I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5769 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2015, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 1, 2014 
Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. RAHALL, and Mr. GARAMENDI) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal 
year 2015, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Howard Coble Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is the following: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 
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Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
Sec. 201. Commissioned officers. 
Sec. 202. Commandant; appointment. 
Sec. 203. Prevention and response workforces. 
Sec. 204. Centers of expertise. 
Sec. 205. Penalties. 
Sec. 206. Agreements. 
Sec. 207. Tuition assistance program coverage of textbooks and other edu-
cational materials. 
Sec. 208. Coast Guard housing. 
Sec. 209. Lease authority. 
Sec. 210. Notification of certain determinations. 
Sec. 211. Annual Board of Visitors. 
Sec. 212. Flag officers. 
Sec. 213. Repeal of limitation on medals of honor. 
Sec. 214. Coast Guard family support and child care. 
Sec. 215. Mission need statement. 
Sec. 216. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request. 
Sec. 217. Inventory of real property. 
Sec. 218. Retired service members and dependents serving on advisory commit-
tees. 
Sec. 219. Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces. 
Sec. 220. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority. 
Sec. 221. Coast Guard administrative savings. 
Sec. 222. Technical corrections to title 14. 
Sec. 223. Multiyear procurement authority for Offshore Patrol Cutters. 
Sec. 224. Maintaining Medium Endurance Cutter mission capability. 
Sec. 225. Aviation capability in the Great Lakes region. 
Sec. 226. Gaps in writings on Coast Guard history. 
Sec. 227. Officer evaluation reports. 
Sec. 228. Improved safety information for vessels. 
Sec. 229. E–LORAN. 
Sec. 230. Analysis of resource deficiencies with respect to maritime border se-
curity. 
Sec. 231. Modernization of National Distress and Response System. 
Sec. 232. Report reconciling maintenance and operational priorities on the Mis-
souri River. 
Sec. 233. Maritime Search and Rescue Assistance Policy assessment. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 
Sec. 301. Repeal. 
Sec. 302. Donation of historical property. 
Sec. 303. Small shipyards. 
Sec. 304. Drug testing reporting. 
Sec. 305. Opportunities for sea service veterans. 
Sec. 306. Clarification of high-risk waters. 
Sec. 307. Technical corrections. 
Sec. 308. Report. 
Sec. 309. Fishing safety grant programs. 
Sec. 310. Establishment of Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 311. Travel and subsistence costs for prevention services. 
Sec. 312. Prompt intergovernmental notice of marine casualties. 
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Sec. 313. Area Contingency Plans. 
Sec. 314. International ice patrol reform. 
Sec. 315. Offshore supply vessel third-party inspection. 
Sec. 316. Watches. 
Sec. 317. Coast Guard response plan requirements. 
Sec. 318. Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. 
Sec. 319. Uninspected passenger vessels in the United States Virgin Islands. 
Sec. 320. Treatment of abandoned seafarers. 
Sec. 321. Enforcement. 
Sec. 322. Coast Guard regulations. 
Sec. 323. Website. 
TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 402. Award of reparations. 
Sec. 403. Terms of Commissioners. 
TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 
Sec. 501. Arctic maritime transportation. 
Sec. 502. Arctic maritime domain awareness. 
Sec. 503. IMO Polar Code negotiations. 
Sec. 504. Forward operating facilities. 
Sec. 505. Icebreakers. 
Sec. 506. Icebreaking in polar regions. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 601. Distant water tuna fleet. 
Sec. 602. Extension of moratorium. 
Sec. 603. National maritime strategy. 
Sec. 604. Waivers. 
Sec. 605. Competition by United States flag vessels. 
Sec. 606. Vessel requirements for notices of arrival and departure and auto-
matic identification system. 
Sec. 607. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Rochester, New York. 
Sec. 608. Conveyance of certain property in Gig Harbor, Washington. 
Sec. 609. Vessel determination. 
Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in Thunder Bay. 
Sec. 611. Parking facilities. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Funds are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2015 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as 
follows: 
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
Coast Guard, $6,981,036,000. 
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(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuild-
ing, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, includ-
ing equipment related thereto, $1,546,448,000, to 
remain available until expended. 
(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, in-
cluding personnel and training costs, equipment, and 
services, $140,016,000. 
(4) For environmental compliance and restora-
tion of Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and facilities 
(other than parts and equipment associated with op-
eration and maintenance), $16,701,000, to remain 
available until expended. 
(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for 
research, development, test, and evaluation of tech-
nologies, materials, and human factors directly re-
lated to improving the performance of the Coast 
Guard’s mission with respect to search and rescue, 
aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environ-
mental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, 
ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense 
readiness, $19,890,000. 
(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over 
navigable waters of the United States constituting 
obstructions to navigation, and for personnel and 
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administrative costs associated with the Alteration of 
Bridges Program, $16,000,000. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH 
AND TRAINING. 
(a) ACTIVE DUTY STRENGTH.—The Coast Guard is 
authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty per-
sonnel of 43,000 for fiscal year 2015. 
(b) MILITARY TRAINING STUDENT LOADS.—The 
Coast Guard is authorized average military training stu-
dent loads for fiscal year 2015 as follows: 
(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 stu-
dent years. 
(2) For flight training, 165 student years. 
(3) For professional training in military and ci-
vilian institutions, 350 student years. 
(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years. 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
SEC. 201. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 
Section 42(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘7,200’’ and inserting ‘‘6,900’’. 
SEC. 202. COMMANDANT; APPOINTMENT. 
Section 44 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting after the first sentence the following: ‘‘The 
term of an appointment, and any reappointment, shall 
begin on June 1 of the appropriate year and end on May 
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31 of the appropriate year, except that, in the event of 
death, retirement, resignation, or reassignment, or when 
the needs of the Service demand, the Secretary may alter 
the date on which a term begins or ends if the alteration 
does not result in the term exceeding a period of 4 years.’’. 
SEC. 203. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE WORKFORCES. 
Section 57 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) waterways operations manager shall have 
knowledge, skill, and practical experience with re-
spect to marine transportation system management; 
or 
‘‘(5) port and facility safety and security spe-
cialist shall have knowledge, skill, and practical ex-
perience with respect to the safety, security, and en-
vironmental protection responsibilities associated 
with maritime ports and facilities.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘or marine 
safety engineer’’ and inserting ‘‘marine safety engi-
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neer, waterways operations manager, or port and fa-
cility safety and security specialist’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking ‘‘investigator 
or marine safety engineer.’’ and inserting ‘‘investi-
gator, marine safety engineer, waterways operations 
manager, or port and facility safety and security 
specialist.’’. 
SEC. 204. CENTERS OF EXPERTISE. 
Section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) MISSIONS.—Any center established under sub-
section (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) promote, facilitate, and conduct— 
‘‘(A) education; 
‘‘(B) training; and 
‘‘(C) activities authorized under section 
93(a)(4); 
‘‘(2) be a repository of information on oper-
ations, practices, and resources related to the mis-
sion for which the center was established; and 
‘‘(3) perform and support the mission for which 
the center was established.’’. 
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(b) AUTHORITY.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 102. Agreements 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 93(a)(4), 
the Commandant may— 
‘‘(1) enter into cooperative agreements, con-
tracts, and other agreements with— 
‘‘(A) Federal entities; 
‘‘(B) other public or private entities in the 
United States, including academic entities; and 
‘‘(C) foreign governments with the concur-
rence of the Secretary of State; and 
‘‘(2) impose on and collect from an entity sub-
ject to an agreement or contract under paragraph 
(1) a fee to assist with expenses incurred in carrying 
out such section. 
‘‘(b) DEPOSIT AND USE OF FEES.—Fees collected 
under this section shall be deposited in the general fund 
of the Treasury as offsetting receipts. The fees may be 
used, to the extent provided in advance in an appropria-
tion law, only to carry out activities under section 
93(a)(4).’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘102. Agreements.’’. 
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SEC. 207. TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COVERAGE OF 
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MA-
TERIALS. 
Section 93(a)(7) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and the textbooks, manuals, and 
other materials required as part of such training or course 
of instruction’’ after ‘‘correspondence courses’’. 
SEC. 208. COAST GUARD HOUSING. 
(a) COMMANDANT; GENERAL
POWERS.—Section 
93(a)(13) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘the Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘the fund estab-
lished under section 687’’. 
(b) LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY.—Section 672a(b) of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the 
Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘the fund established under sec-
tion 687’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 687(b) of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(4) Monies received under section 93(a)(13). 
‘‘(5) Amounts received under section 672a(b).’’. 
SEC. 209. LEASE AUTHORITY. 
Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) LEASING
OF TIDELANDS
AND SUBMERGED 
LANDS.— 
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‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant may lease 
under subsection (a)(13) submerged lands and tide-
lands under the control of the Coast Guard without 
regard to the limitation under that subsection with 
respect to lease duration. 
‘‘(2) 
LIMITATION.—The 
Commandant 
may 
lease submerged lands and tidelands under para-
graph (1) only if— 
‘‘(A) lease payments are— 
‘‘(i) received exclusively in the form of 
cash; 
‘‘(ii) equal to the fair market value of 
the use of the leased submerged lands or 
tidelands for the period during which such 
lands are leased, as determined by the 
Commandant; and 
‘‘(iii) deposited in the fund established 
under section 687; and 
‘‘(B) the lease does not provide authority 
to or commit the Coast Guard to use or support 
any improvements to such submerged lands or 
tidelands, or obtain goods or services from the 
lessee.’’. 
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SEC. 210. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 103. Notification of certain determinations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—At least 90 days prior to making 
a final determination that a waterway, or a portion there-
of, is navigable for purposes of the jurisdiction of the 
Coast Guard, the Commandant shall provide notification 
regarding the proposed determination to— 
‘‘(1) the Governor of each State in which such 
waterway, or portion thereof, is located; 
‘‘(2) the public; and 
‘‘(3) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT REQUIREMENT.—Each notification 
provided under subsection (a) to an entity specified in 
paragraph (3) of that subsection shall include— 
‘‘(1) an analysis of whether vessels operating on 
the waterway, or portion thereof, subject to the pro-
posed determination are subject to inspection or 
similar regulation by State or local officials; 
‘‘(2) an analysis of whether operators of com-
mercial vessels on such waterway, or portion thereof, 
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are subject to licensing or similar regulation by 
State or local officials; and 
‘‘(3) an estimate of the annual costs that the 
Coast Guard may incur in conducting operations on 
such waterway, or portion thereof.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘103. Notification of certain determinations.’’. 
SEC. 211. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS. 
Section 194 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 194. Annual Board of Visitors 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Board of Visitors to the Coast 
Guard Academy is established to review and make rec-
ommendations on the operation of the Academy. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The membership of the 
Board shall consist of the following: 
‘‘(A) The chairman of the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, or the chairman’s designee. 
‘‘(B) The chairman of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives, or the chairman’s designee. 
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‘‘(C) 3 Members of the Senate designated 
by the Vice President. 
‘‘(D) 4 Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives designated by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(E) 6 individuals designated by the Presi-
dent. 
‘‘(2) LENGTH OF SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—A Member 
of Congress designated under subparagraph (C) 
or (D) of paragraph (1) as a member of the 
Board shall be designated as a member in the 
First Session of a Congress and serve for the 
duration of that Congress. 
‘‘(B) INDIVIDUALS
DESIGNATED
BY
THE 
PRESIDENT.—Each individual designated by the 
President under subparagraph (E) of para-
graph (1) shall serve as a member of the Board 
for 3 years, except that any such member whose 
term of office has expired shall continue to 
serve until a successor is appointed. 
‘‘(3) DEATH OR RESIGNATION OF A MEMBER.— 
If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a suc-
cessor shall be designated for any unexpired portion 
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of the term of the member by the official who des-
ignated the member. 
‘‘(c) ACADEMY VISITS.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL VISIT.—The Board shall visit the 
Academy annually to review the operation of the 
Academy. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL VISITS.—With the approval 
of the Secretary, the Board or individual members 
of the Board may make other visits to the Academy 
in connection with the duties of the Board or to con-
sult with the Superintendent of the Academy. 
‘‘(d) SCOPE OF REVIEW.—The Board shall review, 
with respect to the Academy— 
‘‘(1) the state of morale and discipline; 
‘‘(2) the curriculum; 
‘‘(3) instruction; 
‘‘(4) physical equipment; 
‘‘(5) fiscal affairs; and 
‘‘(6) other matters relating to the Academy that 
the Board determines appropriate. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of an annual visit of the Board under subsection (c)(1), 
the Board shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
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of the House of Representatives a report on the actions 
of the Board during such visit and the recommendations 
of the Board pertaining to the Academy. 
‘‘(f) ADVISORS.—If approved by the Secretary, the 
Board may consult with advisors in carrying out this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(g) REIMBURSEMENT.—Each member of the Board 
and each adviser consulted by the Board under subsection 
(f) shall be reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, 
by the Coast Guard for actual expenses incurred while en-
gaged in duties as a member or adviser.’’. 
SEC. 212. FLAG OFFICERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 295 the following: 
‘‘§ 296. Flag officers 
‘‘During any period in which the Coast Guard is not 
operating as a service in the Navy, section 1216(d) of title 
10 does not apply with respect to flag officers of the Coast 
Guard.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 295 the following: 
‘‘296. Flag officers.’’. 
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SEC. 213. REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON MEDALS OF HONOR. 
Section 494 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘medal of honor,’’ each place it ap-
pears. 
SEC. 214. COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT AND CHILD 
CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after 
chapter 13 the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 14—COAST GUARD FAMILY 
SUPPORT AND CHILD CARE 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘531. Work-life policies and programs. 
‘‘532. Surveys of Coast Guard families. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT 
‘‘542. Education and training opportunities for Coast Guard spouses. 
‘‘543. Youth sponsorship initiatives. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE 
‘‘551. Definitions. 
‘‘553. Child development center standards and inspections. 
‘‘554. Child development center employees. 
‘‘555. Parent partnerships with child development centers. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
‘‘§ 531. Work-life policies and programs 
‘‘The Commandant is authorized— 
‘‘(1) to establish an office for the purpose of de-
veloping, promulgating, and coordinating policies, 
programs, and activities related to the families of 
Coast Guard members; 
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‘‘(2) to implement and oversee policies, pro-
grams, and activities described in paragraph (1) as 
the Commandant considers necessary; and 
‘‘(3) to perform such other duties as the Com-
mandant considers necessary. 
‘‘§ 532. Surveys of Coast Guard families 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant, in order to de-
termine the effectiveness of Federal policies, programs, 
and activities related to the families of Coast Guard mem-
bers, may survey— 
‘‘(1) any Coast Guard member; 
‘‘(2) any retired Coast Guard member; 
‘‘(3) the immediate family of any Coast Guard 
member or retired Coast Guard member; and 
‘‘(4) any survivor of a deceased Coast Guard 
member. 
‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Participation in 
any survey conducted under subsection (a) shall be vol-
untary. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL RECORDKEEPING.—Each person sur-
veyed under subsection (a) shall be considered an em-
ployee of the United States for purposes of section 
3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44. 
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COAST GUARD FAMILY 
SUPPORT 
‘‘§ 542. Education and training opportunities for 
Coast Guard spouses 
‘‘(a) TUITION ASSISTANCE.—The Commandant may 
provide, subject to the availability of appropriations, tui-
tion assistance to an eligible spouse to facilitate the acqui-
sition of— 
‘‘(1) education and training required for a de-
gree or credential at an accredited college, univer-
sity, or technical school in the United States that ex-
pands employment and portable career opportunities 
for the spouse; or 
‘‘(2) education prerequisites and a professional 
license or credential required, by a government or 
government-sanctioned licensing body, for an occu-
pation that expands employment and portable career 
opportunities for the spouse. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE SPOUSE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible 
spouse’ means the spouse of a member of the 
Coast Guard who is serving on active duty and 
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includes a spouse who receives transitional com-
pensation under section 1059 of title 10. 
‘‘(B) 
EXCLUSION.—The 
term 
‘eligible 
spouse’ does not include a person who— 
‘‘(i) is married to, but legally sepa-
rated from, a member of the Coast Guard 
under a court order or statute of any State 
or territorial possession of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(ii) is eligible for tuition assistance 
as a member of the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(2) PORTABLE CAREER.—The term ‘portable 
career’ includes an occupation that requires edu-
cation, training, or both that results in a credential 
that is recognized by an industry, profession, or spe-
cific type of business. 
‘‘§ 543. Youth sponsorship initiatives 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant is authorized 
to establish, within any Coast Guard unit, an initiative 
to help integrate into new surroundings the dependent 
children of members of the Coast Guard who received per-
manent change of station orders. 
‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION OF INITIATIVE.—An initiative es-
tablished under subsection (a) shall— 
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‘‘(1) provide for the involvement of a dependent 
child of a member of the Coast Guard in the de-
pendent child’s new Coast Guard community; and 
‘‘(2) primarily focus on preteen and teenaged 
children. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY.—In carrying out an initiative 
under subsection (a), the Commandant may— 
‘‘(1) provide to a dependent child of a member 
of the Coast Guard information on youth programs 
and activities available in the dependent child’s new 
Coast Guard community; and 
‘‘(2) enter into agreements with nonprofit enti-
ties to provide youth programs and activities to such 
child. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—COAST GUARD CHILD CARE 
‘‘§ 551. Definitions 
‘‘In this subchapter, the following definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.—The term 
‘child abuse and neglect’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 3 of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note). 
‘‘(2) 
CHILD
DEVELOPMENT
CENTER
EM-
PLOYEE.—The term ‘child development center em-
ployee’ means a civilian employee of the Coast 
Guard who is employed to work in a Coast Guard 
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child development center without regard to whether 
the employee is paid from appropriated or non-
appropriated funds. 
‘‘(3) COAST GUARD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CEN-
TER.—The term ‘Coast Guard child development 
center’ means a facility on Coast Guard property or 
on property under the jurisdiction of the commander 
of a Coast Guard unit at which child care services 
are provided for members of the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(4) COMPETITIVE
SERVICE
POSITION.—The 
term ‘competitive service position’ means a position 
in the competitive service (as defined in section 2102 
of title 5). 
‘‘(5) FAMILY HOME DAYCARE.—The term ‘fam-
ily home daycare’ means home-based child care serv-
ices provided for a member of the Coast Guard by 
an individual who— 
‘‘(A) is certified by the Commandant as 
qualified to provide home-based child care serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(B) provides home-based child care serv-
ices on a regular basis in exchange for mone-
tary compensation. 
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‘‘§ 553. Child development center standards and in-
spections 
‘‘(a) STANDARDS.—The Commandant shall require 
each Coast Guard child development center to meet stand-
ards that the Commandant considers appropriate to en-
sure the health, safety, and welfare of the children and 
employees at the center. 
‘‘(b) INSPECTIONS.—The Commandant shall provide 
for regular and unannounced inspections of each Coast 
Guard child development center to ensure compliance with 
this section. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commandant shall 
maintain and publicize a means by which an indi-
vidual can report, with respect to a Coast Guard 
child development center or a family home daycare— 
‘‘(A) any suspected violation of— 
‘‘(i) standards established under sub-
section (a); or 
‘‘(ii) any other applicable law or 
standard; 
‘‘(B) suspected child abuse or neglect; or 
‘‘(C) any other deficiency. 
‘‘(2) 
ANONYMOUS
REPORTING.—The 
Com-
mandant shall ensure that an individual making a 
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report pursuant to paragraph (1) may do so anony-
mously if so desired by the individual. 
‘‘(3) PROCEDURES.—The Commandant shall 
establish procedures for investigating reports made 
pursuant to paragraph (1). 
‘‘§ 554. Child development center employees 
‘‘(a) TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall es-
tablish a training program for Coast Guard child de-
velopment center employees and satisfactory comple-
tion of the training program shall be a condition of 
employment for each employee of a Coast Guard 
child development center. 
‘‘(2) TIMING
FOR
NEW
HIRES.—The Com-
mandant shall require each employee of a Coast 
Guard child development center to complete the 
training program established under paragraph (1) 
not later than 6 months after the date on which the 
employee is hired. 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—The training 
program established under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude, at a minimum, instruction with respect to— 
‘‘(A) early childhood development; 
‘‘(B) activities and disciplinary techniques 
appropriate to children of different ages; 
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‘‘(C) child abuse and neglect prevention 
and detection; and 
‘‘(D) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 
other emergency medical procedures. 
‘‘(4) USE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PRO-
GRAMS.—The Commandant may use Department of 
Defense training programs, on a reimbursable or 
nonreimbursable basis, for purposes of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING AND CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS.— 
‘‘(1) 
SPECIALIST
REQUIRED.—The 
Com-
mandant shall require that at least 1 employee at 
each Coast Guard child development center be a spe-
cialist in training and curriculum development with 
appropriate credentials and experience. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The duties of the specialist de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) special teaching activities; 
‘‘(B) daily oversight and instruction of 
other child care employees; 
‘‘(C) daily assistance in the preparation of 
lesson plans; 
‘‘(D) assisting with child abuse and neglect 
prevention and detection; and 
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‘‘(E) advising the director of the center on 
the performance of the other child care employ-
ees. 
‘‘(3) COMPETITIVE
SERVICE.—Each specialist 
described in paragraph (1) shall be an employee in 
a competitive service position. 
‘‘§ 555. Parent partnerships with child development 
centers 
‘‘(a) PARENT BOARDS.— 
‘‘(1) FORMATION.—The Commandant shall re-
quire that there be formed at each Coast Guard 
child development center a board of parents, to be 
composed of parents of children attending the cen-
ter. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—Each board of parents 
formed under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) meet periodically with the staff of the 
center at which the board is formed and the 
commander of the unit served by the center, for 
the purpose of discussing problems and con-
cerns; and 
‘‘(B) be responsible, together with the staff 
of the center, for coordinating any parent par-
ticipation initiative established under subsection 
(b). 
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‘‘(3) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to a board of 
parents formed under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) PARENT
PARTICIPATION
INITIATIVE.—The 
Commandant is authorized to establish a parent participa-
tion initiative at each Coast Guard child development cen-
ter to encourage and facilitate parent participation in edu-
cational and related activities at the center.’’. 
(b) TRANSFER OF PROVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADOPTION EX-
PENSES.—Section 514 of title 14, United 
States Code, is redesignated as section 541 and 
transferred to appear before section 542 of such 
title, as added by subsection (a) of this section. 
(B) CHILD
DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES.— 
Section 515 of title 14, United States Code— 
(i) is redesignated as section 552 and 
transferred to appear after section 551 of 
such title, as added by subsection (a) of 
this section; and 
(ii) is amended— 
(I) in subsection (b)(2)(B) by in-
serting ‘‘and whether a family is par-
ticipating in an initiative established 
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under section 555(b)’’ after ‘‘family 
income’’; 
(II) by striking subsections (c) 
and (e); and 
(III) by redesignating subsection 
(d) as subsection (c). 
(C) DEPENDENT
SCHOOL
CHILDREN.— 
Section 657 of title 14, United States Code— 
(i) is redesignated as section 544 and 
transferred to appear after section 543 of 
such title, as added by subsection (a) of 
this section; and 
(ii) is amended in subsection (a) by 
striking ‘‘Except as otherwise’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘the Secretary may’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretary may’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) PART I.—The analysis for part I of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to chapter 13 the 
following: 
‘‘14. Coast Guard Family Support and Child Care .................................
531’’. 
(B) CHAPTER 13.—The analysis for chap-
ter 13 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(i) by striking the item relating to sec-
tion 514; and 
(ii) by striking the item relating to 
section 515. 
(C) CHAPTER 14.—The analysis for chap-
ter 14 of title 14, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a) of this section, is amended by 
inserting— 
(i) before the item relating to section 
542 the following: 
‘‘541. Reimbursement for adoption expenses.’’; 
(ii) after the item relating to section 
551 the following: 
‘‘552. Child development services.’’; and 
(iii) after the item relating to section 
543 the following: 
‘‘544. Dependent school children.’’. 
(D) CHAPTER 17.—The analysis for chap-
ter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
657. 
(c) COMMANDANT; GENERAL
POWERS.—Section 
93(a)(7) of title 14, United States Code, as amended by 
this Act, is further amended by inserting ‘‘, and to eligible 
spouses as defined under section 542,’’ after ‘‘Coast 
Guard’’. 
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(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the amount of funds appropriated for a fiscal 
year for operating expenses related to Coast Guard 
child development services should not be less than 
the amount of the child development center fee re-
ceipts estimated to be collected by the Coast Guard 
during that fiscal year. 
(2) CHILD
DEVELOPMENT
CENTER
FEE
RE-
CEIPTS
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘child development center fee receipts’’ means fees 
paid by members of the Coast Guard for child care 
services provided at Coast Guard child development 
centers. 
SEC. 215. MISSION NEED STATEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 569 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 569. Mission need statement 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which the Presi-
dent submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2016 
under section 1105 of title 31, on the date on which the 
President submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 
2019 under such section, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
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and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate an integrated major acquisition mis-
sion need statement. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) INTEGRATED MAJOR ACQUISITION MISSION 
NEED STATEMENT.—The term ‘integrated major ac-
quisition mission need statement’ means a document 
that— 
‘‘(A) identifies current and projected gaps 
in Coast Guard mission capabilities using mis-
sion hour targets; 
‘‘(B) explains how each major acquisition 
program addresses gaps identified under sub-
paragraph (A) if funded at the levels provided 
for such program in the most recently sub-
mitted capital investment plan; and 
‘‘(C) describes the missions the Coast 
Guard will not be able to achieve, by fiscal year, 
for each gap identified under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM.—The term 
‘major acquisition program’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 569a(e). 
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‘‘(3) CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.—The term 
‘capital investment plan’ means the plan required 
under section 663(a)(1).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 569 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘569. Mission need statement.’’. 
SEC. 216. TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AU-
THORIZATION REQUEST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after 
section 662 the following: 
‘‘§ 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard author-
ization request 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the President submits to Congress a budget 
for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a Coast Guard authorization request 
with respect to such fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION REQUEST DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘Coast Guard authoriza-
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tion request’ means a proposal for legislation that, with 
respect to the Coast Guard for the relevant fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) recommends end strengths for personnel 
for that fiscal year, as described in section 661; 
‘‘(2) recommends authorizations of appropria-
tions for that fiscal year, including with respect to 
matters described in section 662; and 
‘‘(3) addresses any other matter that the Sec-
retary determines is appropriate for inclusion in a 
Coast Guard authorization bill.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 17 of title 14, United States Code, as amended by this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after the item relat-
ing to section 662 the following: 
‘‘662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.’’. 
SEC. 217. INVENTORY OF REAL PROPERTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 679. Inventory of real property 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2015, the Commandant shall establish an inventory of all 
real property, including submerged lands, under the con-
trol of the Coast Guard, which shall include— 
‘‘(1) the size, the location, and any other appro-
priate description of each unit of such property; 
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‘‘(2) an assessment of the physical condition of 
each unit of such property, excluding lands; 
‘‘(3) a determination of whether each unit of 
such property should be— 
‘‘(A) retained to fulfill a current or pro-
jected Coast Guard mission requirement; or 
‘‘(B) subject to divestiture; and 
‘‘(4) other information the Commandant con-
siders appropriate. 
‘‘(b) INVENTORY MAINTENANCE.—The Commandant 
shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain the inventory required under sub-
section (a) on an ongoing basis; and 
‘‘(2) update information on each unit of real 
property included in such inventory not later than 
30 days after any change relating to the control of 
such property. 
‘‘(c) RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than March 30, 2016, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report that includes— 
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‘‘(1) a list of all real property under the control 
of the Coast Guard and the location of such prop-
erty by property type; 
‘‘(2) recommendations for divestiture with re-
spect to any units of such property; and 
‘‘(3) recommendations for consolidating any 
units of such property, including— 
‘‘(A) an estimate of the costs or savings 
associated with each recommended consolida-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) a discussion of the impact that such 
consolidation would have on Coast Guard mis-
sion effectiveness.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘679. Inventory of real property.’’. 
SEC. 218. RETIRED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS 
SERVING ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 680. Retired service members and dependents 
serving on advisory committees 
‘‘A committee that— 
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‘‘(1) advises or assists the Coast Guard with re-
spect to a function that affects a member of the 
Coast Guard or a dependent of such a member; and 
‘‘(2) includes in its membership a retired Coast 
Guard member or a dependent of such a retired 
member; 
shall not be considered an advisory committee under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) solely 
because of such membership.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter, as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 679 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘680. Retired service members and dependents serving on advisory commit-
tees.’’. 
SEC. 219. ACTIVE DUTY FOR EMERGENCY AUGMENTATION 
OF REGULAR FORCES. 
Section 712(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘not more than 60 days in any 4- 
month period and’’. 
SEC. 220. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 404(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 124 Stat. 2951) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2015’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 
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SEC. 221. COAST GUARD ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF OUTDATED AND DUPLICATIVE 
REPORTS.— 
(1) MARINE INDUSTRY TRAINING.—Section 59 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The 
Commandant’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘The 
Com-
mandant’’; and 
(B) by striking subsection (b). 
(2) OPERATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.—Section 
651 of title 14, United States Code, and the item re-
lating to such section in the analysis for chapter 17 
of such title, are repealed. 
(3) DRUG INTERDICTION.—Section 103 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (14 U.S.C. 
89 note), and the item relating to that section in the 
table of contents in section 2 of that Act, are re-
pealed. 
(4) NATIONAL DEFENSE.—Section 426 of the 
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (14 
U.S.C. 2 note), and the item relating to that section 
in the table of contents in section 1(b) of that Act, 
are repealed. 
(5) LIVING MARINE RESOURCES.—Section 4(b) 
of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 
(16 U.S.C. 1828 note) is amended by adding at the 
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end the following: ‘‘No report shall be required 
under this subsection, including that no report shall 
be required under section 224 of the Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 or section 
804 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2006, for fiscal years beginning after 
fiscal year 2014.’’. 
(b) CONSOLIDATION AND REFORM OF REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) MARINE SAFETY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 2116(d)(2)(B) 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(B) on the program’s mission perform-
ance in achieving numerical measurable goals 
established under subsection (b), including— 
‘‘(i) the number of civilian and mili-
tary Coast Guard personnel assigned to 
marine safety positions; and 
‘‘(ii) an identification of marine safety 
positions that are understaffed to meet the 
workload required to accomplish each ac-
tivity included in the strategy and plans 
under subsection (a); and’’. 
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(B) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
57 of title 14, United States Code, as amended 
by this Act, is further amended— 
(i) by striking subsection (e); and 
(ii) by redesignating subsections (f), 
(g), and (h) as subsections (e), (f), and (g) 
respectively. 
(2) MINOR CONSTRUCTION.—Section 656(d)(2) 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than the date on 
which the President submits to Congress a budget 
under section 1105 of title 31 each year, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report describ-
ing each project carried out under paragraph (1), in 
the most recently concluded fiscal year, for which 
the amount expended under such paragraph for such 
project was more than $1,000,000. If no such 
project was carried out during a fiscal year, no re-
port under this paragraph shall be required with re-
spect to that fiscal year.’’. 
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SEC. 222. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14. 
Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, 
is further amended— 
(1) in section 93(b)(1) by striking ‘‘Notwith-
standing subsection (a)(14)’’ and inserting ‘‘Not-
withstanding subsection (a)(13)’’; and 
(2) in section 197(b) by striking ‘‘of Homeland 
Security’’. 
SEC. 223. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR 
OFFSHORE PATROL CUTTERS. 
In fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may enter into, in accordance with section 
2306b of title 10, United States Code, multiyear contracts 
for the procurement of Offshore Patrol Cutters and associ-
ated equipment. 
SEC. 224. MAINTAINING MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTER MIS-
SION CAPABILITY. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, 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 report that 
includes— 
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(1) a schedule and plan for decommissioning, 
not later than September 30, 2029, each of the 210- 
foot, Reliance-Class Cutters operated by the Coast 
Guard on the date of enactment of this Act; 
(2) a schedule and plan for enhancing the 
maintenance or extending the service life of each of 
the 270-foot, Famous-Class Cutters operated by the 
Coast Guard on the date of enactment of this Act— 
(A) to maintain the capability of the Coast 
Guard to carry out sea-going missions with re-
spect to such Cutters at the level of capability 
existing on September 30, 2013; and 
(B) for the period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act and ending on the date 
on which the final Offshore Patrol Cutter is 
scheduled to be commissioned under paragraph 
(4); 
(3) an identification of the number of Offshore 
Patrol Cutters capable of sea state 5 operations 
that, if 8 National Security Cutters are commis-
sioned, are necessary to return the sea state 5 oper-
ating capability of the Coast Guard to the level of 
capability that existed prior to the decommissioning 
of the first High Endurance Cutter in fiscal year 
2011; 
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(4) a schedule and plan for commissioning the 
number of Offshore Patrol Cutters identified under 
paragraph (3); and 
(5) a schedule and plan for commissioning, not 
later than September 30, 2034, a number of Off-
shore Patrol Cutters not capable of sea state 5 oper-
ations that is equal to— 
(A) 25; less 
(B) the number of Offshore Patrol Cutters 
identified under paragraph (3). 
SEC. 225. AVIATION CAPABILITY IN THE GREAT LAKES RE-
GION. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may— 
(1) request and accept through a direct mili-
tary-to-military transfer under section 2571 of title 
10, United States Code, such H–60 helicopters as 
may be necessary to establish a year-round oper-
ational capability in the Coast Guard’s Ninth Dis-
trict; and 
(2) use funds provided under section 101 of 
this Act to convert such helicopters to Coast Guard 
MH–60T configuration. 
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SEC. 226. GAPS IN WRITINGS ON COAST GUARD HISTORY. 
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 any gaps that exist in writings 
on the history of the Coast Guard. The report shall ad-
dress, at a minimum, operations, broad topics, and biog-
raphies with respect to the Coast Guard. 
SEC. 227. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORTS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall provide 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 written as-
sessment of the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation reporting 
system. 
(b) CONTENTS OF ASSESSMENT.—The assessment 
required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, 
an analysis of— 
(1) the extent to which the Coast Guard’s offi-
cer evaluation reports differ in length, form, and 
content from the officer fitness reports used by the 
Navy and other branches of the Armed Forces; 
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(2) the extent to which differences determined 
pursuant to paragraph (1) are the result of inherent 
differences between— 
(A) the Coast Guard and the Navy; and 
(B) the Coast Guard and other branches of 
the Armed Forces; 
(3) the feasibility of more closely aligning and 
conforming the Coast Guard’s officer evaluation re-
ports with the officer fitness reports of the Navy and 
other branches of the Armed Forces; and 
(4) the costs and benefits of the alignment and 
conformity described in paragraph (3), including 
with respect to— 
(A) Coast Guard administrative efficiency; 
(B) fairness and equity for Coast Guard 
officers; and 
(C) carrying out the Coast Guard’s statu-
tory mission of defense readiness, including 
when operating as a service in the Navy. 
SEC. 228. IMPROVED SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VESSELS. 
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 shall establish a process that al-
lows an operator of a marine exchange or other non-Fed-
eral vessel traffic information service to use the automatic 
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identification system to transmit weather, ice, and other 
important navigation safety information to vessels. 
SEC. 229. E–LORAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating may not carry out 
activities related to the dismantling or disposal of infra-
structure that supported the former LORAN system until 
the later of— 
(1) the date that is 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which the Secretary provides to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate notice of a determination by the Secretary 
that such infrastructure is not required to provide a 
positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide 
redundant capability in the event GPS signals are 
disrupted. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) does not apply to 
activities necessary for the safety of human life. 
(c) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into co-
operative agreements, contracts, and other agreements 
with Federal entities and other public or private entities, 
including academic entities, to develop a positioning, navi-
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gation, and timing system, including an enhanced LORAN 
system, to provide redundant capability in the event GPS 
signals are disrupted. 
SEC. 230. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE DEFICIENCIES WITH RE-
SPECT TO MARITIME BORDER SECURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall provide to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report describing any Coast Guard resource 
deficiencies related to— 
(1) securing maritime borders with respect to 
the Great Lakes and the coastal areas of the South-
eastern and Southwestern United States, including 
with respect to Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and 
the United States Virgin Islands; 
(2) patrolling and monitoring maritime ap-
proaches to the areas described in paragraph (1); 
and 
(3) patrolling and monitoring relevant portions 
of the Western Hemisphere Drug Transit Zone. 
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(b) SCOPE.—In preparing the report under sub-
section (a), the Commandant shall consider, at a min-
imum— 
(1) the Coast Guard’s statutory missions with 
respect to migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, 
defense readiness, living marine resources, and 
ports, waterways, and coastal security; 
(2) whether Coast Guard missions are being ex-
ecuted to meet national performance targets set 
under the National Drug Control Strategy; 
(3) the number and types of cutters and other 
vessels required to effectively execute Coast Guard 
missions; 
(4) the number and types of aircraft, including 
unmanned aircraft, required to effectively execute 
Coast Guard missions; 
(5) the number of assets that require upgraded 
sensor and communications systems to effectively 
execute Coast Guard missions; 
(6) the Deployable Specialized Forces required 
to effectively execute Coast Guard missions; and 
(7) whether additional shoreside facilities are 
required to accommodate Coast Guard personnel 
and assets in support of Coast Guard missions. 
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SEC. 231. MODERNIZATION OF NATIONAL DISTRESS AND 
RESPONSE SYSTEM. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, 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 Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the implementation of the Rescue 21 project in Alaska 
and in Coast Guard sectors Upper Mississippi River, 
Lower Mississippi River, and Ohio River Valley. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) describe what improvements are being made 
to the distress response system in the areas specified 
in subsection (a), including information on which 
areas will receive digital selective calling and direc-
tion finding capability; 
(2) describe the impediments to installing dig-
ital selective calling and direction finding capability 
in areas where such technology will not be installed; 
(3) identify locations in the areas specified in 
subsection (a) where communication gaps will con-
tinue to present a risk to mariners after completion 
of the Rescue 21 project; 
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(4) include a list of all reported marine acci-
dents, casualties, and fatalities occurring in the loca-
tions identified under paragraph (3) since 1990; and 
(5) provide an estimate of the costs associated 
with installing the technology necessary to close 
communication gaps in the locations identified under 
paragraph (3). 
SEC. 
232. 
REPORT 
RECONCILING 
MAINTENANCE 
AND 
OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES ON THE MISSOURI 
RIVER. 
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 that outlines a course of action to 
reconcile general maintenance priorities for cutters with 
operational priorities on the Missouri River. 
SEC. 233. MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSISTANCE 
POLICY ASSESSMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall assess the Maritime Search and Rescue As-
sistance Policy as it relates to State and local responders. 
(b) SCOPE.—The assessment under subsection (a) 
shall consider, at a minimum— 
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(1) the extent to which Coast Guard search and 
rescue coordinators have entered into domestic 
search and rescue agreements with State and local 
responders under the National Search and Rescue 
Plan; 
(2) whether the domestic search and rescue 
agreements include the Maritime Search and Rescue 
Assistance Policy; and 
(3) the extent to which Coast Guard sectors co-
ordinate with 911 emergency centers, including en-
suring the dissemination of appropriate maritime 
distress check-sheets. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall submit a report on the assessment under sub-
section (a) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
TITLE III—SHIPPING AND 
NAVIGATION 
SEC. 301. REPEAL. 
Chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by repealing section 55501; 
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(2) by redesignating section 55502 as section 
55501; and 
(3) in the analysis by striking the items relating 
to sections 55501 and 55502 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘55501. United States Committee on the Marine Transportation System.’’. 
SEC. 302. DONATION OF HISTORICAL PROPERTY. 
Section 51103 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) DONATION FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may convey 
the right, title, and interest of the United States 
Government in any property administered by the 
Maritime Administration, except real estate or ves-
sels, if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that such 
property is not needed by the Maritime Admin-
istration; and 
‘‘(B) the recipient— 
‘‘(i) is a nonprofit organization, a 
State, or a political subdivision of a State; 
‘‘(ii) agrees to hold the Government 
harmless for any claims arising from expo-
sure to hazardous materials, including as-
bestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead 
paint, after conveyance of the property; 
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‘‘(iii) provides a description and expla-
nation of the intended use of the property 
to the Secretary for approval; 
‘‘(iv) has provided to the Secretary 
proof, as determined by the Secretary, of 
resources sufficient to accomplish the in-
tended use provided under clause (iii) and 
to maintain the property; 
‘‘(v) agrees that when the recipient no 
longer requires the property, the recipient 
shall— 
‘‘(I) return the property to the 
Secretary, at the recipient’s expense 
and in the same condition as received 
except for ordinary wear and tear; or 
‘‘(II) subject to the approval of 
the Secretary, retain, sell, or other-
wise dispose of the property in a man-
ner consistent with applicable law; 
and 
‘‘(vi) agrees to any additional terms 
the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) REVERSION.—The Secretary shall include 
in any conveyance under this subsection terms under 
which all right, title, and interest conveyed by the 
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Secretary shall revert to the Government if the Sec-
retary determines the property has been used other 
than as approved by the Secretary under paragraph 
(1)(B)(iii).’’. 
SEC. 303. SMALL SHIPYARDS. 
Section 54101(i) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2009 through 2013’’ and inserting 
‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 
SEC. 304. DRUG TESTING REPORTING. 
Section 7706 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘an applicant 
for employment by a Federal agency,’’ after ‘‘Fed-
eral agency,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by— 
(A) inserting ‘‘or an applicant for employ-
ment by a Federal agency’’ after ‘‘an em-
ployee’’; and 
(B) striking ‘‘the employee.’’ and inserting 
‘‘the employee or the applicant.’’. 
SEC. 305. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEA SERVICE VETERANS. 
(a) ENDORSEMENTS FOR VETERANS.—Section 7101 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
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‘‘(j) The Secretary may issue a license under this sec-
tion in a class under subsection (c) to an applicant that— 
‘‘(1) has at least 3 months of qualifying service 
on vessels of the uniformed services (as that term is 
defined in section 101(a) of title 10) of appropriate 
tonnage or horsepower within the 7-year period im-
mediately preceding the date of application; and 
‘‘(2) satisfies all other requirements for such a 
license.’’. 
(b) SEA SERVICE LETTERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 427 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 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 re-
ceiving 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 
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or former member if such member or former member sat-
isfies the requirement under subsection (a)(1).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 427 the following: 
‘‘428. Sea service letters.’’. 
(c) CREDITING OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 
SERVICE, TRAINING, AND QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) MAXIMIZING
CREDITABILITY.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating, in implementing United States mer-
chant mariner license, certification, and document 
laws and the International Convention on Standards 
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Sea-
farers, 1978, shall maximize the extent to which 
United States Armed Forces service, training, and 
qualifications are creditable toward meeting the re-
quirements of such laws and such Convention. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall notify the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to 
implement this subsection. 
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(d) MERCHANT MARINE POST-SERVICE CAREER OP-
PORTUNITIES.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall take steps to promote better awareness, on 
an ongoing basis, among Coast Guard personnel regarding 
post-service use of Coast Guard training, education, and 
practical experience in satisfaction of requirements for 
merchant mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 
46, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 306. 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 
operators 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 so designated by the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard in the maritime secu-
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rity directive issued by the Commandant and in ef-
fect on the date on which an applicable voyage be-
gins, if the Secretary of Transportation— 
‘‘(A) determines that an act of piracy oc-
curred in the 12-month period preceding the 
date the voyage begins; or 
‘‘(B) in such period, issued an advisory 
warning that an act of piracy is possible in such 
waters.’’. 
SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 46.—Section 2116(b)(1)(D) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 
93(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 93(c) of title 14’’. 
(b) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 
ACT OF 2006.—Section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 
241; 33 U.S.C. 1503 note) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
from’’ before ‘‘the United States’’. 
(c) DEEPWATER PORT ACT OF 1974.—Section 4(i) 
of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503(i)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘or that will supply’’ after ‘‘be 
supplied with’’. 
SEC. 308. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
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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 
Senate a report on the number of jobs, including vessel 
construction and vessel operating jobs, that would be cre-
ated 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) on and after such date, on vessels docu-
mented under the laws of the United States and 
constructed in the United States. 
SEC. 309. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) FISHING SAFETY TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.— 
Section 4502(i)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 
(b) FISHING
SAFETY
RESEARCH
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—Section 4502(j)(4) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2010 through 2014’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2015 through 2017’’. 
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SEC. 310. ESTABLISHMENT OF MERCHANT MARINE PER-
SONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) 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 estab-
lish a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in 
this section referred to as ‘the Committee’). The Com-
mittee— 
‘‘(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, 
qualifications, certification, documentation, and fit-
ness standards, and other matters as assigned by 
the Commandant; 
‘‘(2) shall review and comment on proposed 
Coast Guard regulations and policies relating to per-
sonnel in the United States merchant marine, in-
cluding training, qualifications, certification, docu-
mentation, and fitness standards; 
‘‘(3) may be given special assignments by the 
Secretary and may conduct studies, inquiries, work-
shops, and fact finding in consultation with individ-
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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 Congress rec-
ommendations that the Committee makes to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of not more than 19 members who are appointed 
by and serve terms of a duration determined by the 
Secretary. Before filling a position on the Com-
mittee, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting nominations for member-
ship on the Committee. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED
MEMBERS.—Subject to para-
graph (3), the Secretary shall appoint as members 
of the Committee— 
‘‘(A) 9 United States citizens with active 
licenses or certificates issued under chapter 71 
or merchant mariner documents issued under 
chapter 73, including— 
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‘‘(i) 3 deck officers who represent the 
viewpoint of merchant marine deck offi-
cers, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans 
any gross tons; 
‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed for in-
land river route with a limited or un-
limited 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 rep-
resent a management perspective; 
‘‘(ii) 3 engineering officers who rep-
resent the viewpoint of merchant marine 
engineering 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 rep-
resent 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 view-
point 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 rep-
resent the viewpoint of other maritime 
training institutions, 1 of whom shall rep-
resent the viewpoint of the small vessel in-
dustry; 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall con-
sult with the Secretary of Transportation in making 
an appointment under paragraph (2)(B)(i)(II). 
‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN
AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Sec-
retary shall designate one member of the Committee as 
the Chairman and one member of the Committee as the 
Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman 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 estab-
lish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups 
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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 work-
ing groups. Only Committee members may chair sub-
committee or working groups. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate 
on September 30, 2020.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.’’. 
SEC. 311. TRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCE COSTS FOR PREVEN-
TION SERVICES. 
(a) TITLE 46, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 2110 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and 
charges established under subsection (a), in providing a 
service or thing of value under this subtitle the Secretary 
may accept in-kind transportation, travel, and subsistence. 
‘‘(2) The value of in-kind transportation, travel, and 
subsistence accepted under this paragraph may not exceed 
applicable per diem rates set forth in regulations pre-
scribed under section 464 of title 37.’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘subsections 
(a) and (b),’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a),’’. 
(b) TITLE 14, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 664 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by redesig-
nating subsections (e) though (g) as subsections (f) 
through (h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection 
(d) the following: 
‘‘(e)(1) In addition to the collection of fees and 
charges established under this section, in the provision of 
a service or thing of value by the Coast Guard the Sec-
retary may accept in-kind transportation, travel, and sub-
sistence. 
‘‘(2) The value of in-kind transportation, travel, and 
subsistence accepted under this paragraph may not exceed 
applicable per diem rates set forth in regulations pre-
scribed under section 464 of title 37.’’. 
(c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating may not accept in- 
kind transportation, travel, or subsistence under section 
664(e) of title 14, United States Code, or section 
2110(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code, as amended 
by this section, until the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard— 
(1) amends the Standards of Ethical Conduct 
for members and employees of the Coast Guard to 
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include regulations governing the acceptance of in- 
kind reimbursements; and 
(2) notifies the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives of the amendments 
made under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 312. PROMPT INTERGOVERNMENTAL NOTICE OF MA-
RINE CASUALTIES. 
Section 6101 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) NOTICE
TO STATE
AND TRIBAL GOVERN-
MENTS.—Not later than 24 hours after receiving a notice 
of a major marine casualty under this section, the Sec-
retary shall notify each State or federally recognized In-
dian tribe that is, or may reasonably be expected to be, 
affected by such marine casualty.’’; 
(2) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (h)(2) as 
subsection (i) of section 6101, and in such sub-
section— 
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(3) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ‘‘and 
local’’ and inserting ‘‘, local, and tribal’’; and 
(4) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and Fed-
eral, State, and local agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
Federal, State, and local agencies, and tribal 
governments’’; 
(B) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) 
as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and 
(C) by inserting after clause (vi) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(vii) include a framework for advance 
planning and decisionmaking with respect to 
the closing and reopening of fishing areas fol-
lowing a discharge, including protocols and 
standards for the closing and reopening of fish-
ing areas;’’. 
SEC. 314. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 803 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 80301, by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.—Payments received pursuant to 
subsection (b)(1) shall be credited to the appropriation for 
operating expenses of the Coast Guard.’’; 
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(2) in section 80302— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘An ice 
patrol vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice patrol’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘An 
ice patrol vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice pa-
trol’’; and 
(C) in the first sentence of subsection (d), 
by striking ‘‘vessels’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 80304. Limitation on ice patrol data 
‘‘Notwithstanding sections 80301 and 80302, data 
collected by an ice patrol conducted by the Coast Guard 
under this chapter may not be disseminated to a vessel 
unless such vessel is— 
‘‘(1) documented under the laws of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(2) documented under the laws of a foreign 
country that made the payment or contribution re-
quired under section 80301(b) for the year pre-
ceding the year in which the data is collected.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘80304. Limitation on ice patrol data.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on January 1, 2017. 
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SEC. 315. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY IN-
SPECTION. 
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended 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 del-
egated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect 
to a vessel has reduced the operational safety of that ves-
sel, the Secretary may terminate the certificate or docu-
ment, respectively. 
‘‘(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the en-
actment of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014, and for each year of the sub-
sequent 2-year period, the Secretary shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
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merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
describing— 
‘‘(A) the number of vessels for which a delega-
tion 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 delega-
tions were made, and on the crew on those vessels.’’. 
SEC. 316. WATCHES. 
Section 8104 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘coal passers, 
firemen, oilers, and water tenders’’ and inserting 
‘‘and oilers’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘(except 
the coal passers, firemen, oilers, and water 
tenders)’’. 
SEC. 317. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN CONTENTS.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall require that each vessel response plan pre-
pared for a mobile offshore drilling unit includes informa-
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tion from the facility response plan prepared for the mo-
bile offshore drilling unit regarding the planned response 
to a worst case discharge, and to a threat of such a dis-
charge. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNIT.—The 
term ‘‘mobile offshore drilling unit’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701). 
(2) RESPONSE
PLAN.—The term ‘‘response 
plan’’ means a response plan prepared under section 
311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). 
(3) WORST
CASE
DISCHARGE.—The term 
‘‘worst case discharge’’ has the meaning given that 
term under section 311(a) of the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to require the Coast Guard to re-
view or approve a facility response plan for a mobile off-
shore drilling unit. 
SEC. 318. REGIONAL CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
Section 5002(k)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(33 U.S.C. 2732(k)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘not more 
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than 
$1,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘not 
less 
than 
$1,400,000’’. 
SEC. 319. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE 
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4105 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b)(1) 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 
passengers’ for ‘6 passengers’ each place it appears in sec-
tion 2101(42) if the Secretary determines that the vessel 
complies with, as applicable to the vessel— 
‘‘(A) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘Yellow Code’), as published by 
the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency and 
in effect on January 1, 2014; or 
‘‘(B) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly 
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referred to as the ‘Blue Code’), as published by 
such agency and in effect on such date. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary establishes standards to 
carry out this subsection— 
‘‘(A) such standards shall be identical to 
those established in the Codes of Practice re-
ferred to in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) on any dates before the date on 
which such standards are in effect, the Codes of 
Practice referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
apply with respect to the vessels referred to in 
paragraph (1).’’. 
(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 sub-
section, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
SEC. 320. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 111 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers 
‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury a separate account to be known as the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED
USES.—Amounts in the 
Fund may be appropriated to the Secretary for 
use— 
‘‘(A) to pay necessary support of a sea-
farer— 
‘‘(i) who— 
‘‘(I) was paroled into the United 
States under section 212(d)(5) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)), or for whom the 
Secretary has requested parole under 
such section; and 
‘‘(II) is involved in an investiga-
tion, reporting, documentation, or ad-
judication of any matter that is re-
lated to the administration or enforce-
ment of law by the Coast Guard; or 
‘‘(ii) who— 
‘‘(I) is physically present in the 
United States; 
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‘‘(II) the Secretary determines 
was abandoned in the United States; 
and 
‘‘(III) has not applied for asylum 
under the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) to reimburse a vessel owner or oper-
ator for the costs of necessary support of a sea-
farer who has been paroled into the United 
States to facilitate an investigation, reporting, 
documentation, or adjudication of any matter 
that is related to the administration or enforce-
ment of law by the Coast Guard, if— 
‘‘(i) the vessel owner or operator is 
not convicted of a criminal offense related 
to such matter; or 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that re-
imbursement is appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), there shall be credited to the 
Fund the following: 
‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund 
under section 9 of the Act to Prevent Pol-
lution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908). 
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‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recov-
ered under subsection (c). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be cred-
ited to the Fund under subparagraph (A) only 
if the unobligated balance of the Fund is less 
than $5,000,000. 
‘‘(4) REPORT
REQUIRED.—On the date on 
which the President submits each budget for a fiscal 
year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report that de-
scribes— 
‘‘(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) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed— 
‘‘(1) to create a private right of action or any 
other right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary sup-
port for any person; or 
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‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reim-
burse the cost of necessary support. 
‘‘(c) 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 adju-
dication of any matter under this Act that 
the Coast Guard referred to a United 
States attorney or the Attorney General, 
fails to provide necessary support of a sea-
farer who was paroled into the United 
States to facilitate the investigation, re-
porting, documentation, 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-
gotiated settlement related to such 
matter; or 
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‘‘(B) the vessel owner or operator aban-
dons a seafarer in the United States, as deter-
mined by the Secretary based on substantial 
evidence. 
‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT.—If a vessel owner or op-
erator fails to reimburse the Fund under paragraph 
(1) within 60 days after receiving a written, itemized 
description of reimbursable expenses and a demand 
for payment, the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on 
which the 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 for the vessel and 
any other vessel operated by the same operator 
(as that term is defined in section 2(9)(a) of 
the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 
U.S.C. 1901(9)(a)) as the vessel on which the 
seafarer served. 
‘‘(3) OBTAINING
CLEARANCE.—A vessel may 
obtain clearance from the Secretary after it is with-
held or revoked under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel 
owner or operator— 
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‘‘(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). 
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary 
shall notify the vessel at least 72 hours before taking 
any action under paragraph (2)(B). 
‘‘(d) 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; or 
‘‘(B) a vessel owner’s or operator’s failure 
to provide necessary support of a seafarer. 
‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under this 
section. 
‘‘(3) NECESSARY
SUPPORT.—The term ‘nec-
essary support’ means normal wages and expenses 
the Secretary considers reasonable for lodging, sub-
sistence, clothing, medical care (including hos-
pitalization), repatriation, and any other support the 
Secretary considers to be appropriate. 
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‘‘(4) SEAFARER.—The term ‘seafarer’ means an 
alien crew member who is employed or engaged in 
any capacity on board a vessel subject to the juris-
diction of the United States. 
‘‘(5) VESSEL SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION 
OF THE UNITED STATES.—The term ‘vessel subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 70502(c), except 
that it does not include a vessel that is— 
‘‘(A) owned, or operated under a bareboat 
charter, by the United States, a State or polit-
ical subdivision thereof, or a foreign nation; and 
‘‘(B) not engaged in commerce.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the 
Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(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 Sea-
farers Fund established under section 11113 of title 46, 
United States Code.’’. 
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SEC. 321. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) Each department or agency that has re-
sponsibility for a program under this section shall 
administer that program consistent with this section 
and any regulations and guidance issued by the Sec-
retary of Transportation concerning this section.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3), and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall have exclusive au-
thority for determining the applicability of this sec-
tion to a program of a Federal department or agen-
cy. 
‘‘(B) The head of a Federal department or 
agency shall request the Secretary to determine the 
applicability of this section to a program of such de-
partment or agency if the department or agency is 
uncertain of such applicability. Not later than 30 
days after receiving such a request, the Secretary 
shall make such determination. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not be construed 
to limit the authority of the Secretary to make a de-
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termination regarding the applicability of this sec-
tion to a program administered by a Federal depart-
ment or agency. 
‘‘(D) A determination made by the Secretary 
under this paragraph regarding a program shall re-
main in effect until the Secretary determines that 
this section no longer applies to such program.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) shall conduct an annual review of the 
administration of programs subject to the re-
quirements of this section to determine compli-
ance with the requirements of this section;’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) On the date on which the President sub-
mits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31, the Secretary shall make available on the 
Internet website of the Department of Transpor-
tation a report that— 
‘‘(A) lists the programs that were subject 
to determinations made by the Secretary under 
paragraph (2) in the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) describes the results of the most re-
cent annual review required by paragraph 
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(3)(A), including identification of the depart-
ments and agencies that transported cargo in 
violation of this section and any action the Sec-
retary took under paragraph (3) with respect to 
each violation.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR FIRST REVIEW.—The Secretary 
of Transportation shall complete the first review required 
under the amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(C) by 
not later than December 31, 2015. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3511(c) of 
the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2009 (46 U.S.C. 55305 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 322. COAST GUARD REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating 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 an analysis of the Coast Guard’s proposed 
promulgation of safety and environmental management 
system requirements for vessels engaged in Outer Conti-
nental Shelf activities. The analysis shall include— 
(1) a discussion of any new operational, man-
agement, design and construction, financial, and 
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other mandates that would be imposed on vessel 
owners and operators; 
(2) an estimate of all associated direct and indi-
rect operational, management, personnel, training, 
vessel design and construction, record keeping, and 
other costs; 
(3) an identification and justification of any of 
such proposed requirements that exceed those in 
international conventions applicable to the design, 
construction, operation, and management of vessels 
engaging in United States Outer Continental Shelf 
activities; and 
(4) an identification of exemptions to the pro-
posed requirements, that are based upon vessel clas-
sification, tonnage, offshore activity or function, al-
ternative certifications, or any other appropriate cri-
teria. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not issue pro-
posed regulations relating to safety and environmental 
management system requirements for vessels on the 
United States Outer Continental Shelf for which noticed 
was published on September 10, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 
55230) earlier than 6 months after the submittal of the 
analysis required by subsection (a). 
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SEC. 323. WEBSITE. 
(a) REPORTS TO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION; 
INCIDENTS AND DETAILS.—Section 3507(g)(3)(A) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘the incident to an 
Internet based portal maintained by the Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘each incident specified in clause (i) to 
the Internet website maintained by the Secretary of 
Transportation under paragraph (4)(A)’’; and 
(2) in clause (iii) by striking ‘‘based portal 
maintained by the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘website 
maintained by the Secretary of Transportation 
under paragraph (4)(A)’’. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF INCIDENT DATA ON INTER-
NET.—Section 3507(g)(4) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) WEBSITE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall maintain a statistical 
compilation of all incidents on board a 
cruise 
vessel 
specified 
in 
paragraph 
(3)(A)(i) on an Internet website that pro-
vides a numerical accounting of the miss-
ing persons and alleged crimes reported 
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under that paragraph without regard to 
the investigative status of the incident. 
‘‘(ii) UPDATES AND OTHER REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The compilation under clause (i) 
shall— 
‘‘(I) be updated not less fre-
quently than quarterly; 
‘‘(II) be able to be sorted by 
cruise line; 
‘‘(III) identify each cruise line by 
name; 
‘‘(IV) identify each crime or al-
leged crime committed or allegedly 
committed by a passenger or crew-
member; and 
‘‘(V) identify the number of indi-
viduals alleged overboard. 
‘‘(iii) USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT.—The 
Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 
that the compilation, data, and any other 
information provided on the Internet 
website maintained under this subpara-
graph are in a user-friendly format.’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’. 
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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 fiscal year 2015. 
SEC. 402. AWARD OF REPARATIONS. 
Section 41305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, plus reason-
able attorney fees’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) ATTORNEY FEES.—In any action brought under 
section 41301, the prevailing party may be awarded rea-
sonable attorney fees.’’. 
SEC. 403. 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 suc-
cessor is appointed and qualified, but for a period 
not to exceed one year. Except as provided in para-
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graph (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 
individual 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
ACTIVI-
TIES.—A Commissioner may not engage in an-
other 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 the enactment 
of this Act. 
TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME 
TRANSPORTATION 
SEC. 501. ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION.—Chapter 
5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 89 the following: 
‘‘§ 90. Arctic maritime transportation 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
sure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic in-
cluding the availability of aids to navigation, vessel es-
corts, spill response capability, and maritime search and 
rescue in the Arctic. 
‘‘(b) INTERNATIONAL
MARITIME
ORGANIZATION 
AGREEMENTS.—To carry out the purpose of this section, 
the Secretary is encouraged to enter into negotiations 
through the International Maritime Organization to con-
clude and execute agreements to promote coordinated ac-
tion among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, 
Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic na-
tions to ensure, in the Arctic— 
‘‘(1) placement and maintenance of aids to 
navigation; 
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‘‘(2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and sal-
vage capabilities; 
‘‘(3) oil spill prevention and response capability; 
‘‘(4) maritime domain awareness, including 
long-range vessel tracking; and 
‘‘(5) search and rescue. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION BY COMMITTEE ON THE MARI-
TIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—The Committee on the 
Maritime Transportation System established under section 
55501 of title 46, United States Code, shall coordinate 
the establishment of domestic transportation policies in 
the Arctic necessary to carry out the purpose of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary 
may, subject to the availability of appropriations, enter 
into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agree-
ments with, or make grants to, individuals and govern-
ments to carry out the purpose of this section or any 
agreements established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(e) ICEBREAKING.—The Secretary shall promote 
safe maritime navigation by means of icebreaking where 
necessary, feasible, and effective to carry out the purposes 
of this section. 
‘‘(f) ARCTIC DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 
‘Arctic’ has the meaning given such term in section 112 
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of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 
4111).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 89 the following: 
‘‘90. Arctic maritime transportation’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 307 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 
281; 14 U.S.C. 92 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 502. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 154. Arctic maritime domain awareness 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall improve 
maritime domain awareness in the Arctic— 
‘‘(1) by promoting interagency cooperation and 
coordination; 
‘‘(2) by employing joint, interagency, and inter-
national capabilities; and 
‘‘(3) by facilitating the sharing of information, 
intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 
domain between the Coast Guard and departments 
and agencies listed in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Commandant shall seek 
to coordinate the collection, sharing, and use of informa-
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