rescue in the Arctic. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION AGREEMENTS.— 
To carry out the purpose of this section, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating is encouraged 
to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime 
Organization to conclude and execute agreements to promote coordi-
nated action among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, 
Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic nations to 
ensure, in the Arctic— 
(1) placement and maintenance of aids to navigation;
H. R. 3619—24 
(2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and salvage capabilities; 
(3) oil spill prevention and response capability; 
(4) maritime domain awareness, including long-range 
vessel tracking; and 
(5) search and rescue. 
(c) COORDINATION BY COMMITTEE ON THE MARITIME TRANSPOR-
TATION SYSTEM.—The Committee on the Maritime Transportation 
System established under a directive of the President in the Ocean 
Action Plan, issued December 17, 2004, shall coordinate the 
establishment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic nec-
essary to carry out the purpose of this section. 
(d) AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, enter into cooperative agreements, 
contracts, or other agreements with, or make grants to individuals 
and governments to carry out the purpose of this section or any 
agreements established under subsection (b). 
(e) ICEBREAKING.—The Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall promote safe maritime naviga-
tion by means of icebreaking where necessary, feasible, and effective 
to carry out the purposes of this section. 
(f) INDEPENDENT ICE BREAKER ANALYSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require a non-
governmental, independent third party (other than the National 
Academy of Sciences) that has extensive experience in the 
analysis of military procurements, to— 
(A) conduct a comparative cost-benefit analysis, taking 
into account future Coast Guard budget projections (which 
assume Coast Guard budget growth of no more than infla-
tion) and other recapitalization needs, of— 
(i) rebuilding, renovating, or improving the existing 
fleet of polar icebreakers for operation by the Coast 
Guard; 
(ii) constructing new polar icebreakers for oper-
ation by the Coast Guard; 
(iii) construction of new polar icebreakers by the 
National Science Foundation for operation by the 
Foundation; 
(iv) rebuilding, renovating, or improving the 
existing fleet of polar icebreakers by the National 
Science Foundation for operation by the Foundation; 
and 
(v) any combination of the activities described in 
clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) to carry out the missions 
of the Coast Guard and the National Science Founda-
tion; and 
(B) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact 
on all Coast Guard activities, including operations, mainte-
nance, procurements, and end strength, of the acquisition 
of polar icebreakers described in subparagraph (A) by the 
Coast Guard or the National Science Foundation assuming 
that total Coast Guard funding will not increase more 
than the annual rate of inflation. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which
H. R. 3619—25 
the Coast Guard is operating shall submit a report containing 
the results of the analyses required under paragraph (1), 
together with recommendations the Commandant considers 
appropriate under section 93(a)(24) of title 14, United States 
Code, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 
(g) HIGH-LATITUDE STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act or the date of completion of the 
ongoing High-Latitude Study to assess polar icebreaking mission 
requirements for all Coast Guard missions including search and 
rescue, marine pollution response and prevention, fisheries enforce-
ment, and maritime commerce, whichever occurs later, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall submit a report containing 
the results of the study, together with recommendations the Com-
mandant considers appropriate under section 93(a)(24) of title 14, 
United States Code, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 
(h) ARCTIC DEFINITION.—In this section the term ‘‘Arctic’’ has 
the same meaning as in section 112 of the Arctic Research and 
Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
TITLE IV—ACQUISITION REFORM 
SEC. 401. CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 56. Chief Acquisition Officer 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Coast Guard a Chief 
Acquisition Officer selected by the Commandant who shall be a 
Rear Admiral or civilian from the Senior Executive Service (career 
reserved) and who meets the qualifications set forth under sub-
section (b). The Chief Acquisition Officer shall serve at the Assistant 
Commandant level and have acquisition management as that 
individual’s primary duty. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) The Chief Acquisition Officer and any flag officer 
serving in the Acquisition Directorate shall be an acquisition 
professional with a Level III acquisition management certifi-
cation and must have at least 10 years experience in an acquisi-
tion position, of which at least 4 years were spent as— 
‘‘(A) the program executive officer; 
‘‘(B) the program manager of a Level 1 or Level 2 
acquisition project or program; 
‘‘(C) the deputy program manager of a Level 1 or 
Level 2 acquisition; 
‘‘(D) the project manager of a Level 1 or Level 2 acquisi-
tion; or 
‘‘(E) any other acquisition position of significant respon-
sibility in which the primary duties are supervisory or 
management duties. 
‘‘(2) The Commandant shall periodically publish a list of 
the positions designated under paragraph (1).