115 S3508 ES: Save Our Seas Act of 2018 U.S. Senate 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.
115th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3508IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAN ACTTo reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Save Our Seas Act of 2018.
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Marine Debris</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9832DBABFDB434F84B23B78263B041B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">NOAA marine debris program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1952">33 U.S.C. 1952</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26bfe63040c342f5ba51f4e17c861b3d"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida441cc08c28a4e01bb2e3409e0c06d72"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id566827da4427435a9347a2a0525dc492"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idae802ab67878402c87a4ab196170142f"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1533526C1A4D45A7AD6406FEFE83F5B9" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd007b6c6115f47fbafc7f9c81024dc2a"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work to develop outreach and education strategies with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine debris;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6fc3aba837b9429fadea3468e5baf569"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, in consultation with the Department of State and other Federal agencies, promote international action, as appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine debris, including providing technical assistance to expand waste management systems internationally; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4ea60c7557df484f81a4d738bee215cd"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an event determined to be a severe marine debris event under subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7f227e1160df453e8aea1a9e945dcd6d"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assist in the cleanup and response required by the severe marine debris event; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf1d2e5ebeae64033b513132df39f0764"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct such other activity as the Administrator determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine debris event.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1779002f4d0a4588aa053bbcdb96d06c"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd0fae59347224684bbd2f1c6a923baf9"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (b) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97ED115AAC39413092BE6D60BEB296BE" style="OLC"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9af6c965b1c44a8c943a85d90c81a0ff"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Severe marine debris events</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the discretion of the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine debris event.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0e645a47bf64d689ceb51c0e6bc2e69"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide2245cffb5a94877bf98348e9047e716"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>subparagraph (B)</quote> and inserting <quote>subparagraphs (B) and (C)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6f70fa824f6247209c5a94591fa42eaf"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC515B971D6584B36B272275ABBE95539" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3f5806dc6db415cb463da7dcd527420"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Severe marine debris events</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under a determination made under subsection (c) shall be—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfd2e0fd5eae14d61a41806fb7c21f480"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person, including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine debris event; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93308661690b47809ca8c73c2d017dcc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any activity other than an activity funded as described in clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1076B7C63BD04214AFA82E4D2EB3C6B8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress on international engagement to respond to marine debris</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the President should—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H21BD90A694D84E5BB6CBC508C5694B0A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support research and development on systems and materials that reduce—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA3DE73E6FDB4B098CF77F6328796440"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">derelict fishing gear; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE3F48034BD734DFFA235ED377BA88091"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the amount of solid waste that is generated from land-based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the marine environment;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H80E14B6B4DFA4B2BA7CD1E66E49B1817"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work with representatives of foreign countries that discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to reduce such discharges;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE354F8984E5447338E6F979B19173802"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carry out studies to determine—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E7F48A627E245A29FE0121502B45F4E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the primary means of discharges referred to in paragraph (2);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB84CCB08C73C48F686628E475198791D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the manner in which waste management infrastructure can be most effective in preventing such discharges; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H61C85E2D0FF3462EA4C49344A59F8ACA"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national economies of the countries with which work is undertaken under paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the impacts of reducing the discharge of such debris;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8178DF336CD04AAEA36FD60864390C37"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work with representatives of the countries with which work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new international agreements that include provisions—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD555E65EDE684A56AF82E8231E350A16"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste into the marine environment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3596339A13334AA2893F4044DB90E8E4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide technical assistance and investment in waste management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the President determines such assistance or investment is appropriate; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H570B4E88BC32428097AD4D6A9E1F11F3"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">encourage the United States Trade Representative to consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste from the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph (2) in relevant future trade agreements.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC702B61D168C41F69691B5BBC6903B7C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress supporting Great Lakes Land-Based Marine Debris Action Plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based Marine Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS–OR&R–49) is vital to the ongoing efforts to clean up the Great Lakes Region and getting rid of harmful debris, such as microplastics, abandoned vessels, and other forms of pollution that are threatening the survival of native marine animals and damaging the Great Lakes’ recreation and tourism economy.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H529B296011BE46239095AA0F9FEB4AA5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Membership of the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1954">33 U.S.C. 1954(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H600A36EF0BB9445B8D8CE7A0F2A0655A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4AA07EAF4CD64766B757BFB720F72916"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF96F6AF35F4A4E069D71222432CBA7E4"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E4C31A67793472494B48E525B70D7DE" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC61CDE9F6F7C4EEEAB875CF1DD7176B7"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of State;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF17489943A5341DAB1ACF007979A35DE"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of the Interior; and</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEFF6EBC8757745598A5AFBFEDFE351F4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1958">33 U.S.C. 1958</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08A97B52909E47008A338127A290C6AD" style="OLC"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD2A47FC4F7FC4A4F9646F0F1E5337BC8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>9.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA662C7FE00D4ABBB45DE94001221B0C"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64737841AAB940E483075B4B0C6BC192"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts authorized for Coast Guard</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the amounts authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of title 14, United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maritime Safety</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3D8DB4FDB464CA99238149E8AA49BCA" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id287E0799A10A401FAA890C9E18137E96" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3D6F6921B311482B93F79C62242EA49C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying 391 shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and a crew of 33 people, including 28 Americans.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC2A97F5B5A0944E1A9ED0597083B0746"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final communication reporting that the engines were disabled and the ship was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path of Hurricane Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the vessel and the loss of all 33 lives.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id25EDA31DA0C14D60AA5BB4D07F96D84B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as improving weather information and training, improving planning and response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast Guard's program delegating vessel inspections to third-party organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program, and improving alerts and equipment on the vessels, among other recommendations.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD06F7B1196124A9496A2B0EB8E9B7E70"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017, over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States commercial vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were issued <quote>no-sail</quote> requirements.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3B42A733A39C4EDEA97C5FCFB97E7EF0"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The maritime industry, particularly the men and women of the United States merchant marine, play a vital and important role to the national security and economy of our country, and a strong safety regime is necessary to ensure the vitality of the industry and the protection of current and future mariners, and to honor lost mariners.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BAEA02363D6436D8B8A007AF76602DA" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H48FC3BD9503E4660BA04F8F1944588AC"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Commandant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Commandant</term> means the Commandant of the Coast Guard.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF875E7DC81184244B416BF90C261AC8C"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recognized organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>recognized organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 2.45–1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB73D3EA2968143CC8176AAC3AC07A66F"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5543863F48441DCA659053650B31B1D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Domestic vessel compliance</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D3493F3B6F04A09A3D206D1D4789ED2"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDEE93B0104E64992BC1DD8E932D16249"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Content</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The information required under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC75DA8546EEF4B8B86B735200079EAE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include flag-State detention rates for each type of inspected vessel; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB64FA373247F48B88000BF2C5856B855"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify any recognized organization that inspected or surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity that the recognized organization failed to identify in such inspection or survey.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3EF1C7C5A34B4721B40F87B8C66DF07F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Safety management system</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E3BB84BF35641BF9DE56FD84A733BE4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the Coast Guard’s oversight and enforcement of safety management plans required under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/32">chapter 32</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H640BCB9E4628421F84DAF43C083BB0D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Scope</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall include an evaluation of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF33637A7808F445BA25383E5C8C28E90"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effectiveness and implementation of safety management plans, including such plans for—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD131C0CE780441EB93C2E7E9765348D0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a range of vessel types and sizes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D3F2F51F54F43A4ACF027E074AA8450"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional operating areas; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F7019F6533A4E089A24E200111999A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effectiveness and implementation of safety management plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC2E2D16482F44509B015AAF477ACB2BD"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a report detailing the results of the audit and providing recommendations related to such results, including ways to streamline and focus such plans on ship safety.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H188B32B20198452DA261BC96BA4B3287"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Marine Safety Alert</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date the report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of the completion of the report and including a link to the report on a publicly accessible website.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4934A56395F7463C83566A8A7D5EFFFA"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional actions</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf4dd36482a79452989b65d66d1b788d8"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon completion of the report under subsection (c), the Commandant shall consider additional guidance or a rulemaking to address any deficiencies identified, and any additional actions recommended, in the report.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc67a1995f535404a88770e04ec1e0beb"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date the report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall submit to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a report on the actions the Commandant has taken to address any deficiencies identified, and any additional actions recommended, in the report submitted under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H43C7110ADDBA44B690D72B6442B4F9FE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>206.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Equipment requirements</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA087D39F043F425CA38A4F7F3CF5FC74"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A9705ABDF334B0590C95D32D37884E4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A9387640F6A470C9F6A7C2AAB9F1045" style="OLC"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H841875280C634C5FBB85016B86027E87"><enum>(l)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H38745A8E553F4188886B56646865CEA4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and location technology for the higher of—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE581219C57DC462F9D77368AFEA07F51" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the minimum complement of officers and crew specified on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC08BB84EEF4544B093DE8CB9FB716FAD" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of persons onboard the vessel; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9E0EA7599854142B9C95DAAC37E674F" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8493B8EAC6EF4E3993A0A165C5211648"><enum>(m)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HC9209D214C6F4E558336AF583D285368"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring companies to maintain records of all incremental weight changes made to freight vessels inspected under this chapter, and to track weight changes over time to facilitate rapid determination of the aggregate total.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE57C447EBE894326A05AE7775E28DEF6" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Records maintained under paragraph (1) shall be stored, in paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels for not less than 3 years and shoreside for the life of the vessel.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H42399B21AC134EADB4392AD07CCCDC77"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadlines</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD31CCD478761496F82A06CA384F31641"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">begin implementing the requirement under section 3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4836AF675B5445639282343513FB5213"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">promulgate the regulations required under section 3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H87B6E3FB039D496EB6B722ED29E1CAC6"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Engagement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to amend regulation 25 of chapter II–1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require a high-water alarm sensor in each cargo hold of a freight vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and visual alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE07AD7B627DA465BB601756CA5710EB2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>207.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Voyage data recorder; access</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H240839BA46E84EE89E7F9B2349960E22"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/63">Chapter 63</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57F66F33C3964A178DD6F54BD86669D0" style="USC"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE24A0B79BCA403FAAE558E4235ABF50" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>6309.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Voyage data recorder access</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast Guard shall have full, concurrent, and timely access to and ability to use voyage data recorder data and audio held by any Federal agency in all marine casualty investigations, regardless of which agency is the investigative lead.</text></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F4BC9FBAB6248468E491545AEE763D7"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The analysis for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H76ECFF3F6349408F80DAAC1ACBC301C7" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">6309. Voyage data recorder access.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE0A4442AA28E4906A4C97889501536F7" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>208.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Voyage data recorder; requirements</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0458FDF54CD54D6E80610CAC15BC558A"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Float-Free and beacon requirements</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H681D9AE81AEB4B778B783A3D969BF89A"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to amend regulation 20 of chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require that all voyage data recorders are installed in a float-free arrangement and contain an integrated emergency position indicating radio beacon.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CE0CAAB895A42BA90B6B4F818471BAB"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Progress update</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> an update on the progress of the engagement required under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D69E69D7E5B4BDC8D554861178E2A00"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cost-Benefit analysis</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a cost-benefit analysis of requiring that voyage data recorders installed on commercial vessels documented under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/121">chapter 121</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code, capture communications on the internal telephone systems of such vessels, including requiring the capture of both sides of all communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H014A34BC403649439AAF30346CC1B30B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>209.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Survival and locating equipment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, identify and procure equipment that will provide search-and-rescue units the ability to attach a radio or Automated Identification System strobe or beacon to an object that is not immediately retrievable.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H398F1443764245F98B55C0C549F80497" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>210.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training of Coast Guard personnel</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H55C885CC3DAC42DCBCA8966FE9919ADD"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prospective sector commander training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement an Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections segment to the sector commander indoctrination course for prospective sector commanders without a Coast Guard prevention ashore officer specialty code.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F44AC2195EE46C092B1E27776D47C60"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Steamship inspections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement steam plant inspection training for Coast Guard marine inspectors and, subject to availability, recognized organizations to which authority is delegated under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3775F4DD2BF1486298B9A369F6E2C29E"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advanced journeyman inspector training</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA98F03A0E1B9417B99E131FA406FE020"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish advanced training to provide instruction on the oversight of recognized organizations to which authority is delegated under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, auditing responsibilities, and the inspection of unique vessel types.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B64826542CD4908AE2FA4C7B2FC4D7D"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recipients</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H62012CD983874B8CA1D0B2B2E8D5C47C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require that such training be completed by senior Coast Guard marine inspectors; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13C3310D87AF4181A7E7340990947855"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subject to availability of training capacity, make such training available to recognized organization surveyors authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct inspections.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE13C67B5255545279061F6F127AAE318"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coast Guard inspections staff; briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing detailing—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB2EEE2705B0F4F54ABBE00E7DD20E382"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the current size of the Coast Guard’s traveling inspector staff; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8418DC9EC9A2436281B8F805DA7F0AF7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance and maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of increased reliance on—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3A8F0129ED524807BE62A796386F1216"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">civilian marine inspectors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8903E8E3012488A94EDE38A15180E32"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">experienced licensed mariners;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3EA2F6DCD9C0423193348C2BE2D581D1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">retired members of the Coast Guard;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H553DC3195D5A4C9193B95FF9110CCE5F"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride onboard commercial oceangoing vessels documented under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/121">chapter 121</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code, to gain experience and insight; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB03BF4A54F45481581B2A55D8F22509F"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine safety officers assigned to inspection billets.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H70FD4D60A1194C28BC2EFDB7773B89F1"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Audits; Coast Guard attendance and performance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H45461D66B45845868AED8F002F41394A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">update Coast Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to target the attendance of Coast Guard personnel during external safety management certificate and document of compliance audits; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5696B6080B664AEC8E5554DD6124D28C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">perform a quality assurance audit of recognized organization representation and performance regarding United States-flagged vessels.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0166A87ED63C472ABF27E1F4E027E2E0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>211.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Major marine casualty property damage threshold</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>$500,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$2,000,000</quote>.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BCE5FD2D1174B939C6EEEB8FD20D26D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>212.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reviews, briefings, reports, and technical corrections</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA3587CA794A4F9B9E00CEBBBB7D2AB4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Major conversion determinations</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA0948ED2CBA94EB8888066AEF4319CAD"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review of policies and procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall conduct a review of policies and procedures for making and documenting major conversion determinations, including an examination of the deference given to precedent.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB858D4FA0BB043228CE7F594A016E3D1"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on the findings of the review required by paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5CB537543BF842E7A3A569B584796A95"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Ventilators, openings and stability standards</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4B3675015FB44E1A9880ACCCEC46F96"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review of the effectiveness of United States regulations, international conventions, recognized organizations’ class rules, and Coast Guard technical policy regarding—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8DD3F6C71C24AEA96E4E0BDE5830B6B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ventilators and other hull openings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E2C353820614137B9596F3A348B7263"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fire dampers and other closures protecting openings normally open during operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H33418679DD584CBD9E8B903ECE83512D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">intact and damage stability standards under subchapter S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE46B0AECEA5141C7B9BEF21633649894"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">lifesaving equipment for mariners, including survival suits and life jackets.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AEA26B9ABDE4BB78E6149A95F25828B"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on the effectiveness of the regulations, international conventions, recognized organizations’ class rules, and Coast Guard technical policy reviewed under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD4890457C526495E956416C1C576E552"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Self-Locating datum marker buoys</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on the reliability of self-locating datum marker buoys and other similar technology used during Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations. The briefing shall include a description of reasonable steps the Commandant could take to increase the reliability of such buoys, including the potential to leverage technology used by the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to conduct testing of such buoys before using them for operations.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ECD745F2ABC45B6A6D8FBD93706694B"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Correction</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id958E340773E04D36A96D667529BF5817"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section 502(f)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/45/822">45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)</external-xref>) (as in effect on the day before the amendments made by section 11607 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/114/94">Public Law 114–94</external-xref> (129 Stat. 1698) took effect)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idda8e5090be9d4c269f60fa403498fb18"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall define the term <term>cohorts of loans</term>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id733E811C5E5949999C2A39433C4F1548"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">before the deadline described in paragraph (2), shall return to the original source, on a pro rata basis, the credit risk premiums paid for the loans in the cohort of loans, with interest accrued thereon, that were not used to mitigate losses; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE786CFC4E8D4A3488162D7AFD4DB50D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not treat the repayment of a loan after the date of enactment of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/114/94">Public Law 114–94</external-xref> as precluding, limiting, or negatively affecting the satisfaction of the obligation of its cohort prior to the enactment of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/114/94">Public Law 114–94</external-xref>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB595787E131C406FA0348335ECF0C47A"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline described</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The deadline described in this paragraph is—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF49256905E734E29AD2B4191DFCC09ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B99A0C85EC9480889D8A54F4F328476"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have not been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date on which all obligations attached to the cohort of loans are satisfied.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBD96BEAF6E1E4E6C9FD41EDEE4E725F2"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Oversight program; effectiveness</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC2AFD3E73F6B4371AC86478E9373961B"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard’s oversight of recognized organizations and its impact on compliance by and safety of vessels inspected by such organizations.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B9438FB9BA34D22ABC0147F9FBA1A77"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Experience</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The assessment commissioned under paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a research organization with significant experience in maritime operations and marine safety.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6ECF50D2BF9F4AA0BD5797B060C6B617"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submission to congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is completed, the Commandant shall submit to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> the results of such assessment.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA176002AF26492FB0811A7D96DC8E78" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>213.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Flag-State guidance and supplements</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF5291D22EF8B48EB8C4F8DF79323301F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Freight vessels; damage control information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue flag-State guidance for all freight vessels documented under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/121">chapter 121</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code, built before January 1, 1992, regarding the inclusion of comprehensive damage control information in safety management plans required under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/46/32">chapter 32</external-xref> of title 46, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4EE979685FCB438D8857BF190309F29C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recognized organizations; United States supplement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7200DCA3B8A458DB29D323A21CEDD8F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work with recognized organizations to create a single United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for classification of vessels; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1374D3F3CB94C79A48B2CED98147140"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on whether it is necessary to revise part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to authorize only one United States Supplement to such rules.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBEDFFD96F1984730A43590846A272665" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>214.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Marine safety strategy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA9750CF1676241F49773898E3E3B156E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>each year of an annual</quote> and inserting <quote>of a triennial</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCAEC30D6DCE4890B53F5E21D96DD91E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C57D053C65D4B57B5E235C23CE780E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the subsection heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Annual</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Triennial</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDC363EB0223E4CDC9E563E46291D03BC"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>annual</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>triennial</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFEA96F47341D4A13AE1ED589B30696B8"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3FFC579EBCC44FA38820340C41C5F0C2"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year</quote> and inserting <quote>fiscal year 2020 and triennially</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8239F3FFEB204716B28C622ABB9BF06E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>annual plan</quote> and inserting <quote>triennial plan</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H023DC6C96E9E41D5BF8ED906AFCE4F82"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)(2), by striking <quote>annually</quote> and inserting <quote>triennially</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB732574818F4CF3AEAFF3E070151190" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>215.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recognized organizations; oversight</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E3EF95A285344AA93DC5FB6548C98CF"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h), and by inserting after subsection (f) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA0BFB9623804BEB80ACF8ECC8724987" style="OLC"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCB1F41FBB54E4EB3B820E78D57771027"><enum>(g)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H9419DE36BDB241D7B6EC671D9FAB2C60"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There shall be within the Coast Guard an office that conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all recognized organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8EAAB8AA5BFE4391A4376B0AB742FDFE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The staff of the office shall include subject matter experts, including inspectors, investigators, and auditors, who possess the capability and authority to audit all aspects of such recognized organizations.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF3AFD27952340BC8C6ACB5D0F5989EB" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection the term <quote>recognized organization</quote> has the meaning given that term in section 2.45–1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018</short-title>.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6C3E6DF9E55E445A89A28BDCC1583FCC"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline for establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish the office required by the amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1270FEBC2CAF4D278920994D595E1B5D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>216.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Timely weather forecasts and hazard advisories for merchant mariners</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to amend the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require that vessels subject to the requirements of such Convention receive—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea4ea1274eb64c128a7e3ee6b809509b"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">timely synoptic and graphical chart weather forecasts; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ided554ffcb7664288965169fc23473727"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">where available, timely hazard advisories for merchant mariners, including broadcasts of tropical cyclone forecasts and advisories, intermediate public advisories, and tropical cyclone updates to mariners via appropriate technologies.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6725DC7E878447749B2D06B1490F7006" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>217.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Anonymous safety alert system</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88fbced36d7f4fe4baf07a3cdaede8e4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pilot program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an anonymous safety alert pilot program.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd74e8681a8124fcf84be7198c10de2dd"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The pilot program established under subsection (a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism to allow crew members to communicate urgent and dire safety concerns directly and in a timely manner with the Coast Guard.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB33D7C4CDA2740FD81789A9600F0629C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>218.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Marine safety implementation status</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B25A1357CD54CFFA24C2B5813A40C17"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than December 19 of 2018, and of each of the 2 subsequent years thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on the status of implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant’s final action memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf5c65bc161a249d58ab1be8b725974b4"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shall report to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> on the status of the Coast Guard’s implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant’s final action memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D67DE2E3E1C4994A393F19B01388C50" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>219.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Delegated authorities</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC44725B182D426D9C66885270FCC138"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall review the authorities that have been delegated to recognized organizations for the alternative compliance program as described in subpart D of part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, and, if necessary, revise or establish policies and procedures to ensure those delegated authorities are being conducted in a manner to ensure safe maritime transportation.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2ABCC2B156964840BE83C3750FFF8937"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the <committee-name committee-id="SSCM00">Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate</committee-name> and the <committee-name committee-id="">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives</committee-name> a briefing on the implementation of subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Center of Expertise</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9210FB31B5594168B00CD030783C7EDF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD41F90B562884F1FAB321DF71E387186" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coast Guard Blue Technology center of expertise</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4AF7857FC204479CB6A835F734ACD24C"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Commandant may establish under section 58 of title 14, United States Code, a Blue Technology center of expertise.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F6FAD9D2F24493CA59D604E5A121D70"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Missions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to the missions listed in section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, the Center may—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA1991CB900D4BD0A3E6BF2F143E355E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">promote awareness within the Coast Guard of the range and diversity of Blue Technologies and their potential to enhance Coast Guard mission readiness, operational performance, and regulation of such technologies;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H405E1DD7E43D495C91C74EF276F4CBDC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">function as an interactive conduit to enable the sharing and dissemination of Blue Technology information between the Coast Guard and representatives from the private sector, academia, nonprofit organizations, and other Federal agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4822BF4364BC4B6DB135D1F065D5A577"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increase awareness among Blue Technology manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and vendors of Coast Guard acquisition policies, procedures, and business practices;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BEBB9EEF2C8477AADA0B384947975BF"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide technical support, coordination, and assistance to Coast Guard districts and the Coast Guard Research and Development Center, as appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6D910FE8E179413FB5BBC470AFD2A883"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subject to the requirements of the Coast Guard Academy, coordinate with the Academy to develop appropriate curricula regarding Blue Technology to be offered in professional courses of study to give Coast Guard cadets and officer candidates a greater background and understanding of Blue Technologies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A6D9AF1FE0E48ECA241707A3C28C389"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Blue Technology exposition; briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the costs and benefits of hosting a biennial Coast Guard Blue Technology exposition to further interactions between representatives from the private sector, academia, and nonprofit organizations, and the Coast Guard and examine emerging technologies and Coast Guard mission demands.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AF9C3D0E5E045A8AFC40FD5886DE37C"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCDC29397F61E413EAC1B29ACC48BC576"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Center</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Center</term> means the Blue Technology center of expertise established under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H742CA249232E476988E84EFC909637A4"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Commandant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Commandant</term> means the Commandant of the Coast Guard.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H48BD7124277C461E9C54F1C211BD1258"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Blue technology</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Blue Technology</term> means any technology, system, or platform that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H34FDBE3810EA4D99ADFACB79B2388578"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is designed for use or application above, on, or below the sea surface or that is otherwise applicable to Coast Guard operational needs, including such a technology, system, or platform that provides continuous or persistent coverage; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B64CBD1FFDD4F2A871F6885C2CB1D05"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">supports or facilitates—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H29A9C5C70FC7473C9A4AF3FC3F5BF536"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maritime domain awareness, including—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H01B544D0C80947C5AE5547FFE831334E"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">surveillance and monitoring;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B879897FB4240EC9749631B0F99CEB1"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">observation, measurement, and modeling: or</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCD76C65E5BC4A19B1839E9D81CB44A2"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information technology and communications;</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H334D08D9A79749E68B08E9C5BB543E48"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">search and rescue;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF11BC4BC4C8A4CEDAF0BFE571EB2728A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">emergency response;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13A221087C6A4D448C9E327A7EEB18E4"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maritime law enforcement;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74E221E4475D4113BAFA6623E49412FD"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">marine inspections and investigations; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA29F8F4F604F45C2804086781D465FD5"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protection and conservation of the marine environment.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>Passed the Senate September 26, 2018.Secretary