H. R. 7776—700 
the head of an agency referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
publish such request on the website of such agency. 
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION OF WAIVER DENIAL.—Not later than 
48 hours after denying a waiver requested under this sub-
section, the head of an agency referred to in paragraph 
(1) shall publish on the website of such agency an expla-
nation for denying such waiver, including applicable 
findings to support the denial.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
inserting ‘‘and the individual requesting such waiver (if 
not the owner or operator of the vessel)’’ before ‘‘shall 
submit’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) 
as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (G), respectively; 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: 
‘‘(B) the name of the owner and operator of the vessel;’’; 
and 
(E) by inserting after subparagraph (D), as so redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(E) a description of the cargo carried; 
‘‘(F) an explanation as to why the waiver was in the 
interest of national defense; and’’. 
SEC. 3542. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY. 
(a) STUDY TO INFORM A NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall seek to enter into an agreement with a 
studies and analysis federally funded research and development 
center under which such center shall conduct a study to identify 
the key elements needed for a national maritime strategy that 
is designed to— 
(A) achieve the objectives described in section 50101 
of title 46, United States Code; and 
(B) ensure— 
(i) a capable, commercially viable, militarily useful 
fleet of a sufficient number of merchant vessels docu-
mented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States 
Code; 
(ii) a robust United States mariner workforce, as 
described in section 50101 of title 46, United States 
Code; 
(iii) strong United States domestic shipbuilding 
infrastructure, 
and 
related 
shipbuilding 
trades 
amongst skilled workers in the United States; and 
(iv) that the Navy Fleet Auxiliary Force, the 
National Defense Reserve Fleet, the Military Sealift 
Command, the Maritime Security Program under 
chapter 531 of title 46, United States Code, the Cable 
Security Program under chapter 532 of title 46, United 
States Code, and the Tanker Security Program under 
chapter 534 of title 46, United States Code currently 
meet the economic and national security needs of the 
United States and would reliably continue to meet
H. R. 7776—701 
those needs under future economic or national security 
emergencies. 
(2) DEADLINE
FOR
COMPLETION.—An agreement entered 
into pursuant to paragraph (1) shall specify that the federally 
funded research and development center shall complete the 
study by not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(3) INPUT.—An agreement entered into pursuant to para-
graph (1) shall specify that, in carrying out the study, the 
federally funded research and development center shall solicit 
input from— 
(A) relevant Federal departments and agencies; 
(B) nongovernmental organizations; 
(C) United States companies; 
(D) maritime labor organizations; 
(E) commercial industries that depend on United 
States mariners; 
(F) domestic shipyards regarding shipbuilding and 
repair capacity, and the associated skilled workforce, such 
as the workforce required for transportation, offshore wind, 
fishing, and aquaculture; 
(G) providers of maritime workforce training; and 
(H) any other relevant organizations. 
(4) REQUIREMENTS OF AGREEMENT.—An agreement entered 
into pursuant to paragraph (1) shall specify that, in carrying 
out the study, the federally funded research and development 
center shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating, the Adminstrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, in the identification and 
evaluation of— 
(A) incentives, including regulatory changes, needed 
to continue to meet the shipbuilding and ship maintenance 
needs of the United States for commercial and national 
security purposes, including through a review of— 
(i) the loans and guarantees program carried out 
under chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code, 
and how the development of new offshore commercial 
industries, such as wind energy, could be supported 
through modification of such program or other Federal 
programs, and thus also support the United States 
sealift in the future; 
(ii) the barriers to participation in the loans and 
guarantees program carried out under chapter 537 of 
title 46, United States Code, and how the program 
may be improved to facilitate additional shipbuilding 
activities in the United States; 
(iii) the needed resources, human and financial, 
for such incentives; and 
(iv) the current and anticipated number of ship-
building and ship maintenance contracts at United 
States shipyards through 2032, to the extent prac-
ticable; 
(B) incentives, including regulatory changes, needed 
to maintain a commercially viable United States-docu-
mented fleet, including—
H. R. 7776—702 
(i) an examination of how the preferences under 
section 2631 of title 10, United States Code, and chap-
ters 531, 532, 534, and 553 of title 46, United States 
Code, should be used to further maintain and grow 
a United States-documented fleet; 
(ii) an identification of other incentives that could 
be used that may not be authorized at the time of 
the study; 
(iii) an estimate of the number and type of commer-
cial ships needed over the next 30 years; and 
(iv) estimates of the needed human and financial 
resources for such incentives; 
(C) the availability of United States mariners, and 
future needs, including— 
(i) the number of mariners needed for the United 
States commercial and national security needs over 
the next 30 years; 
(ii) the policies and programs (at the time of the 
study) to recruit, train, and retain United States mari-
ners to support the United States maritime workforce 
needs during peace time and at war; 
(iii) how those programs could be improved to grow 
the number of maritime workers trained each year, 
including how potential collaboration between the uni-
formed services, the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy, State maritime academies, maritime labor 
training centers, and the Centers of Excellence for 
Domestic Maritime Workforce Training under section 
51706 of title 46, United States Code, could be used 
most effectively; and 
(iv) estimates of the necessary resources, human 
and financial, to implement such programs in each 
relevant Federal agency over the next 30 years; and 
(D) the interaction among the elements described 
under subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
(5) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall make publicly available on a website of the Department 
of Transportation a study completed pursuant to paragraph 
(1). 
(b) NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 501 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 50113 the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 50114. National maritime strategy 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating and the Commander of United States Transpor-
tation Command, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
‘‘(1) a national maritime strategy; and 
‘‘(2) not less often than once every five years after the 
submission of such strategy, an update to the strategy. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The strategy required under subsection (a) 
shall include each of the following: 
‘‘(1) An identification of—
H. R. 7776—703 
‘‘(A) international policies and Federal regulations and 
policies that reduce the competitiveness of United States- 
documented vessels with foreign vessels in domestic and 
international transportation markets; and 
‘‘(B) the impact of reduced cargo flow due to reductions 
in the number of members of the United States Armed 
Forces stationed or deployed outside of the United States. 
‘‘(2) Recommendations to— 
‘‘(A) make United States-documented vessels more 
competitive in shipping routes between United States and 
foreign ports; 
‘‘(B) increase the use of United States-documented ves-
sels to carry cargo imported to and exported from the 
United States; 
‘‘(C) ensure compliance by Federal agencies with 
chapter 553; 
‘‘(D) increase the use of short sea transportation routes, 
including routes designated under section 55601(b), to 
enhance intermodal freight movements; 
‘‘(E) enhance United States shipbuilding capability; 
‘‘(F) invest in, and identify gaps in, infrastructure 
needed to facilitate the movement of goods at ports and 
throughout the transportation system, including innovative 
physical and information technologies; 
‘‘(G) enhance workforce training and recruitment for 
the maritime workforce, including training on innovative 
physical and information technologies; 
‘‘(H) increase the resilience of ports and the marine 
transportation system; 
‘‘(I) increase the carriage of government-impelled cargo 
on United States-documented vessels pursuant to chapter 
553 of title 46, section 2631 of title 10, or otherwise; and 
‘‘(J) maximize the cost effectiveness of Federal funding 
for carriage of non-defense government impelled cargo for 
the purposes of maintaining a United States flag fleet 
for national and economic security. 
‘‘(c) UPDATE.—Upon the release of a strategy or update under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall make such 
strategy or update publicly available on the website of the Depart-
ment of Transportation. 
‘‘(d) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than six months after 
the submission of a strategy or update under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and 
the Secretary of Defense, shall make publicly available on an appro-
priate website an implementation plan for such strategy or update.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING REPEALS; DEADLINE.— 
(A) RESCISSION OF SUPERCEDED STRATEGY.—Effective 
on the date on which the Secretary of Transportation sub-
mits the national maritime strategy under section 
50114(a)(1) of title 46, United States Code, as added by 
paragraph (1)— 
(i) the national maritime strategy prepared pursu-
ant to section 603 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113–281) is rescinded; and
H. R. 7776—704 
(ii) section 603 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113–281) is repealed. 
(B) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF STRATEGY.—The Sec-
retary shall submit the national maritime strategy required 
under section 50114(a)(1) of title 46, United States Code, 
as added by paragraph (1), not later than six months 
after the date on which the Secretary receives the study 
under subsection (a). 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 501 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 50113 the following new item: 
‘‘50114. National maritime strategy.’’. 
SEC. 3543. MARITIME ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 50307 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking the subsection (a) enumerator and all that 
follows through ‘‘Transportation’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) EMERGING MARINE TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively and adjusting 
the margins accordingly; and 
(ii) in clause (iv), as redesignated by clause (i), 
by striking ‘‘propeller cavitation’’ and inserting ‘‘inci-
dental vessel-generated underwater noise, such as 
noise from propeller cavitation or hydrodynamic flow’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subpara-
graphs (A) and (B), respectively and adjusting the margins 
accordingly; 
(3) in subsection (c), by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively and adjusting 
the margins accordingly; 
(4) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as para-
graphs (2) through (4), respectively and adjusting the margins 
accordingly; 
(5) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (b); 
(6) by striking subsection (f); 
(7) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), as designated under paragraph 
(1) of this section— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or support’’ after ‘‘engage in’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the use of public’’ and all that 
follows through the end of the sentence and inserting 
‘‘eligible entities.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), as redesignated under paragraph 
(4) of this section— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting ‘‘this 
subsection’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or improve’’ and inserting 
‘‘improve, or support efforts related to,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph 
(4) of this section, by striking ‘‘under subsection (b)(2)
H. R. 7776—705 
may include’’ and inserting ‘‘with other Federal agencies 
or with State, local, or Tribal governments, as appropriate, 
under paragraph (2)(B) may include’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph 
(4) of this section— 
(i) by striking ‘‘academic, public, private, and non-
governmental entities and facilities’’ and inserting 
‘‘eligible entities’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘this 
subsection’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Maritime Administrator, may establish and carry out a 
competitive grant program to award grants to eligible entities 
for projects in the United States consistent with the goals 
of this subsection to study, evaluate, test, demonstrate, or apply 
technologies and practices to improve environmental perform-
ance.’’; 
(8) in subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (5) 
of this section, by striking ‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘this section’’; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) VESSELS.—Activities carried out under a grant or coopera-
tive agreement made under this section may be conducted on public 
vessels under the control of the Maritime Administration, upon 
approval of the Maritime Administrator. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(1) a private entity, including a nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(2) a State, regional, or local government or entity, 
including special districts; 
‘‘(3) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)) or a consortium of Indian Tribes; 
‘‘(4) an institution of higher education as defined under 
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002); or 
‘‘(5) a partnership or collaboration of entities described 
in paragraphs (1) through (4). 
‘‘(e) CENTER FOR MARITIME INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall, 
through a cooperative agreement, establish a United States 
Center for Maritime Innovation (referred to in this subsection 
as the ‘Center’) to support the study, research, development, 
assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies 
and practices related to the maritime transportation system. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION.—The Center shall be— 
‘‘(A) selected through a competitive process of eligible 
entities, and if a private entity, a domestic entity; 
‘‘(B) based in the United States with technical expertise 
in emerging marine technologies and practices related to 
the maritime transportation system; and 
‘‘(C) located in close proximity to eligible entities with 
expertise in United States emerging marine technologies 
and practices, including the use of alternative fuels and 
the development of both vessel and shoreside infrastruc-
ture.
H. R. 7776—706 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
coordinate with other agencies critical for science, research, 
and regulation of emerging marine technologies for the mari-
time sector, including the Department of Energy, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, 
and the Coast Guard, when establishing the Center. 
‘‘(4) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(A) support eligible entities regarding the development 
and use of clean energy and necessary infrastructure to 
support the deployment of clean energy on vessels of the 
United States; 
‘‘(B) monitor and assess, on an ongoing basis, the cur-
rent state of knowledge regarding emerging marine tech-
nologies in the United States; 
‘‘(C) identify any significant gaps in emerging marine 
technologies research specific to the United States maritime 
industry, and seek to fill those gaps; 
‘‘(D) conduct research, development, testing, and 
evaluation for equipment, technologies, and techniques to 
address the components under subsection (a)(2); 
‘‘(E) provide— 
‘‘(i) guidance on best available technologies; 
‘‘(ii) technical analysis; 
‘‘(iii) assistance with understanding complex regu-
latory requirements; and 
‘‘(iv) documentation of best practices in the mari-
time industry, including training and informational 
webinars on solutions for the maritime industry; and 
‘‘(F) work with academic and private sector response 
training 
centers 
and 
Domestic 
Maritime 
Workforce 
Training and Education Centers of Excellence to develop 
maritime strategies applicable to various segments of the 
United States maritime industry, including the inland, 
deep water, and coastal fleets.’’. 
(b) 
DEADLINE
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Transportation shall establish the United States Center for Mari-
time Innovation under subsection (e) of section 50307 of title 46, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3544. DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED VESSEL. 
Section 53501(5)(A)(iii) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘United States foreign, Great Lakes, noncontig-
uous domestic, or short sea transportation trade’’ and inserting 
‘‘foreign or domestic trade of the United States’’. 
SEC. 3545. ESTABLISHING A CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUND. 
Section 53503(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘United States foreign, Great Lakes, noncontiguous 
domestic, or short sea transportation trade’’ and inserting ‘‘foreign 
or domestic trade of the United States’’. 
SEC. 3546. RECAPITALIZATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE 
FLEET. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Chief 
of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
shall—
H. R. 7776—707 
(1) complete the design of a roll-on, roll-off cargo vessel 
for the National Defense Reserve Fleet to allow for the construc-
tion of such vessel to begin in fiscal year 2024; and 
(2) seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate 
vessel construction manager under which the vessel construc-
tion manager shall enter into a contract for the construction 
of not more than ten such vessels in accordance with this 
section. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION
AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.—A 
vessel constructed pursuant to this section shall meet the require-
ments for, and be issued a certificate of, documentation and a 
coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of title 46, United States 
Code. 
(c) DESIGN STANDARDS AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES.—Subject 
to subsection (b), a vessel constructed pursuant to this section 
shall be constructed using commercial design standards and 
commercial construction practices that are consistent with the best 
interests of the Federal Government. 
(d) CONSULTATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation shall consult and coordinate with the Sec-
retary of the Navy and may consult with the heads of other appro-
priate Federal agencies regarding the vessel described in subsection 
(a) and activities associated with such vessel. 
(e) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR USED VESSELS.—None 
of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise 
made available to carry out this section may be used for the procure-
ment of any used vessel. 
SEC. 3547. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MERCHANT MARINE. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Merchant 
Marine is a critical part of the national infrastructure of the United 
States, and the men and women of the United States Merchant 
Marine are essential workers. 
SEC. 3548. ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS IN STORMWATER 
RUNOFF ON PACIFIC SALMON AND STEELHEAD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
and Atmosphere, in coordination with the Secretary of Transpor-
tation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and in consultation with the Director of the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service, shall commence an analysis of— 
(1) the science relating to tire-related chemicals in 
stormwater runoff at ports and the effects of such chemicals 
on Pacific salmon and steelhead; and 
(2) the challenges of studying tire-related chemicals in 
stormwater runoff at ports and the effects of such chemicals 
on Pacific salmon and steelhead. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after commencing the 
analysis required under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees, and make publicly available, a report that 
includes— 
(1) the findings of the analysis; and 
(2) recommendations—
H. R. 7776—708 
(A) to improve the monitoring of stormwater and 
research related to run-off for tire-related chemicals and 
the effects of such chemicals on Pacific salmon and 
steelhead at ports; and 
(B) based on the best available science on relevant 
management approaches at ports under their respective 
jurisdictions. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
SEC. 3549. REPORT ON EFFECTIVE VESSEL QUIETING MEASURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Maritime 
Administration, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Com-
merce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Secretary of the Depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees, and make publicly available 
on an appropriate website of the Department of Transportation, 
a report that includes each of the following: 
(1) An identification of technology-based controls and best 
management practices for reducing vessel-generated under-
water noise. 
(2) For each technology-based control or best management 
practice identified under paragraph (1), an evaluation of— 
(A) the applicability of each control and practice to 
various vessel types; 
(B) the technical feasibility and economic achievability 
of each control or practice; and 
(C) the co-benefits and trade-offs of each control or 
practice. 
(3) Such other matters as the Administrator determines 
appropriate. 
(b) COMMITTEES.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
DIVISION D—FUNDING TABLES 
SEC. 4001. AUTHORIZATION OF AMOUNTS IN FUNDING TABLES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Whenever a funding table in this division 
specifies a dollar amount authorized for a project, program, or 
activity, the obligation and expenditure of the specified dollar 
amount for the project, program, or activity is hereby authorized, 
subject to the availability of appropriations. 
(b) MERIT-BASED DECISIONS.—