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Transportation to carry out the functions and au-
thorities transferred by subsection (a). 
TITLE II—COAST GUARD 
SEC. 201. APPOINTMENT OF CIVILIAN COAST GUARD 
JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 153. Appointment of judges 
‘‘The Secretary may appoint civilian employees of the 
Department in which the Coast Guard is operating as ap-
pellate military judges, available for assignment to the 
Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals as provided for 
in section 866(a) of title 10.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘153. Appointment of judges.’’. 
SEC. 202. INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 151 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘All orders’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ORDERS AND AGREEMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL 
ACTIVITIES.—Under this section, the Coast Guard indus-
trial activities may accept orders and enter into reimburs-
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able agreements with establishments, agencies, and de-
partments of the Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 203. REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL-RELATED TRAV-
EL EXPENSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 518. Reimbursement for medical-related travel ex-
penses for certain persons residing on is-
lands in the continental United States 
‘‘In any case in which a covered beneficiary (as de-
fined in section 1072(5) of title 10) resides on an island 
that is located in the 48 contiguous States and the District 
of Columbia and that lacks public access roads to the 
mainland and is referred by a primary care physician to 
a specialty care provider (as defined in section 1074i(b) 
of title 10) on the mainland who provides services less 
than 100 miles from the location where the beneficiary re-
sides, the Secretary shall reimburse the reasonable travel 
expenses of the covered beneficiary and, when accompani-
ment by an adult is necessary, for a parent or guardian 
of the covered beneficiary or another member of the cov-
ered beneficiary’s family who is at least 21 years of age.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘518. Reimbursement for medical-related travel expenses for certain persons re-
siding on islands in the continental United States.’’. 
SEC. 204. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 
(a) ACTIVE DUTY PROMOTION LIST.—Section 42 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘§ 42. Number and distribution of commissioned offi-
cers on active duty promotion list 
‘‘(a) MAXIMUM TOTAL NUMBER.—The total number 
of Coast Guard commissioned officers on the active duty 
promotion list, excluding warrant officers, shall not exceed 
6,700; except that the Commandant may temporarily in-
crease that number by up to 2 percent for no more than 
60 days following the date of the commissioning of a Coast 
Guard Academy class. 
‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION PERCENTAGES BY GRADE.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIRED.—The total number of commis-
sioned officers authorized by this section shall be 
distributed in grade in the following percentages: 
0.375 percent for rear admiral; 0.375 percent for 
rear admiral (lower half); 6.0 percent for captain; 
15.0 percent for commander; and 22.0 percent for 
lieutenant commander. 
‘‘(2) DISCRETIONARY.—The Secretary shall 
prescribe the percentages applicable to the grades of 
lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), and ensign. 
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‘‘(3) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY TO REDUCE 
PERCENTAGE.—The Secretary— 
‘‘(A) may reduce, as the needs of the Coast 
Guard require, any of the percentages set forth 
in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) shall apply that total percentage re-
duction to any other lower grade or combination 
of lower grades. 
‘‘(c) COMPUTATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall com-
pute, at least once each year, the total number of 
commissioned officers authorized to serve in each 
grade by applying the grade distribution percentages 
established by or under this section to the total 
number of commissioned officers listed on the cur-
rent active duty promotion list. 
‘‘(2) ROUNDING FRACTIONS.—Subject to sub-
section (a), in making the computations under para-
graph (1), any fraction shall be rounded to the near-
est whole number. 
‘‘(3) TREATMENT OF OFFICERS SERVING OUT-
SIDE COAST GUARD.—The number of commissioned 
officers on the active duty promotion list below the 
rank of rear admiral (lower half) serving with other 
Federal departments or agencies on a reimbursable 
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basis or excluded under section 324(d) of title 49 
shall not be counted against the total number of 
commissioned officers authorized to serve in each 
grade. 
‘‘(d) USE OF NUMBERS; TEMPORARY INCREASES.— 
The numbers resulting from computations under sub-
section (c) shall be, for all purposes, the authorized num-
ber in each grade; except that the authorized number for 
a grade is temporarily increased during the period between 
one computation and the next by the number of officers 
originally appointed in that grade during that period and 
the number of officers of that grade for whom vacancies 
exist in the next higher grade but whose promotion has 
been delayed for any reason. 
‘‘(e) OFFICERS SERVING COAST GUARD ACADEMY 
AND RESERVE.—The number of officers authorized to be 
serving on active duty in each grade of the permanent 
commissioned teaching staff of the Coast Guard Academy 
and of the Reserve serving in connection with organizing, 
administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the re-
serve components shall be prescribed by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 3 of such title is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 42 and inserting the following: 
‘‘42. Number and distribution of commissioned officers on active duty promotion 
list.’’. 
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SEC. 205. COAST GUARD PARTICIPATION IN THE ARMED 
FORCES RETIREMENT HOME (AFRH) SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1502 of the Armed 
Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 401) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (4); 
(2) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) the Assistant Commandant of the 
Coast Guard for Human Resources.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end of paragraph (6) the 
following: 
‘‘(E) The Master Chief Petty Officer of the 
Coast Guard.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 2772 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘or, in the 
case of the Coast Guard, the Commandant’’ after 
‘‘concerned’’; and 
(B) by striking subsection (c). 
(2) Section 1007(i) of title 37, United States Code, 
is amended— 
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(A) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘or, in the 
case of the Coast Guard, the Commandant’’ after 
‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (4); and 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (4). 
SEC. 206. GRANTS TO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANI-
ZATIONS. 
Section 149 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) GRANTS TO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—After consultation with the Secretary of 
State, the Commandant may make grants to, or enter into 
cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements 
with, international maritime organizations for the purpose 
of acquiring information or data about merchant vessel in-
spections, security, safety, classification, and port state or 
flag state law enforcement or oversight.’’. 
SEC. 207. EMERGENCY LEAVE RETENTION AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 425 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 426. Emergency leave retention authority 
‘‘With regard to a member of the Coast Guard who 
serves on active duty, a duty assignment in support of a 
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declaration of a major disaster or emergency by the Presi-
dent under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) shall 
be treated, for the purpose of section 701(f)(2) of title 
10, a duty assignment in support of a contingency oper-
ation.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 425 the following new item: 
‘‘426. Emergency leave retention authority.’’. 
SEC. 208. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 99. Enforcement authority 
‘‘Subject to guidelines approved by the Secretary, 
members of the Coast Guard, in the performance of offi-
cial duties, may— 
‘‘(1) carry a firearm; and 
‘‘(2) while at a facility (as defined in section 
70101 of title 46)— 
‘‘(A) make an arrest without warrant for 
any offense against the United States com-
mitted in their presence; and 
‘‘(B) seize property as otherwise provided 
by law.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—The first section added 
to title 46, United States Code, by the amendment made 
by subsection (a) of section 801 of the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 1078), 
and the item relating to such first section enacted by the 
amendment made by subsection (b) of such section 801, 
are repealed. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘99. Enforcement authority.’’. 
SEC. 209. REPEAL. 
Section 216 of title 14, United States Code, and the 
item relating to such section in the analysis for chapter 
11 of such title, are repealed. 
SEC. 210. ADMIRALS AND VICE ADMIRALS. 
(a) VICE COMMANDANT.—Section 47 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ 
and inserting ‘‘admiral’’. 
(b) VICE ADMIRALS.—Section 50 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 50. Vice admirals 
‘‘(a)(1) The President may designate 4 positions of 
importance and responsibility that shall be held by officers 
who— 
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‘‘(A) while so serving, shall have the grade of 
vice admiral, with the pay and allowances of that 
grade; and 
‘‘(B) shall perform any duties as the Com-
mandant may prescribe. 
‘‘(2) The 4 vice admiral positions authorized under 
paragraph (1) are, respectively, the following: 
‘‘(A) The Deputy Commandant for Mission 
Support. 
‘‘(B) The Deputy Commandant for National 
Operations and Policy. 
‘‘(C) The Commander, Force Readiness Com-
mand. 
‘‘(D) The Commander, Operations Command. 
‘‘(3) The President may appoint, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, and reappoint, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, to each of the posi-
tions designated under paragraph (1) an officer of the 
Coast Guard who is serving on active duty above the grade 
of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations 
for those appointments. 
‘‘(b)(1) The appointment and the grade of vice admi-
ral under this section shall be effective on the date the 
officer assumes that duty and, except as provided in para-
graph (2) of this subsection or in section 51(d) of this 
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title, shall terminate on the date the officer is detached 
from that duty. 
‘‘(2) An officer who is appointed to a position des-
ignated under subsection (a) shall continue to hold the 
grade of vice admiral— 
‘‘(A) while under orders transferring the officer 
to another position designated under subsection (a), 
beginning on the date the officer is detached from 
duty and terminating on the date before the day the 
officer assumes the subsequent duty, but not for 
more than 60 days; 
‘‘(B) while hospitalized, beginning on the day of 
the hospitalization and ending on the day the officer 
is discharged from the hospital, but not for more 
than 180 days; and 
‘‘(C) while awaiting retirement, beginning on 
the date the officer is detached from duty and end-
ing on the day before the officer’s retirement, but 
not for more than 60 days. 
‘‘(c)(1) An appointment of an officer under sub-
section (a) does not vacate the permanent grade held by 
the officer. 
‘‘(2) An officer serving in a grade above rear admiral 
who holds the permanent grade of rear admiral (lower 
half) shall be considered for promotion to the permanent 
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grade of rear admiral as if the officer was serving in the 
officer’s permanent grade. 
‘‘(d) Whenever a vacancy occurs in a position des-
ignated under subsection (a), the Commandant shall in-
form the President of the qualifications needed by an offi-
cer serving in that position to carry out effectively the du-
ties and responsibilities of that position.’’. 
(c) REPEAL.—Section 50a of title 14, United States 
Code, is repealed. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of that 
title is amended— 
(1) by amending subsections (a), (b), and (c) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(a) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, 
while serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral, is 
retired for physical disability shall be placed on the retired 
list with the highest grade in which that officer served. 
‘‘(b) An officer, other than the Commandant, who is 
retired while serving in the grade of admiral or vice admi-
ral, or who, after serving at least two and one-half years 
in the grade of admiral or vice admiral, is retired while 
serving in a lower grade, may in the discretion of the 
President, be retired with the highest grade in which that 
officer served. 
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‘‘(c) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, 
after serving less than two and one-half years in the grade 
of admiral or vice admiral, is retired while serving in a 
lower grade, shall be retired in his permanent grade.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(2) by striking ‘‘Area Com-
mander, or Chief of Staff’’ and inserting ‘‘or Vice 
Admirals’’. 
(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) The heading for section 47 of that title is 
amended by striking ‘‘assignment’’ and inserting 
‘‘appointment’’. 
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 3 of that title is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to section 
47 and inserting the following: 
‘‘47. Vice Commandant; appointment.’’; 
(B) by striking the item relating to section 
50 and inserting the following: 
‘‘50. Vice admirals.’’; 
and 
(C) by striking the item relating to section 
50a. 
(f) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 47 of that 
title is further amended in the fifth sentence by striking 
‘‘subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘section’’. 
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SEC. 211. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 71 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 7115. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Com-
mittee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a Mer-
chant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Committee shall advise 
the Secretary on matters relating to— 
‘‘(A) medical certification determinations 
for issuance of merchant mariner credentials; 
‘‘(B) medical standards and guidelines for 
the physical qualifications of operators of com-
mercial vessels; 
‘‘(C) medical examiner education; and 
‘‘(D) medical research. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of 14 members, none of whom is a Federal em-
ployee, and shall include— 
‘‘(A) ten who are health-care professionals 
with particular expertise, knowledge, or experi-
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ence regarding the medical examinations of 
merchant mariners or occupational medicine; 
and 
‘‘(B) four who are professional mariners 
with knowledge and experience in mariner occu-
pational requirements. 
‘‘(2) STATUS OF MEMBERS.—Members of the 
Committee shall not be considered Federal employ-
ees or otherwise in the service or the employment of 
the Federal Government, except that members shall 
be considered special Government employees, as de-
fined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, and shall be subject to any administrative 
standards of conduct applicable to the employees of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is oper-
ating. 
‘‘(c) APPOINTMENTS; TERMS; VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENTS.—The Secretary shall ap-
point the members of the Committee, and each 
member shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for a term of three years, except that, of the mem-
bers first appointed, three members shall be ap-
pointed for a term of two years and three members 
shall be appointed for a term of one year. 
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‘‘(3) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to 
fill the vacancy prior to the expiration of the term 
for which that member’s predecessor was appointed 
shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. 
‘‘(d) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Sec-
retary shall designate one member of the Committee as 
the Chairman and one member as the Vice Chairman. The 
Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence or 
incapacity of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office 
of, the Chairman. 
‘‘(e) COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.—Members 
of the Committee shall serve without compensation, except 
that, while engaged in the performance of duties away 
from their homes or regular places of business of the mem-
ber, the member of the Committee may be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as au-
thorized by section 5703 of title 5. 
‘‘(f) STAFF; SERVICES.—The Secretary shall furnish 
to the Committee the personnel and services as are consid-
ered necessary for the conduct of its business.’’. 
(b) FIRST MEETING.—No later than six months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Merchant Mariner 
Medical Advisory Committee established by the amend-
ment made by this section shall hold its first meeting. 
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(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 71 of that title is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘7115. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee.’’. 
SEC. 212. RESERVE COMMISSIONED WARRANT OFFICER TO 
LIEUTENANT PROGRAM. 
Section 214(a) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) The president may appoint temporary commis-
sioned officers— 
‘‘(1) in the Regular Coast Guard in a grade, 
not above lieutenant, appropriate to their qualifica-
tions, experience, and length of service, as the needs 
of the Coast Guard may require, from among the 
commissioned warrant officers, warrant officers, and 
enlisted members of the Coast Guard, and from 
holders of licenses issued under chapter 71 of title 
46; and 
‘‘(2) in the Coast Guard Reserve in a grade, 
not above lieutenant, appropriate to their qualifica-
tions, experience, and length of service, as the needs 
of the Coast Guard may require, from among the 
commissioned warrant officers of the Coast Guard 
Reserve.’’. 
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SEC. 213. ENHANCED STATUS QUO OFFICER PROMOTION 
SYSTEM. 
Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 253(a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘considered,’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, and the number of offi-
cers the board may recommend for promotion’’; 
(2) in section 258— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ be-
fore the existing text; 
(B) in subsection (a) (as so designated) by 
striking the colon at the end of the material 
preceding paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘—’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) PROVISION OF DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.— 
‘‘(1) In addition to the information provided 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may fur-
nish the selection board— 
‘‘(A) specific direction relating to the needs 
of the Coast Guard for officers having par-
ticular skills, including direction relating to the 
need for a minimum number of officers with 
particular skills within a specialty; and 
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‘‘(B) any other guidance that the Secretary 
believes may be necessary to enable the board 
to properly perform its functions. 
‘‘(2) Selections made based on the direction and 
guidance provided under this subsection shall not ex-
ceed the maximum percentage of officers who may 
be selected from below the announced promotion 
zone at any given selection board convened under 
section 251 of this title.’’; 
(3) in section 259(a), by inserting after ‘‘whom 
the board’’ the following: ‘‘, giving due consideration 
to the needs of the Coast Guard for officers with 
particular skills so noted in specific direction fur-
nished to the board by the Secretary under section 
258 of this title,’’; and 
(4) in section 260(b), by inserting after ‘‘quali-
fied for promotion’’ the following: ‘‘to meet the 
needs of the service (as noted in specific direction 
furnished the board by the Secretary under section 
258 of this title)’’. 
SEC. 214. LASER TRAINING SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard shall test an integrated laser 
engagement system for the training of members of the 
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Coast Guard assigned to small vessels in the use of indi-
vidual weapons and machine guns on those vessels. The 
test shall be conducted on vessels on the Great Lakes 
using similar laser equipment used by other Federal agen-
cies. However, that equipment shall be adapted for use 
in the marine environment. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit a report to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 6 
months after the conclusions of the test required under 
subsection (a) on the costs and benefits of using the sys-
tem regionally and nationwide to train members of the 
Coast Guard in the use of individual weapons and machine 
guns. 
SEC. 215. COAST GUARD VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO FIRE AT OR INTO A VESSEL.— 
Section 637(c) of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(3) any other vessel or aircraft on government 
noncommercial service when— 
‘‘(A) the vessel or aircraft is under the tac-
tical control of the Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(B) at least one member of the Coast 
Guard is assigned and conducting a Coast 
Guard mission on the vessel or aircraft.’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY TO DISPLAY COAST GUARD ENSIGNS 
AND PENNANTS.—Section 638(a) of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Coast Guard vessels 
and aircraft’’ and inserting ‘‘Vessels and aircraft author-
ized by the Secretary’’. 
SEC. 216. COAST GUARD DISTRICT OMBUDSMEN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 55. District Ombudsmen 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall appoint 
an employee of the Coast Guard in each Coast Guard Dis-
trict as a District Ombudsman to serve as a liaison be-
tween ports, terminal operators, shipowners, and labor 
representatives and the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the District Om-
budsman shall be the following: 
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‘‘(1) To support the operations of the Coast 
Guard in each port in the District for which the Dis-
trict Ombudsman is appointed. 
‘‘(2) To improve communications between and 
among port stakeholders including, port and ter-
minal operators, ship owners, labor representatives, 
and the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(3) To seek to resolve disputes between the 
Coast Guard and all petitioners regarding require-
ments imposed or services provided by the Coast 
Guard. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPLAINTS.—The District Ombudsman 
may examine complaints brought to the attention of 
the District Ombudsman by a petitioner operating in 
a port or by Coast Guard personnel. 
‘‘(2) GUIDELINES FOR DISPUTES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The District Ombuds-
man shall develop guidelines regarding the 
types of disputes with respect to which the Dis-
trict Ombudsman will provide assistance. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The District Ombuds-
man shall not provide assistance with respect to 
a dispute unless it involves the impact of Coast 
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Guard requirements on port business and the 
flow of commerce. 
‘‘(C) PRIORITY.—In providing such assist-
ance, the District Ombudsman shall give pri-
ority to complaints brought by petitioners who 
believe they will suffer a significant hardship as 
the result of implementing a Coast Guard re-
quirement or being denied a Coast Guard serv-
ice. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The District Ombuds-
man may consult with any Coast Guard personnel 
who can aid in the investigation of a complaint. 
‘‘(4) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The District 
Ombudsman shall have access to any Coast Guard 
document, including any record or report, that will 
aid the District Ombudsman in obtaining the infor-
mation needed to conduct an investigation of a com-
pliant. 
‘‘(5) REPORTS.—At the conclusion of an inves-
tigation, the District Ombudsman shall submit a re-
port on the findings and recommendations of the 
District Ombudsman, to the Commander of the Dis-
trict in which the petitioner who brought the com-
plaint is located or operating. 
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‘‘(6) DEADLINE.—The District Ombudsman 
shall seek to resolve each complaint brought in ac-
cordance with the guidelines— 
‘‘(A) in a timely fashion; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 4 months after the 
complaint is officially accepted by the District 
Ombudsman. 
‘‘(d) APPOINTMENT.—The Commandant shall ap-
point as the District Ombudsman a civilian who has expe-
rience in port and transportation systems and knowledge 
of port operations or of maritime commerce (or both). 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall report 
annually to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on the matters brought before the District Om-
budsmen, including— 
‘‘(1) the number of matters brought before each 
District Ombudsman; 
‘‘(2) a brief summary of each such matter; and 
‘‘(3) the eventual resolution of each such mat-
ter.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of that chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item: 
‘‘55. District Ombudsmen.’’. 
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SEC. 217. ENSURING CONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESS 
CONCERNS AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS 
CONCERNS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIME CONTRACTS.—The 
Secretary shall include in each contract awarded for pro-
curement of goods or services acquired for the Coast 
Guard— 
(1) a requirement that the contractor shall im-
plement a plan for the award, in accordance with 
other applicable requirements, of subcontracts under 
the contract to small business concerns, including 
small business concerns owned and controlled by so-
cially and economically disadvantaged individuals, 
small business concerns owned and controlled by 
women, small business concerns owned and con-
trolled by service-disabled veterans, HUBZone small 
business concerns, small business concerns partici-
pating in the program under section 8(a) of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), institutions 
receiving assistance under title III or V of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., 
1101 et seq.), and Alaska Native Corporations cre-
ated pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), including the 
terms of such plan; and 
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(2) a requirement that the contractor shall sub-
mit to the Secretary, during performance of the con-
tract, periodic reports describing the extent to which 
the contractor has complied with such plan, includ-
ing specification (by total dollar amount and by per-
centage of the total dollar value of the contract) of 
the value of subcontracts awarded at all tiers of sub-
contracting to small business concerns, institutions, 
and corporations referred to in subsection (a)(1). 
(b) UTILIZATION
OF ALLIANCES.—The Secretary 
shall seek to facilitate award of contracts by the United 
States under the Deepwater Program to alliances of small 
business concerns, institutions, and corporations referred 
to in subsection (a)(1). 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture and the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate by October 31 each year a report on the award 
of contracts under the Deepwater Program to small 
business concerns, institutions, and corporations re-
ferred to in subsection (a)(1) during the preceding 
fiscal year. 
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(2) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall include in 
each report— 
(A) specification of the value of such con-
tracts, by dollar amount and as a percentage of 
the total dollar value of all contracts awarded 
by the United States under the Deepwater Pro-
gram in such fiscal year; 
(B) specification of the total dollar value of 
such contracts awarded to each of the cat-
egories of small business concerns, institutions, 
and corporations referred to in subsection 
(a)(1); and 
(C) if the percentage specified under sub-
paragraph (A) is less than 25 percent, an expla-
nation of— 
(i) why the percentage is less than 25 
percent; and 
(ii) what will be done to ensure that 
the percentage for the following fiscal year 
will not be less than 25 percent. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DEEPWATER PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Deep-
water Program’’ means the Integrated Deepwater 
Systems Program described by the Coast Guard in 
its report to Congress entitled ‘‘Revised Deepwater 
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Implementation Plan 2005’’, dated March 25, 2005. 
The Deepwater Program primarily involves the pro-
curement of cutter and aviation assets that operate 
more than 50 miles offshore. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating. 
SEC. 218. ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR PORT AND WA-
TERWAY SECURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 61. Assistant Commandant for Port and Waterway 
Security 
‘‘(a) There shall be in the Coast Guard an Assistant 
Commandant for Port and Waterway Security who shall 
be a Rear Admiral or civilian from the Senior Executive 
Service (career reserved) selected by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) The Assistant Commandant for Port and Water-
way Security shall serve as the principal advisor to the 
Commandant regarding port and waterway security and 
shall carry out the duties and powers delegated and im-
posed by the Secretary.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of that chapter is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘61. Assistant Commandant for Port and Waterway Security.’’. 
SEC. 219. SMALL BUSINESS PROCUREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 678. Disadvantaged business enterprise program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except to the extent that the 
Secretary determines otherwise, not less than 10 percent 
of the amounts obligated by the Coast Guard for contracts 
in any fiscal year shall be expended with small business 
concerns owned and controlled by socially and economi-
cally disadvantaged individuals. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) SMALL
BUSINESS
CONCERN.—The term 
‘small business concern’ has the meaning given that 
term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 632). 
‘‘(2) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
TAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged individuals’ has the mean-
ing that term has under section 8(d) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) and relevant sub-
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