‘‘§ 428. Sea service letters 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide a sea 
service letter to a member or former member of the Coast 
Guard who— 
‘‘(1) accumulated sea service on a vessel of the 
armed forces (as such term is defined in section 
101(a) of title 10); and 
‘‘(2) requests such letter. 
‘‘(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after receiv-
ing a request for a sea service letter from a member or 
former member of the Coast Guard under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall provide such letter to such member or 
former member if such member or former member satisfies 
the requirement under subsection (a)(1).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, as amend-
ed by this Act, is further amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 427 the following: 
‘‘428. Sea service letters.’’. 
(c) CREDITING OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 
SERVICE, TRAINING, AND QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) MAXIMIZING CREDITABILITY.—The Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating, in implementing United States merchant mar-
iner license, certification, and document laws and the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, 
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Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, 
shall maximize the extent to which United States 
Armed Forces service, training, and qualifications are 
creditable toward meeting the requirements of such 
laws and such Convention. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on the steps taken to implement 
this subsection. 
SEC. 310. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Act to Prevent Pollution from 
Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 18. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury a separate account to be known as the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund. 
‘‘(2) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be credited 
to the Fund the following: 
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‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund 
under section 9, except as provided in sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recovered 
under subsection (d). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be cred-
ited to the Fund under subparagraph (A)(i) only 
if the unobligated balance of the Fund is less 
than $2,000,000. 
‘‘(3) REPORT REQUIRED.—On the date on which 
the President submits each budget for a fiscal year 
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States 
Code, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
that describes— 
‘‘(A) the amounts credited to the Fund 
under paragraph (2) for the preceding fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(B) amounts in the Fund that were ex-
pended for the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS
FROM 
FUND.—Amounts in the Fund may be appropriated to the 
Secretary for use to— 
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‘‘(1) pay necessary support of— 
‘‘(A) a seafarer that— 
‘‘(i) enters, remains, or is paroled into 
the United States; and 
‘‘(ii) is involved in an investigation, 
reporting, documentation, or adjudication 
of any matter that is related to the admin-
istration or enforcement of this Act by the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(B) a seafarer that the Secretary deter-
mines was abandoned in the United States and 
has not applied for asylum under section 208 or 
235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158, 1225); and 
‘‘(2) reimburse a vessel owner or operator that 
has provided necessary support of a seafarer who has 
been paroled into the United States to facilitate an 
investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudica-
tion of any matter that is related to the administra-
tion or enforcement of this Act by the Coast Guard, 
for the costs of such necessary support. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed— 
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‘‘(1) to create a private right of action or any 
other right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary sup-
port for any person; or 
‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reimburse 
the cost of necessary support. 
‘‘(d) REIMBURSEMENT; RECOVERY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A vessel owner or operator 
shall reimburse the Fund an amount equal to the 
total amount paid from the Fund for necessary sup-
port of a seafarer, if— 
‘‘(A) the vessel owner or operator— 
‘‘(i) during the course of an investiga-
tion, reporting, documentation, or adjudica-
tion of any matter under this Act that the 
Coast Guard referred to a United States at-
torney or the Attorney General, fails to pro-
vide necessary support of a seafarer who 
was paroled into the United States to facili-
tate the investigation, reporting, docu-
mentation, or adjudication; and 
‘‘(ii) subsequently is— 
‘‘(I) convicted of a criminal of-
fense related to such matter; or 
‘‘(II) required to reimburse the 
Fund pursuant to a court order or ne-
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gotiated settlement related to such mat-
ter; or 
‘‘(B) the vessel owner or operator abandons 
a seafarer in the United States, as determined by 
the Secretary based on substantial evidence. 
‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT.—If a vessel owner or oper-
ator fails to reimburse the Fund under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on 
which the affected seafarer served in the Federal 
district court for the district in which the vessel 
is found; and 
‘‘(B) withhold or revoke the clearance re-
quired under section 60105 of title 46, United 
States Code, for the vessel. 
‘‘(3) REMEDY.—A vessel may obtain clearance 
from the Secretary after it is withheld or revoked 
under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel owner or oper-
ator— 
‘‘(A) reimburses the Fund the amount re-
quired under paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) provides a bond, or other evidence of 
financial responsibility sufficient to meet the 
amount required to be reimbursed under para-
graph (1). 
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‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ABANDONS; 
ABANDONED.—Each of the 
terms ‘abandons’ and ‘abandoned’ means— 
‘‘(A) a vessel owner’s or operator’s unilat-
eral severance of ties with a seafarer; and 
‘‘(B) a vessel owner’s or operator’s failure to 
provide necessary support of a seafarer. 
‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Aban-
doned Seafarers Fund established under this section. 
‘‘(3) NECESSARY SUPPORT.—The term ‘necessary 
support’ means normal wages and expenses the Sec-
retary considers reasonable for lodging, subsistence, 
clothing, medical care (including hospitalization), re-
patriation, and any other support the Secretary con-
siders to be appropriate. 
‘‘(4) SEAFARER.—The term ‘seafarer’ means an 
alien crewman who is employed or engaged in any 
capacity on board a vessel subject to this Act.’’; and 
(2) in section 9, by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) Any penalty collected under subsection (a) or (b) 
that is not paid under that subsection to the person giving 
information leading to the conviction or assessment of such 
penalties shall be deposited in the Abandoned Seafarers 
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Fund established under section 18, subject to the limitation 
in subsection (a)(2)(B) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 311. CLARIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK WATERS. 
Section 55305(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘provide armed personnel 
aboard’’ and inserting ‘‘reimburse, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the owners or op-
erators of’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘for the cost of providing 
armed personnel aboard such vessels’’ before ‘‘if’’; 
and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk 
waters’ means waters— 
‘‘(A) so designated by the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard in the maritime security direc-
tive issued by the Commandant and in effect on 
the date on which an applicable voyage begins; 
and 
‘‘(B) in which the Secretary of Transpor-
tation determines an act of piracy is likely to 
occur based on documented acts of piracy that 
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occurred in such waters during the 12-month pe-
riod preceding the date on which an applicable 
voyage begins.’’. 
SEC. 312. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE VIR-
GIN ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4105 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
(c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) In applying this title with respect to an 
uninspected vessel of less than 24 meters overall in length 
that carries passengers to or from a port in the United 
States Virgin Islands, the Secretary shall substitute ‘12 pas-
sengers’ for ‘6 passengers’ each place it appears in section 
2101(42) if the Secretary determines that the vessel complies 
with— 
‘‘(1) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small 
Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly referred to as 
the ‘Yellow Code’), as published by the U.K. Maritime 
and Coastguard Agency and in effect on January 1, 
2014; or 
‘‘(2) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small 
Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly referred to as 
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the ‘Blue Code’), as published by such agency and in 
effect on such date.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 4105(c) of title 
46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) 
of this section, is amended by striking ‘‘Within twenty-four 
months of the date of enactment of this subsection, the’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The’’. 
SEC. 313. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY INSPEC-
TION. 
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), and by 
inserting after subsection (e) the following: 
‘‘(f)(1) Upon request of an owner or operator of an 
offshore supply vessel, the Secretary shall delegate the au-
thorities set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) with 
respect to such vessel to a classification society to which 
a delegation is authorized under that paragraph. A delega-
tion by the Secretary under this subsection shall be used 
for any vessel inspection and examination function carried 
out by the Secretary, including the issuance of certificates 
of inspection and all other related documents. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary determines that a certificate of 
inspection or related document issued under authority dele-
gated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect 
to a vessel has reduced the operational safety of that vessel, 
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the Secretary may terminate the certificate or document, 
respectively. 
‘‘(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014, and for each year of the subse-
quent 2-year period, the Secretary shall provide to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) the number of vessels for which a delegation 
was made under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) any savings in personnel and operational 
costs incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted from 
the delegations; and 
‘‘(C) based on measurable marine casualty and 
other data, any impacts of the delegations on the 
operational safety of vessels for which the delegations 
were made, and on the crew on those vessels.’’. 
SEC. 314. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall 
require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival 
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craft that ensures that no part of an individual is immersed 
in water, if— 
‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major 
conversion after January 1, 2016; and 
‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD OF SAFETY.—The Secretary 
may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such 
revision provides a higher standard of safety than is pro-
vided by the regulations in effect on or before the date of 
enactment of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014. 
‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE
AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Sec-
retary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 
or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in 
effect on the date of the enactment of the Howard Coble 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, 
allow a passenger vessel to be equipped with a life saving 
appliance or arrangement of an innovative or novel design 
that— 
‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water; and 
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‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of 
safety than is provided by such requirements as in ef-
fect before such date of enactment. 
‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘built’ 
has the meaning that term has under section 4503(e).’’. 
(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 2015, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review 
of— 
(A) the number of casualties for individuals 
with disabilities, children, and the elderly as a 
result of immersion in water, reported to the 
Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year period, 
by vessel type and area of operation; 
(B) the risks to individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly as a result of im-
mersion in water, by passenger vessel type and 
area of operation; 
(C) the effect that carriage of survival craft 
that ensure that no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water has on— 
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(i) passenger vessel safety, including 
stability and safe navigation; 
(ii) improving the survivability of in-
dividuals, including individuals with dis-
abilities, children, and the elderly; and 
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost dif-
ference to vessel operators, and the cost effec-
tiveness of requiring the carriage of such 
survival craft to address the risks to indi-
viduals with disabilities, children, and the 
elderly; 
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety sys-
tems, devices, or measures in improving surviv-
ability of individuals with disabilities, children, 
and the elderly; and 
(E) the number of small businesses and 
nonprofit vessel operators that would be affected 
by requiring the carriage of such survival craft 
on passenger vessels to address the risks to indi-
viduals with disabilities, children, and the elder-
ly. 
(2) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regu-
lations concerning the carriage of survival craft pur-
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suant to section 3104(c) of title 46, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 315. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO TITLE 46. 
Section 2116(b)(1)(D) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 93(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 93(c) of title 14’’. 
SEC. 316. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) DETERMINATION OF COVERED PROGRAMS.— 
Section 55305(d) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall an-
nually review programs administered by other de-
partments and agencies and determine whether each 
such program is subject to the requirements of this 
section.’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph 
(1) the following: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall have the sole responsi-
bility to make determinations described in paragraph 
(1). 
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‘‘(3) A determination made by the Secretary 
under paragraph (1) regarding a program shall re-
main in effect until the Secretary determines that 
such program is no longer subject to the requirements 
of this section. 
‘‘(4) Each department or agency administering a 
program determined by the Secretary under para-
graph (1) to be subject to the requirements of this sec-
tion shall administer such program in accordance 
with this section and any rules or guidance issued by 
the Secretary. The issuance of such rules or guidance 
is not a prerequisite to the issuance of final deter-
minations under paragraph (1).’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5)(A), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘section;’’ and inserting ‘‘section, to 
determine compliance with the requirements of 
this section;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) On the date on which the President submits 
to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
that— 
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‘‘(A) lists the programs determined under 
paragraph (1) to be subject to the requirements 
of this section; and 
‘‘(B) describes the results of the most recent 
annual review required by paragraph (5)(A), in-
cluding identification of the departments and 
agencies that transported cargo in violation of 
this section and any action the Secretary took 
under paragraph (5) with respect to each viola-
tion.’’. 
(2) DEADLINE
FOR
FIRST
REVIEW.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation shall complete the first re-
view and make the determinations required under the 
amendment made by paragraph (1)(A) by not later 
than December 31, 2015. 
(b) RULEMAKING.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(7) The Secretary may prescribe rules, includ-
ing interim rules, necessary to carry out paragraph 
(5). An interim rule prescribed under this paragraph 
shall remain in effect until superseded by a final 
rule.’’. 
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(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3511(c) 
of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (46 U.S.C. 55305 note) 
is repealed. 
SEC. 317. SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENTS. 
(a) NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.—Section 3 of 
the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘AND CONTRACTS’’ and inserting ‘‘CONTRACTS, 
AND OTHER AGREEMENTS’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the purposes set 
forth in section 2, the Administrator, acting through 
the Program, may— 
‘‘(A) enter into cooperative agreements, con-
tracts, and other agreements with Federal agen-
cies, States, local governments, regional agencies, 
interstate agencies, and other entities, including 
agreements to use the personnel, services, equip-
ment, or facilities of such entities on a reimburs-
able or non-reimbursable basis; and 
‘‘(B) make grants to— 
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‘‘(i) State, local, and tribal govern-
ments; and 
‘‘(ii) institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, and commercial 
organizations with the expertise or responsi-
bility to identify, determine sources of, as-
sess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine de-
bris.’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a 
grant under paragraph (1)(B), an entity speci-
fied in that paragraph shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator a marine debris project proposal. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—The Admin-
istrator shall— 
‘‘(i) review each marine debris project 
proposal submitted under subparagraph (A) 
to determine if the proposal meets grant cri-
teria established by the Administrator and 
supports the purposes set forth in section 2; 
‘‘(ii) after considering any written 
comments and recommendations with re-
spect to the review conducted under clause 
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(i), approve or disapprove a grant for the 
proposal; and 
‘‘(iii) provide notification of that ap-
proval or disapproval to the entity that sub-
mitted the proposal. 
‘‘(C) REPORTING.—Each entity receiving a 
grant under paragraph (1)(B) shall provide re-
ports to the Administrator as required by the 
Administrator. Each report provided shall in-
clude all information determined necessary by 
the Administrator for evaluating the progress 
and success of the project for which the grant 
was provided and describe the impact of the 
grant on the identification, determination of 
sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, or re-
moval of marine debris. 
‘‘(D) TRAINING.—The Administrator may 
require a recipient of a grant under this sub-
section to provide training to persons engaged in 
marine debris response efforts funded by such 
grant with respect to the potential impacts of 
marine debris, including nonindigenous species 
related to the debris, on the economy of the 
United States, the marine environment, and 
navigation safety.’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENTS.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT PREFERENCE.—In evaluating pro-
posals for grants under subsection (c), the Adminis-
trator may give preference in approving grants to 
proposals that address a severe marine debris event. 
‘‘(2) REQUEST FOR A DECLARATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the Governor of a State may request 
that the Administrator declare a severe marine 
debris event in such State or a region that in-
cludes such State. 
‘‘(B) RESPONSE TO REQUESTS.—Not later 
than 30 days after the Administrator receives a 
request under subparagraph (A), the Adminis-
trator shall either— 
‘‘(i) declare a severe marine debris 
event with respect to the request; or 
‘‘(ii) submit a response to the Governor 
who submitted the request, explaining why 
the Administrator has not declared a severe 
marine debris event with respect to the re-
quest.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 7 of the Marine Debris Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1956) is amended— 
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(1) by moving paragraph (5) to appear before 
paragraph (6); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) 
as paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) NONINDIGENOUS SPECIES.—The term ‘non-
indigenous species’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 1003 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nui-
sance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 
4702).’’. 
(c) SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENT DETERMINA-
TION.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion may provide funds to an eligible entity im-
pacted by the covered severe marine debris event 
to assist such entity with the costs of any activ-
ity carried out to address the effects of such 
event. 
(B) FUNDING.—The Administrator may 
provide funds under subparagraph (A) using 
any funds provided by the Government of Japan 
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for activities to address the effects of the covered 
severe marine debris event. 
(C) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the 
following definitions apply: 
(i) COVERED SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS 
EVENT.—The term ‘‘covered severe marine 
debris event’’ means the events, including 
marine debris, resulting from the March 
2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent 
tsunami. 
(ii) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eli-
gible entity’’ means any State (as defined 
in section 7 of the Marine Debris Act (33 
U.S.C. 1956)), local, or tribal government. 
(2) REPEAL.—The Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213) is 
amended— 
(A) in the table of contents in section 1(b) 
by striking the item relating to section 609; and 
(B) by striking section 609. 
SEC. 318. MINIMUM TONNAGE. 
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) MINIMUM TONNAGE.—With respect to commod-
ities transported under the activities specified in section 
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55314(b), the percentage specified in subsection (b) of this 
section shall be treated as 75 percent.’’. 
SEC. 319. MERCHANT MARINE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 81 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Com-
mittee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in this 
section referred to as ‘the Committee’). The Committee— 
‘‘(1) shall act solely in an advisory capacity to 
the Secretary through the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard on matters relating to personnel in the United 
States merchant marine, including training, quali-
fications, certification, documentation, and fitness 
standards, and other matters as assigned by the Com-
mandant; 
‘‘(2) shall review and comment on proposed 
Coast Guard regulations and policies relating to per-
sonnel in the United States merchant marine, includ-
ing training, qualifications, certification, documenta-
tion, and fitness standards; 
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‘‘(3) may be given special assignments by the 
Secretary and may conduct studies, inquiries, work-
shops, and fact finding in consultation with individ-
uals and groups in the private sector and with State 
or local governments; 
‘‘(4) shall advise, consult with, and make rec-
ommendations reflecting its independent judgment to 
the Secretary; 
‘‘(5) shall meet not less than twice each year; 
and 
‘‘(6) may make available to the Congress rec-
ommendations that the Committee makes to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist 
of not more than 19 members who are appointed by 
and serve terms of a duration determined by the Sec-
retary. Before filling a position on the Committee, the 
Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Reg-
ister soliciting nominations for membership on the 
Committee. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED MEMBERS.—The Secretary shall 
appoint as members of the Committee— 
‘‘(A) 9 United States citizens with active li-
censes or certificates issued under chapter 71 or 
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merchant mariner documents issued under chap-
ter 73, including— 
‘‘(i) 3 deck officers who represent the 
viewpoint of merchant marine deck officers, 
of whom— 
‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans 
any gross tons; 
‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed for inland 
river route with a limited or unlimited 
tonnage; 
‘‘(III) 2 shall have a master’s li-
cense or a master of towing vessels li-
cense; 
‘‘(IV) 1 shall have significant 
tanker experience; and 
‘‘(V) to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent the 
viewpoint of labor; and 
‘‘(bb) another shall represent 
a management perspective; 
‘‘(ii) 3 engineering officers who rep-
resent the viewpoint of merchant marine en-
gineering officers, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief 
engineer any horsepower; 
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‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed as either 
a limited chief engineer or a des-
ignated duty engineer; and 
‘‘(III) to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent a 
labor viewpoint; and 
‘‘(bb) another shall represent 
a management perspective; 
‘‘(iii) 2 unlicensed seamen, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 1 shall represent the view-
point of able-bodied seamen; and 
‘‘(II) another shall represent the 
viewpoint of qualified members of the 
engine department; and 
‘‘(iv) 1 pilot who represents the view-
point of merchant marine pilots; 
‘‘(B) 6 marine educators, including— 
‘‘(i) 3 marine educators who represent 
the viewpoint of maritime academies, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(I) 2 who represent the viewpoint 
of State maritime academies and are 
jointly recommended by such State 
maritime academies; and 
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‘‘(II) 1 who represents either the 
viewpoint of the State maritime acad-
emies or the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy; and 
‘‘(ii) 3 marine educators who represent 
the viewpoint of other maritime training 
institutions, 1 of whom shall represent the 
viewpoint of the small vessel industry; 
‘‘(C) 2 individuals who represent the view-
point of shipping companies employed in ship 
operation management; and 
‘‘(D) 2 members who are appointed from 
the general public. 
‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN
AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Com-
mittee shall elect one of its members as the Chairman and 
one of its members as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chair-
man shall act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity 
of the Chairman, or in the event of a vacancy in the office 
of the Chairman. 
‘‘(d) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Committee may establish 
and disestablish subcommittees and working groups for any 
purpose consistent with this section, subject to conditions 
imposed by the Committee. Members of the Committee and 
additional persons drawn from the general public may be 
assigned to such subcommittees and working groups. Only 
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Committee members may chair subcommittee or working 
groups. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate 
on September 30, 2020.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the 
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.’’. 
(b) COMPETITIVENESS OF THE U.S. MERCHANT MA-
RINE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Merchant Ma-
rine Personnel Advisory Committee established under 
the amendment made by subsection (a) shall— 
(A) review— 
(i) the merchant mariner licensing, 
certification, and documentation programs 
and STCW Convention implementation 
programs of the 3 flag-states; and 
(ii) State maritime academy problems 
regarding implementation of the STCW 
Convention; and 
(B) report to the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard— 
(i) a description of each specific provi-
sion for which United States merchant mar-
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iner license, certification, and document 
and STCW Convention implementation re-
quirements are more stringent than the re-
quirements of such flag-state programs, and 
a recommendation of whether such United 
States provision should be retained, modi-
fied, or eliminated; 
(ii) a description of which United 
States merchant mariner license, certifi-
cation, and document evaluation require-
ments must be complied with separately 
from similar STCW Convention evaluation 
requirements, any statutory requirement for 
such separate compliance, and steps that 
can be taken by the Coast Guard or by the 
Congress to minimize such redundant re-
quirements; and 
(iii) a description of problems State 
maritime academies are having in imple-
menting the STCW Convention and rec-
ommendations on how to address such prob-
lems. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Within 6 months 
from the date the Commandant receives the report 
under paragraph (1)(B), the Commandant shall for-
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ward to the Congress a copy of the report with rec-
ommendations for actions to implement the report’s 
recommendations. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 3 FLAG
STATES.—The term ‘‘3 flag 
states’’ means the 3 countries that are parties to 
the Annex to the International Maritime Organi-
zation Maritime Safety Committee Circular 
MSC.1/Circ.1163/Rev.8 dated January 7, 2013, 
and, of all such countries, have the greatest vessel 
tonnage documented under the laws of each re-
spective country. 
(B) STCW CONVENTION.—The term ‘‘STCW 
Convention’’ means the amendments to the Inter-
national Convention on Standards of Training, 
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 
1978 that entered into force on January 1, 2012. 
SEC. 320. REPORT ON EFFECT OF LNG EXPORT CARRIAGE 
REQUIREMENTS ON JOB CREATION IN THE 
UNITED STATES MARITIME INDUSTRY. 
No later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
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Senate a report on the number of jobs, including vessel con-
struction and vessel operating jobs, that would be created 
in the United States maritime industry each year in 2015 
through 2025 if liquified natural gas exported from the 
United States were required to be carried— 
(1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels docu-
mented under the laws of the United States; and 
(2) after such date, on vessels documented under 
the laws of the United States and constructed in the 
United States. 
TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 
Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 
2015 and 2016. 
SEC. 402. TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(b) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) TERMS.—The term of each Commissioner is 
5 years. When the term of a Commissioner ends, the 
Commissioner may continue to serve until a successor 
is appointed and qualified, but for a period not to ex-
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ceed one year. Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
no individual may serve more than 2 terms.’’; and 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (5), and inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment. An in-
dividual appointed to fill a vacancy is appointed 
only for the unexpired term of the individual being 
succeeded. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy 
may serve 2 terms in addition to the remainder of the 
term for which the predecessor of that individual was 
appointed. 
‘‘(4) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
‘‘(A) LIMITATION ON RELATIONSHIPS WITH 
REGULATED
ENTITIES.—A Commissioner may 
not have a pecuniary interest in, hold an official 
relation to, or own stocks or bonds of any entity 
the Commission regulates under chapter 401 of 
this title. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON OTHER ACTIVITIES.— 
A Commissioner may not engage in another 
business, vocation, or employment.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a)(1) does not apply with respect to a Commis-
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sioner of the Federal Maritime Commission appointed and 
confirmed by the Senate before the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
TITLE V—COMMERCIAL VESSEL 
DISCHARGE REFORM 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Commercial Vessel Dis-
charge Reform Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 502. DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPER-
ATION OF CERTAIN VESSELS. 
Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘during the period beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on De-
cember 18, 2014,’’. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 
Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 547) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) only applies 
to a foreign citizen who holds a credential to serve as 
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an officer on a fishing vessel or vessel of similar ton-
nage.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘An 
equivalent credential’’ and inserting ‘‘A creden-
tial’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (c), (e), and (f) and 
redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). 
SEC. 602. VESSEL DETERMINATION. 
The vessel assigned United States official number 
1205366 is deemed a new vessel effective on the date of deliv-
ery of the vessel after January 1, 2012, from a privately 
owned United States shipyard, if no encumbrances are on 
record with the Coast Guard at the time of the issuance 
of the new certificate of documentation for the vessel. 
SEC. 603. LEASE AUTHORITY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may lease under section 93(a)(13) of title 14, United 
States Code, submerged lands and tidelands under the con-
trol of the Coast Guard without regard to the limitation 
under that section with respect to lease duration. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may lease sub-
merged lands and tidelands under subsection (a) only if— 
(1) lease payments are— 
(A) received exclusively in the form of cash; 
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Union Calendar No. 286 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4005 
[Report No. 113–384] 
A BILL 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard 
for fiscal years 2015 and 2016, and for other 
purposes. 
MARCH 25, 2014 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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