[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2650 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2650

 To amend title 14, United States Code, to modernize the leadership of 
 the Coast Guard, to modernize the administration of marine safety by 
                the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 2, 2009

 Mr. Oberstar (for himself and Mr. Cummings) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 14, United States Code, to modernize the leadership of 
 the Coast Guard, to modernize the administration of marine safety by 
                the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Modernization Act of 
2009''.

                    TITLE I--COAST GUARD LEADERSHIP

SEC. 101. ADMIRALS AND VICE ADMIRALS.

    (a) Admirals.--Section 41 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``an admiral,'' and inserting ``admirals;''.
    (b) Vice Commandant.--Section 47 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by striking ``Assignment'' and 
        inserting ``Appointment''; and
            (2) in the text by striking ``vice admiral'' and inserting 
        ``admiral''.
    (c) Vice Admirals.--
            (1) In general.--Section 50 of title 14, United States 
        Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 50. Vice admirals
    ``(a)(1) The President may designate 4 positions of importance and 
responsibility that shall be held by officers who--
            ``(A) while so serving, shall have the grade of vice 
        admiral, with the pay and allowances of that grade; and
            ``(B) shall perform any duties as the Commandant may 
        prescribe.
    ``(2) The 4 vice admiral positions authorized under paragraph (1) 
are, respectively, the following:
            ``(A) The Deputy Commandant for Mission Support.
            ``(B) The Deputy Commandant for Operations and Policy.
            ``(C) The Commander, Force Readiness Command.
            ``(D) The Commander, Operations Command.
    ``(3) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, and reappoint, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to each of the positions designated under paragraph (1) an 
officer of the Coast Guard who is serving on active duty above the 
grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations for those 
appointments.
    ``(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Deputy 
Commandant for Operations and Policy must have at least 10 years 
experience in vessel inspection, marine casualty investigations, 
mariner licensing, or an equivalent technical expertise in the design 
and construction of commercial vessels, with at least 4 years of 
leadership experience at a staff or unit carrying out marine safety 
functions.
    ``(B) The requirements of subparagraph (A) do not apply to such 
Deputy Commandant if the subordinate officer serving in the grade of 
rear admiral with responsibilities for marine safety, security, and 
stewardship possesses that experience.
    ``(b)(1) The appointment and the grade of vice admiral under this 
section shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty 
and, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection or in 
section 51(d) of this title, shall terminate on the date the officer is 
detached from that duty.
    ``(2) An officer who is appointed to a position designated under 
subsection (a) shall continue to hold the grade of vice admiral--
            ``(A) while under orders transferring the officer to 
        another position designated under subsection (a), beginning on 
        the date the officer is detached from duty and terminating on 
        the date before the day the officer assumes the subsequent 
        duty, but not for more than 60 days;
            ``(B) while hospitalized, beginning on the day of the 
        hospitalization and ending on the day the officer is discharged 
        from the hospital, but not for more than 180 days; and
            ``(C) while awaiting retirement, beginning on the date the 
        officer is detached from duty and ending on the day before the 
        officer's retirement, but not for more than 60 days.
    ``(c)(1) An appointment of an officer under subsection (a) does not 
vacate the permanent grade held by the officer.
    ``(2) An officer serving in a grade above rear admiral who holds 
the permanent grade of rear admiral (lower half) shall be considered 
for promotion to the permanent grade of rear admiral as if the officer 
was serving in the officer's permanent grade.
    ``(d) Whenever a vacancy occurs in a position designated under 
subsection (a), the Commandant shall inform the President of the 
qualifications needed by an officer serving in that position to carry 
out effectively the duties and responsibilities of that position.''.
            (2) Application of deputy commandant qualification 
        requirement.--The requirement under section 50(a)(4)(A) of 
        title 14, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, 
        shall apply on and after October 1, 2011.
    (d) Repeal.--Section 50a of title 14, United States Code, is 
repealed.
    (e) Conforming Amendment.--Section 51 of that title is amended--
            (1) by amending subsections (a), (b), and (c) to read as 
        follows:
    ``(a) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, while serving in 
the grade of admiral or vice admiral, is retired for physical 
disability shall be placed on the retired list with the highest grade 
in which that officer served.
    ``(b) An officer, other than the Commandant, who is retired while 
serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral, or who, after serving 
at least two and one-half years in the grade of admiral or vice 
admiral, is retired while serving in a lower grade, may in the 
discretion of the President, be retired with the highest grade in which 
that officer served.
    ``(c) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, after serving 
less than two and one-half years in the grade of admiral or vice 
admiral, is retired while serving in a lower grade, shall be retired in 
his permanent grade.''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(2) by striking ``Area Commander, or 
        Chief of Staff'' and inserting ``or Vice Admirals''.
    (f) Continuity of Grade.--Section 52 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by inserting ``and admirals'' 
        after ``Vice admirals''; and
            (2) in the text by inserting ``or admiral'' after ``vice 
        admiral'' the first time that term appears.
    (g) Continuation on Active Duty.--The second sentence of section 
290(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
``Officers, other than the Commandant, serving for the time being or 
who have served in the grade of vice admiral or admiral are not subject 
to consideration for continuation under this subsection, and as to all 
other provisions of this section shall be considered as having been 
continued in the grade of rear admiral.''.
    (h) Treatment of Incumbents; Transition.--
            (1) Vice commandant.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, the officer who, on the date of enactment of this Act, 
        is serving in the Coast Guard as Vice Commandant--
                    (A) shall continue to serve as Vice Commandant;
                    (B) shall have the grade of admiral with pay and 
                allowances of that grade; and
                    (C) shall not be required to be reappointed by 
                reason of the enactment of this Act.
            (2)  Chief of Staff, Commander, Atlantic Area, or 
        Commander, Pacific Area.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, an officer who, on the date of enactment of this Act, 
        is serving in the Coast Guard as Chief of Staff, Commander, 
        Atlantic Area, or Commander, Pacific Area--
                    (A) shall continue to have the grade of vice 
                admiral with pay and allowance of that grade until such 
                time that the officer is relieved of his or her duties 
                and appointed and confirmed to another position as a 
                vice admiral or admiral; and
                    (B) for the purposes of transition, may continue, 
                for not more than one year after the date of enactment 
                of this Act, to perform the duties of the officer's 
                former position and any other such duties that the 
                Commandant prescribes.
    (i) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of 
        title 14, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to section 47 and 
                inserting the following:

``47. Vice Commandant; appointment.'';
                    (B) by striking the item relating to section 50 and 
                inserting the following:

``50. Vice admirals.'';
                    (C) by striking the item relating to section 50a; 
                and
                    (D) by striking the item relating to section 52 and 
                inserting the following:

``52. Vice admirals and admirals, continuity of grade.''.
    (j) Technical Correction.--Section 47 of title 14, United States 
Code, is further amended in the fifth sentence by striking 
``subsection'' and inserting ``section''.

                 TITLE II--MARINE SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 201. MARINE SAFETY.

    (a) Establish Marine Safety as a Coast Guard Function.--Chapter 5 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 99. Marine safety
    ``To protect life, property, and the environment on, under, and 
over waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and on 
vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, the 
Commandant shall promote maritime safety as follows:
            ``(1) By taking actions necessary and in the public 
        interest to protect such life, property, and the environment.
            ``(2) Based on the following priorities:
                    ``(A) Preventing marine casualties and threats to 
                the environment.
                    ``(B) Minimizing the impacts of marine casualties 
                and environmental threats.
                    ``(C) Maximizing lives and property saved and 
                environment protected in the event of a marine 
                casualty.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis at the beginning of such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``99. Marine safety.''.

SEC. 202. MARINE SAFETY STAFF.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sections:
``Sec. 55. Marine safety workforce
    ``(a) Designation of Marine Safety Workforce.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Commandant, shall designate those positions in the Coast Guard 
        that constitute the marine safety workforce.
            ``(2) Required positions.--In designating positions under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include, at a minimum, the 
        following marine safety-related positions:
                    ``(A) Program oversight.
                    ``(B) Vessel and facility inspection.
                    ``(C) Casualty investigation.
                    ``(D) Pollution investigation.
                    ``(E) Merchant Mariner licensing, documentation, 
                and registry.
                    ``(F) Marine safety engineering or other technical 
                activities.
            ``(3) Marine safety management headquarter activities.--The 
        Secretary shall also designate under paragraph (1) those marine 
        safety-related positions located at Coast Guard headquarters 
        units, including the Marine Safety Center and the National 
        Maritime Center.
    ``(b) Career Paths.--The Secretary, acting through the Commandant, 
shall ensure that appropriate career paths for civilian and military 
Coast Guard personnel who wish to pursue careers in marine safety are 
identified in terms of the education, training, experience, and 
assignments necessary for career progression of civilians and members 
of the Armed Forces to the most senior marine safety positions. The 
Secretary shall make available published information on such career 
paths.
    ``(c) Qualifications.--With regard to the marine safety workforce, 
an officer, member, or civilian employee of the Coast Guard assigned as 
a--
            ``(1) marine inspector shall have the training, experience, 
        and qualifications equivalent to that required for a similar 
        position at a classification society recognized by the 
        Secretary under section 3316 of title 46 for the type of 
        vessel, system, or equipment that is inspected;
            ``(2) marine casualty investigator shall have training, 
        experience, and qualifications in investigation, marine 
        casualty reconstruction, evidence collection and preservation, 
        human factors, and documentation using best investigation 
        practices by Federal and non-Federal entities; or
            ``(3) marine safety engineer shall have knowledge, skill, 
        and practical experience in--
                    ``(A) the construction and operation of commercial 
                vessels;
                    ``(B) judging the character, strength, stability, 
                and safety qualities of such vessels and their 
                equipment; or
                    ``(C) the qualifications and training of vessel 
                personnel.
    ``(d) Apprenticeship Requirement.--Any officer, member, or employee 
of the Coast Guard in training to become a marine inspector, marine 
casualty investigator, or a marine safety engineer shall serve a 
minimum of one-year apprenticeship, unless otherwise directed by the 
Commandant, under the guidance of a qualified marine inspector, marine 
casualty investigator, or marine safety engineer. The Commandant may 
authorize shorter apprenticeship periods for certain qualifications, as 
appropriate.
    ``(e) Balanced Workforce Policy.--In the development of marine 
safety workforce policies under this section with respect to any 
civilian employees or applicants for employment with the Coast Guard, 
the Secretary shall, consistent with the merit system principles set 
out in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2301(b) of title 5, take into 
consideration the need to maintain a balanced workforce in which women 
and members of racial and ethnic minority groups are appropriately 
represented in Government service.
    ``(f) Management Information System.--The Secretary, acting through 
the Commandant, shall establish a management information system for the 
marine safety workforce that shall provide, at a minimum, the following 
standardized information on persons serving in marine safety positions:
            ``(1) Qualifications, assignment history, and tenure in 
        assignments of persons in the marine safety workforce.
            ``(2) Promotion rates for military and civilian personnel 
        in the marine safety workforce.
    ``(g) Assessment of Adequacy of Marine Safety Workforce.--
            ``(1) Report.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Commandant, shall report to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate by December 1 of each year on the adequacy of the 
        current marine safety workforce to meet that anticipated 
        workload.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report shall specify the number of 
        civilian and military Coast Guard personnel currently assigned 
        to marine safety positions and shall identify positions that 
        are understaffed to meet the anticipated marine safety 
        workload.
    ``(h) Sector Chief of Marine Safety.--
            ``(1) In general.--There shall be in each Coast Guard 
        sector a Chief of Marine Safety who shall be at least a 
        Lieutenant Commander or civilian employee within the grade GS-
        13 of the General Schedule, and who shall be a--
                    ``(A) marine inspector, qualified to inspect 
                vessels, vessel systems, and equipment commonly found 
                in the sector; and
                    ``(B) qualified marine casualty investigator.
            ``(2) Functions.--The Chief of Marine Safety for a sector--
                    ``(A) is responsible for all individuals who, on 
                behalf of the Coast Guard, inspect or examine vessels, 
                conduct marine casualty investigations; and
                    ``(B) if not the Coast Guard officer in command of 
                that sector, is the principal advisor to the Sector 
                Commander regarding marine safety matters in that 
                sector.
    ``(i) Signatories of Letter of Qualification.--Each individual 
signing a letter of qualification for marine safety personnel must hold 
a letter of qualification for the type being certified.
``Sec. 56. Centers of Expertise for Marine Safety
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard may 
establish and operate one or more Centers of Expertise for Marine 
Safety (in this section referred to as a `Center').
    ``(b) Missions.--The Centers shall--
            ``(1) be used to provide and facilitate education, 
        training, and research in marine safety including vessel 
        inspection and causality investigation;
            ``(2) develop a repository of information on marine safety; 
        and
            ``(3) perform any other missions as the Commandant may 
        specify.
    ``(c) Joint Operation With Educational Institution Authorized.--The 
Commandant may enter into an agreement with an appropriate official of 
an institution of higher education to--
            ``(1) provide for joint operation of a Center; and
            ``(2) provide necessary administrative services for a 
        Center, including administration and allocation of funds.
    ``(d) Acceptance of Donations.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), the Commandant may accept, on behalf of a Center, donations to be 
used to defray the costs of the Center or to enhance the operation of 
the Center. Those donations may be accepted from any State or local 
government, any foreign government, any foundation or other charitable 
organization (including any that is organized or operates under the 
laws of a foreign country), or any individual.
    ``(2) The Commandant may not accept a donation under paragraph (1) 
if the acceptance of the donation would compromise or appear to 
compromise--
            ``(A) the ability of the Coast Guard or the department in 
        which the Coast Guard is operating, any employee of the Coast 
        Guard or the department, or any member of the Armed Forces to 
        carry out any responsibility or duty in a fair and objective 
        manner; or
            ``(B) the integrity of any program of the Coast Guard, the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating, or of any 
        person involved in such a program.
    ``(3) The Commandant shall prescribe written guidance setting forth 
the criteria to be used in determining whether or not the acceptance of 
a donation from a foreign source would have a result described in 
paragraph (2).
``Sec. 57. Marine industry training program
    ``(a) In General.--The Commandant shall, by policy, establish a 
program under which an officer, member, or employee of the Coast Guard 
may be assigned to a private entity to further the institutional 
interests of the Coast Guard with regard to marine safety, including 
for the purpose of providing training to an officer, member, or 
employee. Policies to carry out the program--
            ``(1) with regard to an employee of the Coast Guard, shall 
        include provisions, consistent with sections 3702 through 3704 
        of title 5, as to matters concerning--
                    ``(A) the duration and termination of assignments;
                    ``(B) reimbursements; and
                    ``(C) status, entitlements, benefits, and 
                obligations of program participants; and
            ``(2) shall require the Commandant, before approving the 
        assignment of an officer, member, or employee of the Coast 
        Guard to a private entity, to determine that the assignment is 
        an effective use of the Coast Guard's funds, taking into 
        account the best interests of the Coast Guard and the costs and 
        benefits of alternative methods of achieving the same results 
        and objectives.
    ``(b) Annual Report.--Not later than the date of the submission 
each year of the President's budget request under section 1105 of title 
31, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that 
describes--
            ``(1) the number of officers, members, and employees of the 
        Coast Guard assigned to private entities under this section; 
        and
            ``(2) the specific benefit that accrues to the Coast Guard 
        for each assignment.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new items:

``55. Marine safety workforce.
``56. Centers of Expertise for Marine Safety.
``57. Marine industry training program.''.

SEC. 203. MARINE SAFETY MISSION PRIORITIES AND LONG-TERM GOALS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 21 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2116. Marine safety strategy, goals, and performance assessments
    ``(a) Long-Term Strategy and Goals.--In conjunction with existing 
federally required strategic planning efforts, the Secretary shall 
develop a long-term strategy for improving vessel safety and the safety 
of individuals on vessels. The strategy shall include the issuance each 
year of an annual plan and schedule for achieving the following goals:
            ``(1) Reducing the number and rates of marine casualties.
            ``(2) Improving the consistency and effectiveness of vessel 
        and operator enforcement and compliance programs.
            ``(3) Identifying and targeting enforcement efforts at 
        high-risk vessels and operators.
            ``(4) Improving research efforts to enhance and promote 
        vessel and operator safety and performance.
    ``(b) Contents of Strategy and Annual Plans.--
            ``(1) Measurable goals.--The strategy and annual plans 
        shall include specific numeric or measurable goals designed to 
        achieve the goals set forth in subsection (a). The purposes of 
        the numeric or measurable goals are the following:
                    ``(A) To increase the number of safety examinations 
                on all high-risk vessels.
                    ``(B) To eliminate the backlog of marine safety-
                related rulemakings.
                    ``(C) To improve the quality and effectiveness of 
                marine safety information databases by ensuring that 
                all Coast Guard personnel accurately and effectively 
                report all safety, casualty, and injury information.
                    ``(D) To provide for a sufficient number of Coast 
                Guard marine safety personnel, and provide adequate 
                facilities and equipment to carry out the functions 
                referred to in section 93(c).
            ``(2) Resource needs.--The strategy and annual plans shall 
        include estimates of--
                    ``(A) the funds and staff resources needed to 
                accomplish each activity included in the strategy and 
                plans; and
                    ``(B) the staff skills and training needed for 
                timely and effective accomplishment of each goal.
    ``(c) Submission With the President's Budget.--Beginning with 
fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress the strategy and annual plan not later than 60 days 
following the transmission of the President's budget submission under 
section 1105 of title 31.
    ``(d) Achievement of Goals.--
            ``(1) Progress assessment.--No less frequently than 
        semiannually, the Coast Guard Commandant and the Assistant 
        Commandant for Marine Safety shall jointly assess the progress 
        of the Coast Guard toward achieving the goals set forth in 
        subsection (b). The Commandant and the Assistant Commandant 
        shall jointly convey their assessment to the employees of the 
        Assistant Commandant and shall identify any deficiencies that 
        should be remedied before the next progress assessment.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall report 
        annually to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate--
                    ``(A) on the performance of the marine safety 
                program in achieving the goals of the marine safety 
                strategy and annual plan under subsection (a) for the 
                year covered by the report;
                    ``(B) on the program's mission performance in 
                achieving numerical measurable goals established under 
                subsection (b); and
                    ``(C) recommendations on how to improve performance 
                of the program.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item:

``2116. Marine safety strategy, goals, and performance assessments.''.
    (c) Certificates of Inspection.--Section 3309 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) A certificate of inspection issued under this section shall 
be signed by the senior Coast Guard member or civilian employee who 
inspected the vessel, in addition to the officer in charge of marine 
inspection.''.

SEC. 204. POWERS AND DUTIES.

    Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Marine Safety Responsibilities.--In exercising the 
Commandant's duties and responsibilities with regard to marine safety, 
the individual with the highest rank who meets the experience 
qualifications set forth in section 50(a)(4) shall serve as the 
principal advisor to the Commandant regarding--
            ``(1) the operation, regulation, inspection, 
        identification, manning, and measurement of vessels, including 
        plan approval and the application of load lines;
            ``(2) approval of materials, equipment, appliances, and 
        associated equipment;
            ``(3) the reporting and investigation of marine casualties 
        and accidents;
            ``(4) the licensing, certification, documentation, 
        protection and relief of merchant seamen;
            ``(5) suspension and revocation of licenses and 
        certificates;
            ``(6) enforcement of manning requirements, citizenship 
        requirements, control of log books;
            ``(7) documentation and numbering of vessels;
            ``(8) State boating safety programs;
            ``(9) commercial instruments and maritime liens;
            ``(10) the administration of bridge safety;
            ``(11) administration of the navigation rules;
            ``(12) the prevention of pollution from vessels;
            ``(13) ports and waterways safety;
            ``(14) waterways management; including regulation for 
        regattas and marine parades;
            ``(15) aids to navigation; and
            ``(16) other duties and powers of the Secretary related to 
        marine safety and stewardship.
    ``(d) Other Authority Not Affected.--Nothing in subsection (c) 
affects--
            ``(1) the authority of Coast Guard officers and members to 
        enforce marine safety regulations using authority under section 
        89 of this title; or
            ``(2) the exercise of authority under section 91 of this 
        title and the provisions of law codified at sections 191 
        through 195 of title 50 on the date of enactment of this 
        paragraph.''.

SEC. 205. APPEALS AND WAIVERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is 
further amended by inserting at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 102. Appeals and waivers
    ``Except for the Commandant of the Coast Guard, any individual 
adjudicating an appeal or waiver of a decision regarding marine safety, 
including inspection or manning and threats to the environment, shall--
            ``(1) be a qualified specialist with the training, 
        experience, and qualifications in marine safety to effectively 
        judge the facts and circumstances involved in the appeal and 
        make a judgment regarding the merits of the appeal; or
            ``(2) have a senior staff member who--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) actively advises the individual adjudicating 
                the appeal; and
                    ``(C) concurs in writing on the decision on 
                appeal.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``102. Appeals and waivers.''.

SEC. 206. COAST GUARD ACADEMY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 199. Marine safety curriculum
    ``The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall ensure that professional 
courses of study in marine safety are provided at the Coast Guard 
Academy, and during other officer accession programs, to give Coast 
Guard cadets and other officer candidates a background and 
understanding of the marine safety program. These courses may include 
such topics as program history, vessel design and construction, vessel 
inspection, casualty investigation, and administrative law and 
regulations.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``199. Marine safety curriculum.''.

SEC. 207. REPORT REGARDING CIVILIAN MARINE INSPECTORS.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on Coast Guard's efforts to recruit and retain civilian marine 
inspectors and investigators and the impact of such recruitment and 
retention efforts on Coast Guard organizational performance.
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