(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and inserting 
‘‘Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating’’; 
(C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating’’; 
and 
(D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’. 
(5) GENERAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1946.—The Gen-
eral Bridge Act 1946 is amended— 
(A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), 
by striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 
(B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:08 Apr 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1987.IH
H1987
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(6) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972.—The 
International Bridge Act of 1972 is amended— 
(A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating’’; and 
(B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating’’. 
SEC. 308. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MA-
RINE CASUALTY REPORTING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of the actions the Commandant will take to imple-
ment recommendations on improvements to the Coast 
Guard’s marine casualty reporting requirements and pro-
cedures included in— 
(1) the Department of Homeland Security Of-
fice of Inspector General report entitled ‘‘Marine Ac-
cident Reporting, Investigations, and Enforcement 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:08 Apr 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1987.IH
H1987
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
in the United States Coast Guard’’, released on May 
23, 2013; and 
(2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee re-
port entitled ‘‘Recommendations for Improvement of 
Marine Casualty Reporting’’, released on March 26, 
2015. 
SEC. 309. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations 
amending Table 4 to Subpart H of Part 183–Weights 
(Pounds) of Outboard Motor and Related Equipment for 
Various Boat Horsepower Ratings (33 C.F.R. 183) as ap-
propriate to reflect ‘‘Standard 30–Outboard Engine and 
Related Equipment Weights’’ published by the American 
Boat and Yacht Council, as in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 310. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION 
REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law and pursuant to regulations prescribed by 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:08 Apr 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1987.IH
H1987
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the Secretary, a trusted agent may issue a medical certifi-
cate to an individual who— 
‘‘(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a 
license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s 
document, or endorsement thereto under this part; 
and 
‘‘(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and phys-
ical condition to perform the duties of such license, 
certificate, document, or endorsement, as determined 
by the trusted agent. 
‘‘(b) TRUSTED AGENT DEFINED.—In this section the 
term ‘trusted agent’ means a medical practitioner certified 
by the Secretary to perform physical examinations of an 
individual for purposes of a license, certificate of registry, 
or merchant mariner’s document under this part.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
issue a final rule implementing section 7509 of title 46, 
United States Code, as added by this section. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.’’. 
SEC. 311. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY. 
Not later than April 1, 2016, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall conclude the Atlantic Coast Port Access 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:08 Apr 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1987.IH
H1987
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Route Study and submit the results of such study to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 312. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR REC-
REATIONAL VESSELS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations 
that— 
(1) make certificates of documentation for rec-
reational vessels effective for 5 years; and 
(2) require the owner of such a vessel— 
(A) to notify the Coast Guard of each 
change in the information on which the 
issuance of the certificate of documentation is 
based, that occurs before the expiration of the 
certificate; and 
(B) apply for a new certificates of docu-
mentation for such a vessel if there is any such 
change. 
SEC. 313. PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:08 Apr 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1987.IH
H1987
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS