1227 
† HR 2810 EAS 
MENT, DATING VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEX-
UAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT.—The Maritime Ad-
ministrator shall direct the Superintendent of 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy to 
develop a mandatory training program at the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy for 
each individual who is involved in implementing 
the Academy’s student disciplinary grievance 
procedures, including each individual who is re-
sponsible for— 
‘‘(i) resolving complaints of reported 
sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic 
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 Superintendent 
shall develop the training program described in 
subparagraph (A) in consultation with national, 
State, or local sexual assault, dating violence,
1228 
† HR 2810 EAS 
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 
harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(ii) Information on particular types 
of conduct that would constitute sexual har-
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, or stalking, regardless of 
gender, including same-sex sexual harass-
ment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
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-
1229 
† HR 2810 EAS 
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, 
sexual assault, or stalking in a manner that 
is focused on the experience of the victim, 
does not judge or blame the victim, and is 
informed by evidence-based research on the 
neurobiology of trauma. 
‘‘(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 behav-
ior, and barriers to reporting. 
‘‘(D) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(i) DEVELOPMENT
AND
APPROVAL 
SCHEDULE.—The training program re-
quired by subparagraph (A) shall be devel-
oped not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. 
‘‘(ii) COMPLETION
OF
TRAINING.— 
Each individual who is required to complete 
the training described in subparagraph (A)
1230 
† HR 2810 EAS 
shall complete such training not later 
than— 
‘‘(I) 270 days after enactment of 
the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2018; or 
‘‘(II) 180 days after starting a 
position with responsibilities that in-
clude the activities described clause (i), 
(ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A).’’; 
and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5), as so redes-
ignated, 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 REPORTS 
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DATING VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING.—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 Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 
2782), is amended to read as follows:
1231 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Maritime Administrator 
shall ensure that the development program of the 
Academy includes 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 problem 
of sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic 
violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the mer-
chant 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, vic-
tims’ 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 National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2018, the Maritime Administrator shall 
direct the Superintendent of the United States
1232 
† HR 2810 EAS 
Merchant Marine Academy to implement and 
maintain a plan to combat retaliation against 
midshipmen at the United States Merchant Ma-
rine Academy who report sexual harassment, 
dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, 
or stalking. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION OF CODE OF CONDUCT.— 
The Superintendent shall consider an act of re-
taliation 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 Mid-
shipman Regulations or equivalent code of con-
duct. 
‘‘(C) RETALIATION
DEFINITION.—The Su-
perintendent shall work with the sexual assault 
prevention and response staff of the Academy to 
define ‘retaliation’ for purposes of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Maritime Adminis-
trator shall ensure the staff at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy are provided ade-
quate and appropriate sexual harassment, dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and
1233 
† HR 2810 EAS 
stalking prevention and response training mate-
rials and resources. Such resources shall include 
staff as follows: 
‘‘(i) Sexual assault response coordi-
nator. 
‘‘(ii) Prevention educator. 
‘‘(iii) Civil rights officer. 
‘‘(iv) Staff member to oversee Sea Year. 
‘‘(B) COMMUNICATION.—The Director of the 
Office of Civil Rights of the Maritime Adminis-
tration shall create and maintain a direct 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 receive 
training on the sexual harassment, dating violence, 
domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking preven-
tion and response sections of the development pro-
gram 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.
1234 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(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 add-
ing 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 coor-
dinator from providing information for any report 
required by law regarding sexual harassment, dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 
‘‘(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 De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 
114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), as amended by subsection (c), 
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
1235 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and section 51319: 
‘‘(1) DATING
VIOLENCE; DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE; 
STALKING.—The terms ‘dating violence’, ‘domestic vi-
olence’, and ‘stalking’ have the meanings given those 
terms is 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 non-
forcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting 
system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.’’. 
(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 (Pub-
lic Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2782), is amended by 
striking the section heading and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 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
1236 
† HR 2810 EAS 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
51318 and inserting the following: 
‘‘51318. Policy on sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual as-
sault, and stalking.’’. 
SEC. 13511. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE 
STAFF. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 51319 of title 46, United 
States Code, as added by section 3511 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 
114–328; 130 Stat. 2785), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
(c); and 
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE COORDINATORS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT
FOR
COORDINATORS.—The 
United States Merchant Marine Academy shall em-
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 as-
sault response coordinators at the Academy as nec-
essary. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Each sexual assault 
response coordinator shall be selected based on—
1237 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(A) experience and a demonstrated ability 
to effectively provide victim services related to 
sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic vio-
lence, sexual assault, and stalking; and 
‘‘(B) protection of the individual under ap-
plicable law to provide privileged communica-
tion. 
‘‘(3) CONFIDENTIALITY.—A sexual assault re-
sponse coordinator shall, to the extent authorized 
under applicable 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) VERIFICATION.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2018, the Maritime Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the Maritime Adminis-
tration Office of Civil Rights, shall develop a 
process to verify that each sexual assault re-
sponse coordinator has completed proper train-
ing.
1238 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(B) 
TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
training referred to in subparagraph (A) shall 
include training 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 stalk-
ing; and 
‘‘(iii) national, State, and local victim 
services and resources available to victims 
of sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 
‘‘(C) COMPLETION OF TRAINING.—A sexual 
assault response coordinator shall complete the 
training referred to in subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) not later than— 
‘‘(i) 270 days after enactment of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2018; or 
‘‘(ii) 180 days after starting in the role 
of sexual assault response coordinator.
1239 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(5) DUTIES.—A sexual assault response coordi-
nator shall— 
‘‘(A) confidentially receive a report from a 
victim of sexual harassment, dating violence, do-
mestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; 
‘‘(B) inform the victim of— 
‘‘(i) the victim’s rights under applica-
ble 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 as-
sault victim advocates at the Academy, and 
crisis intervention counseling and ongoing 
counseling; 
‘‘(iv) such coordinator’s ability to as-
sist in arranging access to such services, 
with the consent of the victim;
1240 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(v) available accommodations, such as 
allowing the 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 Acad-
emy’s responsibilities regarding orders of 
protection, no contact orders, restraining 
orders, or similar lawful orders issued by 
the Academy or a criminal, civil, or tribal 
court; and 
‘‘(viii) privacy limitations under ap-
plicable 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 interests 
are in conflict with the interests of the Academy; 
‘‘(D) advise the victim of, and provide writ-
ten materials regarding, the information de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); 
‘‘(E) liaise with appropriate staff at the 
Academy, with the victim’s consent, to arrange
1241 
† HR 2810 EAS 
reasonable accommodations through the Academy 
to allow the 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 applicable 
law; 
‘‘(ii) requested to do so by the victim 
who has been fully and accurately informed 
about what procedures shall occur if the in-
formation is shared; or 
‘‘(iii) notwithstanding clause (i) or 
clause (ii), there is risk of imminent harm 
to other individuals; 
‘‘(G) assist the victim in contacting and re-
porting an incident of sexual harassment, dating 
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
1242 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘(H) submit to the Director of the Maritime 
Administration Office of Civil Rights 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 respon-
sibility to the Executive Director of the 
Maritime Administration on matters re-
lated 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 coordinator at 
the Academy on all sexual harassment, dating
1243 
† HR 2810 EAS 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or 
stalking prevention matters. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION
ON
INVESTIGATION
BY
THE 
ACADEMY.—Any request by a victim for an accommo-
dation, 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 coordi-
nator deals only with matters relating to sexual har-
assment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual as-
sault, or stalking. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION.—A sexual 
assault response coordinator, victim advocate, or com-
panion may not be disciplined, penalized, or other-
wise 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.’’. 
(b) ACCESS OF ACADEMY MIDSHIPMEN TO DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE SAFE HELPLINE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation, acting through the Superintendent of the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the 
Secretary of Defense shall jointly provide for the ac-
cess to and use of the Department of Defense SAFE
1244 
† HR 2810 EAS 
Helpline by midshipmen at the Merchant Marine 
Academy. 
(2) TRAINING.—The training provided to per-
sonnel of the Department of Defense SAFE Helpline 
shall include training on the resources available to 
midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy in 
connection with sexual assault, sexual harassment, 
domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. 
(c) REPEAL
OF DUPLICATE REQUIREMENT.—Sub-
section (c) of section 51319 of title 46, United States Code, 
as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)— 
(1) by striking paragraph (5); 
(2) redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph 
(5); and 
(3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘(3), (4), and (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3) and 
(4)’’. 
SEC. 13512. 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:
1245 
† HR 2810 EAS 
‘‘§ 51320. Protection of students from sexual assault 
onboard vessels 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL SATELLITE COMMU-
NICATION DEVICES DURING SEA YEAR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Maritime Administrator 
shall ensure that each midshipman at the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy is provided a func-
tional satellite communication device during the mid-
shipman’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. A 
text message sent via the midshipman’s personal sat-
ellite device shall meet the requirement for a weekly 
check-in for purposes of this paragraph. 
‘‘(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 International 
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
1246 
† HR 2810 EAS 
owners and operators have to provide for the security 
of individuals aboard a vessel under United States 
law, including chapter 81 and section 70103(c). 
‘‘(c) CHECKS OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not less frequently than 
biennially, the staff of the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy or the Maritime Administration 
shall conduct both random and targeted unannounced 
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 de-
termine that such a commercial vessel is in violation 
of the sexual assault policy developed by the Academy 
through such a check, such staff are authorized to re-
move 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 main-
tain records of sexual assault training for the crew and pas-
sengers of any vessel hosting a midshipman from the Acad-
emy. 
‘‘(e) SEA YEAR SURVEY.—