IIB 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2443
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 6, 2003
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation 
AN ACT 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 
year 2004, to amend various laws administered by the 
Coast Guard, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2003’’. 
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—AUTHORIZATION 
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD MANAGEMENT 
Sec. 201. Long-term leases. 
Sec. 202. Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. 
Sec. 203. Term of enlistments. 
Sec. 204. Enlisted member critical skill training bonus. 
Sec. 205. Indemnification for disabling vessels liable to seizure or examination. 
Sec. 206. Administrative, collection, and enforcement costs for certain fees and 
charges. 
Sec. 207. Expansion of Coast Guard housing authorities. 
Sec. 208. Requirement for constructive credit. 
Sec. 209. Maximum age for retention in an active status. 
Sec. 210. Payments. 
Sec. 211. Coast Guard fellowship program. 
Sec. 212. Air search and rescue facility in Muskegon County, Michigan. 
Sec. 213. National Coast Guard Museum. 
Sec. 214. Limitation on number of commissioned officers. 
Sec. 215. Redistricting notification requirement. 
Sec. 216. ROTC demonstration project. 
Sec. 217. Shock mitigation requirements. 
Sec. 218. Coast Guard yard. 
Sec. 219. Recommendations to Congress by Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
Sec. 220. Assignment of officer to National War College. 
Sec. 221. Coast Guard education loan repayment program. 
TITLE III—NAVIGATION 
Sec. 301. Marking of underwater wrecks. 
Sec. 302. Use of electronic devices; cooperative agreements. 
Sec. 303. Inland navigation rules promulgation authority. 
TITLE IV—SHIPPING 
Sec. 401. Reports from charterers. 
Sec. 402. Suspension of documents in lieu of mandatory revocation for proved 
drug convictions. 
Sec. 403. Inspection of records of merchant mariners’ documents.
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Sec. 404. Exemption of unmanned barges from citizenship requirements re-
garding command of vessel. 
Sec. 405. Compliance with International Safety Management Code. 
Sec. 406. Civil penalties for failure to comply with recreational vessel and asso-
ciated equipment safety standards. 
Sec. 407. Revision of temporary suspension criteria in document suspension 
and revocation cases. 
Sec. 408. Revision of bases for document suspension and revocation cases. 
Sec. 409. Hours of service on towing vessels. 
Sec. 410. Automatic identification system electronic charts. 
Sec. 411. Prevention of departure. 
Sec. 412. Service of foreign nationals for maritime educational purposes. 
Sec. 413. Classification societies. 
Sec. 414. Membership of area maritime security advisory committees. 
Sec. 415. Security plans. 
TITLE V—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations for Federal Maritime Commission. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 601. Increase in civil penalties for violations of certain bridge statutes. 
Sec. 602. Conveyance of decommissioned Coast Guard cutters. 
Sec. 603. Tonnage measurement. 
Sec. 604. Operation of vessel STAD AMSTERDAM. 
Sec. 605. Great Lakes National Maritime Enhancement Institute. 
Sec. 606. Agile Port and Intelligent Border Security National Demonstration 
Project. 
Sec. 607. Koss Cove. 
Sec. 608. Miscellaneous certificates of documentation. 
Sec. 609. Regulations. 
Sec. 610. Report regarding security inspection of vessels and vessel-borne cargo 
containers entering the United States. 
Sec. 611. Conveyance of decommissioned Coast Guard vessels. 
Sec. 612. Assateague lighthouse lens. 
Sec. 613. Study of the role of Coast Guard ice breakers in supporting United 
States operations in the Antarctic and the Arctic. 
Sec. 614. Correction of references to national driver register. 
Sec. 615. Wateree River. 
Sec. 616. Alaska Merchant Mariners’ documents pilot program. 
Sec. 617. Conveyance of Sentinel Island Light Station, Alaska. 
Sec. 618. Maritime intelligence and long-range vessel tracking system. 
Sec. 619. Columbia slough. 
Sec. 620. Sense of Congress regarding carbon monoxide and watercraft. 
Sec. 621. Sense of Congress regarding naming new vessels under the deepwater 
program for cities of the United States. 
Sec. 622. Port security grant authority. 
Sec. 623. Security assessment of Indian Point Energy Center. 
Sec. 624. Mitigation of penalty due to avoidance of a certain hazardous condi-
tion. 
Sec. 625. Designation of Empress of the North as a tour vessel. 
Sec. 626. Sense of Congress regarding timely review and adjustment of Great 
Lakes pilotage rates. 
Sec. 627. Priority for public transportation systems in making grants for imple-
mentation of security plans.
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Sec. 628. Limitation on bridge alteration projects. 
TITLE VII—AMENDMENTS RELATING TO OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 
1990
Sec. 701. Vessel response plans for nontank vessels over 400 gross tons. 
Sec. 702. Requirements for tank level and pressure monitoring devices. 
Sec. 703. Liability and cost recovery. 
Sec. 704. Oil spill recovery institute. 
Sec. 705. Alternatives.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Funds are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2004 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as 
follows: 
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, $4,865,000,000, of which $25,000,000 
is authorized to be derived from the Oil Spill Liabil-
ity Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of section 
1012(a)(5) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 
(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuild-
ing, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, includ-
ing equipment related thereto, $1,147,000,000, of 
which—
(A) $23,500,000 is authorized to be de-
rived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to 
carry out the purposes of section 1012(a)(5) of 
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990; and 
(B) $702,000,000 is authorized for acqui-
sition and construction of shore and offshore fa-
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cilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equip-
ment related thereto, and other activities that 
constitute the Integrated Deepwater System 
program. 
(3) For research, development, test, and evalua-
tion of technologies, materials, and human factors 
directly relating to improving the performance of the 
Coast Guard’s mission in search and rescue, aids to 
navigation, marine safety, marine environmental 
protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice op-
erations, oceanographic research, and defense readi-
ness, $22,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, of which $3,500,000 is authorized to be de-
rived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to 
carry out the purposes of section 1012(a)(5) of the 
Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 
(4) For retired pay (including payment of obli-
gations otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropria-
tions for this purpose), payments under the Retired 
Serviceman’s Family Protection and Survivor Ben-
efit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired 
personnel and their dependents under chapter 55 of 
title 10, United States Code, $1,020,000,000. 
(5) For alteration or removal of bridges over 
navigable waters of the United States constituting
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obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 
administrative costs associated with the Bridge Al-
teration Program, $19,250,000, to remain available 
until expended. 
(6) For environmental compliance and restora-
tion at Coast Guard facilities (other than parts and 
equipment associated with operation and mainte-
nance), $17,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
(7) For maintenance and operation of facilities, 
supplies, equipment, and services necessary for the 
Coast Guard Reserve, as authorized by law, 
$114,000,000. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 
AND TRAINING. 
(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is 
authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty per-
sonnel of 45,500 as of September 30, 2004. 
(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 
Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu-
dent loads as follows: 
(1) For recruit and special training for fiscal 
year 2004, 2,500 student years. 
(2) For flight training for fiscal year 2004, 125 
student years.
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(3) For professional training in military and ci-
vilian institutions for fiscal year 2004, 350 student 
years. 
(4) For officer acquisition for fiscal year 2004, 
1,200 student years. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
MANAGEMENT 
SEC. 201. LONG-TERM LEASES. 
Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (a) through (x) 
in order as paragraphs (1) through (23); 
(2) in paragraph (18) (as so redesignated) by 
striking the comma at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘For the pur-
pose’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(14), a lease 
described in paragraph (2) of this subsection may be for 
a term of up to 20 years. 
‘‘(2) A lease referred to in paragraph (1) is a lease—
‘‘(A) to the United States Coast Guard Acad-
emy Alumni Association for the construction of an
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Alumni Center on the grounds of the United States 
Coast Guard Academy; or 
‘‘(B) to an entity with which the Commandant 
has a cooperative agreement under section 4(e) of 
the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, and for which 
a term longer than 5 years is necessary to carry out 
the agreement.’’. 
SEC. 202. NONAPPROPRIATED FUND INSTRUMENTALITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 152. Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities: con-
tracts with other agencies and instru-
mentalities to provide or obtain goods 
and services 
‘‘The Coast Guard Exchange System, or a morale, 
welfare, and recreation system of the Coast Guard, may 
enter into a contract or other agreement with any element 
or instrumentality of the Coast Guard or with another 
Federal department, agency, or instrumentality to provide 
or obtain goods and services beneficial to the efficient 
management and operation of the Coast Guard Exchange 
System or that morale, welfare, and recreation system.’’.
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘152. Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities: contracts with other agencies and 
instrumentalities to provide or obtain goods and services.’’.
SEC. 203. TERM OF ENLISTMENTS. 
Section 351(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘terms of full years not exceeding 
six years.’’ and inserting ‘‘a period of at least two years 
but not more than six years.’’. 
SEC. 204. ENLISTED MEMBER CRITICAL SKILL TRAINING 
BONUS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 373 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 374. Critical skill training bonus 
‘‘(a) The Secretary may provide a bonus, not to ex-
ceed $20,000, to an enlisted member who completes train-
ing in a skill designated as critical, if at least four years 
of obligated active service remain on the member’s enlist-
ment at the time the training is completed. A bonus under 
this section may be paid in a single lump sum or in peri-
odic installments. 
‘‘(b) If an enlisted member voluntarily or because of 
misconduct does not complete the member’s term of obli-
gated active service, the Secretary may require the mem-