I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3157 
To improve the handling of instances of sexual harassment, dating violence, 
domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 29, 2017 
Mr. SUOZZI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 
the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To improve the handling of instances of sexual harassment, 
dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 
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 ‘‘Merchant Marine 
Academy Improvement Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION 
AMENDMENTS 
OF 
1972 
TO 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY. 
Section 901(a)(4) of the Education Amendments of 
1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681(a)(4)) is amended by striking 
‘‘States, or the merchant marine;’’ and inserting 
‘‘States;’’. 
SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DAT-
ING VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEX-
UAL 
ASSAULT, 
AND 
STALKING 
AT 
THE 
UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACAD-
EMY. 
(a) REQUIRED POLICY.—Subsection (a) of section 
51318 of title 46, United States Code, as added by section 
3510 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘harassment 
and sexual assault’’ and inserting ‘‘harassment, dat-
ing violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘harassment and sexual as-
sault’’ and inserting ‘‘harassment, dating vio-
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lence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘do-
mestic violence, dating violence, stalking,’’ after 
‘‘acquaintance rape,’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
by striking ‘‘harassment or sexual as-
sault,’’ and inserting ‘‘harassment, dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, 
or stalking,’’; 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘harass-
ment or sexual assault’’ and inserting 
‘‘harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking’’; and 
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘crimi-
nal sexual assault’’ and inserting ‘‘a crimi-
nal sexual offense’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘har-
assment or sexual assault’’ and inserting ‘‘har-
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, sex-
ual assault, or stalking’’; 
(E) in subparagraph (E)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘harass-
ment or sexual assault’’ and inserting 
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‘‘harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘sexual 
assault’’ and inserting ‘‘sexual harassment, 
dating violence, domestic violence, sexual 
assault, or stalking’’; and 
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘har-
assment and sexual assault’’ and inserting 
‘‘harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking’’; and 
(F) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘har-
assment or sexual assault’’ and inserting ‘‘har-
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, sex-
ual assault, or stalking’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR 
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS REGARDING SEXUAL HARASS-
MENT, DATING
VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, 
SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT.—The Maritime Ad-
ministrator shall develop a mandatory training 
program at the United States Merchant Marine 
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Academy for each individual who is involved in 
implementing the Academy’s student grievance 
procedures, including each individual who is re-
sponsible for— 
‘‘(i) resolving complaints of reported 
sexual harassment, dating violence, domes-
tic violence, sexual assault, and stalking; 
‘‘(ii) resolving complaints of reported 
violations of the sexual misconduct policy 
of the Academy; or 
‘‘(iii) conducting an interview with a 
victim of sexual harassment, dating vio-
lence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or 
stalking. 
‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—The Maritime Ad-
ministrator shall develop the training program 
described in subparagraph (A) in consultation 
with national, State, or local sexual assault, 
dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking 
victim advocacy, victim services, or prevention 
organizations. 
‘‘(C) ELEMENTS.—The training required 
by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 
‘‘(i) Information on working with and 
interviewing persons subjected to sexual 
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harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(ii) Information on particular types 
of conduct that would constitute sexual 
harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking, regard-
less of gender, including same-sex sexual 
harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(iii) Information on consent and the 
effect that drugs or alcohol may have on 
an individual’s ability to consent. 
‘‘(iv) Information on the effects of 
trauma, including the neurobiology of trau-
ma. 
‘‘(v) Training regarding the use of 
trauma-informed 
interview 
techniques, 
which means asking questions of an indi-
vidual who has been a victim of sexual har-
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, or stalking in a manner 
that is focused on the experience of the vic-
tim, does not judge or blame the victim, 
and is informed by evidence-based research 
on the neurobiology of trauma. 
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‘‘(vi) Training on cultural awareness 
regarding how dating violence, domestic vi-
olence, sexual assault, or stalking may im-
pact midshipmen differently depending on 
their cultural background. 
‘‘(vii) Information on sexual assault 
dynamics, sexual assault perpetrator be-
havior, and barriers to reporting. 
‘‘(D) APPROVAL.—The training program 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be ap-
proved by the Director of the Departmental Of-
fice of Civil Rights of the Department of Trans-
portation. 
‘‘(E) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(i) DEVELOPMENT
AND
APPROVAL 
SCHEDULE.—The training program re-
quired by subparagraph (A) shall be devel-
oped and approved as required by subpara-
graph (D) not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of the Merchant Ma-
rine Academy Improvement Act of 2017. 
‘‘(ii) COMPLETION
OF
TRAINING.— 
Each individual who is required to com-
plete the training described in subpara-
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graph (A) shall complete such training not 
later than— 
‘‘(I) 270 days after enactment of 
the Merchant Marine Academy Im-
provement Act of 2017; or 
‘‘(II) 180 days after starting a 
position with responsibilities that in-
clude the activities described in clause 
(i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A).’’; 
and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(6) CONSISTENCY
WITH
THE
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION ACT OF 1965.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the policy developed under this subsection 
meets the requirements set out in paragraph (8) of 
section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(8)).’’. 
(b) MINIMUM PROCEDURES
FOR HANDLING RE-
PORTS
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DATING VIOLENCE, 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALK-
ING.—Subsection (b) of section 51318 of title 46, United 
States Code, as added by section 3510 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
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Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the development program of the Academy in-
cludes a section that— 
‘‘(A) describes the relationship between 
honor, respect, and character development and 
the prevention of sexual harassment, dating vio-
lence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking at the Academy; 
‘‘(B) includes a brief history of the prob-
lem of sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in 
the merchant marine, in the Armed Forces, and 
at the Academy; and 
‘‘(C) includes information relating to re-
porting sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, 
victims’ rights, and dismissal for offenders. 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO COMBAT RE-
TALIATION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
the Merchant Marine Academy Improvement 
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Act of 2017, the Maritime Administrator shall 
create and implement a plan to combat retalia-
tion against midshipmen at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy who report sexual 
harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION OF CODE OF CONDUCT.— 
The Maritime Administrator shall consider an 
act of retaliation against a midshipman at the 
Academy who reports sexual harassment, dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or 
stalking as a Class I violation of the Academy’s 
Midshipman Regulations and Sea Year Regula-
tions and Instructions or equivalent code of 
conduct. 
‘‘(C) 
RETALIATION
DEFINITION.—The 
Maritime Administrator shall work with the 
sexual assault prevention and response staff of 
the Academy to define ‘retaliation’ for purposes 
of this subsection. 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall provide the staff at the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy with 
adequate and appropriate sexual harassment, 
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dating violence, domestic violence, sexual as-
sault, and stalking prevention and response 
training materials and resources. Such re-
sources shall include staff as follows: 
‘‘(i) Sexual assault response coordi-
nator. 
‘‘(ii) Prevention educator. 
‘‘(iii) Administrative staff member. 
‘‘(iv) Strategic Sealift Officer. 
‘‘(B) COMMUNICATION.—The Director of 
the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of 
Transportation shall create and maintain a di-
rect line of communication to the sexual assault 
response staff of the Academy that is outside of 
the chain of command of the Academy. 
‘‘(4) MINIMUM
TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Superintendent shall ensure that all cadets re-
ceive training on the sexual harassment, dating vio-
lence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking 
prevention and response sections of the development 
program of the Academy, as described in paragraph 
(1), as follows: 
‘‘(A) An initial training session, which 
shall occur not later than 7 days after a cadet’s 
initial arrival at the Academy. 
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‘‘(B) Additional training sessions, which 
shall occur biannually following the cadet’s ini-
tial training session until the cadet graduates 
or leaves the Academy.’’. 
(c) AGGREGATE REPORTING.—Section 51318 of title 
46, United States Code, as added by section 3510 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) DATA FOR AGGREGATE REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No requirement related to 
confidentiality in this section or section 51319 may 
be construed to prevent a sexual assault response co-
ordinator from providing information for any report 
required by law regrading sexual harassment, dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalk-
ing. 
‘‘(2) IDENTITY PROTECTION.—Any information 
provided for a report referred to in paragraph (1) 
shall be provided in a manner that protects the iden-
tity of the victim or witness.’’. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 51318 of title 46, United 
States Code, as added by section 3510 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
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Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), as amended by subsection 
(c), is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and section 
51319: 
‘‘(1) DATING VIOLENCE; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; 
STALKING.—The terms ‘dating violence’, ‘domestic 
violence’, and ‘stalking’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence 
Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)). 
‘‘(2) SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The term ‘sexual as-
sault’ means an offense classified as a forcible or 
nonforcible sex offense under the uniform crime re-
porting system of the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion.’’. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) HEADING.—Section 51318 of title 46, 
United States Code, as added by section 3510 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), is 
amended by striking the section heading and insert-
ing the following: 
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‘‘§ 51318. Policy on sexual harassment, dating vio-
lence, domestic violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking’’. 
(2) TABLE
OF
SECTIONS
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 513 of title 46, United 
States Code, as amended by subtitle A of title 
XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 
Stat. 2774), is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 51318 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 51318. Policy on sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, and stalking.’’. 
SEC. 4. SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATORS AND 
SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 51319 of title 46, United 
States Code, as added by section 3511 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2785), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (g); and 
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) SEXUAL
ASSAULT
RESPONSE
COORDINA-
TORS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT FOR COORDINATORS.—The 
United States Merchant Marine Academy shall em-
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ploy or contract with at least 1 full-time sexual as-
sault response coordinator who shall reside at or 
near the Academy. The Secretary of Transportation 
may assign additional full-time or part-time sexual 
assault response coordinators at the Academy as 
necessary. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
CRITERIA.—Each sexual as-
sault response coordinator shall be selected based 
on— 
‘‘(A) experience and a demonstrated ability 
to effectively provide victim services related to 
sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic vi-
olence, sexual assault, and stalking; and 
‘‘(B) protection of the individual under 
State law to provide privileged communication. 
‘‘(3) CONFIDENTIALITY.—A sexual assault re-
sponse coordinator shall, to the extent authorized 
under State law, provide confidential services to a 
midshipman who reports being a victim of, or wit-
ness to, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic 
violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(4) TRAINING.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of the 
Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 
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2017, the Maritime Administrator shall develop 
a specialized training program for each sexual 
assault response coordinator and receive ap-
proval for such program from the Director of 
the Departmental Office of Civil Rights of the 
Department of Transportation within 90 days 
of enactment of this Act. 
‘‘(B) 
TRAINING
PROGRAM
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The specialized training program re-
quired by subparagraph (A) shall include train-
ing in— 
‘‘(i) working with victims of sexual 
harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, and stalking; 
‘‘(ii) the policies, procedures, and re-
sources of the Academy related to respond-
ing to sexual harassment, dating violence, 
domestic violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking; and 
‘‘(iii) national, State, and local victim 
services and resources available to victims 
of sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, and stalk-
ing. 
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‘‘(C) APPROVAL.—The specialized training 
program developed under subparagraph (A) 
shall be approved by the Director of the De-
partmental Office of Civil Rights of the Depart-
ment of Transportation. 
‘‘(D) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(i) DEVELOPMENT
AND
APPROVAL 
SCHEDULE.—The specialized training pro-
gram required by subparagraph (A) shall 
be developed and approved as required by 
subparagraph (C) not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Mer-
chant Marine Academy Improvement Act 
of 2017. 
‘‘(ii) COMPLETION OF TRAINING.—A 
sexual assault response coordinator shall 
complete the specialized training program 
required by subparagraph (A) not later 
than— 
‘‘(I) 270 days after enactment of 
the Merchant Marine Academy Im-
provement Act of 2017; or 
‘‘(II) 180 days after starting in 
the role of sexual assault response co-
ordinator. 
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‘‘(5) DUTIES.—A sexual assault response coor-
dinator shall— 
‘‘(A) confidentially receive reports from 
victims of sexual harassment, dating violence, 
domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; 
‘‘(B) inform such victims of— 
‘‘(i) their rights under Federal and 
State law; 
‘‘(ii) options for reporting an incident 
of sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking 
to the Academy and law enforcement; 
‘‘(iii) how to access available services, 
including emergency medical care, medical 
forensic or evidentiary examinations, legal 
services, services provided by rape crisis 
centers and other victim service providers, 
services provided by the volunteer sexual 
assault victim advocates at the Academy, 
and crisis intervention counseling and on-
going counseling; 
‘‘(iv) such coordinator’s ability to as-
sist in arranging access to such services, 
with the consent of the victim; 
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‘‘(v) available accommodations, such 
as allowing a victim to change living ar-
rangements and obtain accessibility serv-
ices; 
‘‘(vi) such coordinator’s ability to as-
sist in arranging such accommodations, 
with the consent of the victim; 
‘‘(vii) the victim’s rights and the 
Academy’s responsibilities regarding orders 
of protection, no contact orders, restrain-
ing orders, or similar lawful orders issued 
by the Academy or a criminal, civil, or 
tribal court; and 
‘‘(viii) privacy limitations based on 
Federal and State law; 
‘‘(C) represent the interests of any mid-
shipmen who reports being a victim of sexual 
harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, or stalking, even if such inter-
ests are in conflict with the interests of the 
Academy; 
‘‘(D) advise such victims of, and provide 
written materials regarding, the information de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); 
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‘‘(E) liaise with appropriate staff at the 
Academy, with the victim’s consent, to arrange 
reasonable accommodations through the Acad-
emy to allow a victim to change living arrange-
ments, obtain accessibility services, or access 
other accommodations; 
‘‘(F) maintain the privacy and confiden-
tiality of the victim, and shall not notify the 
Academy or any other authority of the identity 
of the victim or the alleged circumstances sur-
rounding the reported incident unless— 
‘‘(i) otherwise required by the applica-
ble State law; or 
‘‘(ii) requested to do so by the victim 
who has been fully and accurately informed 
about what procedures shall occur if the 
information is shared; 
‘‘(G) assist the victim in contacting and re-
porting an incident of sexual harassment, dat-
ing violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, 
or stalking to the Academy or law enforcement, 
if requested to do so by the victim who has been 
fully and accurately informed about what proce-
dures shall occur if information is shared; and 
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‘‘(H) submit to the Director of the Office 
of Civil Rights of the Department of Transpor-
tation an annual report summarizing how the 
resources supplied to the coordinator were used 
during the prior year, including the number of 
victims assisted by the coordinator. 
‘‘(b) OVERSIGHT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) REPORTING.—Each sexual assault re-
sponse coordinator shall— 
‘‘(i) report directly to the Super-
intendent; and 
‘‘(ii) have concurrent reporting re-
sponsibility to the Executive Director of 
the Maritime Administration on matters 
related to the Maritime Administration and 
the Department of Transportation and 
upon belief that the Academy leadership is 
acting inappropriately regarding sexual as-
sault prevention and response matters. 
‘‘(B) SUPPORT.—The Maritime Adminis-
tration Office of Civil Rights shall provide sup-
port to the sexual assault response staff at the 
Academy on all sexual assault and sexual har-
assment prevention matters. 
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‘‘(2) PROHIBITION ON INVESTIGATION BY THE 
ACADEMY.—Any request by a victim for an accom-
modation, as described in subsection (a)(5)(F), made 
by a sexual assault response coordinator shall not 
trigger an investigation by the Academy, even if 
such coordinator deals only with matters relating to 
sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION.—A sexual 
assault response coordinator, victim advocate, or 
companion may not be disciplined, penalized, or oth-
erwise retaliated against by the Academy for rep-
resenting the interests of the victim, even if such in-
terests are in conflict with the interests of the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(c) SUPPORT FOR REPORTING.—The Maritime Ad-
ministrator shall contract with a third party to make sup-
port services available 24 hours a day to midshipmen at 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy who are vic-
tims of sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking. Such support shall— 
‘‘(1) be greater than or equal to the support 
services offered by the Department of Defense 
SAFE Helpline; and 
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‘‘(2) be provided by individuals who are trained 
regarding the resources that are available to mid-
shipmen that might not be available to the general 
public.’’. 
(b) REPEAL OF DUPLICATE REQUIREMENT.—Sub-
section (g) of section 51319 of title 46, United States 
Code, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (5); 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as para-
graph (5); and 
(3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘(3), (4), and (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3) and 
(4)’’. 
SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL AS-
SAULT ONBOARD VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 513 of title 46, United 
States Code, as amended by subtitle A of title XXXV of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328), is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 51320. Protection of students from sexual assault 
onboard vessels 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL SATELLITE COMMU-
NICATION DEVICES DURING SEA YEAR.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Maritime Adminis-
trator shall ensure that each midshipman at the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy is pro-
vided a functional satellite communication device 
during the midshipman’s Sea Year. 
‘‘(2) CHECK-IN.—Not less often than once each 
week, each such midshipman shall check-in with des-
ignated personnel at the Academy via the mid-
shipman’s personal satellite communication device. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Mari-
time Administrator such funds as may be necessary 
to carry out paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) RIDING GANGS.—The Maritime Administrator 
shall— 
‘‘(1) require the owner or operator of any com-
mercial vessel carrying a midshipman of the Acad-
emy to certify their compliance with the Inter-
national Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 
with annex, done at London November 1, 1974 (32 
UST 47), and section 8106; and 
‘‘(2) ensure the Academy informs midshipmen 
preparing for Sea Year of the obligations that vessel 
owners and operators have to provide for the secu-
rity of individuals aboard a vessel under United 
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States law, including chapter 81 and section 
70103(c). 
‘‘(c) CHECKS OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not less frequently than 
once every two years, the sexual assault prevention 
and response staff of the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy or the Maritime Administration 
shall conduct both random and targeted unan-
nounced checks of not less than 10 percent of the 
commercial vessels that host a midshipman from the 
Academy. 
‘‘(2) REMOVAL OF STUDENTS.—If such staff 
determine that such a commercial vessel is in viola-
tion of the sexual assault policy developed by the 
Academy through such a check, such staff are au-
thorized to remove any midshipman of the Academy 
from the vessel and report any such violation to the 
company that owns the vessel. 
‘‘(d) MAINTENANCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING 
RECORDS.—The Maritime Administrator shall require 
each company or seafarer union for a commercial vessel 
to maintain records of sexual assault training for the crew 
and passengers of any vessel hosting a midshipman from 
the Academy. 
‘‘(e) SEA YEAR SURVEY.— 
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‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Maritime Adminis-
trator shall require each midshipman from the Acad-
emy upon completion of the midshipman’s Sea Year 
to complete a survey regarding the environment and 
conditions on each commercial vessel that hosted the 
midshipman during the Sea Year. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Maritime Adminis-
trator shall make available to the public for each 
year— 
‘‘(A) the questions used in the survey re-
quired by paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) the aggregated data received from 
such surveys.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, 
as amended by subtitle A of title XXXV of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
Law 114–328), is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 51320. Protection of students from sexual assault onboard vessels.’’. 
SEC. 6. TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN-
VESTIGATORS. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall require each 
employee of the Office of Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Transportation who conducts investigations and 
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who is assigned to the Regional Investigations Office in 
New York, New York— 
(1) to participate in specialized training in con-
ducting sexual assault investigations; and 
(2) to attend at least one Federal Law Enforce-
ment Training Center (FLETC) sexual assault in-
vestigation course each year. 
Æ 
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