SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Coast Guard Improvement and Reform Act of 2017’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—REORGANIZATION OF TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE 
Sec. 101. Initial matter. 
Sec. 102. Subtitle I. 
Sec. 103. Chapter 1. 
Sec. 104. Chapter 3. 
Sec. 105. Chapter 5. 
Sec. 106. Chapter 7. 
Sec. 107. Chapter 9. 
Sec. 108. Chapter 11. 
Sec. 109. Subtitle II. 
Sec. 110. Chapter 19. 
Sec. 111. Part II. 
Sec. 112. Chapter 21. 
Sec. 113. Chapter 23. 
Sec. 114. Chapter 25. 
Sec. 115. Part III. 
Sec. 116. Chapter 27. 
Sec. 117. Chapter 29. 
Sec. 118. Subtitle III and chapter 37. 
Sec. 119. Chapter 39. 
Sec. 120. Chapter 41. 
Sec. 121. Subtitle IV and chapter 49. 
Sec. 122. Chapter 51. 
Sec. 123. References. 
Sec. 124. Rule of construction. 
TITLE II—TRANSFERS AND MODIFICATIONS 
Sec. 201. Amendments to title 14, United States Code, as amended by title I 
of this Act. 
Sec. 202. Primary duties. 
Sec. 203. Regattas and marine parades. 
Sec. 204. Regulation of vessels in territorial waters of United States. 
Sec. 205. National maritime transportation advisory committees. 
Sec. 206. Clothing at time of discharge for good of service.
TITLE I—REORGANIZATION OF 
TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE 
SEC. 101. INITIAL MATTER. 
Title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the title designation, the title heading, and the table of 
parts at the beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘TITLE 14—COAST GUARD 
‘‘Subtitle
Sec.
‘‘I. Establishment, Powers, Duties, and Administration ....
101
‘‘II. Personnel ..................................................................................... 1901
‘‘III. Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary ................................ 3701
‘‘IV. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Con-
gress ............................................................................ 4901’’. 
SEC. 102. SUBTITLE I. 
Part I of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the part designation, the part heading, and the 
table of chapters at the beginning and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Subtitle I—Establishment, Powers, 
Duties, and Administration 
‘‘Chap.
Sec.
‘‘1. Establishment and Duties .......................................................
101
‘‘3. Composition and Organization .............................................
301
‘‘5. Functions and Powers .............................................................
501
‘‘7. Cooperation ..................................................................................
701
‘‘9. Administration ............................................................................
901
‘‘11. Acquisitions ............................................................................... 1101’’. 
SEC. 103. CHAPTER 1. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 1 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 1—ESTABLISHMENT AND 
DUTIES 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘101. Establishment of Coast Guard. 
‘‘102. Primary duties. 
‘‘103. Department in which the Coast Guard operates. 
‘‘104. Removing restrictions. 
‘‘105. Secretary defined.’’. 
(b) REDESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The sections of title 14, 
United States Code, identified in the table provided 
in paragraph (2) are amended— 
(A) by redesignating the sections as de-
scribed in the table; and 
(B) by transferring the sections, as nec-
essary, so that the sections appear after the 
table of sections for chapter 1 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)), in the order in which 
the sections are presented in the table. 
(2) TABLE.—The table referred to in paragraph 
(1) is the following: 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
Establishment of Coast Guard 
101 
Primary duties 
102 
Department in which the Coast Guard operates 
103
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
652 
Removing restrictions 
104 
Secretary defined 
105 
SEC. 104. CHAPTER 3. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 3—COMPOSITION AND 
ORGANIZATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘301. Grades and ratings. 
‘‘302. Commandant; appointment. 
‘‘303. Retirement of Commandant. 
‘‘304. Vice Commandant; appointment. 
‘‘305. Vice admirals. 
‘‘306. Retirement. 
‘‘307. Vice admirals and admiral, continuity of grade. 
‘‘308. Chief Acquisition Officer. 
‘‘309. Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director. 
‘‘310. Chief of Staff to President: appointment. 
‘‘311. Captains of the port. 
‘‘312. Prevention and response workforces. 
‘‘313. Centers of expertise for Coast Guard prevention and response. 
‘‘314. Marine industry training program. 
‘‘315. Training course on workings of Congress. 
‘‘316. National Coast Guard Museum. 
‘‘317. United States Coast Guard Band; composition; director. 
‘‘318. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program.’’. 
(b) REDESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The sections of title 14, 
United States Code, identified in the table provided 
in paragraph (2) are amended—
(A) by redesignating the sections as de-
scribed in the table; and 
(B) by transferring the sections, as nec-
essary, so that the sections appear after the 
table of sections for chapter 3 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)), in the order in which 
the sections are presented in the table. 
(2) TABLE.—The table referred to in paragraph 
(1) is the following: 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
Grades and ratings 
301 
Commandant; appointment 
302 
Retirement of Commandant 
303 
Vice Commandant; appointment 
304 
Vice admirals 
305 
Retirement 
306 
Vice admirals and admiral, continuity of grade 
307 
Chief Acquisition Officer 
308 
Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director 
309 
Chief of Staff to President: appointment 
310 
Prevention and response workforces 
312 
58 Centers of expertise for Coast Guard prevention 
and response 
313 
Marine industry training program 
314 
Training course on workings of Congress 
315 
National Coast Guard Museum 
316
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
336 
United States Coast Guard Band; composition; 
director 
317 
(c) ADDITIONAL CHANGES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended— 
(A) by inserting after section 310 (as so 
redesignated and transferred under subsection 
(b)) the following: 
‘‘§ 311. Captains of the port 
‘‘Any officer, including any petty officer, may be des-
ignated by the Commandant as captain of the port or 
ports or adjacent high seas or waters over which the 
United States has jurisdiction, as the Commandant deems 
necessary to facilitate execution of Coast Guard duties.’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting after section 317 (as so 
redesignated and transferred under subsection 
(b)) the following: 
‘‘§ 318. Environmental Compliance and Restoration 
Program 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion— 
‘‘(1) ‘environment’, ‘facility’, ‘person’, ‘release’, 
‘removal’, ‘remedial’, and ‘response’ have the same
disposing of hazardous substances or pollutants from 
Coast Guard facilities to the same extent that non-
governmental entities are required to pay for permit 
services. This subparagraph does not apply to a pay-
ment that is the responsibility of a lessee, con-
tractor, or other private person. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary may agree with another 
Federal agency for that agency to assist in carrying 
out the Secretary’s responsibilities under this sec-
tion. The Secretary may enter into contracts, coop-
erative agreements, and grant agreements with State 
and local governments to assist in carrying out the 
Secretary’s responsibilities under this section. Serv-
ices that may be obtained under this paragraph in-
clude identifying, investigating, and cleaning up off- 
site contamination that may have resulted from the 
release of a hazardous substance or pollutant at a 
Coast Guard facility. 
‘‘(5) Section 119 of the Comprehensive Envi-
ronmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9619) applies to response action con-
tractors that carry out response actions under this 
section. The Coast Guard shall indemnify response 
action contractors to the extent that adequate insur-
ance is not generally available at a fair price at the
time the contractor enters into the contract to cover 
the contractor’s reasonable, potential, long-term li-
ability. 
‘‘(c) ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORA-
TION ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) There is established for the Coast Guard 
an account known as the Coast Guard Environ-
mental Compliance and Restoration Account. All 
sums appropriated to carry out the Coast Guard’s 
environmental compliance and restoration functions 
under this section or another law shall be credited 
or transferred to the account and remain available 
until expended. 
‘‘(2) Funds may be obligated or expended from 
the account to carry out the Coast Guard’s environ-
mental compliance and restoration functions under 
this section or another law. 
‘‘(3) In proposing the budget for any fiscal year 
under section 1105 of title 31, the President shall 
set forth separately the amount requested for the 
Coast Guard’s environmental compliance and res-
toration activities under this section or another law. 
‘‘(4) Amounts recovered under section 107 of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Com-
pensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9607) for
the Secretary’s response actions at current and 
former Coast Guard facilities shall be credited to the 
account. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL LIST OF PROJECTS TO CONGRESS.— 
The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
prioritized list of projects eligible for environmental com-
pliance and restoration funding for each fiscal year con-
current with the President’s budget submission for that 
fiscal year.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
REPEALS.—Sections 634, 
690, 691, 692, and 693 of title 14, United States 
Code, are repealed. 
SEC. 105. CHAPTER 5. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 5—FUNCTIONS AND POWERS 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL POWERS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘501. Secretary; general powers. 
‘‘502. Delegation of powers by the Secretary. 
‘‘503. Regulations. 
‘‘504. Commandant; general powers. 
‘‘505. Functions and powers vested in the Commandant. 
‘‘506. Prospective payment of funds necessary to provide medical care.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—LIFE SAVING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES 
‘‘521. Saving life and property. 
‘‘522. Law enforcement. 
‘‘523. Enforcement authority. 
‘‘524. Enforcement of coastwise trade laws. 
‘‘525. Special agents of the Coast Guard Investigative Service law enforcement 
authority. 
‘‘526. Stopping vessels; indemnity for firing at or into vessel. 
‘‘527. Safety of naval vessels. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—AIDS TO NAVIGATION 
‘‘541. Aids to navigation authorized. 
‘‘542. Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty. 
‘‘543. Interference with aids to navigation; penalty. 
‘‘544. Aids to maritime navigation; penalty. 
‘‘545. Marking of obstructions. 
‘‘546. Deposit of damage payments. 
‘‘547. Rewards for apprehension of persons interfering with aids to navigation. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
‘‘561. Icebreaking in polar regions. 
‘‘562. Appeals and waivers. 
‘‘563. Notification of certain determinations.’’. 
(b) REDESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The sections of title 14, 
United States Code, identified in the table provided 
in paragraph (2) are amended— 
(A) by redesignating the sections as de-
scribed in the table; and 
(B) by transferring the sections, as nec-
essary, so that the sections appear after the 
table of sections for chapter 5 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)), in the order in which 
the sections are presented in the table. 
(2) TABLE.—The table referred to in paragraph 
(1) is the following:
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
Secretary; general powers 
501 
631 
Delegation of powers by the Secretary 
502 
633 
Regulations 
503 
Commandant; general powers 
504 
632 
Functions and powers vested in the Com-
mandant 
505 
520 
Prospective payment of funds necessary to pro-
vide medical care 
506 
Saving life and property 
521 
Law enforcement 
522 
Enforcement authority 
523 
100 
Enforcement of coastwise trade laws 
524 
Special agents of the Coast Guard Investigative 
Service law enforcement authority 
525 
637 
Stopping vessels; indemnity for firing at or into 
vessel 
526 
Safety of naval vessels 
527 
Aids to navigation authorized 
541 
Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; pen-
alty 
542 
Interference with aids to navigation; penalty 
543 
Aids to maritime navigation; penalty 
544 
Marking of obstructions 
545 
642 
Deposit of damage payments 
546 
643 
Rewards for apprehension of persons inter-
fering with aids to navigation 
547 
Icebreaking in polar regions 
561 
101 
Appeals and waivers 
562 
103 
Notification of certain determinations 
563
(c) ADDITIONAL CHANGES.—Chapter 5 of title 14, 
United States Code, is further amended— 
(1) by inserting before section 501 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL POWERS’’; 
(2) by inserting before section 521 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—LIFE SAVING AND LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES’’; 
(3) by inserting before section 541 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—AIDS TO NAVIGATION’’; 
and 
(4) by inserting before section 561 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS’’. 
SEC. 106. CHAPTER 7. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following:
‘‘CHAPTER 7—COOPERATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘701. Cooperation with other agencies, States, territories, and political subdivi-
sions. 
‘‘702. State Department. 
‘‘703. Treasury Department. 
‘‘704. Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force. 
‘‘705. Navy Department. 
‘‘706. United States Postal Service. 
‘‘707. Department of Commerce. 
‘‘708. Department of Health and Human Services. 
‘‘709. Maritime instruction. 
‘‘710. Assistance to foreign governments and maritime authorities. 
‘‘711. Coast Guard officers as attache´s to missions. 
‘‘712. Contracts with Government-owned establishments for work and material. 
‘‘713. Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities: contracts with other agencies and 
instrumentalities to provide or obtain goods and services. 
‘‘714. Appointment of judges. 
‘‘715. Arctic maritime domain awareness. 
‘‘716. Oceanographic research. 
‘‘717. Arctic maritime transportation. 
‘‘718. Agreements.’’. 
(b) REDESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The sections of title 14, 
United States Code, identified in the table provided 
in paragraph (2) are amended— 
(A) by redesignating the sections as de-
scribed in the table; and 
(B) by transferring the sections, as nec-
essary, so that the sections appear after the 
table of sections for chapter 7 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)), in the order in which 
the sections are presented in the table. 
(2) TABLE.—The table referred to in paragraph 
(1) is the following:
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
141 
Cooperation with other agencies, States, terri-
tories, and political subdivisions 
701 
142 
State Department 
702 
143 
Treasury Department 
703 
144 
Department of the Army and Department of 
the Air Force 
704 
145 
Navy Department 
705 
146 
United States Postal Service 
706 
147 
Department of Commerce 
707 
147a 
Department of Health and Human Services 
708 
148 
Maritime instruction 
709 
149 
Assistance to foreign governments and mari-
time authorities 
710 
150 
Coast Guard officers as attache´s to missions 
711 
151 
Contracts with Government-owned establish-
ments for work and material 
712 
152 
Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities: con-
tracts with other agencies and instrumentalities 
to provide or obtain goods and services 
713 
153 
Appointment of judges 
714 
154 
Arctic maritime domain awareness 
715 
Oceanographic research 
716 
Arctic maritime transportation 
717 
102 
Agreements 
718 
SEC. 107. CHAPTER 9. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 9 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 9—ADMINISTRATION 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘901. Disposal of certain material. 
‘‘902. Employment of draftsmen and engineers. 
‘‘903. Use of certain appropriated funds. 
‘‘904. Local hire. 
‘‘905. Procurement authority for family housing. 
‘‘906. Air Station Cape Cod Improvements. 
‘‘907. Long-term lease of special purpose facilities. 
‘‘908. Long-term lease authority for lighthouse property. 
‘‘909. Small boat station rescue capability. 
‘‘910. Small boat station closures. 
‘‘911. Search and rescue center standards. 
‘‘912. Air facility closures. 
‘‘913. Turnkey selection procedures. 
‘‘914. Disposition of infrastructure related to E–LORAN. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—MISCELLANEOUS 
‘‘931. Oaths required for boards. 
‘‘932. Administration of oaths. 
‘‘933. Coast Guard ensigns and pennants. 
‘‘934. Penalty for unauthorized use of words ‘Coast Guard’. 
‘‘935. Coast Guard band recordings for commercial sale. 
‘‘936. Confidentiality of medical quality assurance records; qualified immunity 
for participants. 
‘‘937. Admiralty claims against the United States. 
‘‘938. Claims for damage to property of the United States. 
‘‘939. Accounting for industrial work. 
‘‘940. Supplies and equipment from stock. 
‘‘941. Coast Guard Supply Fund. 
‘‘942. Public and commercial vessels and other watercraft; sale of fuel, supplies, 
and services. 
‘‘943. Arms and ammunition; immunity from taxation. 
‘‘944. Confidential investigative expenses. 
‘‘945. Assistance to film producers. 
‘‘946. User fees. 
‘‘947. Vessel construction bonding requirements. 
‘‘948. Contracts for medical care for retirees, dependents, and survivors: alter-
native delivery of health care. 
‘‘949. Telephone installation and charges. 
‘‘950. Designation, powers, and accountability of deputy disbursing officials. 
‘‘951. Aircraft accident investigations.’’. 
(b) REDESIGNATIONS AND TRANSFERS.—
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The sections of title 14, 
United States Code, identified in the table provided 
in paragraph (2) are amended— 
(A) by redesignating the sections as de-
scribed in the table; and 
(B) by transferring the sections, as nec-
essary, so that the sections appear after the 
table of sections for chapter 9 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)), in the order in which 
the sections are presented in the table. 
(2) TABLE.—The table referred to in paragraph 
(1) is the following: 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
641 
Disposal of certain material 
901 
653 
Employment of draftsmen and engineers 
902 
656 
Use of certain appropriated funds 
903 
666 
Local hire 
904 
670 
Procurement authority for family housing 
905 
671 
Air Station Cape Cod Improvements 
906 
672 
Long-term lease of special purpose facilities 
907 
672a 
Long-term lease authority for lighthouse prop-
erty 
908 
674 
Small boat station rescue capability 
909 
675 
Small boat station closures 
910 
676 
Search and rescue center standards 
911 
676a 
Air facility closures 
912
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
677 
Turnkey selection procedures 
913 
681 
Disposition of infrastructure related to E– 
LORAN 
914 
635 
Oaths required for boards 
931 
636 
Administration of oaths 
932 
638 
Coast Guard ensigns and pennants 
933 
639 
Penalty for unauthorized use of words ‘‘Coast 
Guard’’ 
934 
640 
Coast Guard band recordings for commercial 
sale 
935 
645 
Confidentiality of medical quality assurance 
records; qualified immunity for participants 
936 
646 
Admiralty claims against the United States 
937 
647 
Claims for damage to property of the United 
States 
938 
648 
Accounting for industrial work 
939 
649 
Supplies and equipment from stock 
940 
650 
Coast Guard Supply Fund 
941 
654 
Public and commercial vessels and other 
watercraft; sale of fuel, supplies, and services 
942 
655 
Arms and ammunition; immunity from taxation 
943 
658 
Confidential investigative expenses 
944 
659 
Assistance to film producers 
945 
664 
User fees 
946 
667 
Vessel construction bonding requirements 
947 
668 
Contracts for medical care for retirees, depend-
ents, and survivors: alternative delivery of 
health care 
948 
669 
Telephone installation and charges 
949
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
before redes-
ignation 
Section heading (provided for identification 
purposes only-not amended) 
Title 14 sec-
tion number 
after redes-
ignation 
673 
Designation, powers, and accountability of dep-
uty disbursing officials 
950 
678 
Aircraft accident investigations 
951 
(c) ADDITIONAL CHANGES.—Chapter 9 of title 14, 
United States Code, is further amended— 
(1) by inserting before section 901 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—REAL AND PERSONAL 
PROPERTY’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting before section 931 (as so redes-
ignated and transferred under subsection (b)) the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—MISCELLANEOUS’’. 
SEC. 108. CHAPTER 11. 
(a) INITIAL MATTER.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the chapter designa-
tion, the chapter heading, and the table of sections at the 
beginning and inserting the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 11—ACQUISITIONS 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘1101. Acquisition directorate. 
‘‘1102. Improvements in Coast Guard acquisition management.