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(1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘or to sub-
stantially lessen competition in the purchasing of 
certain covered services’’ after ‘‘transportation cost’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) COMPETITION FACTORS.—In making a de-
termination under this subsection regarding whether 
an agreement is likely to substantially lessen com-
petition in the purchasing of certain covered serv-
ices, the Commission may consider any relevant 
competition factors in affected markets, including, 
without limitation, the competitive effect of agree-
ments other than the agreement under review.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Section 41307(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, as amended, shall apply to any agree-
ment filed or with an effective date before, on, or after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4711. DISCUSSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 303. Meetings 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Maritime Commis-
sion shall be deemed to be an agency for purposes of sec-
tion 552b of title 5. 
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‘‘(b) RECORD.—The Commission, through its sec-
retary, shall keep a record of its meetings and the votes 
taken on any action, order, contract, or financial trans-
action of the Commission. 
‘‘(c) NONPUBLIC COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
552b of title 5, a majority of the Commissioners 
may hold a meeting that is not open to public obser-
vation to discuss official agency business if— 
‘‘(A) no formal or informal vote or other 
official agency action is taken at the meeting; 
‘‘(B) each individual present at the meet-
ing is a Commissioner or an employee of the 
Commission; 
‘‘(C) at least 1 Commissioner from each 
political party is present at the meeting, if ap-
plicable; and 
‘‘(D) the General Counsel of the Commis-
sion is present at the meeting. 
‘‘(2) DISCLOSURE
OF
NONPUBLIC
COLLABO-
RATIVE
DISCUSSIONS.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (3), not later than 2 business days after 
the conclusion of a meeting under paragraph (1), 
the Commission shall make available to the public, 
in a place easily accessible to the public— 
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‘‘(A) a list of the individuals present at the 
meeting; and 
‘‘(B) a summary of the matters discussed 
at the meeting, except for any matters the 
Commission properly determines may be with-
held from the public under section 552b(c) of 
title 5. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—If the Commission properly 
determines matters may be withheld from the public 
under section 555b(c) of title 5, the Commission 
shall provide a summary with as much general infor-
mation as possible on those matters withheld from 
the public. 
‘‘(4) ONGOING
PROCEEDINGS.—If a meeting 
under paragraph (1) directly relates to an ongoing 
proceeding before the Commission, the Commission 
shall make the disclosure under paragraph (2) on 
the date of the final Commission decision. 
‘‘(5) PRESERVATION OF OPEN MEETINGS RE-
QUIREMENTS FOR AGENCY ACTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to limit the applica-
bility of section 552b of title 5 with respect to a 
meeting of the Commissioners other than that de-
scribed in this subsection. 
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‘‘(6) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection may be construed— 
‘‘(A) to limit the applicability of section 
552b of title 5 with respect to any information 
which is proposed to be withheld from the pub-
lic under paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection; 
or 
‘‘(B) to authorize the Commission to with-
hold from any individual any record that is ac-
cessible to that individual under section 552a of 
title 5.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of chapter 3 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by amending the item relating to section 303 to 
read as follows: 
‘‘303. Meetings.’’. 
SEC. 4712. TRANSPARENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Mari-
time Commission shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives biannual reports that describe 
the Commission’s progress toward addressing the issues 
raised in each unfinished regulatory proceeding, regardless 
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of whether the proceeding is subject to a statutory or regu-
latory deadline. 
(b) FORMAT OF REPORTS.—Each report under sub-
section (a) shall, among other things, clearly identify for 
each unfinished regulatory proceeding— 
(1) the popular title; 
(2) the current stage of the proceeding; 
(3) an abstract of the proceeding; 
(4) what prompted the action in question; 
(5) any applicable statutory, regulatory, or judi-
cial deadline; 
(6) the associated docket number; 
(7) the date the rulemaking was initiated; 
(8) a date for the next action; and 
(9) if a date for next action identified in the 
previous report is not met, the reason for the delay. 
SEC. 4713. STUDY OF BANKRUPTCY PREPARATION AND RE-
SPONSE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study that examines the immediate 
aftermath of a major ocean carrier bankruptcy and its im-
pact through the supply chain. The study shall consider 
any financial mechanisms that could be used to mitigate 
the impact of any future bankruptcy events on the supply 
chain. 
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(b) REPORT.—No later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a report containing the findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations, if any, from the study 
required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 4714. AGREEMENTS UNAFFECTED. 
Nothing in this division may be construed— 
(1) to limit or amend the definition of ‘‘agree-
ment’’ in section 40102(1) of title 46, United States 
Code, with respect to the exclusion of maritime labor 
agreements; or 
(2) to apply to a maritime labor agreement (as 
defined in section 40102(15) of that title). 
TITLE XLVIII—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 4801. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENT. 
Subsection (h) of section 888 of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468) is repealed. 
SEC. 4802. CORRECTIONS TO PROVISIONS ENACTED BY 
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACTS. 
Section 604(b) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 
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281; 128 Stat. 3061) is amended by inserting ‘‘and fishery 
endorsement’’ after ‘‘endorsement’’. 
SEC. 4803. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard shall reduce lieutenant junior grade eval-
uation reports to the same length as an ensign or place 
lieutenant junior grade evaluations on an annual schedule. 
(b) SURVEYS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall conduct surveys of— 
(1) outgoing promotion board members and as-
signment officers to determine, at a minimum— 
(A) which sections of the officer evaluation 
report were most useful; 
(B) which sections of the officer evaluation 
report were least useful; 
(C) how to better reflect high performers; 
and 
(D) any recommendations for improving 
the officer evaluation report; and 
(2) at least 10 percent of the officers from each 
grade of officers from O1 to O6 to determine how 
much time each member of the rating chain spends 
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on that member’s portion of the officer evaluation 
report. 
(c) REVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of the completion of the surveys required by 
subsection (b), the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall revise the officer evaluation report, and provide 
corresponding directions, taking into account the re-
quirements under paragraph (2). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In revising the officer 
evaluation report under paragraph (1), the Com-
mandant shall— 
(A) consider the findings of the surveys 
under subsection (b); 
(B) improve administrative efficiency; 
(C) reduce and streamline performance di-
mensions and narrative text; 
(D) eliminate redundancy with the officer 
specialty management system and any other 
record information systems that are used dur-
ing the officer assignment or promotion process; 
(E) provide for fairness and equity for 
Coast Guard officers with regard to promotion 
boards, selection panels, and the assignment 
process; and 
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(F) ensure officer evaluation responsibil-
ities can be accomplished within normal work-
ing hours— 
(i) to minimize any impact to officer 
duties; and 
(ii) to eliminate any need for an offi-
cer to take liberty or leave for administra-
tive purposes. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 545 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the findings of the surveys 
under subsection (b). 
(2) FORMAT.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall be formatted by each rank, type of board, and 
position, as applicable. 
SEC. 4804. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY. 
Section 404 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 2950) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) in subsection (a), in the text preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sections 3304, 5333, 
and 5753’’ and inserting ‘‘section 3304’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b), and redesig-
nating subsection (c) as subsection (b). 
SEC. 4805. COAST GUARD ROTC PROGRAM. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the costs and benefits of creating 
a Coast Guard Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program 
based on the other Armed Forces programs. 
SEC. 4806. CURRENCY DETECTION CANINE TEAM PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CANINE
CURRENCY
DETECTION
TEAM.— 
The term ‘‘canine currency detection team’’ means a 
canine and a canine handler that are trained to de-
tect currency. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating. 
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
tablish a program to allow the use of canine currency de-
tection teams for purposes of Coast Guard maritime law 
enforcement, including underway vessel boardings. 
(c) OPERATION.—The Secretary may cooperate with, 
or enter into an agreement with, the head of another Fed-
eral agency to meet the requirements under subsection (b). 
SEC. 4807. CENTER OF EXPERTISE FOR GREAT LAKES OIL 
SPILL SEARCH AND RESPONSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall establish a Center of Expertise for 
Great Lakes Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Center of Expertise’’) in 
accordance with section 313 of title 14, United States 
Code, as amended by this division. 
(b) LOCATION.—The Center of Expertise shall be lo-
cated in close proximity to— 
(1) critical crude oil transportation infrastruc-
ture on and connecting the Great Lakes, such as 
submerged pipelines and high-traffic navigation 
locks; and 
(2) an institution of higher education with ade-
quate aquatic research laboratory facilities and capa-
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bilities and expertise in Great Lakes aquatic ecology, 
environmental chemistry, fish and wildlife, and water 
resources. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Center of Expertise shall— 
(1) monitor and assess, on an ongoing basis, 
the current state of knowledge regarding freshwater 
oil spill response technologies and the behavior and 
effects of oil spills in the Great Lakes; 
(2) identify any significant gaps in Great Lakes 
oil spill research, including an assessment of major 
scientific or technological deficiencies in responses to 
past spills in the Great Lakes and other freshwater 
bodies, and seek to fill those gaps; 
(3) conduct research, development, testing, and 
evaluation for freshwater oil spill response equip-
ment, technologies, and techniques to mitigate and 
respond to oil spills in the Great Lakes; 
(4) educate and train Federal, State, and local 
first responders located in Coast Guard District 9 
in— 
(A) the incident command system struc-
ture; 
(B) Great Lakes oil spill response tech-
niques and strategies; and 
(C) public affairs; and 
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(5) work with academic and private sector re-
sponse training centers to develop and standardize 
maritime oil spill response training and techniques 
for use on the Great Lakes. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘Great 
Lakes’’ means Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake 
Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. 
SEC. 4808. PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINTS AND MARI-
TIME SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act— 
(1) the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating acting through the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall review Coast 
Guard policies and procedures for public safety an-
swering points and search-and-rescue coordination 
with State and local law enforcement entities in 
order to— 
(A) further minimize the possibility of 
maritime 911 calls being improperly routed; 
and 
(B) assure the Coast Guard is able to ef-
fectively carry out the Coast Guard’s maritime 
search and rescue mission; and 
(2) the Commandant shall— 
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(A) formulate a national maritime public 
safety answering points policy; and 
(B) submit a report to the Congress on 
such assessment and policy, which shall include 
an update to the report submitted in accord-
ance with section 233 of the Howard Coble 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2014. 
SEC. 4809. SHIP SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE TRANSFER: REPEAL. 
Effective January 1, 2021, section 27 of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–241; 
105 Stat. 2218) is repealed. 
SEC. 4810. LAND EXCHANGE, AYAKULIK ISLAND, ALASKA. 
(a) LAND EXCHANGE; AYAKULIK ISLAND, ALAS-
KA.—If the owner of Ayakulik Island, Alaska, offers to 
exchange the Island for the Tract— 
(1) within 10 days after receiving such offer, 
the Secretary shall provide notice of the offer to the 
Commandant; 
(2) within 90 days after receiving the notice 
under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall develop 
and transmit to the Secretary proposed operational 
restrictions on commercial activity conducted on the 
Tract, including the right of the Commandant to— 
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(A) order the immediate termination, for a 
period of up to 72 hours, of any activity occur-
ring on or from the Tract that violates or 
threatens to violate one or more of such restric-
tions; or 
(B) commence a civil action for appro-
priate relief, including a permanent or tem-
porary injunction enjoining the activity that vio-
lates or threatens to violate such restrictions; 
(3) within 90 days after receiving the proposed 
operational restrictions from the Commandant, the 
Secretary shall transmit such restrictions to the 
owner of Ayakulik Island; and 
(4) within 30 days after transmitting the pro-
posed operational restrictions to the owner of 
Ayakulik Island, and if the owner agrees to such re-
strictions, the Secretary shall convey all right, title, 
and interest of the United States in and to the 
Tract to the owner, subject to an easement granted 
to the Commandant to enforce such restrictions, in 
exchange for all right, title, and interest of such 
owner in and to Ayakulik Island. 
(b) BOUNDARY
REVISIONS.—The Secretary may 
make technical and conforming revisions to the boundaries 
of the Tract before the date of the exchange. 
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(c) PUBLIC LAND ORDER.—Effective on the date of 
an exchange under subsection (a), Public Land Order 
5550 shall have no force or effect with respect to sub-
merged lands that are part of the Tract. 
(d) FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND TO NOTICE.—If 
the Commandant does not transmit proposed operational 
restrictions to the Secretary within 30 days after receiving 
the notice under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall, by 
not later than 60 days after transmitting such notice, con-
vey all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to the Tract to the owner of Ayakulik Island in ex-
change for all right, title, and interest of such owner in 
and to Ayakulik Island. 
(e) CERCLA NOT AFFECTED.—This section and an 
exchange under this section shall not be construed to limit 
the application of or otherwise affect section 120(h) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMANDANT.—The term ‘‘Commandant’’ 
means the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating, acting through the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
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(3) TRACT.—The term ‘‘Tract’’ means the land 
(including submerged land) depicted as ‘‘PRO-
POSED PROPERTY EXCHANGE AREA’’ on the 
survey 
titled 
‘‘PROPOSED 
PROPERTY 
EX-
CHANGE PARCEL’’ and dated 3/22/17. 
SEC. 4811. USE OF TRACT 43. 
Section 524(e)(2) of the Pribilof Island Transition 
Completion Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–120), as amend-
ed by section 3533 of the Pribilof Island Transition Com-
pletion Amendments Act of 2016 (subtitle B of title 
XXXV of Public Law 114-328), is amended by— 
(1) striking ‘‘each month’’ and inserting ‘‘each 
April and October’’; and 
(2) striking ‘‘previous month’’ and inserting 
‘‘previous six months’’. 
SEC. 4812. COAST GUARD MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of 
Sciences not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act under which the Academy shall prepare 
an assessment of available unmanned, autonomous, or re-
motely controlled maritime domain awareness technologies 
for use by the Coast Guard. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The assessment shall— 
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(1) describe the potential limitations of current 
and emerging unmanned technologies used in the 
maritime domain for— 
(A) ocean observation; 
(B) vessel monitoring and identification; 
(C) weather observation; 
(D) to the extent practicable for consider-
ation by the Academy, intelligence gathering, 
surveillance, and reconnaissance; and 
(E) communications; 
(2) examine how technologies described in para-
graph (1) can help prioritize Federal investment by 
examining; 
(A) affordability, including acquisition, op-
erations, and maintenance; 
(B) reliability; 
(C) versatility; 
(D) efficiency; and 
(E) estimated service life and persistence 
of effort; and 
(3) analyze whether the use of new and emerg-
ing maritime domain awareness technologies can be 
used to— 
(A) carry out Coast Guard missions at 
lower costs; 
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(B) expand the scope and range of Coast 
Guard maritime domain awareness; 
(C) allow the Coast Guard to more effi-
ciently and effectively allocate Coast Guard ves-
sels, aircraft, and personnel; and 
(D) identify adjustments that would be 
necessary in Coast Guard policies, procedures, 
and protocols to incorporate unmanned tech-
nologies to enhance efficiency. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after entering into an arrangement with the Secretary 
under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences 
shall submit the assessment prepared under this section 
to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
(d) USE
OF INFORMATION.—In formulating costs 
pursuant to subsection (b), the National Academy of 
Sciences may utilize information from other Coast Guard 
reports, assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast 
Guard manpower requirements or other reports, assess-
ments, or analyses for the acquisition of unmanned, auton-
omous, or remotely controlled technologies by the Federal 
Government. 
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SEC. 4813. MONITORING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a 1- 
year pilot program to determine the impact of persistent 
use of different types of surveillance systems on illegal 
maritime activities, including illegal, unreported, and un-
regulated fishing, in the Western Pacific region. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The pilot program shall— 
(1) consider the use of light aircraft-based de-
tection systems that can identify potential illegal ac-
tivity from high altitudes and produce enforcement- 
quality evidence at low altitudes; and 
(2) be directed at detecting and deterring illegal 
maritime activities, including illegal, unreported, and 
unregulated fishing, and enhancing maritime domain 
awareness. 
SEC. 4814. REIMBURSEMENTS FOR NON-FEDERAL CON-
STRUCTION COSTS OF CERTAIN AIDS TO 
NAVIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
amounts specifically provided in advance in subsequent ap-
propriations Acts and in accordance with this section, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard may reimburse a non- 
Federal entity for costs incurred by the entity for a cov-
ered project. 
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(6) the Commandant determines that the 
project satisfies such additional requirements as may 
be established by the Commandant. 
(c) 
LIMITATIONS.—Reimbursements 
under 
sub-
section (a) may not exceed the following: 
(1) For a single covered project, $5,000,000. 
(2) For all covered projects in a single fiscal 
year, $5,000,000. 
(d) EXPIRATION.—The authority granted under this 
section shall expire on the date that is 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this section. 
(e) COVERED PROJECT DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered project’’ means a project carried out— 
(1) by a non-Federal entity to construct and es-
tablish an aid to navigation that facilitates safe and 
efficient marine transportation on a Federal naviga-
tion project authorized by title I of the Water Re-
sources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110– 
114); and 
(2) in an area that was affected by Hurricane 
Harvey. 
SEC. 4815. TOWING SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FEES. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall— 
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(1) review and compare the costs to the Govern-
ment of— 
(A) towing vessel inspections performed by 
the Coast Guard; and 
(B) such inspections performed by a third 
party; and 
(2) based on such review and comparison, de-
termine whether the costs to the Government of 
such inspections performed by a third party are dif-
ferent than the costs to the Government of such in-
spections performed by the Coast Guard. 
(b) REVISION OF FEES.—If the Commandant deter-
mines under subsection (a) that the costs to the Govern-
ment of such inspections performed by a third party are 
different than the costs to the Government of such inspec-
tions performed by the Coast Guard, then the Com-
mandant shall revise the fee assessed by the Coast Guard 
for such inspections as necessary to conform to the re-
quirements under section 9701 of title 31, United States 
Code, that such fee be based on the cost to the Govern-
ment of such inspections and accurately reflect such costs. 
SEC. 4816. OIL SPILL DISBURSEMENTS AUDITING AND RE-
PORT. 
Section 1012 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 
U.S.C. 2712) is amended— 
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(1) by repealing subsection (g); 
(2) in subsection (l)(1), by striking ‘‘Within one 
year after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2010, and annually thereafter,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Each year, on the date on which the 
President submits to Congress a budget under sec-
tion 1105 of title 31, United States Code,’’; and 
(3) by amending subsection (l)(2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 
‘‘(A) a list of each incident that— 
‘‘(i) occurred in the preceding fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(ii) resulted in disbursements from 
the Fund, for removal costs and damages, 
totaling $500,000 or more; 
‘‘(B) a list of each incident that— 
‘‘(i) occurred in the fiscal year pre-
ceding the preceding fiscal year; and 
‘‘(ii) resulted in disbursements from 
the Fund, for removal costs and damages, 
totaling $500,000 or more; and 
‘‘(C) an accounting of any amounts reim-
bursed to the Fund in the preceding fiscal year 
that were recovered from a responsible party 
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for an incident that resulted in disbursements 
from the Fund, for removal costs and damages, 
totaling $500,000 or more.’’. 
SEC. 
4817. 
FLEET 
REQUIREMENTS 
ASSESSMENT 
AND 
STRATEGY. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation 
with interested Federal and non-Federal stakeholders, 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report including— 
(1) an assessment of Coast Guard at-sea oper-
ational fleet requirements to support its statutory 
missions established in the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.); and 
(2) a strategic plan for meeting the require-
ments identified under paragraph (1). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) an assessment of— 
(A) the extent to which the Coast Guard 
at-sea operational fleet requirements referred to 
in subsection (a)(1) are currently being met; 
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(B) the Coast Guard’s current fleet, its 
operational lifespan, and how the anticipated 
changes in the age and distribution of vessels in 
the fleet will impact the ability to meet at-sea 
operational requirements; 
(C) fleet operations and recommended im-
provements to minimize costs and extend oper-
ational vessel life spans; and 
(D) the number of Fast Response Cutters, 
Offshore Patrol Cutters, and National Security 
Cutters needed to meet at-sea operational re-
quirements as compared to planned acquisitions 
under the current programs of record; 
(2) an analysis of— 
(A) how the Coast Guard at-sea oper-
ational fleet requirements are currently met, in-
cluding the use of the Coast Guard’s current 
cutter fleet, agreements with partners, char-
tered vessels, and unmanned vehicle technology; 
and 
(B) whether existing and planned cutter 
programs of record (including the Fast Re-
sponse Cutter, Offshore Patrol Cutter, and Na-
tional Security Cutter) will enable the Coast 
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Guard to meet at-sea operational requirements; 
and 
(3) a description of— 
(A) planned manned and unmanned vessel 
acquisition; and 
(B) how such acquisitions will change the 
extent to which the Coast Guard at-sea oper-
ational requirements are met. 
(c) CONSULTATION AND TRANSPARENCY.— 
(1) CONSULTATION.—In consulting with the 
Federal and non-Federal stakeholders under sub-
section (a), the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall— 
(A) provide the stakeholders with opportu-
nities for input— 
(i) prior to initially drafting the re-
port, including the assessment and stra-
tegic plan; and 
(ii) not later than 3 months prior to 
finalizing the report, including the assess-
ment and strategic plan, for submission; 
and 
(B) document the input and its disposition 
in the report. 
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(2) TRANSPARENCY.—All input provided under 
paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public. 
(d) ENSURING MARITIME COVERAGE.—In order to 
meet Coast Guard mission requirements for search and 
rescue, ports, waterways, and coastal security, and mari-
time environmental response during recapitalization of 
Coast Guard vessels, the Coast Guard shall ensure con-
tinuity of the coverage, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, in the locations that may lose assets. 
SEC. 4818. NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER. 
(a) STANDARD METHOD FOR TRACKING.—The Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard may not certify an eighth 
National Security Cutter as Ready for Operations before 
the date on which the Commandant provides to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
(1) a notification of a new standard method for 
tracking operational employment of Coast Guard 
major cutters that does not include time during 
which such a cutter is away from its homeport for 
maintenance or repair; and 
(2) a report analyzing cost and performance for 
different approaches to achieving varied levels of 
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operational employment using the standard method 
required by paragraph (1) that, at a minimum— 
(A) compares over a 30-year period the av-
erage annualized baseline cost and perform-
ances for a certified National Security Cutter 
that operated for 185 days away from homeport 
or an equivalent alternative measure of oper-
ational tempo— 
(i) against the cost of a 15 percent in-
crease in days away from homeport or an 
equivalent alternative measure of oper-
ational tempo for a National Security Cut-
ter; and 
(ii) against the cost of the acquisition 
and operation of an additional National 
Security Cutter; and 
(B) examines the optimal level of oper-
ational employment of National Security Cut-
ters to balance National Security Cutter cost 
and mission performance. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 221(b) of the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (126 Stat. 
1560) is repealed. 
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(2) Section 204(c)(1) of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2016 (130 Stat. 35) is repealed. 
SEC. 4819. ACQUISITION PLAN FOR INLAND WATERWAY 
AND RIVER TENDERS AND BAY-CLASS ICE-
BREAKERS. 
(a) ACQUISITION PLAN.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a plan to re-
place or extend the life of the Coast Guard fleet of inland 
waterway and river tenders, and the Bay-class icebreakers. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The plan under subsection (a) shall 
include— 
(1) an analysis of the work required to extend 
the life of vessels described in subsection (a); 
(2) recommendations for which, if any, such 
vessels it is cost effective to undertake a ship-life ex-
tension or enhanced maintenance program; 
(3) an analysis of the aids to navigation pro-
gram to determine if advances in navigation tech-
nology may reduce the needs for physical aids to 
navigation; 
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(4) recommendations for changes to physical 
aids to navigation and the distribution of such aids 
that reduce the need for the acquisition of vessels to 
replace the vessels described in subsection (a); 
(5) a schedule for the acquisition of vessels to 
replace the vessels described in subsection (a), in-
cluding the date on which the first vessel will be de-
livered; 
(6) the date such acquisition will be complete; 
(7) a description of the order and location of re-
placement vessels; 
(8) an estimate of the cost per vessel and of the 
total cost of the acquisition program of record; and 
(9) an analysis of whether existing vessels can 
be used. 
SEC. 4820. GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER ACQUISITION. 
(a) ICEBREAKING ON THE GREAT LAKES.—For fiscal 
years 2018 and 2019, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may use funds made available pursuant to section 
4902 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 
division, for the construction of an icebreaker that is at 
least as capable as the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw to 
enhance icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. 
(b) ACQUISITION PLAN.—Not later than 45 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
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shall submit a plan to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives for acquiring an icebreaker described 
in subsections (a) and (b). Such plan shall include— 
(1) the details and schedule of the acquisition 
activities to be completed; and 
(2) a description of how the funding for Coast 
Guard acquisition, construction, and improvements 
that was appropriated under the Consolidated Ap-
propriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115–31) will be 
allocated to support the acquisition activities re-
ferred to in paragraph (1). 
SEC. 4821. POLAR ICEBREAKERS. 
(a) ENHANCED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR THE 
POLAR STAR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall conduct an enhanced maintenance program on 
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10) to ex-
tend the service life of such vessel until at least De-
cember 31, 2025. 
(2) REQUIREMENT
FOR
REPORT.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, the Sec-
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retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating, in consultation with Naval Sea Systems 
Command, shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a detailed 
report describing a plan to extend the service life of 
the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10) 
until at least December 31, 2025, through an en-
hanced maintenance program. 
(3) CONTENT.—The report required by para-
graph (2) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment and discussion of the 
enhanced maintenance program recommended 
by the National Academies of Sciences, Engi-
neering, and Medicine’s Committee on Polar 
Icebreaker Cost Assessment in the letter report 
‘‘Acquisition and Operation of Polar Ice-
breakers: Fulfilling the Nation’s Needs’’. 
(B) An assessment and discussion of the 
Government Accountability Office’s concerns 
and recommendations regarding service life ex-
tension work on Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star 
(WAGB–10) in the report ‘‘Status of the Coast 
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Guard’s Polar Icebreaking Fleet Capability and 
Recapitalization Plan’’. 
(C) Based upon a materiel condition as-
sessment of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star 
(WAGB–10)— 
(i) a description of the service life ex-
tension needs of the vessel; 
(ii) detailed information regarding 
planned shipyard work for each fiscal year 
to meet such needs; and 
(iii) an estimate of the amount needed 
to be appropriated to complete the en-
hanced maintenance program. 
(D) A plan to ensure the vessel will main-
tain seasonally operational status during the 
enhanced maintenance program. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
The Commandant of the Coast Guard may use 
funds made available pursuant to section 4902 of 
title 14, United States Code, as amended by section 
4202 of this division, for the enhanced maintenance 
program described in the report required by sub-
section (a). 
(b) OVERDUE REPORT.—Upon the date of enactment 
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, the Sec-
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retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives the polar icebreaker recapitalization 
plan required under section 3523 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 
328). 
(c) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 
ACT OF 2012; AMENDMENT.—Section 222 of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public 
Law 112–213), as amended, is further amended as fol-
lows: 
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (d); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) 
as subsections (a) through (c), respectively; 
(3) in subsection (a), as redesignated— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘Except as provided in subsection 
(c), the Commandant’’ and inserting ‘‘The 
Commandant’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Polar 
Sea or’’; 
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