Title: Save Our Seas Act of 2018
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Save Our Seas Act of 2018
This bill addresses marine debris and maritime safety issues.
Specifically, the bill amends the Marine Debris Act to reauthorize through FY2022 and revise the Marine Debris Program, including to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to severe marine debris events.
Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018
The bill establishes maritime safety requirements, such as requirements concerning vessel inspections, safety equipment, voyage data recorders, oversight of recognized organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard, and timely weather forecasts and hazard advisories.
Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act
The U.S. Coast Guard may establish a Blue Technology Center of Expertise to promote awareness about blue technologies and their potential to enhance the Coast Guard's mission readiness and operational performance. Blue technology includes technology that supports maritime domain awareness (e.g., surveillance), search and rescue, emergency response, maritime law enforcement, or protection of the marine environment.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3508 Considered and Passed Senate (CPS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3508

To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international 
        action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 26, 2018

Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Nelson) 
 introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read 
                       the third time, and passed

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international 
        action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''.

                         TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS

SEC. 101. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.

    Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies 
        with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine 
        debris;
            ``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, 
        in consultation with the Department of State and other Federal 
        agencies, promote international action, as appropriate, to 
        reduce the incidence of marine debris, including providing 
        technical assistance to expand waste management systems 
        internationally; and
            ``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe 
        marine debris event under subsection (c)--
                    ``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required 
                by the severe marine debris event; or
                    ``(B) conduct such other activity as the 
                Administrator determines is appropriate in response to 
                the severe marine debris event.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of the 
Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, 
the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine 
debris event.''; and
            (4) in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph 
                (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an 
                activity carried out under a determination made under 
                subsection (c) shall be--
                            ``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the 
                        activity, for an activity funded wholly by 
                        funds made available by a person, including the 
                        government of a foreign country, to the Federal 
                        Government for the purpose of responding to a 
                        severe marine debris event; or
                            ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the 
                        activity, for any activity other than an 
                        activity funded as described in clause (i).''.

SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO RESPOND TO 
              MARINE DEBRIS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
            (1) support research and development on systems and 
        materials that reduce--
                    (A) derelict fishing gear; and
                    (B) the amount of solid waste that is generated 
                from land-based sources and the amount of such waste 
                that enters the marine environment;
            (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that 
        discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based 
        sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to 
        reduce such discharges;
            (3) carry out studies to determine--
                    (A) the primary means of discharges referred to in 
                paragraph (2);
                    (B) the manner in which waste management 
                infrastructure can be most effective in preventing such 
                discharges; and
                    (C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the 
                national economies of the countries with which work is 
                undertaken under paragraph (2) and on the global 
                economy, including the impacts of reducing the 
                discharge of such debris;
            (4) work with representatives of the countries with which 
        work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new 
        international agreements that include provisions--
                    (A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid 
                waste into the marine environment; and
                    (B) to provide technical assistance and investment 
                in waste management infrastructure to reduce such 
                discharges, if the President determines such assistance 
                or investment is appropriate; and
            (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to 
        consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste 
        from the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph 
        (2) in relevant future trade agreements.

SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING GREAT LAKES LAND-BASED MARINE 
              DEBRIS ACTION PLAN.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based Marine 
Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-49) is vital to 
the ongoing efforts to clean up the Great Lakes Region and getting rid 
of harmful debris, such as microplastics, abandoned vessels, and other 
forms of pollution that are threatening the survival of native marine 
animals and damaging the Great Lakes' recreation and tourism economy.

SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING 
              COMMITTEE.

    Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) the Department of State;
            ``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''.

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 
for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of which not more than 5 percent 
is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.
    ``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts 
authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of title 14, 
United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 4 of this Act, of 
which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for 
administrative costs.''.

                       TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left 
        Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying 
        391 shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and a crew of 
        33 people, including 28 Americans.
            (2) On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final 
        communication reporting that the engines were disabled and the 
        ship was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path of 
        Hurricane Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the vessel 
        and the loss of all 33 lives.
            (3) The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast 
        Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as 
        improving weather information and training, improving planning 
        and response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast Guard's 
        program delegating vessel inspections to third-party 
        organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program, and 
        improving alerts and equipment on the vessels, among other 
        recommendations.
            (4) Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017, 
        over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States 
        commercial vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were issued 
        ``no-sail'' requirements.
            (5) The maritime industry, particularly the men and women 
        of the United States merchant marine, play a vital and 
        important role to the national security and economy of our 
        country, and a strong safety regime is necessary to ensure the 
        vitality of the industry and the protection of current and 
        future mariners, and to honor lost mariners.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the 
        Commandant of the Coast Guard.
            (2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized 
        organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-
        1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

SEC. 204. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
President submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall 
publish on a publicly accessible Website information documenting 
domestic vessel compliance with the requirements of subtitle II of 
title 46, United States Code.
    (b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of 
        inspected vessel; and
            (2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or 
        surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-
        issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity 
        that the recognized organization failed to identify in such 
        inspection or survey.

SEC. 205. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct an audit regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the 
Coast Guard's oversight and enforcement of safety management plans 
required under chapter 32 of title 46, United States Code.
    (b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall include 
an evaluation of--
            (1) the effectiveness and implementation of safety 
        management plans, including such plans for--
                    (A) a range of vessel types and sizes; and
                    (B) vessels that operate in a cross-section of 
                regional operating areas; and
            (2) the effectiveness and implementation of safety 
        management plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report detailing the results of the audit and providing recommendations 
related to such results, including ways to streamline and focus such 
plans on ship safety.
    (d) Marine Safety Alert.--Not later than 60 days after the date the 
report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall publish 
a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of the completion of the 
report and including a link to the report on a publicly accessible 
website.
    (e) Additional Actions.--
            (1) In general.--Upon completion of the report under 
        subsection (c), the Commandant shall consider additional 
        guidance or a rulemaking to address any deficiencies 
        identified, and any additional actions recommended, in the 
        report.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the 
        report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has 
        taken to address any deficiencies identified, and any 
        additional actions recommended, in the report submitted under 
        subsection (c).

SEC. 206. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Regulations.--
            (1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel 
inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and 
location technology for the higher of--
            ``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified 
        on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or
            ``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and
    ``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of 
the United States is measured.
    ``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring 
companies to maintain records of all incremental weight changes made to 
freight vessels inspected under this chapter, and to track weight 
changes over time to facilitate rapid determination of the aggregate 
total.
    ``(2) Records maintained under paragraph (1) shall be stored, in 
paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels for not less than 3 
years and shoreside for the life of the vessel.''.
            (2) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) begin implementing the requirement under 
                section 3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as 
                amended by this subsection, by not later than 1 year 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) promulgate the regulations required under 
                section 3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as 
                amended by this subsection, by not later than 1 year 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Engagement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into 
negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to amend 
regulation 25 of chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the 
Safety of Life at Sea to require a high-water alarm sensor in each 
cargo hold of a freight vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 
of title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and visual 
alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.

SEC. 207. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; ACCESS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 6309. Voyage data recorder access
    ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast Guard shall 
have full, concurrent, and timely access to and ability to use voyage 
data recorder data and audio held by any Federal agency in all marine 
casualty investigations, regardless of which agency is the 
investigative lead.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``6309. Voyage data recorder access.''.

SEC. 208. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Float-Free and Beacon Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter 
        into negotiations through the International Maritime 
        Organization to amend regulation 20 of chapter V of the 
        International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to 
        require that all voyage data recorders are installed in a 
        float-free arrangement and contain an integrated emergency 
        position indicating radio beacon.
            (2) Progress update.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to 
        the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives an update on the progress of 
        the engagement required under paragraph (1).
    (b) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a cost-benefit analysis of requiring that voyage data 
recorders installed on commercial vessels documented under chapter 121 
of title 46, United States Code, capture communications on the internal 
telephone systems of such vessels, including requiring the capture of 
both sides of all communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.

SEC. 209. SURVIVAL AND LOCATING EQUIPMENT.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
identify and procure equipment that will provide search-and-rescue 
units the ability to attach a radio or Automated Identification System 
strobe or beacon to an object that is not immediately retrievable.

SEC. 210. TRAINING OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL.

    (a) Prospective Sector Commander Training.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
implement an Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections segment to the 
sector commander indoctrination course for prospective sector 
commanders without a Coast Guard prevention ashore officer specialty 
code.
    (b) Steamship Inspections.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement steam plant 
inspection training for Coast Guard marine inspectors and, subject to 
availability, recognized organizations to which authority is delegated 
under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code.
    (c) Advanced Journeyman Inspector Training.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish 
        advanced training to provide instruction on the oversight of 
        recognized organizations to which authority is delegated under 
        section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, auditing 
        responsibilities, and the inspection of unique vessel types.
            (2) Recipients.--The Commandant shall--
                    (A) require that such training be completed by 
                senior Coast Guard marine inspectors; and
                    (B) subject to availability of training capacity, 
                make such training available to recognized organization 
                surveyors authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct 
                inspections.
    (d) Coast Guard Inspections Staff; Briefing.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a briefing detailing--
            (1) the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the 
        current size of the Coast Guard's traveling inspector staff; 
        and
            (2) other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance 
        and maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of 
        increased reliance on--
                    (A) civilian marine inspectors;
                    (B) experienced licensed mariners;
                    (C) retired members of the Coast Guard;
                    (D) arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride 
                onboard commercial oceangoing vessels documented under 
                chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, to gain 
                experience and insight; and
                    (E) extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine 
                safety officers assigned to inspection billets.
    (e) Audits; Coast Guard Attendance and Performance.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall--
            (1) update Coast Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to 
        target the attendance of Coast Guard personnel during external 
        safety management certificate and document of compliance 
        audits; and
            (2) perform a quality assurance audit of recognized 
        organization representation and performance regarding United 
        States-flagged vessels.

SEC. 211. MAJOR MARINE CASUALTY PROPERTY DAMAGE THRESHOLD.

    Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$500,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000''.

SEC. 212. REVIEWS, BRIEFINGS, REPORTS, AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Major Conversion Determinations.--
            (1) Review of policies and procedures.--The Commandant 
        shall conduct a review of policies and procedures for making 
        and documenting major conversion determinations, including an 
        examination of the deference given to precedent.
            (2) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives a briefing on the findings of 
        the review required by paragraph (1).
    (b) Ventilators, Openings and Stability Standards.--
            (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review 
        of the effectiveness of United States regulations, 
        international conventions, recognized organizations' class 
        rules, and Coast Guard technical policy regarding--
                    (A) ventilators and other hull openings;
                    (B) fire dampers and other closures protecting 
                openings normally open during operations;
                    (C) intact and damage stability standards under 
                subchapter S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal 
                Regulations; and
                    (D) lifesaving equipment for mariners, including 
                survival suits and life jackets.
            (2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives a briefing on the effectiveness 
        of the regulations, international conventions, recognized 
        organizations' class rules, and Coast Guard technical policy 
        reviewed under paragraph (1).
    (c) Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a briefing on the reliability of self-
locating datum marker buoys and other similar technology used during 
Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations. The briefing shall include a 
description of reasonable steps the Commandant could take to increase 
the reliability of such buoys, including the potential to leverage 
technology used by the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to 
conduct testing of such buoys before using them for operations.
    (d) Correction.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section 
        502(f)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform 
        Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)) (as in effect on the day 
        before the amendments made by section 11607 of Public Law 114-
        94 (129 Stat. 1698) took effect)--
                    (A) not later than 30 days after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, and in consultation with the 
                Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall 
                define the term ``cohorts of loans'';
                    (B) before the deadline described in paragraph (2), 
                shall return to the original source, on a pro rata 
                basis, the credit risk premiums paid for the loans in 
                the cohort of loans, with interest accrued thereon, 
                that were not used to mitigate losses; and
                    (C) shall not treat the repayment of a loan after 
                the date of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as 
                precluding, limiting, or negatively affecting the 
                satisfaction of the obligation of its cohort prior to 
                the enactment of Public Law 114-94.
            (2) Deadline described.--The deadline described in this 
        paragraph is--
                    (A) if all obligations attached to a cohort of 
                loans have been satisfied, not later than 60 days after 
                the date of enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) if all obligations attached to a cohort of 
                loans have not been satisfied, not later than 60 days 
                after the date on which all obligations attached to the 
                cohort of loans are satisfied.
    (e) Oversight Program; Effectiveness.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an 
        assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight 
        of recognized organizations and its impact on compliance by and 
        safety of vessels inspected by such organizations.
            (2) Experience.--The assessment commissioned under 
        paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a research organization 
        with significant experience in maritime operations and marine 
        safety.
            (3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is 
        completed, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives the results of such assessment.

SEC. 213. FLAG-STATE GUIDANCE AND SUPPLEMENTS.

    (a) Freight Vessels; Damage Control Information.--Within 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
flag-State guidance for all freight vessels documented under chapter 
121 of title 46, United States Code, built before January 1, 1992, 
regarding the inclusion of comprehensive damage control information in 
safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title 46, United 
States Code.
    (b) Recognized Organizations; United States Supplement.--The 
Commandant shall--
            (1) work with recognized organizations to create a single 
        United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for 
        classification of vessels; and
            (2) by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a briefing on whether it is necessary to revise 
        part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to authorize 
        only one United States Supplement to such rules.

SEC. 214. MARINE SAFETY STRATEGY.

    Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``each year of an 
        annual'' and inserting ``of a triennial'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Annual'' and inserting ``Triennial''; and
                    (B) by striking ``annual'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``triennial'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2020 and 
                triennially''; and
                    (B) by striking ``annual plan'' and inserting 
                ``triennial plan''; and
            (4) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``annually'' and 
        inserting ``triennially''.

SEC. 215. RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS; OVERSIGHT.

    (a) In General.--Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h), and by 
inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g)(1) There shall be within the Coast Guard an office that 
conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all recognized 
organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    ``(2) The staff of the office shall include subject matter experts, 
including inspectors, investigators, and auditors, who possess the 
capability and authority to audit all aspects of such recognized 
organizations.
    ``(3) In this subsection the term `recognized organization' has the 
meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Hamm 
Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018.''.
    (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall establish the office required by the amendment made by subsection 
(a) by not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 216. TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTS AND HAZARD ADVISORIES FOR MERCHANT 
              MARINERS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the 
International Maritime Organization to amend the International 
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require that vessels 
subject to the requirements of such Convention receive--
            (1) timely synoptic and graphical chart weather forecasts; 
        and
            (2) where available, timely hazard advisories for merchant 
        mariners, including broadcasts of tropical cyclone forecasts 
        and advisories, intermediate public advisories, and tropical 
        cyclone updates to mariners via appropriate technologies.

SEC. 217. ANONYMOUS SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM.

    (a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an anonymous 
safety alert pilot program.
    (b) Requirements.--The pilot program established under subsection 
(a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism to allow crew 
members to communicate urgent and dire safety concerns directly and in 
a timely manner with the Coast Guard.

SEC. 218. MARINE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than December 19 of 2018, and of each of 
the 2 subsequent years thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a briefing on the status of implementation of each 
action outlined in the Commandant's final action memo dated December 
19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shall 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives on the status of the Coast Guard's 
implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's final action 
memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the 
vessel El Faro.

SEC. 219. DELEGATED AUTHORITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall review the authorities that 
have been delegated to recognized organizations for the alternative 
compliance program as described in subpart D of part 8 of title 46, 
Code of Federal Regulations, and, if necessary, revise or establish 
policies and procedures to ensure those delegated authorities are being 
conducted in a manner to ensure safe maritime transportation.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
briefing on the implementation of subsection (a).

                     TITLE III--CENTER OF EXPERTISE

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Blue Technology Center 
of Expertise Act''.

SEC. 302. COAST GUARD BLUE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF EXPERTISE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Commandant may establish under section 58 of title 
14, United States Code, a Blue Technology center of expertise.
    (b) Missions.--In addition to the missions listed in section 58(b) 
of title 14, United States Code, the Center may--
            (1) promote awareness within the Coast Guard of the range 
        and diversity of Blue Technologies and their potential to 
        enhance Coast Guard mission readiness, operational performance, 
        and regulation of such technologies;
            (2) function as an interactive conduit to enable the 
        sharing and dissemination of Blue Technology information 
        between the Coast Guard and representatives from the private 
        sector, academia, nonprofit organizations, and other Federal 
        agencies;
            (3) increase awareness among Blue Technology manufacturers, 
        entrepreneurs, and vendors of Coast Guard acquisition policies, 
        procedures, and business practices;
            (4) provide technical support, coordination, and assistance 
        to Coast Guard districts and the Coast Guard Research and 
        Development Center, as appropriate; and
            (5) subject to the requirements of the Coast Guard Academy, 
        coordinate with the Academy to develop appropriate curricula 
        regarding Blue Technology to be offered in professional courses 
        of study to give Coast Guard cadets and officer candidates a 
        greater background and understanding of Blue Technologies.
    (c) Blue Technology Exposition; Briefing.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the costs and benefits of 
hosting a biennial Coast Guard Blue Technology exposition to further 
interactions between representatives from the private sector, academia, 
and nonprofit organizations, and the Coast Guard and examine emerging 
technologies and Coast Guard mission demands.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Blue Technology 
        center of expertise established under this section.
            (2) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the 
        Commandant of the Coast Guard.
            (3) Blue technology.--The term ``Blue Technology'' means 
        any technology, system, or platform that--
                    (A) is designed for use or application above, on, 
                or below the sea surface or that is otherwise 
                applicable to Coast Guard operational needs, including 
                such a technology, system, or platform that provides 
                continuous or persistent coverage; and
                    (B) supports or facilitates--
                            (i) maritime domain awareness, including--
                                    (I) surveillance and monitoring;
                                    (II) observation, measurement, and 
                                modeling: or
                                    (III) information technology and 
                                communications;
                            (ii) search and rescue;
                            (iii) emergency response;
                            (iv) maritime law enforcement;
                            (v) marine inspections and investigations; 
                        or
                            (vi) protection and conservation of the 
                        marine environment.
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