113 HR 5426 IH: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-09-09
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2013
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Act of 2002.
TITLE I—General provisions
Sec. 101. Strength and distribution in grade.
Sec. 102. Exclusion of officers recalled from retired status and positions of importance and
responsibility from number of authorized commissioned officers.
Sec. 103. Obligated service requirement.
Sec. 104. Training and physical fitness.
TITLE II—Appointments and promotion of officers
Sec. 201. Appointments.
Sec. 202. Personnel boards.
Sec. 203. Delegation of authority for appointments and promotions to permanent grades.
Sec. 204. Temporary appointments.
Sec. 205. Officer candidates.
Sec. 206. Procurement of personnel.
TITLE III—Separation and retirement of officers
Sec. 301. Involuntary retirement or separation.
Sec. 302. Separation pay.
TITLE IV—Rights and benefits
Sec. 401. Education loan repayment program.
Sec. 402. Interest payment program.
Sec. 403. Student pre-commissioning education assistance program.
Sec. 404. Limitation on educational assistance.
Sec. 405. Applicability of certain provisions of title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 406. Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United States Code.
Sec. 407. Application of certain provisions of competitive service law.
Sec. 408. Eligibility of all members of uniformed services for Legion of Merit award.
Sec. 409. Application of Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services to
members of commissioned officer corps.
Sec. 410. Protected communications for commissioned officer corps and prohibition of retaliatory
personnel actions.
Sec. 411. Criminal penalties for wearing uniform without authority.
Sec. 412. Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps as employment in National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration for purposes of certain hiring decisions.
TITLE V—Other matters
Sec. 501. Technical correction.
Sec. 502. Report.
Sec. 503. Effective date.
2.References to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of
2002Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned
Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">General provisions</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA183421F8DC6478FA698B4CA8AB3C137" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Strength and distribution in grade</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 214 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3004">33 U.S.C. 3004</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2B14BE16D00C44EAAA8E8715B6804574" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBBD46E863CA4425AA9AF617789F61151" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>214.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Strength and distribution in grade</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C1A155223294C0EA39252CAF637B862"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grades</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The commissioned grades in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration are the following,
in relative rank with officers of the Navy:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H596302FFBCED43A6B3780C53AE2FC569"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Vice admiral.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6FF929691D25438CA7B8C23633065616"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rear admiral.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H018ADF57401D4A4C8B11730A65AA6124"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rear admiral (lower half).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H135BCA2B9F8C433BB725162C6E9F6369"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Captain.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58F2CA49E2E241369C6E97A58B6F3F0D"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Commander.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5BA1869FDF14651BB16AB9B58D212DB"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Lieutenant commander.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A008D1BFF924AEA9104CD9EF1C138CE"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Lieutenant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H808F9D5DE2244BED80A7AAD476AB7BE3"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Lieutenant (junior grade).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBED6CFC46ADC41EC8B24CC4833760868"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Ensign.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3D8515051534D559FEDB9A715DD810C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Proportion</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EA1AE66821649E0AC9D9A3545D069D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The officers on the lineal list shall be distributed in grade in the following percentages:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H776B50C62D42414E96FF4EA2BF300615"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">8 in the grade of captain.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE6478F738D74305820EF269AB4D11DC"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">14 in the grade of commander.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF94200AC6EFF468D81150E554F900841"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">19 in the grade of lieutenant commander.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D7092F2AEFD4543A218F4EB46D2DC46"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grades below lieutenant commander</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe, with respect to the distribution on the lineal list in grade, the
percentages applicable to the grades of lieutenant, lieutenant (junior
grade), and ensign.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F8AEC3A53E74A3EB0699D6ED510D5C8"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual computation of number in grade</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H267681DE747C4767ABFDD5E7C42D9169"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall make a computation to determine the
number of officers on the lineal list authorized to be serving in each
grade.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD984D53DE5244678B5089CFF8712DFAC"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Method of computation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number in each grade shall be computed by applying the applicable percentage to the total
number of such officers serving on active duty on the date the computation
is made.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2CE8F6C85B4A4C1B91C5553C576839F5"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fractions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a final fraction occurs in computing the authorized number of officers in a grade, the nearest
whole number shall be taken. If the fraction is <fraction>½</fraction>, the next higher whole number shall be taken.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H437686B8A5834B0BB4D8E6BBCC33EF71"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Temporary increase in numbers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The total number of officers authorized by law to be on the lineal list during a fiscal year may be
temporarily exceeded if the average number on that list during that fiscal
year does not exceed the authorized number.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F7A9E6A7AD64EBAAB60CDF604D63188"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Positions of importance and responsibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officers serving in positions designated under section 228(a) and officers recalled from retired
status shall not be counted when computing authorized strengths under
subsection (c) and shall not count against those strengths.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF882463F77AE4BC7A2508EBE8FBEA99C"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Preservation of grade and pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No officer may be reduced in grade or pay or separated from the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration as the result of a computation made to determine the
authorized number of officers in the various grades.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC5E81996F3C465CB5B85932722EF88D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusion of officers recalled from retired status and positions of importance and responsibility
from number of authorized commissioned officers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 215 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3005">33 U.S.C. 3005</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD390DDB238234C3E8443E9D4B3866925"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Effective</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEABB6E18E21046849E79A26C4CC1CEA4" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC4D29CC1FBB8460C8CDFB04E10FE473E"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1563D96F8F074B64B1461C3046B94D30"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H835E2880960A4A5DACA944CBE500708B" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6CA95C729DCB49A79CA25302FDCA5C64"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Positions of importance and responsibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officers serving in positions designated under section 228 and officers recalled from retired
status—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H332F0BF904A5478F9998E7889FA0F530"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not be counted in determining the total number of authorized officers on the lineal list under
this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H178C298EACE647908573395410BB30F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not count against such number.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACF5A1500E5F47638B32C5FFEA139F4F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Obligated service requirement</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFD4CF7CEA20A41F7BA138E6AB26C6453"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle A (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3001">33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D9B1516F3394B93BDA72D577DBA2E5E" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9834337D3FA94161AD421A4F7BD03358" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>216.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Obligated service requirement</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5BA55A82BD684945872F2FCA783F9DE4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3C2BE4422B4840FC9DE82256EC5028B4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rulemaking</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe the obligated service requirements for appointments, training,
promotions, separations, continuations, and retirement of officers not
otherwise covered by law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7C69D6E47354AC7A0E2F5D409DC205C"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Written agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary and officers shall enter into written agreements that describe the officers’
obligated service requirements prescribed under paragraph (1) in return
for such appointments, training, promotions, separations, and retirements
as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13002BB013F54C598318462D70487A4C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repayment for failure To satisfy requirements</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5959603AE1EC449391160DA93C6094B4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may require an officer who fails to meet the service requirements prescribed under
subsection (a)(1) to reimburse the Secretary in an amount that bears the
same ratio to the total costs of the training provided to that officer by
the Secretary as the unserved portion of active duty bears to the total
period of active duty the officer agreed to serve.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36CBAD37A9D54E8295B8A66932DB269B"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Obligation as debt to United States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An obligation to reimburse the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be considered for all purposes
as a debt owed to the United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6C85E1326B904295B3D86CF7B09F9554"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Discharge in bankruptcy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less than 5 years after the termination of
a written agreement entered into under subsection (a)(2) does not
discharge the individual signing the agreement from a debt arising under
such agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5657AFDCE3514187AD194B6BF2F7D1DB"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiver or suspension of compliance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may waive the service obligation of an officer who—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H91E94363A6C544F38B8C675112889EBA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">becomes unqualified to serve on active duty in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration
because of a circumstance not within the control of that officer; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H77B01CA7307B4D6C9812973F2BAC3568"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B7F83D764874E7E947B7107FC3FA95E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not physically qualified for appointment; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4680C68D94164F73BF7A5C92ADB15DD2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determined to be unqualified for service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration
because of a physical or medical condition that was not the result of the
officer's own misconduct or grossly negligent conduct.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04F1616A10914B01886EFD15DE627136"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 215 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6D8E66514CB94D8CA58E4F76663A0F28" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 216. Obligated service requirement.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93E5F5F648F34810A73368FCF4B18E00" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training and physical fitness</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF927C69F0B7743BD9FBF8A58A0838B77"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle A (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3001">33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 103(a), is further amended by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H83D33F8EB08D4E48909F28A78811671D" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H099654C5103D4073B31EEC502298A2CC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>217.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training and physical fitness</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F6787A33A344088845A229B7018388B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may take such measures as may be necessary to ensure that officers are prepared to
carry out their duties in the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration and proficient in the skills necessary to carry out such
duties. Such measures may include the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04A0B9026DC54C0CAFBCAC575520B8E6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Carrying out training programs and correspondence courses, including establishing and operating a
basic officer training program to provide initial indoctrination and
maritime vocational training for officer candidates as well as refresher
training, mid-career training, aviation training, and such other training
as the Secretary considers necessary for officer development and
proficiency.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAEC4599536C4966BE7A5F0321E03D8F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Providing officers and officer candidates with books and school supplies.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3409F3E5818C48F6A3860A7863D926BF"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Acquiring such equipment as may be necessary for training and instructional purposes.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0723F7BD0CA6436BA38AA0EE17781284"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Physical fitness</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall ensure that officers maintain a high physical state of readiness by
establishing standards of physical fitness for officers that are
substantially equivalent to those prescribed for officers in the Coast
Guard.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12DDF7F3BAB34B5CAA71902387AB2A64"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>), as amended by section 103(b), is further amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 216 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD8D2D13D2F6C4785B6A6B5E242DAEECB" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 217. Training and physical fitness.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointments and promotion of officers</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F3FE16202024C428DCB265829A8570B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointments</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC664D67B3DB04FCE93CCFD5D17BA22AA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Original appointments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F20E13D33264C56A792065B529179A5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 221 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3021">33 U.S.C. 3021</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5F0E893A2D34AF48A9D238EDA7EA8F5" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC3BA274FC03A4AA3A2B7F24C3192AE07" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>221.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Original appointments and reappointments</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96506C11B101493EB2F597BBDF5D4C67"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Original appointments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDCC9EE41D9B242EFA1C239CC4E7E1356"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grades</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BEAFAC826B34EFFAF1CF315B1A3701B"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an original appointment of an officer may be made in such
grades as may be appropriate for—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H113AD86038484B519E78CF5741CC0B0F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the qualification, experience, and length of service of the appointee; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDC4FD65129B5497E9E0163EE21046647"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD333A49313DB4E128CA86683E4DD0F4C"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointment of officer candidates</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C735C3C078942DDA17C3A5C072D16C9"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on grade</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An original appointment of an officer candidate, upon graduation from the basic officer training
program of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, may not
be made in any other grade than ensign.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H86F51E29E81543E7B880A6A63BC547F1"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rank</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidates receiving appointments as ensigns upon graduation from basic officer training
program shall take rank according to their proficiency as shown by the
order of their merit at date of graduation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7349DD90405D4551898F98782D0476DA"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Source of appointments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An original appointment may be made from among the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E15F9255D064839B7E30000D38F0DB3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Graduates of the basic officer training program of the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A092F5587EF47C4A43B7166DD1034A5"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Graduates of the military service academies of the United States who otherwise meet the academic
standards for enrollment in the training program described in subparagraph
(A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H923328FE0007416A81B8B801D7D0E328"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Licensed officers of the United States merchant marine who have served 2 or more years aboard a
vessel of the United States in the capacity of a licensed officer, who
otherwise meet the academic standards for enrollment in the training
program described in subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H712BAD5D4CD04AE183191BBF8BF81D5F"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Military service academies of the United States defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>military service academies of the United States</term> means the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB79B96E6A5BE406D93BCEBF4FE956A7C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7ECA4536F7A422591795E2882E125CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A6C1D4534594B7A84085249BA86477D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H424C4FA58F7B4F7A8DD8BEC91F98790C"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A4D51B85FC14D359370B71B88BB32DC"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53C833711F2146E1934FDB4344B37291"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reappointment</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9AFC0CED94640D08A1986C8092C8D85"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual who previously served in the commissioned
officer corps of the Administration may be appointed by the Secretary to
the grade the individual held prior to separation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2517672754274FDD87233709211FF6A6"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reappointments to higher grades</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An appointment under paragraph (1) to a position of importance and responsibility designated under
section 228 may only be made by the President.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H55CACA088E234EC28E324630824FA58F"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Qualifications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An appointment under subsection (a) or (b) may not be given to an individual until the individual's
mental, moral, physical, and professional fitness to perform the duties of
an officer has been established under such regulations as the Secretary
shall prescribe.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1AF27194C8C34401997E812FD4A3E1BC"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Precedence of appointees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointees under this section shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance
with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in such
grade. Appointees whose dates of commission are the same shall take
precedence with each other as the Secretary shall determine.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H45FE04BF2FD6472DAA20F2E9DD12E81A"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inter-Service transfers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For inter-service transfers (as described in the Department of Defense Directive 1300.4 (dated
December 27, 2006)) the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7DBC2DE4489647C785170AE213B213EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast
Guard is operating to promote and streamline inter-service transfers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6E7FC9C34AA4CD4A34181DA84052F78"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">give preference to such inter-service transfers for recruitment purposes as determined appropriate
by the Secretary; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0C35E01829184E5E85D667F8F739543F"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reappoint such inter-service transfers to the equivalent grade in the commissioned officer corps.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H916790DFCD9B40A2A75EC7297DA78674"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by striking the item relating to section 221 and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H971F2C469BA94DDF96FDF6B5202913EE" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 221. Original appointments and reappointments.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA2D757DB65D4112902038380375D902" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Personnel boards</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 222 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3022">33 U.S.C. 3022</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0DAE36C5BBAA45AD887DD54DA3F19869" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C9F03A952924668BB642C6685D568B2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>222.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Personnel boards</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B3A79E005E345D78172B02E57304517"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Convening</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once each year and at such other times as the Secretary determines
necessary, the Secretary shall convene a personnel board.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9252DBFC9854C18B328BFA80FD94C67"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Membership</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B2CA7C432BB4DD38B5A7E3129AAF743"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A board convened under subsection (a) shall consist of 5 or more officers who are serving in or
above the permanent grade of the officers under consideration by the
board.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8A90A68ECC4455D989C2904C28B167D"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Retired officers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officers on the retired list may be recalled to serve on such personnel boards as the Secretary
considers necessary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC61AE7EF865A425ABF62E5366EC4FD15"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">No membership on 2 successive boards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No officer may be a member of 2 successive personnel boards convened to consider officers of the
same grade for promotion or separation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53651DCA4D1E417794D599E31880D2F0"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each personnel board shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1A3C79334294C9DA6A0B59359E10CFF"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommend to the Secretary such changes as may be necessary to correct any erroneous position on
the lineal list that was caused by administrative error; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C0B7757129449B7B4224E3792AA3E22"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make selections and recommendations to the Secretary and the President for the appointment,
promotion, involuntary separation, continuation, and involuntary
retirement of officers in the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration as prescribed in this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC0D50ECC3A5847B181D8C75B28A582B5"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Action on recommendations not acceptable</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If any recommendation by a board convened under subsection (a) is not accepted by the Secretary or
the President, the board shall make such further recommendations as the
Secretary or the President consider appropriate.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H68A4F72E3443493292C73261E7E844A8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Delegation of authority for appointments and promotions to permanent grades</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 226 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3026">33 U.S.C. 3026</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H22BF5BC8FEFA4B59B691F0B87E548C45"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Appointments</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3C79D637E28D41D3B5013778E954497C" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H697532251FCF4545B2342513A958AE76"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointments</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA8F55A703AFA43309DFE7BE30A1C9973"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0F06C87EC3C4922A25DF93083FE1A4C" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBF1ECD32614D45199294DD335762D953"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Delegation of appointment authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under this section, the
President shall, during a period in which the position of the Secretary is
vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce or the
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere during such period.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D1DE9B91C0441278269B6F95F2339AE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Temporary appointments</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE0BF1A214AC4B2CA66C6D8E0D3D1500"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 229 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3029">33 U.S.C. 3029</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2B6A8D6DD54442FDB967B175FCF8CBC8" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD86FB3A4592B4D40B0235A0206554DDF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>229.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Temporary appointments</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC58D45F432FF4BBE9A77F8596DA10D02"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointments by President</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Temporary appointments in the grade of ensign, lieutenant junior grade, or lieutenant may be made
by the President.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDDDEB978B3924101A72DCED81D1B9B67"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A temporary appointment to a position under subsection (a) shall terminate upon approval of a
permanent appointment for such position made by the President.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B52CEE767F447AB8D08067A69FA25C8"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Order of precedence</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointees under subsection (a) shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance
with the dates of their appointments as officers in such grade. The order
of precedence of appointees who are appointed on the same date shall be
determined by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D6AF6F46B214A42A7115A913F5DF493"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any one grade</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">When determined by the Secretary to be in the best interest of the commissioned officer corps,
officers in any permanent grade may be temporarily promoted one grade by
the President. Any such temporary promotion terminates upon the transfer
of the officer to a new assignment.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H148F740EFEB543C4968F55F3570C7C3E"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Delegation of appointment authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under this section, the
President shall, during a period in which the position of the Secretary is
vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce or the
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere during such period.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H414053D4878044FDA101808DB44EE045"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by striking the item relating to section 229 and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8DB431B83104986983D5E9466112945" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 229. Temporary appointments.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E093B95340F4D52A4D9DB9FB33D046F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidates</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BB3AAB713CE447AB7E907FE5967B8A7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle B (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3021">33 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2662EB60495C4174BE6A1C7E6BA65D85" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H23062F823031406E9D435E96F4169F5E" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>234.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidates</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37BBA3F5AD4848519EB4A484C80693CE"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Determination of number</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall determine the number of appointments of officer candidates.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BF333353A824DE3910A99B5167DA1E0"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointment of officer candidates shall be made under regulations which the Secretary shall
prescribe, including regulations with respect to determining age limits,
methods of selection of officer candidates, term of service as an officer
candidate before graduation from the program, and all other matters
affecting such appointment.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF2DFE9EF9A9243AE9B8562C6A1AE74C5"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Dismissal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may dismiss from the basic officer training program of the Administration any officer
candidate who, during the officer candidate's term as an officer
candidate, the Secretary considers unsatisfactory in either academics or
conduct, or not adapted for a career in the commissioned officer corps of
the Administration. Officer candidates shall be subject to rules governing
discipline prescribed by the Director of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEB4E660E870140789A849E4A73D339F7"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreement</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC310BA859BF41E4ABFE1D0B3870929D"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each officer candidate shall sign an agreement with the Secretary in accordance with section
216(a)(2) regarding the officer candidate's term of service in the
commissioned officer corps of the Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H84744418418B41CE8AE36725E7F9A91F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An agreement signed by an officer candidate under paragraph (1) shall provide that the officer
candidate agrees to the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7D6DF4498AF499BA38C98637483066C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">That the officer candidate will complete the course of instruction at the basic officer training
program of the Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H91EFCF2C2856422BA94FF17C544F454C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">That upon graduation from the such program, the officer candidate—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9EF7399D1BE04C73ADC4FF1570653AAD"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">will accept an appointment, if tendered, as an officer; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED287D38EB7F4DC8B1CE619B84D1C0B6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">will serve on active duty for at least 4 years immediately after such appointment.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA41E0E470D164FB1AB943C05922DD405"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall
include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1101C3A037704F9EB37CA2B7755F1CA9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">standards for determining what constitutes a breach of an agreement signed under such subsection
(d)(1); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0F0AF33B59A46A585CB6EF6B7F72EB8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">procedures for determining whether such a breach has occurred.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8EAB0AED07824D8D9BDA5F6F3358D4E8"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repayment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer candidate or former officer candidate who does not fulfill the terms of the obligation
to serve as specified under section (d) shall be subject to the repayment
provisions of section 216(b).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE68125CD65C4E4D93D4619C6AA4C05F"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 233 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5480CAC34A654827ACC426F2B0175B1B" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 234. Officer candidates.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4E1C2F08CDBD42FEAAE1CA7D0AB0ECFE"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidate defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 212(b) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3002">33 U.S.C. 3002(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14731F4B54C8450E8300A2EB2C6FD5F6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H305E09CEA0EC42E7985A06F141784359"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F553B580BD644AD95E6D31804DF8DFD" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H566C38BE91154F5593BEB1C2ADBB8BBE"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>officer candidate</term> means an individual who is enrolled in the basic officer training program of the Administration
and is under consideration for appointment as an officer under section
221(a)(2)(A).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H59B14C6951FB4F0BA2479A35E16AEA37"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pay for officer candidates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/37/203">Section 203</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72ECDA3881DA44A6BF18FE949CACBC83" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC6C6D90E0A304D5E991F8A578B3A7D79"><enum>(f)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H47597A85ECE04FC0830507F274331F12"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer candidate enrolled in the basic officer training program of the commissioned officer
corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is entitled,
while participating in such program, to monthly officer candidate pay at
monthly rate equal to the basic pay of an enlisted member in the pay grade
E–5 with less than 2 years service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H250435BA9A9641958D57396FE1932F1B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual who graduates from such program shall receive credit for the time spent participating
in such program as if such time were time served while on active duty as a
commissioned officer. If the individual does not graduate from such
program, such time shall not be considered creditable for active duty or
pay.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2BCAE2436B39427DB808D757533E1002" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>206.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procurement of personnel</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5E39E170ACDA4507BE53A037F09C82F6"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle B (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3021">33 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 205(a), is further amended by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9F908FD18C948FDB0C318B2F230B022" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04994FFB4B184426B31B63BDA1A8CDE6" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>235.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procurement of personnel</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary may make such expenditures as the Secretary considers necessary in order to obtain
recruits for the commissioned officer corps of the Administration,
including advertising.</text></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA1487BC3ADCD4E85B286D9DD2EFF94F0"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>), as amended by section 205(b), is further amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 234 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H184FF4C9BBC84D6E90FC82DF11EA440C" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">235. Procurement of personnel.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Separation and retirement of officers</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA1140F56ABA4F90A7EF8119DB784F79" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Involuntary retirement or separation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 241 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3041">33 U.S.C. 3041</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B3E43AD138845FFB8511E1B9555A0A5" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54ACFE7F42EA4547B9904CBA675CF141"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deferment of retirement or separation for medical reasons</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A08A7301352402AA308B49B5F67984A"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines that the evaluation of the medical condition of an officer requires
hospitalization or medical observation that cannot be completed with
confidence in a manner consistent with the officer's well being before the
date on which the officer would otherwise be required to retire or be
separated under this section, the Secretary may defer the retirement or
separation of the officer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H499708DB91AD4A13AF202EBA2B2D22F3"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consent required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A deferment may only be made with the written consent of the officer involved. If the officer does
not provide written consent to the deferment, the officer shall be retired
or separated as scheduled.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A5749F4EF9047F5A86C1A869849FCD3"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A deferral of retirement or separation under this subsection may not extend for more than 30 days
after completion of the evaluation requiring hospitalization or medical
observation.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA7AFC9E4BF4243D583123F756EF18EAD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Separation pay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 242 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3042">33 U.S.C. 3042</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7327101227BC4B568BA4D369A97FFDED" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1673A0C426AF4801A6D2595DA3DAAC8C"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer discharged for twice failing selection for promotion to the next higher grade is not
entitled to separation pay under this section if the officer—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H410CD34562B34584AEEF751DAC84D2E0"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expresses a desire not to be selected for promotion; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC531D874DDE4126A502B5DF58B4C1CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requests removal from the list of selectees.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rights and benefits</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB319CFBBEC4A4E219EB8FA540E726C36" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Education loan repayment program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B1370A0D3E04B89B489E419B8305DC7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3783FF6EE46B4DAC81DE423E04A5B4BE" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDE63BA03BBFD4EB998949F2CC754B41C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>267.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Education loan repayment program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD3A9C1D73B03474FBE798217A7B4307E"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority To repay education loans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer corps of
the Administration on active duty who have skills required by the
commissioned officer corps, the Secretary may repay, in the case of a
person described in subsection (b), a loan that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08D8A826C6D6465DA6A8261517C5E450"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was used by the person to finance education; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0AD25D68020645F18F526161FD84C2CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was obtained from a governmental entity, private financial institution, educational institution, or
other authorized entity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H189331873D3F467CA3C0C50D266D258A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligible persons</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible to obtain a loan repayment under this section, a person must—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54399193F78A4968A862F450355118AC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">satisfy 1 of the requirements specified in subsection (c);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H524506B09CE54AF888D56E82BA93EBBA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be fully qualified for, or hold, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the commissioned
officer corps of the Administration; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F3ADB613C76436B89E64D29964EC782"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sign a written agreement to serve on active duty, or, if on active duty, to remain on active duty
for a period in addition to any other incurred active duty obligation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5A2D5C5CD2D484094D4D8060B03AD31"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Academic and professional requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One of the following academic requirements must be satisfied for purposes of determining the
eligibility of an individual for a loan repayment under this section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCEEF74753FC04623A6C262CAF57554CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The person is fully qualified in a profession that the Secretary has determined to be necessary to
meet identified skill shortages in the commissioned officer corps.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEFD9397C8D5D43B58F0419DA279A32AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The person is enrolled as a full-time student in the final year of a course of study at an
accredited educational institution (as determined by the Secretary of
Education) leading to a degree in a profession that will meet identified
skill shortages in the commissioned officer corps.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H039530198C4A4115B16598EAD9F9794B"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Loan repayments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB81DBDFE566F4E6A9E81236AF911FDA9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to the limits established under paragraph (2), a loan repayment under this section may
consist of the payment of the principal, interest, and related expenses of
a loan obtained by a person described in subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H394F6D5D0D704CFCA08B2552B6A9301E"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each year of obligated service that a person agrees to serve in an agreement described in
subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may pay not more than the amount
specified in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/2173">section 2173(e)(2)</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9EA33A91B6FD4E488783BFC0958EB3D4"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Active duty service obligation</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H24BF182F8EE14AF8B643030B13078DE3"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A person entering into an agreement described in subsection (b)(3) incurs an active duty service
obligation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H35A8E550EBAD4607A5EEE0F0F82C2F63"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Length of obligation determined under regulations</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BC8F00F0D234AA4931357F216B9E866"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the length of the obligation under paragraph (1) shall be
determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H991DD5E448B64ED1B9FBC4FB0C1C244F"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Minimum obligation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) may not provide for a period of obligation of
less than 1 year for each maximum annual amount, or portion thereof, paid
on behalf of the person for qualified loans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD474DAE03A5841EF85DCFDB57DDBF690"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Persons on active duty before entering into agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The active duty service obligation of persons on active duty before entering into the agreement
shall be served after the conclusion of any other obligation incurred
under the agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA6BCF55546E4089B4893689630190BE"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect of failure To complete obligation</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B2FF4AEF56C425B8251F9499BA05950"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Alternative obligations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer who is relieved of the officer's active duty obligation under this section before the
completion of that obligation may be given any alternative obligation, at
the discretion of the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12785EF9C0E345A781C5A522CB924419"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repayment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer who does not complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement entered into
under subsection (b)(3), or the alternative obligation imposed under
paragraph (1), shall be subject to the repayment provisions under section
216.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5627A9C91F4C4E258E7AB312964C6D22"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rulemaking</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2CBF753090304C78B1F648747EB28E80"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">standards for qualified loans and authorized payees; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB5E834A961F54129A9DAE29EE0EF9009"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other terms and conditions for the making of loan repayments.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H593FF20788B84ADD8DE75C84D3E89C19"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 266 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82AF257F140C4105BE6EE6C432B379A7" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 267. Education loan repayment program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE84317F8AF84102B0AFDB99FB22B7E7" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>402.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interest payment program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H853FC525408B423095D385B2EEB63313"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by section 401(a), is further amended by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8015B5A8B94E4729A34B9163E5BEE8D5" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACA57584EB2843D796E6E988A6E84830" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>268.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interest payment program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFEEB773CED4D44C784F5B65A799D3068"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may pay the interest and any special allowances that accrue on 1 or more student
loans of an eligible officer, in accordance with this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2EAA39063C4D4C86AB8AD207E595EC56"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligible officers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An officer is eligible for the benefit described in subsection (a) while the officer—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D0441CEC44347EC82B410B86463DE10"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is serving on active duty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H41DEB0CC7F4C46A8A02CF380079DEFEA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has not completed more than 3 years of service on active duty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1565AAA5367E40F7AD509C3ED33F3390"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is the debtor on 1 or more unpaid loans described in subsection (c); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE215DFDE37446F79F8C4D39E9CB83D4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is not in default on any such loan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E7944DDE77A441D82EE3DE267B3BF87"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Student loans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority to make payments under subsection (a) may be exercised with respect to the following
loans:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB274F51C77B44EA8B31AFC2EF1B35715"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1071">20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H46F64CA0B6364B21A897A3E112E6CC8D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A loan made under part D of such title (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1087a">20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05EC2A7E6F0042C3B1B8D34DA320DD4B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A loan made under part E of such title (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1087aa">20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD173C41741E540B6966D6DF1A4961322"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maximum benefit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interest and any special allowance may be paid on behalf of an officer under this section for any
of the 36 consecutive months during which the officer is eligible under
subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D8B76284B204D97B865AD8D2C2EC383"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds for payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may use amounts appropriated for the pay and allowances of personnel of the
commissioned officer corps of the Administration for payments under this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H86C9A7FC4DE547F3A288CEDE5391D0FA"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination with Secretary of Education</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9C9A4E9BB4414CAB845C4C47BFCC4934"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Education regarding the administration of this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB7F013BA9C2B49DCB284FC9D6AE8EB0D"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transfer of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall transfer to the Secretary of Education the funds necessary—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C3BCF38DD404F128892E466224A3506"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to pay interest and special allowances on student loans under this section (in accordance with
sections 428(o), 455(l), and 464(j) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1078">20 U.S.C. 1078(o)</external-xref>, 1087e(l), and 1087dd(j))); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H419783D5078C4FAD90B8361C0B4A5B00"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to reimburse the Secretary of Education for any reasonable administrative costs incurred by the
Secretary in coordinating the program under this section with the
administration of the student loan programs under parts B, D, and E of
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1071">20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.</external-xref>,
1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H153CA7D87E544DBB926C4F5860AA31B9"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special allowance defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>special allowance</term> means a special allowance that is payable under section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1087-1">20 U.S.C. 1087–1</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40B6B2C7BE4F456E8EAECB8C64C04C09"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B17FDA762BA42EEB23B23C88BE6391E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 428(o) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1078">20 U.S.C. 1078(o)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H86C284A88D534168B2D324220EE9C347"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the subsection heading and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Armed Forces and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Student Loan Interest Payment Programs</header-in-text></quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72EA061360B645A2A573F944DC826586"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E196ED040E4492EB9AB9C3B81403087"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>or section 264 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Act of 2002</quote> after <quote>Code,</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H830164A4B23A4EE1B6EA579D5A181E7D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>or an officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, respectively,</quote> after <quote>Armed Forces</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F3973020D074FCEB36FC64ACE276667"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 455(l) and 464(j) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1087e">20 U.S.C. 1087e(l)</external-xref> and 1087dd(j))
are each amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0246869BF0B347298578F449E9826741"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the subsection heading and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Armed Forces and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Student Loan Interest Payment Programs</header-in-text></quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC362461F132A44328F279AF99E9D3EB6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9FC7D2EEA0A4D09A53ED918F304BAC3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>or section 264 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Act of 2002</quote> after <quote>Code,</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93767B40E4094FA38B74E62110152F8B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>or an officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, respectively</quote> after <quote>Armed Forces</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFD17B3E0168E4518BCA30E5F0D5610D4"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>), as amended by section 401(b), is further amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 267 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H95A61D0D6E6840B899DD3B81432F9D49" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 268. Interest payment program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H841772B48D8C4DECBB6929D2A4099018" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>403.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Student pre-commissioning education assistance program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA34903A594F4BAB9023EEC511F6AABD"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by sections 401(a) and 402(a), is further amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H712A2E7693E04301BEACA526548ED919" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8B4E354E12A4A54BCE6A4F6FCDC0512" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>269.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Student pre-commissioning education assistance program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A77679865B74C4E81C3FF0D8CCE818F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority To provide financial assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer corps of
the Administration on active duty, the Secretary may provide financial
assistance to a person described in subsection (b) for expenses of the
person while the person is pursuing on a full-time basis at an accredited
educational institution (as determined by the Secretary of Education) a
program of education approved by the Secretary that leads to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0E595880152C4440BE95BF7458B34E33"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a baccalaureate degree in not more than 5 academic years; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC44AAF72EC3B4C1FB647380C59F6DF79"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a postbaccalaureate degree.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H266F81C4B80842AB98C4941F2D612DD3"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligible persons</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H859985E3D408402D86D4D18CC6B84C38"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A person is eligible to obtain financial assistance under subsection (a) if the person—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE10F56D5DD7C49999E57C8DCEE450B59"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is enrolled on a full-time basis in a program of education referred to in subsection (a) at any
educational institution described in such subsection;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5FF6A5FC4BD416DB552D06954D40FA8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meets all of the requirements for acceptance into the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration except for the completion of a baccalaureate degree; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7CF496E7E69042D0986A830E02413120"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enters into a written agreement with the Secretary described in paragraph (2).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4F9F854D657D4423A87B5E01E05F317F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A written agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(C) is an agreement between the person and the
Secretary in which the person agrees—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD82E9E91F544796A864EF182F67FB7E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to accept an appointment as an officer, if tendered; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H415C13C935034C23A056D40BF8875E22"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">upon completion of the person's educational program, agrees to serve on active duty, immediately
after appointment, for—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE130910CBB747C1B0F2B511AC0CD5D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">up to 3 years if the person received less than 3 years of assistance; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9565291912544A98A9327401AEB7A526"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">up to 5 years if the person received at least 3 years of assistance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58CB15DDC46F4DFB9E7A72F504A02F2D"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Qualifying expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expenses for which financial assistance may be provided under subsection (a) are the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4F9680A529654A76A0750F3BB1A7BB4F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Tuition and fees charged by the educational institution involved.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF294D8562059485DB05C98F31FBE4654"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The cost of books.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA1ACC91FCC04978A18BC8C9EC2689AB"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a program of education leading to a baccalaureate degree, laboratory expenses.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H610DE33A85DE4265BEE9EE2C27B7AA0B"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such other expenses as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA58603146C240C9AEE308FA30751AB3"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe the amount of financial assistance provided to a person under
subsection (a), which may not exceed the amount specified in section
2173(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code, for each year of obligated
service that a person agrees to serve in an agreement described in
subsection (b)(2).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H23F50CBB57694135BD69707AE46D545C"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duration of assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial assistance may be provided to a person under subsection (a) for not more than 5
consecutive academic years.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8341F469C34B4F63AC4D1D701B91163A"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsistence allowance</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6D7EE02B7A6545948036821377B08E72"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A person who receives financial assistance under subsection (a) shall be entitled to a monthly
subsistence allowance at a rate prescribed under paragraph (2) for the
duration of the period for which the person receives such financial
assistance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA5C265FF6D6488CBE97EE55CAE4852E"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Determination of amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe monthly rates for subsistence allowance provided under paragraph (1),
which shall be equal to the amount specified in section 2144(a) of title
10, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9108CE76887E44C7AA73467D33163FA7"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Initial clothing allowance</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9AEBE42EE950408CABCF6407E87D6F9B"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may prescribe a sum which shall be credited to each person who receives financial
assistance under subsection (a) to cover the cost of the person's initial
clothing and equipment issue.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5E7C2665B22346E3A39D12147A4DC841"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon completion of the program of education for which a person receives financial assistance under
subsection (a) and acceptance of appointment in the commissioned officer
corps of the Administration, the person may be issued a subsequent
clothing allowance equivalent to that normally provided to a newly
appointed officer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H834DB52AE32D4832A25FBA74FC044943"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of financial assistance</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H21FDECACB1414F54B7D1F5DB7AFBE1DF"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall terminate the assistance provided to a person under this section if—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H59F64D0E657746B8A65ABA0177B386D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary accepts a request by the person to be released from an agreement described in
subsection (b)(2);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE82AA4F634441A7A2553020C1C90AC5"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the misconduct of the person results in a failure to complete the period of active duty required
under the agreement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F2A958B89184AC68E592AD23ABC7C50"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the person fails to fulfill any term or condition of the agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A096C9DFC46484A94FD30198C9A35FB"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reimbursement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may require a person who receives assistance described in subsection (c), (f), or (g)
under an agreement entered into under subsection (b)(1)(C) to reimburse
the Secretary in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total costs of
the assistance provided to that person as the unserved portion of active
duty bears to the total period of active duty the officer agreed to serve
under the agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD727E67FE30C49589485AE59A4B57BEE"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiver</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may waive the service obligation of a person through an agreement entered into under
subsection (b)(1)(C) if the person—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB572A8AAE7254ED59220FC01E09F8737"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">becomes unqualified to serve on active duty in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration
because of a circumstance not within the control of that person; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H475ADC129B7A4B1692429DCE26653570"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFFF1FE20337C47B7A1EFDC1E6531EF73"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not physically qualified for appointment; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9395E82568F349B89CF7EBD8A63262FA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determined to be unqualified for service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration
because of a physical or medical condition that was not the result of the
person's own misconduct or grossly negligent conduct.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4E3DDEF33FDE48418B933260EB5E127A"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Obligation as debt to United States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An obligation to reimburse the Secretary imposed under paragraph (2) is, for all purposes, a debt
owed to the United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37A45C044287409AB4B681F1673DB0C6"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Discharge in bankruptcy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, United States Code, that is entered less than 5 years
after the termination of a written agreement entered into under subsection
(b)(1)(C) does not discharge the person signing the agreement from a debt
arising under such agreement or under paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H00B626F410C64A4CB87438C0722D2B06"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may promulgate such regulations and orders as the Secretary considers appropriate to
carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A804D8603924101A7AEB7D5AEF21C0A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>), as amended by section 402(c), is further amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 268 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H91B1FAD88D6644FE9BD0194F2339C835" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 269. Student pre-commissioning education assistance program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14F0133F58A04FF08B4264C7D3AA03ED" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>404.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on educational assistance</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6327F18CE36043DFA8B5DBA045D7B2EF"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 2013, the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the
total amount expended by the Secretary under section 267 of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of
2002 (as added by section 401(a)), section 268 of such Act (as added by
section 402(a)), and section 269 of such Act (as added by section 403(a))
does not exceed the amount by which—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H229A70C4D6774F819B1EAD5EA397237B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total amount the Secretary would pay in that fiscal year to officer candidates under section
203(f)(1) of title 37, United States Code (as added by section 205(d)), if
such section entitled officers candidates to pay at monthly rates equal to
the basic pay of a commissioned officer in the pay grade O–1 with less
than 2 years of service; exceeds</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7098D06ED7A84D2CB9054D48FCACFA8A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total amount the Secretary actually pays in that fiscal year to officer candidates under
section 203(f)(1) of such title (as so added).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7CDD79A30DC0476E92A5438684DFF618"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Officer candidate defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>officer candidate</term> has the meaning given the term in section 212 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3002">33 U.S.C. 3002</external-xref>), as
added by section 205(c).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66EEA6C60E1645CE83A0EA8801BC2E7D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>405.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability of certain provisions of title 10, United States Code</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 261(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H542E2D99D2CB4291A1BE5DB4047FDF85"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (16) as paragraphs (20) through (23), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0BFA7EFBCBD04180B607480C65FD7C65"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (12) as paragraphs (12) through (17), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H715D48FB5C934628BA1F0110D35C7F06"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8ECDCF6BD6E74E7B91195914DB535E66"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9EECF02A7D304CC39E9C63569F5A945A" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC838724EF84941C2A0D3D4EB5F36F7DF"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 771, relating to unauthorized wearing of uniforms.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H99DCB905F94144E5A23CC0CCA4640A03"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 774, relating to wearing religious apparel while in uniform.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36177F644C314717ADC8F15A7095C9E1"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 982, relating to service on State and local juries.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H561C8306DBC84D9C9928E944EF913B2A"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1031, relating to administration of oaths.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8DD266B1C8324CDF8F8501449ED93511"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9304A2275F4A4ABFA601092C2B76FC81" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4D161BB59AC4EE7ABE240B70A17FB88"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 58, relating to the Benefits and Services for members being separated or recently
separated.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H560E0537DB6B4046A1DB90345B6DDF1E"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (17), as redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H743CADA5E0954D5697CC38F26E1AACA1" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5FDEB31247C64D2A98E7C781689B25DB"><enum>(18)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of chapter 88, relating to Military Family Programs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37E0EF724A724ECF9647E031EA5B11CB"><enum>(19)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2005, relating to advanced education assistance, active duty agreements, and reimbursement
requirements.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBD18C604DA174A2CA3150532B8F11CAF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>406.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United States Code</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D3B5C5ED67D444691616FEC30E11025"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 261 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3447098074BB4165BFF382DDF802357D" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H50E1EAE979AA43B9ABB097AC895EDE6B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>261A.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United States Code</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40016F10485F4A7D96F96BC611D08435"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provisions made applicable to commissioned officer corps</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of law applicable to the Armed Forces under the following provisions of title 37,
United States Code, shall apply to the commissioned officer corps of the
Administration:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69BC34ADBDA146A880B9A32C30EB4F28"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 324, relating to accession bonuses for new officers in critical skills.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD18ED61B18DA4DEC929C7C99D29DA4FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 403(f)(3), relating to prescribing regulations defining the terms <term>field duty</term> and <term>sea duty</term>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H640B4D3CE3FC4769B4357A42700DBBE3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 403(l), relating to temporary continuation of housing allowance for dependents of members
dying on active duty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H52E3D6E7C40B497ABC3FAC3A1B8F7BD1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 414(a)(2), relating to personal money allowance while serving as Director of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1CD6C7FA52C4498184A7282D7B5D608B"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 488, relating to allowances for recruiting expenses.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA7247A881C742CE9C2E3477D4494D38"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 495, relating to allowances for funeral honors duty.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA8384BFE4CBA4D9BA0A90038DEF65EE7"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority vested by title 37, United States Code, in the <quote>military departments</quote>, <quote>the Secretary concerned</quote>, or <quote>the Secretary of Defense</quote> with respect to the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a) shall be exercised, with
respect to the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, by the
Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary's designee.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED138701BFED4F5B8FF93A0DFBA52855"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 261 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB009A1203DE4F1BABDCD2AFA8BD1C8B" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 261A. Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United States Code.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8962BAF5861841F8A33912F09313D2C0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>407.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Application of certain provisions of competitive service law</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/3304">Section 3304(f)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H41E4BF1B6FD840B7AB10DEE3444327FA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>and members of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (or its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic
Survey) separated from such uniformed service</quote> after <quote>separated from the armed forces</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA51DDDB9C1AB4C5EB295B454646A35DA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>or veteran</quote> and inserting <quote>, veteran, or member</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H28AE7E830EAD4BF18C9574A7C51C1B65"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by inserting <quote>and members of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (or its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic
Survey) separated from such uniformed service</quote> after <quote>separated from the armed forces</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8357DBDC17834A13888A5808359A14DD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>408.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligibility of all members of uniformed services for Legion of Merit award</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1121">Section 1121</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>armed forces</quote> and inserting <quote>uniformed services</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF5326712DAB4C6A9D643F4F8FC0C99F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>409.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Application of Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services to members
of commissioned officer corps</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4303">Section 4303(16)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,</quote> after <quote>Public Health Service,</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H086B63D64B0449CA984281215022FA16" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>410.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Protected communications for commissioned officer corps and prohibition of retaliatory personnel
actions</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC82D5C34147A4B3C97CDB1B8B1B9965A"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) of section 261 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071</external-xref>), as amended by section 405, is further amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H31B684225D0B459B95BEF6FEA7A2267C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (23) as paragraphs (9) through (24), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B301ED56DD94B189DB26E9AFB5CC44D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3E9E4102E46D4E89AC1A5C1F697C4926" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H978BD2E71AAA4141971FDC5FB0EDB3CC"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1034, relating to protected communications and prohibition of retaliatory personnel
actions.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD393F62D0AAA4876952B20AEFABB20F8"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>For purposes of paragraph (8) of subsection (a), the term <quote>Inspector General</quote> in section 1034 of such title 10 shall mean the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce.</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H45F4E45EA1C548B8A241EFFE997D0D85" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>411.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Criminal penalties for wearing uniform without authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/702">Section 702</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>Service or any</quote> and inserting <quote>Service, the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or
any</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HC89827CEE39A477F814BCBECEFB39FE8"><enum>412.</enum><header>Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps as employment in National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for purposes of certain hiring decisions</header>
<subsection id="HD4E23D8D2F6F4F13A012DF7618E52056"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3071">33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.</external-xref>), as amended by this title, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE225A70FA62E4D02A4903D3DD5B9AD22" style="OLC">
<section id="HE590FB1AEB064A038A9DCBE64B8DF971"><enum>269A.</enum><header>Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps as employment in Administration for purposes
of certain hiring decisions</header>
<subsection id="HC2739E6E7CAB480D970DD7FDBDB7ECE5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any case in which the Secretary accepts an application for a position of employment with the
Administration and limits consideration of applications for such position
to applications submitted by individuals serving in a career or
career-conditional position in the competitive service within the
Administration, the Secretary shall deem an officer who has served as an
officer in the commissioned officer corps for at least 3 years to be
serving in a career or career-conditional position in the competitive
service within the Administration for purposes of such limitation.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAECEEE60E0D34EC6BC522B3D705294C3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Career appointments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary selects an application submitted by an officer described in subsection (a) for a
position described in such subsection, the Secretary shall give such
officer a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive
service, as appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3C5DCD58C355458DB83FC4EE4CFC3EF6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Competitive service defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>competitive service</term> has the meaning given the term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/2102">section 2102</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HB50793C7AECB4DA58280E9FCA4811406"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections in section 1 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Service Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/372">Public Law 107–372</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 269, as added by
this title, the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA538D3D6A5354BAC91D582BF19478828" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 269A. Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps as employment in Administration
for purposes of certain hiring decisions.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other matters</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BCEB31C45134E9DA0ED52B052CC2813" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>501.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical correction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">Section 101(21)(C)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>in the commissioned officer corps</quote> before <quote>of the National</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37EAD355740F442FB9437EC04BE76A92" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>502.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5E474D6CF1B4B57BE48381473EE0D81"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall
submit to Congress a report evaluating the current status and projected
needs of the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to operate sufficiently through fiscal year
2017.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EB0DB58E8CE475784241719FEFD0F3E"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4BE5A7A8248640B99FC9D2E3BE66F007"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The average annual attrition rate of officers in the commissioned officer corps of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D20536B60BA438CA26BABC4AE26727C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An estimate of the number of annual recruits that would reasonably be required to operate the
commissioned officer corps sufficiently through fiscal year 2017.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5FA862111D34CCA8E3116F1FC13C06C"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The projected impact of this Act on annual recruitment numbers through fiscal year 2017.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE7CDD0908C543E194428A922A833A58"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Identification of areas of duplication or unnecessary redundancy in current activities of the
commissioned officer corps that could otherwise be streamlined or
eliminated to save costs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H32BF0BCBB25343BC8539472F815129FD"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding the provisions of this Act and
the amendments made by this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4E893C8954DE4E89A4BB12B7F8F39FFD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>503.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, sections 101 through 411 shall take effect on the
date that is 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce
submits to Congress the report required by section 502(a).</text>
</section>