[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1129 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 112
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1129

                          [Report No. 115-89]

    To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2017

 Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Nelson) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                              June 5, 2017

                Reported by Mr. Thune, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize appropriations for 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2017''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Effective dates.
                    <DELETED>TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

<DELETED>Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training.
                     <DELETED>TITLE II--COAST GUARD

<DELETED>Sec. 201. Primary duties.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Training; emergency response providers.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Commissioned service retirement.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Officer promotion zones.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Officer evaluation report.
<DELETED>Sec. 206. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection with 
                            modernized retirement system.
<DELETED>Sec. 207. Inclusion of vessel for investigation purposes.
<DELETED>Sec. 208. Leave for the birth of adoption of a child.
<DELETED>Sec. 209. Aviation cadets; appointment as Reserve officers; 
                            cross reference.
<DELETED>Sec. 210. Clothing at time of discharge for good of service; 
                            repeal.
<DELETED>Sec. 211. Multiyear contracts.
<DELETED>Sec. 212. Coast Guard ROTC Program.
                   <DELETED>TITLE III--MARINE SAFETY

<DELETED>Sec. 301. Coast Guard advisory committees.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Clarification of logbook and entry requirements.
<DELETED>Sec. 303. Technical corrections; licenses, certifications of 
                            registry, and merchant mariner documents.
<DELETED>Sec. 304. Numbering for undocumented barges.
<DELETED>Sec. 305. Aids to navigation.
<DELETED>Sec. 306. Equipment requirements; exemption from throwable 
                            personal flotation devices.
<DELETED>Sec. 307. Ensuring maritime coverage.
<DELETED>Sec. 308. Deadline for compliance with alternate safety 
                            compliance program.
<DELETED>Sec. 309. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing vessel 
                            certification.
<DELETED>Sec. 310. Termination of unsafe operations; technical 
                            amendment.
<DELETED>Sec. 311. Installation and use of engine cut-off switches on 
                            recreational vessel.
<DELETED>Sec. 312. Visual distress signals and alternative use.
<DELETED>Sec. 313. Renewal period for documented recreational vessels.
<DELETED>Sec. 314. Exception from survival craft requirements.
<DELETED>Sec. 315. Inland waterway and river tender acquisition plan.
<DELETED>Sec. 316. Arctic planning criteria.
                  <DELETED>TITLE IV--MARITIME SECURITY

<DELETED>Sec. 401. Maritime border security cooperation.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Currency detection canine team program.
<DELETED>Sec. 403. Confidential investigative expenses.
<DELETED>Sec. 404. Arctic maritime domain awareness.
<DELETED>Sec. 405. Strategic assets in the Arctic.
                    <DELETED>TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

<DELETED>Sec. 501. Ship shoal lighthouse transfer; repeal.
<DELETED>Sec. 502. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.
<DELETED>Sec. 503. Drawbridges.
<DELETED>Sec. 504. Incentive contract; Coast Guard yard and industrial 
                            establishments.
<DELETED>Sec. 505. Coast Guard health-care professionals; licensure 
                            portability.
<DELETED>Sec. 506. Land exchange; Ayakulik Island, Alaska.
<DELETED>Sec. 507. Abandoned seafarers fund amendments.
<DELETED>Sec. 508. Assistance for small shipyards.
<DELETED>Sec. 509. Small shipyard contracts.
<DELETED>Sec. 510. Western challenger; certificate of documentation.
           <DELETED>TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VESSELS

<DELETED>Sec. 601. Waivers for certain contracts.

<DELETED>SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise specifically provided 
in this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Certain Delayed Effective Dates.--The amendments made 
by sections 101, 102, 403, and 508(a) shall take effect on October 1, 
2017. The amendments made by section 206 shall take effect on January 
1, 2018.</DELETED>

               <DELETED>TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 2702 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of 
fiscal years 2018 and 2019 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as 
follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) For the operation and maintenance of the 
        Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $7,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $7,592,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2019.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) For the acquisition, construction, 
        renovation, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and 
        offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment 
        related thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, 
        and operation of facilities and equipment--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $1,985,845,000 for fiscal year 2018, 
                to remain available through September 30, 2022; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $2,027,547,745 for fiscal year 2019, 
                to remain available through September 30, 
                2023.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, 
        including operations and maintenance of the program, personnel 
        and training costs, equipment, and services--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $142,956,336 for fiscal year 2018; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $145,958,419 for fiscal year 
                2019.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) For the environmental compliance and 
        restoration of Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $17,051,721 for fiscal year 2018, to 
                remain available through September 30, 2022; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $17,409,807 for fiscal year 2019, to 
                remain available through September 20, 2023.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for 
        research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, 
        materials, and human factors directly related to improving the 
        performance of the Coast Guard's mission with respect to search 
        and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine 
        environmental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice 
        operations, oceanographic research, and defense readiness, and 
        for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of 
        facilities and equipment--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $20,307,690 for fiscal year 2018; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $20,734,151 for fiscal year 
                2019.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND 
              TRAINING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 2704 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Active Duty Strength.--The Coast Guard is authorized 
an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2018 and 2019.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Military Training Student Loads.--The Coast Guard is 
authorized average military training student loads for each of fiscal 
years 2018 and 2019 as follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 
        student years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) For flight training, 165 student 
        years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) For professional training in military and 
        civilian institutions, 350 student years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student 
        years.''.</DELETED>

                <DELETED>TITLE II--COAST GUARD</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 201. PRIMARY DUTIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 2(7) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone 
command responsibilities'' and inserting ``and at all times assist in 
the defense of the United States''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 202. TRAINING; EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 141 the 
following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 141A. TRAINING; EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) may, on a reimbursable or a non-reimbursable basis, make 
training available to public safety personnel whenever the Commandant 
(or the Commandant's designee) determines that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a member of the Coast Guard, who was 
        scheduled to participate in such training, is unable or 
        unavailable to participate in such training;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) no other member of the Coast Guard, who is 
        assigned to the unit to which the member of the Coast Guard 
        described in paragraph (1), is able or available to participate 
        in such training; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) such training, if made available to public 
        safety personnel, would further the goal of interoperability 
        among Federal agencies, non-Federal governmental agencies, or 
        both.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Definition of Emergency Response Provider.--In this 
section, the term `emergency response provider' has the meaning given 
the term in section 101 of title 6.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Treatment of Reimbursement.--Any reimbursement for 
training that the Coast Guard receives under this section shall be 
credited to the appropriation used to pay the costs for such 
training.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Status; Limitation on Liability.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Status.--Any individual to whom, as an 
        emergency response provider, training is made available under 
        this section shall not be considered a Federal employee for any 
        purpose, including the purposes of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to 
                compensation for injury); or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) sections 2671 through 2680 of title 
                28 (relating to tort claims).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Limitation on liability.--The individual 
        described in paragraph (1) or that individual's employer shall 
        be liable for any claim arising out of such 
        training.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 7 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 141 the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``141a. Training; emergency response providers.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 203. COMMISSIONED SERVICE RETIREMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 291 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before 
        ``Any regular'' and indenting appropriately;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (a), as designated--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by inserting ``of the Coast Guard'' 
                after ``officer''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking ``President'' and 
                inserting ``Secretary''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Active Commissioned Service.--The Secretary may 
authorize the Commandant, through fiscal year 2019, to reduce the 
requirement under subsection (a) for at least ten years of active 
service as a commissioned officer to a period of not less than eight 
years.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 204. OFFICER PROMOTION ZONES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 256(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``six-tenths'' and inserting ``one-half''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 205. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Beginning with the first evaluation cycle 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall reduce lieutenant junior grade evaluation reports to the 
same length as an ensign or place lieutenant junior grade evaluations 
on an annual schedule.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Board Survey.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
survey outgoing promotion board members to determine, at a minimum--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) which sections of the officer evaluation 
        report were most useful;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) which sections of the officer evaluation 
        report were least useful;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) how to better reflect high performers, 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) any recommendations for improving the officer 
        evaluation report.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Survey of Officers.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall conduct a survey on the officer evaluation report to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) cover at least 10 percent of the officers from 
        each grade of officers from O1 to O6; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) determine how much time each member of the 
        rating chain spends on that member's portion of the officer 
        evaluation report.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Report.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 545 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
        Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) on the findings of the survey under 
                subsection (b); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) on the findings of the survey under 
                subsection (c).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Format.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        be formatted by each rank, type of board, and position, as 
        applicable.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 206. RETIRED PAY; AMOUNTS FOR PAYMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH 
              MODERNIZED RETIREMENT SYSTEM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 424a the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 424b. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection 
              with modernized retirement system</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``Of the amounts appropriated for retirement pay under 
this chapter in any fiscal year, the Secretary may use such sums as are 
necessary for the following purposes (in addition to other amounts that 
may be available for such purposes) as such purposes relate to a 
member:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Lump sum payment of certain retired pay 
        under section 1415 of title 10.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Thrift Savings Plan contributions under 
        section 8440e(e) of title 5.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Continuation pay under section 356 of title 
        37.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 424 the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``424b. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection with 
                            modernized retirement system.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 207. INCLUSION OF VESSEL FOR INVESTIGATION 
              PURPOSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 678 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``or vessel'' after ``aircraft'' each 
place it appears.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 17 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the table of contents of chapter 17, by 
        inserting ``and vessel'' after ``Aircraft'' in the item 
        relating to section 678; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in the heading for section 678, by inserting 
        ``and vessel'' after ``Aircraft''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 208. LEAVE FOR THE BIRTH OF ADOPTION OF A 
              CHILD.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 431 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year'' and 
        inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
not later than 1 year''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Leave Associated With the Birth or Adoption of a 
Child.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 
701 of title 10, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall ensure that any rule, policy, or memorandum 
that provides leave associated with the birth or adoption of a child to 
officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard permits, at the 
discretion of the Commanding Officer--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) an officer or member to take such leave in 
        increments; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) flexible work schedules for such officer or 
        member until all such leave is expended.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 209. AVIATION CADETS; APPOINTMENT AS RESERVE OFFICERS; 
              CROSS REFERENCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 373(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ``designated under section 371'' after 
``cadet''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 210. CLOTHING AT TIME OF DISCHARGE FOR GOOD OF SERVICE; 
              REPEAL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 482 of title 14, United States Code, and the item 
relating to that section in the table of contents of chapter 13 of that 
title, are repealed.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 211. MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Secretary is authorized to enter into a multiyear 
contract for the procurement of a tenth, eleventh, and twelfth National 
Security Cutter and associated government-furnished 
equipment.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 212. COAST GUARD ROTC PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report on the costs and benefits of creating a Coast Guard Reserve 
Officers' Training Corps Program based on the other armed forces 
programs.</DELETED>

              <DELETED>TITLE III--MARINE SAFETY</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 301. COAST GUARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--Subtitle I of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>

    <DELETED>``CHAPTER 7--COAST GUARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES</DELETED>

<DELETED>``Sec.
<DELETED>``701. Administration.
<DELETED>``702. Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``703. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``704. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``705. Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory 
                            Committee.
<DELETED>``706. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``707. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``708. National Boating Safety Advisory Council.
<DELETED>``709. National Maritime Security Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``710. National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``711. Navigation Safety Advisory Council.
<DELETED>``712. Towing Safety Advisory Committee.
<DELETED>``Sec. 701. Administration</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Employee Status.--A member of an advisory committee 
or advisory council established under this chapter shall not be 
considered an employee of the Federal Government by reason of service 
on such committee or council, except for the purposes of the following 
provisions of law:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Section 5703 of title 5 (relating to travel 
        expenses).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to 
        compensation for work injuries).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Chapter 171 of title 28 and any other 
        Federal statute relating to tort liability.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) If the member is a special Government 
        employee--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) chapter 73 of title 5;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) sections 201, 202, 203, 205, 207, 
                208, and 209 of title 18;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 
                (5 U.S.C. App.); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) any other provision of law relating 
                to employee conduct, political activities, ethics, 
                conflict of interest, and corruption that applies to a 
                special Government employee.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Compensation.--A member of an advisory committee or 
advisory council established under this chapter who is not otherwise a 
Federal employee shall not receive pay by reason of service on such 
committee or council.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Acceptance of Volunteer Services.--A member of an 
advisory committee or advisory council established under this chapter 
may serve on a voluntary basis without pay without regard to section 
1342 of title 31 or any other law.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 702. Chemical Transportation Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Chemical 
Transportation Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of 
hazardous materials.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of not more than 25 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Points of view.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall represent the point of view of 1 of the 
                following entities or groups associated with marine 
                transportation of hazardous materials:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) Chemical 
                        manufacturing.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Marine handling or 
                        transportation of chemicals.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vessel design and 
                        construction.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) Marine safety or 
                        security.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) Marine environmental 
                        protection.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Needs of the coast guard.--The 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall, based 
                on the needs of the Coast Guard, determine the number 
                of members who represent a specific point of 
                view.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Rule of construction.--Neither this 
                subsection nor any other provision of law or policy 
                shall be construed to require an equal distribution of 
                members representing specific points of view among the 
                membership of the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby 
        deemed a representative of the member's respective special 
        interest entity or group, and not a special Government employee 
        (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, the 
                Secretary shall appoint an individual for a full 
                term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 703. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Commercial 
Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) to advise, consult with, report to, and make 
        recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to the 
        safe operation of vessels to which chapter 45 of this title 
        applies, including navigation safety, safety equipment and 
        procedures, marine insurance, vessel design, construction, 
        maintenance and operation, and personnel qualifications and 
        training; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) to review proposed regulations promulgated 
        pursuant to chapter 45 of this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 18 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
                and experience regarding the commercial fishing 
                industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (D), a member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 10 members representing the 
                        commercial fishing industry who--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) reflect a regional 
                                and representational balance; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) have experience in 
                                the operation of vessels to which 
                                chapter 45 of this title applies or as 
                                a crew member or processing line worker 
                                on a fish processing vessel.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 1 member representing naval 
                        architects or marine engineers.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) 1 member representing 
                        manufacturers of equipment for vessels to which 
                        chapter 45 of this title applies.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) 1 member representing 
                        education or training professionals related to 
                        fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish 
                        tender vessel safety or personnel 
                        qualifications.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) 1 member representing 
                        underwriters that insure vessels to which 
                        chapter 45 of this title applies.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) 1 member representing 
                        owners of vessels to which chapter 45 of this 
                        title applies.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Exception.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--Subject to 
                        clause (ii), 3 members of the Committee shall 
                        represent the general public.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Experience.--Whenever 
                        possible, a member who represents the general 
                        public shall be either--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) an independent 
                                expert or consultant in maritime 
                                safety;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) a marine surveyor 
                                who provides services to vessels to 
                                which chapter 45 of this title applies; 
                                or</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) a person familiar 
                                with issues affecting fishing 
                                communities and families of 
                                fishermen.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent a point of view of an 
                entity or group under paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary may appoint to represent the general public, 
                is hereby deemed a special Government employee (as 
                defined in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, the 
                Secretary shall appoint an individual for a full 
                term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) shall, whenever practicable--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) consult with the Committee before taking any 
        significant action relating to the safe operation of vessels to 
        which chapter 45 of this title applies; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) consider the information, advice, and 
        recommendations of the Committee in consulting with other 
        agencies and the public or in formulating policy regarding the 
        safe operation of vessels to which chapter 45 of this title 
        applies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 704. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Great Lakes 
Pilotage Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function; Recommendations.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Functions.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Committee, acting through the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
        designee), is authorized--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to advise, consult with, report to, 
                and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
                relating to Great Lakes pilotage; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to review proposed Great Lakes 
                pilotage regulations and policies and make 
                recommendations to the Secretary that the Committee 
                considers appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Recommendations.--At least 6 of the 7 
        members shall agree by vote to make any recommendation under 
        this subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meetings.--The Committee shall, at least 
        once each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or 
        the Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 7 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (D), each member of the Committee shall 
                have at least 5 years practical experience in maritime 
                operations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (D), a member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 3 members representing the 
                        interests of Great Lake pilots, among whom 
                        shall be the president of each Great Lake 
                        pilotage district (or the president's 
                        designee).</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 1 member representing the 
                        interests of vessel operators that contract for 
                        Great Lakes pilotage services.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) 1 member representing the 
                        interests of Great Lakes ports.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) 1 member representing the 
                        interests of shippers whose cargoes are 
                        transported through Great Lakes 
                        ports.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Remaining member.--1 member of the 
                Committee--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) shall have a background in 
                        finance or accounting;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) must have been recommended 
                        to the Secretary by a unanimous vote of the 
                        other members of the Committee; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) may be appointed without 
                        regard to requirement under subparagraph (B) 
                        that each member have 5 years of practical 
                        experience in maritime operations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group under paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the member of the Committee with the 
                background prescribed under paragraph (2)(D) is hereby 
                deemed a special Government employee (as defined in 
                section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, the 
                Secretary shall appoint an individual for a full 
                term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Designation.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Observers.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, at the 
                request of the Commandant, may designate 2 individuals 
                to participate as observers in the work of the 
                Committee and offer necessary information for which 
                each observer is uniquely qualified to 
                provide.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Requirements.--Each observer--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) shall not be deemed a member 
                        of the Committee;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) shall not vote on any 
                        matter before the Committee;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) shall not contribute to a 
                        quorum;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) shall serve without 
                        compensation; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) shall be responsible for all 
                        travel expenses.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Designation; experience.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) Experience.--The Secretary 
                        may designate an individual as an observer 
                        without regard to the requirement of paragraph 
                        (2)(B), except that--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) 1 observer shall 
                                have particular knowledge of the 
                                national interests of American pilots; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) 1 observer shall 
                                have particular knowledge of the 
                                interests of Canadian 
                                shippers.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Notice.--The Secretary may 
                        designate an individual as an observer without 
                        regard to the requirement of paragraph (4)(A), 
                        except that the Secretary may solicit, from the 
                        Commandant, recommendations with regard to the 
                        individual whom the Secretary shall designate 
                        as an observer.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Canadian shippers.--With 
                        regard to the individual with particular 
                        knowledge of the interests of Canadian 
                        shippers, the Secretary may, with the 
                        concurrence of the Secretary of State, 
                        designate an individual who is a citizen of 
                        Canada.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Vacancy.--An observer shall serve a 
                term of not more than 3 years from the effective date 
                of the designation, except that, in the case of a 
                designation to fill a vacancy on the Committee, the 
                observer shall be designated for a full term.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) shall, whenever practicable--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) consult with the Committee before taking any 
        significant action relating to Great Lakes pilotage; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) consider the information, advice, and 
        recommendations of the Committee in formulating policy 
        regarding matters affecting Great Lakes pilotage.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 705. Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Lower 
Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in 
this section as the `Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to communication, surveillance, traffic management, 
anchorages, development and operation of New Orleans Vessel Traffic 
Services, and other related topics dealing with and actions relating to 
navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 24 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall have expertise, knowledge, and 
                experience regarding the transportation, equipment, and 
                techniques that are used to ship cargo and to navigate 
                vessels on the Lower Mississippi River and its 
                connecting navigable waterways, including the Gulf of 
                Mexico.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (D), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 5 members representing River 
                        Port Authorities between Baton Rouge, 
                        Louisiana, and the head of passes of the Lower 
                        Mississippi River, of which--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) 1 member shall be 
                                from the Port of St. Bernard; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) 1 member from the 
                                Port of Plaquemines.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 2 members representing 
                        vessel owners or ship owners domiciled in the 
                        State of Louisiana.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) 2 members representing 
                        organizations which operate harbor tugs or 
                        barge fleets in the geographical area covered 
                        by the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) 2 members representing 
                        companies which transport cargo or passengers 
                        on the navigable waterways in the geographical 
                        area covered by the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) 3 members representing State 
                        Commissioned Pilot organizations, with 1 member 
                        each representing--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) the New Orleans-
                                Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots 
                                Association;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) the Crescent River 
                                Port Pilots Association; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) the Association 
                                Branch Pilots.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) 3 members representing 
                        consumers, shippers, or importers and exporters 
                        that utilize vessels which utilize the 
                        navigable waterways covered by the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) 2 members representing 
                        those licensed merchant mariners, other than 
                        pilots, who perform shipboard duties on those 
                        vessels which utilize navigable waterways 
                        covered by the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) 1 member representing an 
                        organization that serves in a consulting or 
                        advisory capacity to the maritime 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) 1 member representing an 
                        environmental organization.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Additional members.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--3 members of 
                        the Committee shall represent the general 
                        public.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Water transportation 
                        facilities.--Whenever possible, 2 of the 3 
                        members who represent the general public shall 
                        be individuals who utilize water transportation 
                        facilities located in the geographic area that 
                        the Committee covers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) each member of the Committee, whom 
                the Secretary appoints to represent the point of view 
                of an entity or group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is 
                hereby deemed a representative of the member's 
                respective special interest entity or group, and not a 
                special Government employee (as defined in section 
                202(a) of title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) each member of the Committee, whom 
                the Secretary appoints to represent the general public, 
                is hereby deemed a special Government employee (as 
                defined in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extension.--Notwithstanding 
                        clause (i), paragraph (4), or any other 
                        provision of law or policy, the Commandant (or 
                        the Commandant's designee) may extend the term 
                        of a member of the Committee to December 31 of 
                        the fifth full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, the 
                Secretary shall appoint an individual for a full 
                term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) shall, whenever practicable, consult with the Committee 
before taking any significant action relating to navigation safety in 
the Lower Mississippi River.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 706. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Merchant 
Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, 
including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and 
fitness standards.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Membership.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
        19 members.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
        subparagraph (C), each member of the Committee shall represent 
        the point of view of an entity or group, as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) 9 members representing the interests 
                of mariners--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) each of whom--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) shall be a citizen 
                                of the United States; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) shall hold an 
                                active license or certificate issued 
                                under chapter 71 of this title or a 
                                merchant mariner document issued under 
                                chapter 73 of this title; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) among whom shall be--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) 3 deck officers 
                                representing the interests of merchant 
                                marine deck officers, of whom--
                                </DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) 2 shall be 
                                        licensed for oceans any gross 
                                        tons;</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) 1 shall be 
                                        licensed for inland river route 
                                        with a limited or unlimited 
                                        tonnage;</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(cc) 2 shall 
                                        have a master's license or a 
                                        master of towing vessels 
                                        license;</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(dd) 1 shall 
                                        have significant tanker 
                                        experience; and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(ee) to the 
                                        extent practicable--</DELETED>

                                                <DELETED>    ``(AA) 1 
                                                shall represent the 
                                                interests of labor; 
                                                and</DELETED>

                                                <DELETED>    ``(BB) 1 
                                                shall represent the 
                                                interests of 
                                                management;</DELETED>

                                <DELETED>    ``(II) 3 engineering 
                                officers representing the interests of 
                                merchant marine engineering officers, 
                                of whom--</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) 2 shall be 
                                        licensed as chief engineer any 
                                        horsepower;</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) 1 shall be 
                                        licensed as either a limited 
                                        chief engineer or a designated 
                                        duty engineer; and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(cc) to the 
                                        extent practicable--</DELETED>

                                                <DELETED>    ``(AA) 1 
                                                shall represent the 
                                                interests of labor; 
                                                and</DELETED>

                                                <DELETED>    ``(BB) 1 
                                                shall represent the 
                                                interests of 
                                                management;</DELETED>

                                <DELETED>    ``(III) 2 unlicensed 
                                seamen, of whom--</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) 1 shall 
                                        represent the interests of 
                                        able-bodied seamen; 
                                        and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) 1 shall 
                                        represent the interests of 
                                        qualified members of the engine 
                                        department; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) 1 pilot 
                                representing the interests of merchant 
                                marine pilots.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) 6 members representing the interests 
                of marine educators--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) each of whom shall be a 
                        marine educator; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) among whom shall be--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) 3 marine educators 
                                who shall represent the interests of 
                                maritime academies, including--
                                </DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) 2 who shall 
                                        represent the interests of 
                                        State maritime academies; 
                                        and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) 1 who shall 
                                        represent either the viewpoint 
                                        of the State maritime academies 
                                        or the United States Merchant 
                                        Marine Academy; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) 3 marine educators 
                                who shall represent the interests of 
                                other maritime training institutions, 1 
                                of whom shall represent the interests 
                                of the small vessel industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) 2 members representing the interests 
                of shipping companies employed in ship operation 
                management.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) 2 members of the Committee shall 
                represent the general public.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--For the purposes of 
                Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 
                1978 and chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a member of the Committee, 
                        whom the Secretary appoints to represent the 
                        point of view of an entity or group set out in 
                        paragraph (2)(B), is hereby deemed a 
                        representative of the member's respective 
                        special interest entity or group, and not a 
                        special Government employee (as defined in 
                        section 202(a) of title 18); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a member of the Committee, 
                        whom the Secretary appoints to represent the 
                        general public, is hereby deemed a special 
                        Government employee (as defined in section 
                        202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in 
                this section shall be construed to prohibit the 
                nomination or appointment of a Federal employee to 
                serve as a member of the Committee representing the 
                interests of the United States Merchant Marine 
                Academy.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointment.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Soliciting nominations.--
                Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), the 
                Secretary may--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) with regard to the 
                        appointment of a member or members to represent 
                        the interests of the State maritime academies, 
                        solicit nominations for membership on the 
                        Committee from each State maritime academy or a 
                        joint nomination from some or all State 
                        maritime academies; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) with regard to the 
                        appointment of a member to represent the 
                        interests of the United States Merchant Marine 
                        Academy, solicit a nomination for membership on 
                        the Committee from the Secretary of 
                        Transportation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Committee, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 707. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Merchant 
Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) medical certification determinations of 
        merchant mariners;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) medical standards and guidelines for the 
        physical qualifications of operators of commercial 
        vessels;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) medical examiner education; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) medical research.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 14 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Restriction.--No member of the 
                Committee shall be a regular Federal 
                employee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Experience.--Of the members of the 
                Committee--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 10 members shall be health-
                        care professionals with particular expertise, 
                        knowledge, or experience regarding the medical 
                        examinations of merchant mariners or 
                        occupational medicine; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 4 members shall be 
                        professional mariners with knowledge and 
                        experience in mariners' occupational 
                        requirements.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby 
        deemed a special Government employee (as defined in section 
        202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Committee, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 708. National Boating Safety Advisory Council</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National 
Boating Safety Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the 
`Council').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Council shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Council shall 
                consist of 21 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Council shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and 
                experience in recreational boating safety.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (D), each member of the Council shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 7 members representing State 
                        officials responsible for State boating safety 
                        programs.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 7 members representing 
                        manufacturers, wholesale distributors, or 
                        retail distributors of recreational vessels or 
                        associated equipment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) At least 5 members 
                        representing national recreational boating 
                        organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Additional members.--Not more than 2 
                members of the Council may represent the general 
                public.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Panels.--Additional individuals from 
                an entity or group set out in subparagraph (C) may be 
                appointed to panels of the Council to assist the 
                Council in performing its duties.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Council, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) in the event that the Secretary 
                appoints a member to represent the general public, such 
                member of the Council is hereby deemed a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Council.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Council.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Council.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--The Secretary 
                        may reappoint a member to the Council more than 
                        once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Council 
                shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Council shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (1), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Council to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Council, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Council as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Council as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall serve 
                in such capacity at the pleasure of the Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) and for a term to be fixed 
                by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Council, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Council in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Consultation.--In addition to the consultation 
required by section 4302 of this title, the Commandant (or the 
Commandant's designee) shall, whenever practicable, consult with the 
Council on boating safety matters related to chapter 131 of this 
title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Council.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 709. National Maritime Security Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National 
Maritime Security Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as 
the `Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to national maritime security.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of not less than 8 members, but not more than 
                12 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall have at least 5 years practical 
                experience in maritime security operations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group, as follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) At least 1 member 
                        representing the port authorities.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) At least 1 member 
                        representing the facilities owners or 
                        operators.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) At least 1 member 
                        representing the terminal owners or 
                        operators.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) At least 1 member 
                        representing the vessel owners or 
                        operators.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) At least 1 member 
                        representing the maritime labor 
                        organizations.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) At least 1 member 
                        representing the academic community.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) At least 1 member 
                        representing State or local 
                        governments.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) At least 1 member 
                        representing the maritime industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) Not more than 4 members, 
                        each representing an entity or group, the point 
                        of view of which or the area of expertise of 
                        which the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                        designee) determines would aid the Committee's 
                        deliberations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby 
        deemed a representative of the member's respective special 
        interest entity or group, and not a special Government employee 
        (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall 
                        appoint members to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of an individual in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Background examinations.--The 
                Secretary may require an individual to have passed an 
                appropriate security background examination before 
                appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Committee, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 710. National Offshore Safety Advisory 
              Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National 
Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to activities directly involved with, or in support 
of, the exploration of offshore mineral and energy resources insofar as 
such activities relate to matters within Coast Guard 
jurisdiction.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 15 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (C), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 2 members representing 
                        companies, organizations, enterprises, or 
                        similar entities engaged in the production of 
                        petroleum.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 2 members representing 
                        companies, organizations, enterprises, or 
                        similar entities engaged in offshore 
                        drilling.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) 2 members representing 
                        companies, organizations, enterprises or 
                        similar entities engaged in the support, by 
                        offshore supply vessels or other vessels, of 
                        offshore operations.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity engaged in the construction of offshore 
                        facilities.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity providing diving services to the 
                        offshore industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity providing safety and training services 
                        to the offshore industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity providing subsea engineering, 
                        construction or remotely operated vehicle 
                        support to the offshore industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) 2 members representing 
                        employees of companies, organizations, 
                        enterprises or similar entities engaged in 
                        offshore operations, 1 of whom should have 
                        recent practical experience on vessels or units 
                        involved in the offshore industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity providing environmental protection, 
                        compliance or response services to the offshore 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(x) 1 member representing a 
                        company, organization, enterprise or similar 
                        entity engaged in offshore oil exploration or 
                        production on the Outer Continental Shelf of 
                        Alaska.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Additional member.--1 member of the 
                Committee shall represent the general public.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the general public, is 
                hereby deemed a special Government employee (as defined 
                in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Committee, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate one member of 
                the Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 711. Navigation Safety Advisory Council</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Navigation 
Safety Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the 
`Council').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Council, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings and groundings, 
Inland Rules of the Road, International Rules of the Road, navigation 
regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, and 
aids to navigation systems.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Council shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Council shall 
                consist of not more than 21 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Council shall have expertise in Inland and 
                International vessel navigation Rules of the Road, aids 
                to maritime navigation, maritime law, vessel safety, or 
                port safety.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Each member of the 
                Council shall represent the point of view of one of the 
                following entities or groups:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) Commercial vessel owners or 
                        operators.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Professional 
                        mariners.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Recreational 
                        boaters.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) State agencies responsible 
                        for vessel or port safety.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) The Maritime Law 
                        Association.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18, each member of the Council is hereby 
        deemed a representative of the member's respective special 
        interest entity or group, and not a special Government employee 
        (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Council.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Council.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of a nominee in making an 
                        appointment to the Council.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the Council 
                        more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Council 
                shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Council shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Council to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--In the 
                        case of an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Council, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Council as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Council as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall serve 
                in such capacity at the pleasure of the Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) and for a term to be fixed 
                by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Council, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Council who shall perform the duties set 
        forth in section 10(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Council.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 712. Towing Safety Advisory Committee</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Towing Safety 
Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the 
Commandant (or the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, 
consult with, report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on 
matters relating to shallow-draft inland navigation, coastal waterway 
navigation, and towing safety.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Organization.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once 
        each calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall 
                consist of 18 members.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, 
                and experience regarding--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) shallow-draft inland 
                        navigation or coastal waterway navigation; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) towing safety.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (D), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) 7 members representing the 
                        barge and towing industry, reflecting a 
                        regional geographic balance.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) 1 member representing the 
                        offshore mineral and oil supply vessel 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) 1 member representing 
                        Masters or Pilots of towing vessels who have 
                        experience on the Western Rivers and the Gulf 
                        Intracoastal Waterway.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) 1 member representing 
                        Masters of towing vessels who have experience 
                        in offshore service.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) 1 member representing 
                        Masters of towing vessels who have experience 
                        in harbor-assist operations.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) 1 member representing 
                        towing vessel engineers.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) 2 members representing 
                        port districts, authorities, or terminal 
                        operators.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) 1 member representing 
                        shippers.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) 1 member representing 
                        shippers who are engaged in the chartering or 
                        shipping of oil or hazardous materials by 
                        barge.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Additional members.--2 members of 
                the Committee shall represent the general 
                public.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of 
        Federal law, including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
        chapter 11 of title 18--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the general public, is 
                hereby deemed a special Government employee (as defined 
                in section 202(a) of title 18).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the 
                Secretary shall publish, in the Federal Register, a 
                notice soliciting nominations for membership on the 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Appointments.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--After timely 
                        notice is published, the Secretary shall, as 
                        necessary, appoint members to the 
                        Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary 
                        may not seek, consider, or otherwise use 
                        information concerning the political 
                        affiliation of an individual in making an 
                        appointment to the Committee.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reappointments.--The 
                        Secretary may reappoint a member to the 
                        Committee more than once.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the 
                Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Term; vacancy.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Term.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The term of 
                        each member of the Committee shall expire on 
                        December 31 of the third full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Extensions.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), paragraph (4), or 
                        any other provision of law or policy, the 
                        Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) may 
                        extend the term of a member of the Committee to 
                        December 31 of the fifth full year after the 
                        effective date of the appointment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of 
                        an appointment to fill a vacancy on the 
                        Committee, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        individual for a full term.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Chairman; vice chairman.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairman and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairman, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the 
                Committee, recommendations with regard to the members 
                whom the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                shall designate as the Chairman and the Vice 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairman shall 
                act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of, or in 
                the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
                Chairman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant 
        (or the Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated 
        Federal Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) shall, whenever practicable, consult with the Committee 
before taking any significant action affecting shallow-draft inland 
navigation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 
        on September 30, 2027.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Table of chapters.--The table of chapters for 
        subtitle I of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``7. Coast Guard advisory committees...............     701''.
        <DELETED>    (2) Commercial fishing safety advisory 
        committee.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Repeal.--Section 4508 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is repealed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Table of contents.--The table of 
                contents of chapter 45 of title 46, United States Code, 
                is amended by striking the item relating to section 
                4508.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Great lakes pilotage advisory committee.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Repeal.--Section 9307 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is repealed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Table of contents.--The table of 
                contents of chapter 93 of title 46, United States Code, 
                is amended by striking the item relating to section 
                9307.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Lower mississippi river waterway safety 
        advisory committee.--Section 19 of the Coast Guard 
        Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2215) 
        is repealed.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Merchant marine personnel advisory 
        committee.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Repeal.--Section 8108 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is repealed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Table of contents.--The table of 
                contents of chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, 
                is amended by striking the item relating to section 
                8108.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Merchant mariner medical advisory committee.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Repeal.--Section 7115 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is repealed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Table of contents.--The table of 
                contents of chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code, 
                is amended by striking the item relating to section 
                7115.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) National boating safety advisory council.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Repeal.--Section 13110 of title 46, 
                United States Code, is repealed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Table of contents.--The table of 
                contents of chapter 131 of title 46, United States 
                Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 
                section 13110.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Technical amendment.--Section 
                4302(c)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking ``13110'' and inserting ``708''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) National maritime security advisory 
        committee.--Section 109(a)(1) of the Maritime Transportation 
        Security Act of 2002 (46 U.S.C. 70101 note) is amended by 
        striking ``section 70112 of title 46, United States Code, as 
        amended by this Act'' and inserting ``section 709 of title 46, 
        United States Code''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Navigation safety advisory council.--Section 5 
        of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2073) 
        is repealed.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) Towing safety advisory committee.--The Act to 
        establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department 
        of Transportation, approved October 6, 1980 (33 U.S.C. 1231a), 
        is repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Area Maritime Security Advisory Committees.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Section 70112 of title 46, United 
        States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Maritime 
                Security Advisory Committees'' and inserting ``Area 
                Maritime Security Advisory Committees'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by amending subsection (a) to read as 
                follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment of Committees.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The Secretary may--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) establish an Area Maritime Security 
                Advisory Committee for any port area of the United 
                States; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) request an Area Maritime Security 
                Committee to review the proposed Area Maritime 
                Transportation Security Plan developed under section 
                70103(b) and make recommendations to the Secretary that 
                the Committee considers appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Each Area Maritime Security Advisory 
        Committee--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) may advise, consult with, report to, 
                and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
                relating to maritime security in that area;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) may make available to the Congress 
                recommendations that the Committee makes to the 
                Secretary; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) shall meet at the call of--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the Secretary, who shall 
                        call such a meeting at least once during each 
                        calendar year; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a majority of the 
                        Committee.'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                        ``of the committees'' and inserting ``Area 
                        Maritime Security Advisory 
                        Committee'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) by striking ``such a 
                                committee'' and inserting ``an Area 
                                Maritime Security Advisory Committee''; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) by striking ``the 
                                committee'' and inserting ``an Area 
                                Maritime Security Advisory 
                                Committee'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) in paragraph (4), by 
                        striking ``the Committee'' and inserting ``an 
                        Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) by striking 
                                subparagraph (A); and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) in subparagraph (B), 
                                by striking ``(B)'' and indenting 
                                appropriately;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) in subsection (c)(1), by striking 
                ``committee'' and inserting ``Area Maritime Security 
                Advisory Committee'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) by striking subsection (d);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), 
                and (g) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), 
                respectively;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``the Committee'' 
                        and inserting ``an Area Maritime Security 
                        Advisory Committee''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking the period at the 
                        end and inserting ``for an area.'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) in subsection (e), as redesignated--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                        ``a committee'' and inserting ``an Area 
                        Maritime Security Advisory Committee''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                        ``such a committee'' and inserting ``an Area 
                        Maritime Security Advisory Committee''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) by amending subsection (f), as 
                redesignated, to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination Date.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) does not apply to Area Maritime Security Advisory 
        Committees established under this section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Termination.--The Area Maritime Security 
        Advisory Committees shall terminate on September 30, 
        2027.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 
701 of title 46, United States Code, is amended in the item relating to 
section 70112 by striking ``Maritime Security Advisory Committees'' and 
inserting ``Area Maritime Security Advisory Committees''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory 
Committee; Repeal.--Section 18 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
1991 (Public Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2213) is repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Transition of Coast Guard Advisory Committees.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the amendments 
        made under subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an advisory 
        committee described in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall 
        continue to be subject to the requirements under law to which 
        such advisory committee was subject as in effect on the day 
        before the date of enactment of this Act, including its 
        charter, and the members appointed to such advisory committee 
        shall continue to serve pursuant thereto, until the Secretary 
        of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating makes 
        the applicable appointments under sections 702 through 712 of 
        title 46, United States Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Coast guard advisory committees.--An advisory 
        committee described in this paragraph is as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Chemical Transportation Advisory 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory 
                Committee established under section 4508 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory 
                Committee established under section 9307 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Lower Mississippi River Waterway 
                Safety Advisory Committee established under section 19 
                of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 (Public 
                Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2215).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory 
                Committee established under section 8108 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
                Committee established under section 7115 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) National Boating Safety Advisory 
                Committee established under section 13110 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) National Maritime Security Advisory 
                Committee established under section 70112 of title 46, 
                United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) National Offshore Safety Advisory 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) Navigation Safety Advisory Council 
                established under section 5 of the Inland Navigational 
                Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2073).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (K) Towing Safety Advisory Committee 
                established under the Act entitled the ``Act to 
                establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the 
                Department of Transportation'', approved October 6, 
                1980 (33 U.S.C. 1231a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department 
        in which the Coast Guard is operating shall make the 
        appointments, and file any necessary charters, under sections 
        702 through 712 of title 46, United States Code.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 302. CLARIFICATION OF LOGBOOK AND ENTRY 
              REQUIREMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 11304 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``an official logbook, 
                which'' and inserting ``a logbook, which may be in any 
                form, including electronic, and''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``or a ferry, passenger 
                vessel, or small passenger vessel (as those terms are 
                defined in section 2101)'' after ``Canada''; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                by striking ``log book'' and inserting ``logbook''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
                follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Each illness of or injury, the nature of the 
        illness or injury, and any medical treatment 
        administered.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 303. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OF 
              REGISTRY, AND MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Part E of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in section 7106(b), by striking ``merchant 
        mariner's document'' and inserting ``license'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in section 7107(b), by striking ``merchant 
        mariner's document'' and inserting ``certificate of registry''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in section 7507(b)(2), by striking ``a 
        merchant mariner's document'' and inserting ``a license or a 
        certificate of registry.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 304. NUMBERING FOR UNDOCUMENTED BARGES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in section 12102--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subsection (c), by adding at the 
                end the following: ``The Secretary may require such an 
                undocumented barge more than 100 gross tons operating 
                on the navigable waters of the United States to be 
                numbered under chapter 123 of this title.''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subsection (d), by striking 
                ``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
                is operating''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in section 12301--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking subsection (b); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking the subsection designation 
                in subsection (a) and indenting 
                appropriately.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 305. AIDS TO NAVIGATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Authorizations.--Section 210(a) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) up to 100 percent of the Coast Guard's 
        eligible operations and maintenance costs necessitated by the 
        completion of a navigation improvement project.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definitions.--Section 214(2) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2241) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and 
        (C)'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
        subparagraph (D);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) As applied to the Coast Guard, the 
                term `eligible operations and maintenance' means all 
                operations and maintenance reasonably necessary to 
                relocate or establish a Federal navigational aid 
                necessary for a navigation improvement project.''; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by 
        striking the period at the end and inserting ``, except as 
        applied to the Coast Guard under subparagraph (C).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 306. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS; EXEMPTION FROM THROWABLE 
              PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating shall revise section 175.17 of title 33, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to exempt paddleboards and rafts from the requirement for 
carriage of an additional throwable personal flotation device if each 
person is required to wear a personal flotation device while under way 
and at least 1 rescue throw bag, as typically used in whitewater 
rafting, is on board.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 307. ENSURING MARITIME COVERAGE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In order to meet all of the mission requirements of its 
maritime response program, as the Coast Guard recapitalizes assets, it 
shall ensure continuity of the coverage currently provided by that 
program to locations that may lose assets.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 308. DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALTERNATE SAFETY 
              COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 4503(d) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``After January 
        1, 2020,'' and all that follows through ``the Secretary, if'' 
        and inserting ``Subject to paragraph (3), beginning on the date 
        that is 3 years after the date that the Secretary prescribes an 
        alternate safety compliance program, a fishing vessel, fish 
        processing vessel, or fish tender vessel to which section 
        4502(b) of this title applies shall comply with the alternate 
        safety compliance program if'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``establishes 
        standards for an alternate safety compliance program, shall 
        comply with such an alternative safety compliance program that 
        is developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing 
        industry and prescribed by the Secretary'' and inserting 
        ``prescribes an alternate safety compliance program under 
        paragraph (1), shall comply with the alternate safety 
        compliance program''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), a separate 
        alternate safety compliance program may be developed for a 
        specific region or specific fishery.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Final Rule.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule implementing the 
alternate safety compliance programs under section 4503 of title 46, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (a) of this 
section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 309. FISHING, FISH TENDER, AND FISH PROCESSING VESSEL 
              CERTIFICATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Nonapplication.--Section 4503(c)(2)(A) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``79'' and inserting 
``180''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Determining When Keel Is Laid.--Section 4503 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
        (h); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) For purposes of this section, a keel is laid when a 
structure, adequate of serving as a keel for a vessel greater than 79 
feet in length is identified for use in the construction of a specific 
vessel and is so affirmed by a marine surveyor.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 310. TERMINATION OF UNSAFE OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL 
              AMENDMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 4505 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``4503(1)'' and inserting ``4503(a)(1)''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 311. INSTALLATION AND USE OF ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES ON 
              RECREATIONAL VESSEL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Use of Engine Cut-Off Switch Links.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Requirement.--The Secretary of the department 
        in which the Coast Guard is operating shall revised the 
        regulations under part 175 of title 33, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, to prohibit a person from operating a recreational 
        vessel 25 feet or less in length unless--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the person is wearing an engine cut-
                off switch link while operating on plane or above 
                displacement speed; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the engine cut-off switch is factory 
                equipped on the primary propulsion machinery.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Exceptions.--The requirement under paragraph 
        (1) shall not apply to the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) A vessel 25 feet or less in length 
                whose main helm is installed within an enclosed cabin 
                that would protect an operator from being thrown 
                overboard should the operator be displaced from the 
                helm.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) A vessel with propulsion machinery 
                developing static thrust of less than 115 pounds or 3 
                horsepower.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) A vessel without factory equipped 
                engine cut-off switches.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Installation of Engine Cut-Off Switches.--The 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
revise the regulations under part 183 of title 33, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to require an equipment manufacturer, distributor, or 
dealer that installs propulsion machinery and associate starting 
controls on a recreational vessel 25 feet or less in length and capable 
of developing at least 115 pounds of static thrust to install an engine 
cut-off switch on such recreational vessel in accordance with the 
American Boat and Yacht Standard A-33, as amended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Penalty.--A person that violates a regulation 
promulgated under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be subject to 
a civil penalty under section 4311 of title 46, United States Code, not 
to exceed--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) $100 for the first offense;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) $250 for the second offense; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) $500 for any subsequent offense.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Preemption.--In accordance with section 4306 of title 
46, United States Code, a State may not establish, continue in effect, 
or enforce any law or regulation addressing engine cut-off switch 
requirements that is not identical to a regulation prescribed under 
this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Engine cut-off switch.--The term ``engine cut-
        off switch'' means a mechanical or electronic device that is 
        connected to propulsion machinery that will stop propulsion 
        if--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the switch is not properly connected; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the switch components are submerged in 
                water or separated from the switch by a predetermined 
                distance.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Engine cut-off switch link.--The term ``engine 
        cut-off switch link'' means the equipment attached to the 
        recreational vessel operator and which activates the engine 
        cut-off switch.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Effective Dates.--A regulation prescribed under this 
section shall specify an effective date that is not earlier than 1 year 
from the date the regulation was published.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 312. VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS AND ALTERNATIVE 
              USE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall develop a performance standard for 
the alternative use and possession of visual distress signals as 
mandated by carriage requirements for recreational boats in subpart C 
of part 175 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the 
performance standard for alternative use and possession of a visual 
distress signal is finalized, the Secretary shall revise part 175 of 
title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, to allow for carriage of such 
alternative signal devices.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) EPIRBs and PLBs.--In revising the regulations under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall allow use of a position indicating 
radio beacons (EPIRBs) or Personal Locating Devices (PLBs) of 406 
megahertz, operating on the COSPAS-SARSAT system to meet the 
alternative carriage requirements for recreational boats under subpart 
C of part 175 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 313. RENEWAL PERIOD FOR DOCUMENTED RECREATIONAL 
              VESSELS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall issue certificates of documentation for 
recreational vessels effective for 5 years and charge a nonrefundable 
fee of $130 per issuance.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Fees.--All fees collected from recreational vessel 
owners under subsection (a) shall be available to fund recreational 
vessel documentation costs until expended.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 314. EXCEPTION FROM SURVIVAL CRAFT 
              REQUIREMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 3104 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
        (e); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Auxiliary Craft.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Exception.--Subject to paragraph (2), this 
        section shall not apply to a vessel carrying an auxiliary craft 
        on board, except an inflatable liferaft, if the auxiliary 
        craft--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) is readily accessible during an 
                emergency; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) is capable of safely holding all 
                individuals on board the vessel.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirement.--A vessel described in 
        paragraph (1) may not exceed the rated capacity on the capacity 
        plate of the auxiliary craft if the auxiliary craft is equipped 
        with a Coast Guard required capacity plate.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 315. INLAND WATERWAY AND RIVER TENDER ACQUISITION 
              PLAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Acquisition Plan.--Not later than 545 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a plan to replace the aging fleet of inland 
waterway and river tenders.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Contents.--The plan described in subsection (a) shall 
include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) a schedule for the acquisition to 
        begin;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the date the first vessel will be 
        delivered;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the date the acquisition will be 
        complete;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) a description of the order and location of 
        replacements;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) an estimate of the cost per vessel and for 
        total acquisition program of record; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) an analysis of whether existing vessels can be 
        used.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 316. ARCTIC PLANNING CRITERIA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the oil spill prevention and response 
capabilities for the area covered by the Captain of the Port Zone that 
includes the Arctic.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Contents.--The report shall include the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Levels of equipment and assets.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Location the equipment and assets that are to 
        be deployed, including an estimate of the time to deploy the 
        equipment and assets.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) A determination on the degree of how 
        effectively the assets are distributed throughout the 
        area.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) A statement on whether performance of ability 
        to deploy equipment is taken into account when measuring the 
        level of equipment available.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Validation of port assessment visit process 
        and response resource inventory.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) A description of the resources need throughout 
        the Coast Guard to conduct port assessments, exercises, 
        response plan review and spill responses.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Definition of Arctic.--In this section, the term 
``Arctic'' has the meaning given the term under section 112 of the 
Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).</DELETED>

             <DELETED>TITLE IV--MARITIME SECURITY</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 401. MARITIME BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall, in accordance with law--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) partner with other Federal, State, and local 
        government agencies to leverage technology, including existing 
        sensor and camera systems and other sensors, to provide 
        continuous monitoring of the maritime border; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) enter into such agreements as the Secretary 
        considers necessary to ensure 24-hour monitoring of such 
        technology.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 402. CURRENCY DETECTION CANINE TEAM PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Canine currency detection team.--The term 
        ``canine currency detection team'' means a canine and a canine 
        handler that are trained to detect currency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
        operating.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to 
allow the use of canine currency detection teams for purposes of Coast 
Guard maritime law enforcement and maritime security operations, 
including underway vessel boardings.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Operation.--The Secretary may cooperate with, or enter 
into an agreement with, the head of another Federal agency to meet the 
requirements under subsection (b).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 403. CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE EXPENSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 658 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$45,000'' and inserting ``$250,000''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 404. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a 1-year pilot program to 
determine the impact of persistent aircraft-based surveillance on 
illegal maritime activities in the Alaskan and Western Pacific 
regions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Requirements.--The pilot program shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) use light aircraft-based detection systems 
        which can identify potential illegal activity from higher 
        altitudes and produce enforcement-quality evidence at lower 
        altitudes; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) be directed at detecting and deterring 
        illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and enhancing 
        maritime domain awareness.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 405. STRATEGIC ASSETS IN THE ARCTIC.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definition of Arctic.--In this section, the term 
``Arctic'' has the meaning given the term in section 112 of the Arctic 
Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Arctic continues to grow in significance 
        to both the national security interests and the economic 
        prosperity of the United States; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Coast Guard must ensure it is positioned 
        to respond to any accident, incident, or threat with 
        appropriate assets.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the progress toward implementing the 
strategic objectives described in the United States Coast Guard Arctic 
Strategy dated May 2013.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Contents.--The report under subsection (c) shall 
include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) a description of the Coast Guard's progress 
        toward each strategic objective;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) plans to provide communications throughout the 
        entire Coastal Western Alaska Captain of the Port zone to 
        improve waterway safety and mitigate close calls, collisions, 
        and other dangerous interactions between the shipping industry 
        and subsistence hunters;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) plans to prevent marine casualties, when 
        possible, by ensuring vessels avoid environmentally sensitive 
        areas and permanent security zones;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) an explanation of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) whether it is feasible to establish a 
                vessel traffic service, using existing resources or 
                otherwise; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) whether an Arctic Response Center of 
                Expertise is necessary to address the gaps in 
                experience, skills, equipment, resources, training, and 
                doctrine to prepare, respond to, and recover spilled 
                oil in the Arctic;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) an assessment of whether sufficient agreements 
        are in place to ensure the Coast Guard is receiving the 
        information it needs to carry out its 
        responsibilities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) an assessment of the assets and infrastructure 
        necessary to meet the strategic objectives identified in the 
        United States Coast Guard Arctic Strategy dated May 2013 based 
        on factors such as--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) response time;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) coverage area;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) endurance on scene;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) presence; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) deterrence; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) an analysis of National Security Cutters, 
        Offshore Patrol Cutters, and Fast Response Cutters capabilities 
        based on the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) 
        of paragraph (6), both stationed from various Alaska ports and 
        in other locations.</DELETED>

               <DELETED>TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 501. SHIP SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE TRANSFER; REPEAL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 27 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 
(Public Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2218) is repealed.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 502. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING 
              AUTHORITY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Expedited Hiring Authority.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Chapter 15 of title 14, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting after section 563 the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 563a. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring 
              authority</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``For purposes of section 3304 of title 5, the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard may--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) designate any category of acquisition 
        positions within the Coast Guard as shortage category 
        positions; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) use the authorities in such section to 
        recruit and appoint highly qualified persons directly to 
        positions so designated.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
        chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to section 563 the 
        following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``563a. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.''.
        <DELETED>    (3) Repeal.--Section 404 of the Coast Guard 
        Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-281; 124 Stat. 2950) 
        is repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Acquisition Workforce Reemployment Authority.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Chapter 15 of title 14, as 
        amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended 
        by inserting after section 563a the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 563b. Acquisition workforce reemployment 
              authority</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
if an annuitant receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement 
and Disability Fund becomes employed in any category of acquisition 
positions designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard under section 
563a of this title, the annuity of an annuitant so employed shall 
continue. An annuitant so reemployed shall not be considered an 
employee for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of 
title 5.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b)(1) Election.--An annuitant retired under section 
8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, receiving an annuity from the 
Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in a 
position within the Coast Guard after the date of enactment of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, may elect to be subject to 
section 8344 or 8468 of such title (as the case may be).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) Deadline.--An election for coverage under 
        this subsection shall be filed not later than 90 days after the 
        Commandant takes reasonable actions to notify employees who may 
        file an election.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) Coverage.--If an employee files an election 
        under this subsection, coverage shall be effective beginning on 
        the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on 
        or after the date of the filing of the election.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Application.--Paragraph (1) shall apply to an 
individual who is eligible to file an election under subparagraph (A) 
and does not file a timely election under subparagraph 
(B).''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
        chapter 15 of title 14, United States Code, as amended in 
        subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 563a the 
        following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``563b. Acquisition workforce reemployment authority.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 503. DRAWBRIDGES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to ensure the public is made aware of any 
        temporary change to a drawbridge operating schedule; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to ensure the operators are maintaining logs 
        of drawbridge movement.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Temporary Changes to Drawbridge Operating Schedules.--
Section 5 of the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the 
construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on 
rivers and harbors, and for other purposes'', approved August 18, 1894 
(33 U.S.C. 499), is amended by adding at the end the following--
</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Temporary Changes to Drawbridge Operating 
Schedules.--Notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, United States Code, 
whenever a temporary change to the operating schedule of a drawbridge, 
lasting 180 days or less, is approved--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the Secretary of the department in which the 
        Coast Guard is operating shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) issue a deviation approval letter to 
                the bridge owner;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) publish a notice of the temporary 
                deviation from the regulations in the Federal Register; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) announce the temporary change in--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the Local Notice to 
                        Mariners;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) broadcast notices to 
                        mariners through the Coast Guard radio station 
                        or Navy radio station, or both; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) such other local media as 
                        the Secretary considers appropriate; 
                        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the bridge owner, except a railroad bridge 
        owner, shall notify--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the public by publishing notice of 
                the temporary change in a newspaper of general 
                circulation published in the place where the bridge is 
                located;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the department, agency, or office of 
                transportation with jurisdiction over the roadway that 
                abuts the approaches to the bridge; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the law enforcement organization 
                with jurisdiction over the roadway that abuts the 
                approaches to the bridge.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Drawbridge Movements.--The Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) shall require a drawbridge operator to 
        record each movement of the drawbridge in a log;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) may inspect the log to ensure drawbridge 
        movement is in accordance with the posted operating schedule; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) may determine if the operating schedule 
        should be adjusted for efficiency.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 504. INCENTIVE CONTRACT; COAST GUARD YARD AND INDUSTRIAL 
              ESTABLISHMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Whenever the parties to a project order 
for industrial work to be performed by the Coast Guard Yard or a 
designated Coast Guard industrial establishment agree that delivery or 
technical performance of the wage-grade industrial employees may, 
during the term of such project order, improve, the parties to such 
project order may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
including any provision of law that provides for the time or purpose of 
appropriated funds, enter into an incentive project order or a cost-
plus-incentive-fee project order by which an agreed upon amount of the 
adjustment to be made pursuant to section 648(a) of title 14, United 
States Code, may, notwithstanding that provision of law or any other 
provision of law, be distributed as an incentive to the wage-grade 
industrial employees who completed the project order.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Condition.--Before entering into an incentive project 
order or a cost-plus-incentive-fee project order, the commanding 
officer of the Coast Guard Yard or the commanding officer of the Coast 
Guard industrial establishment, as the case may be, shall complete a 
determination and finding for such incentive project order or cost-
plus-incentive-fee project order that justifies the use of such project 
order as in the best interest of the Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Treatment of Incentive Award.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, in the event that the industrial workforce of 
the Coast Guard Yard or a Coast Guard industrial establishment 
satisfies the performance target set out in an incentive project order 
or a cost-plus-incentive-fee project order--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the adjustment to be made pursuant to section 
        648(a) of title 14, United States Code, shall, notwithstanding 
        that provision of law, be reduced by the agreed amount and 
        distributed as an incentive to such wage-grade industrial 
        employees; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the remainder of the adjustment shall be 
        credited to the appropriation current at that time.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 505. COAST GUARD HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS; LICENSURE 
              PORTABILITY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 1094(d)(1) of title 10, United 
States Code, shall apply in the same manner and to the same degree as 
such section applies to a health-care professional described in 
subsection (d)(2) of that section to a health-care professional 
described in subsection (b) of this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Health-Care Professional.--A health-care professional 
described in this subsection is a member of the Coast Guard, civilian 
employee of the Coast Guard, member of the Public Health Service 
assigned to the Coast Guard, personal services contractor under section 
1091 of title 10, United States Code, or other health-care professional 
credentialed and privileged at a Federal health care institution or 
location specially designated by the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating for this purpose who--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) has a current license to practice medicine, 
        osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or another health profession; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) is performing authorized duties for the Coast 
        Guard.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 506. LAND EXCHANGE; AYAKULIK ISLAND, ALASKA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Land Exchange; Ayakulik Island, Alaska.--If the owner 
of Ayakulik Island, Alaska, offers to exchange the Island for the 
Tract--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) within 30 days after receiving such offer, the 
        Secretary shall provide notice of the offer to the 
        Commandant;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) within 30 days after receiving the notice 
        under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall develop and transmit 
        to the Secretary proposed operational restrictions on 
        commercial activity conducted on the Tract, including the right 
        of the Commandant to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) order the immediate termination, for a 
                period of up to 72 hours, of any activity occurring on 
                or from the Tract that violates or threatens to violate 
                1 or more of such restrictions; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) commence a civil action for 
                appropriate relief, including a permanent or temporary 
                injunction enjoining the activity that violates or 
                threatens to violate such restrictions;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) within 30 days after receiving the proposed 
        operational restrictions from the Commandant, the Secretary 
        shall transmit such restrictions to the owner of Ayakulik 
        Island; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) within 30 days after transmitting the proposed 
        operational restrictions to the owner of Ayakulik Island, and 
        if the owner agrees to such restrictions, the Secretary shall 
        convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
        and to the Tract to the owner, subject to an easement granted 
        to the Commandant to enforce such restrictions, in exchange for 
        all right, title, and interest of such owner in and to Ayakulik 
        Island.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make technical 
and conforming revisions to the boundaries of the Tract before the date 
of the exchange.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Public Land Order.--Effective on the date of an 
exchange under subsection (a), Public Land Order 5550 shall have no 
force or effect with respect to submerged lands that are part of the 
Tract.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Failure To Timely Respond to Notice.--If the 
Commandant does not transmit proposed operational restrictions to the 
Secretary within 30 days after receiving the notice under subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after 
transmitting such notice, convey all right, title, and interest of the 
United States in and to the Tract to the owner of Ayakulik Island in 
exchange for all right, title, and interest of such owner in and to 
Ayakulik Island.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) CERCLA Not Affected.--This section and an exchange 
under this section shall not be construed to limit the application of 
or otherwise affect section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
9620(h)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the 
        Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
        operating, acting through the Commandant of the Coast 
        Guard.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of the Interior.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Tract.--The term ``Tract'' means the land 
        (including submerged land) depicted as ``PROPOSED PROPERTY 
        EXCHANGE AREA'' on the survey titled ``PROPOSED PROPERTY 
        EXCHANGE PARCEL'' and dated March 22, 2017.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 507. ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND AMENDMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 11113 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``may be 
        appropriated to the Secretary'' in the matter before 
        subparagraph (A) and inserting ``shall be available to the 
        Secretary without further appropriation, and shall remain 
        available until expended,''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``plus 
                a surcharge of 25 percent of such total amount,'' after 
                ``seafarer,'' in the matter preceding subparagraph (A); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking paragraph (4).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 508. ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL SHIPYARDS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 54101 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the heading, by striking ``and maritime 
        communities'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``in 
        communities'' and all that follows through the period and 
        inserting ``relating to shipbuilding, ship repair, and 
        associated industries.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by amending subsection (b)(1) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) consider projects that foster--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) efficiency, competitive operations, 
                and quality ship construction, repair, and 
                reconfiguration; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) employee skills and enhancing 
                productivity related to shipbuilding, ship repair, and 
                associated industries; and'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in subsection (c)(1), by striking 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to make capital and related 
                improvements in small shipyards; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to provide training for workers in 
                shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated 
                industries.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) in subsection (d), by striking ``unless'' and 
        all that follows and inserting a period;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) in subsection (e)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking paragraph (2); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
                paragraph (2); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) in subsection (i), by striking ``for each of 
        fiscal years 2015 through 2017'' and all that follows and 
        inserting ``to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2018 and 2019.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 54101(f)(2) is amended 
by striking ``shall include'' and all that follows and inserting: 
``shall include a comprehensive description of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the need for the project;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the methodology for implementing the 
        project; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) any existing programs or arrangements that 
        can be used to supplement or leverage assistance under the 
        program.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall affect an agreement to provide 
assistance under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, that 
was executed before October 1, 2017. Such an agreement shall continue 
to be subject to the requirements to which such agreement was subject 
under section 54101 of that title as in effect on the day before 
October 1, 2017.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 509. SMALL SHIPYARD CONTRACTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 667 the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 667a. Construction of Coast Guard vessels and 
              assignment of vessel projects</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``The assignment of Coast Guard vessel conversion, 
alteration, and repair projects shall be based on economic and military 
considerations and may not be restricted by a requirement that certain 
parts of Coast Guard shipwork be assigned to a particular type of 
shipyard or geographical area or by a similar requirement.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 
17 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 667 the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``667a. Construction of Coast Guard vessels and assignment of 
                            vessel projects.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 510. WESTERN CHALLENGER; CERTIFICATE OF 
              DOCUMENTATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 604(b) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-281; 128 Stat. 
3062) is amended by inserting ``and a fisheries endorsement'' after 
``endorsement''.</DELETED>

      <DELETED>TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VESSELS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 601. WAIVERS FOR CERTAIN CONTRACTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 3134 of title 40, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by inserting ``Secretary of Homeland 
        Security,'' after ``Air Force,'' each place it appears; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Commerce.--The Secretary of Commerce may waive this 
subchapter with respect to contracts for the construction, alteration, 
or repair of vessels, regardless of the terms of the contracts as to 
payment or title, when the contract is made under the Act entitled `An 
Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, and for other purposes', approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 
883a et seq.).''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Effective dates.

                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training.

                         TITLE II--COAST GUARD

Sec. 201. Primary duties.
Sec. 202. Training; emergency response providers.
Sec. 203. Commissioned service retirement.
Sec. 204. Officer promotion zones.
Sec. 205. Officer evaluation report.
Sec. 206. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection with 
                            modernized retirement system.
Sec. 207. Inclusion of vessel for investigation purposes.
Sec. 208. Leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
Sec. 209. Aviation cadets; appointment as Reserve officers; cross 
                            reference.
Sec. 210. Clothing at time of discharge for good of service; repeal.
Sec. 211. Multiyear contracts.
Sec. 212. Coast Guard ROTC Program.
Sec. 213. National Coast Guard Museum.
Sec. 214. Polar icebreakers.
Sec. 215. Great Lakes icebreaker acquisition.

                        TITLE III--MARINE SAFETY

Sec. 301. Coast Guard advisory committees.
Sec. 302. Clarification of logbook and entry requirements.
Sec. 303. Technical amendments; licenses, certifications of registry, 
                            and merchant mariner documents.
Sec. 304. Numbering for undocumented barges.
Sec. 305. Equipment requirements; exemption from throwable personal 
                            flotation devices.
Sec. 306. Ensuring maritime coverage.
Sec. 307. Deadline for compliance with alternate safety compliance 
                            program.
Sec. 308. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing vessel 
                            certification.
Sec. 309. Termination of unsafe operations; technical amendment.
Sec. 310. Installation and use of engine cut-off switches on 
                            recreational vessel.
Sec. 311. Visual distress signals and alternative use.
Sec. 312. Renewal period for documented recreational vessels.
Sec. 313. Exception from survival craft requirements.
Sec. 314. Inland waterway and river tender, and bay class icebreaker 
                            acquisition plan.
Sec. 315. Arctic planning criteria.
Sec. 316. Fishing safety grant programs.
Sec. 317. Safety standards.
Sec. 318. Commercial fishing vessel safety outreach strategy.

                      TITLE IV--MARITIME SECURITY

Sec. 401. Maritime border security cooperation.
Sec. 402. Currency detection canine team program.
Sec. 403. Confidential investigative expenses.
Sec. 404. Monitoring of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Sec. 405. Strategic assets in the Arctic.
Sec. 406. Fleet requirements assessment and strategy.
Sec. 407. Comptroller General report on certain task forces.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 501. Ship shoal lighthouse transfer; repeal.
Sec. 502. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.
Sec. 503. Drawbridges.
Sec. 504. Incentive contract; Coast Guard yard and industrial 
                            establishments.
Sec. 505. Coast Guard health-care professionals; licensure portability.
Sec. 506. Land exchange; Ayakulik Island, Alaska.
Sec. 507. Abandoned seafarers fund amendments.
Sec. 508. Small shipyard contracts.
Sec. 509. Western challenger; certificate of documentation.
Sec. 510. Radar refresher training.
Sec. 511. Vessel response plan audit.
Sec. 512. Center of Expertise for Great Lakes Oil Spill Research and 
                            Response.

                TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VESSELS

Sec. 601. Waivers for certain contracts.

    TITLE VII--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 703. Record of meetings and votes.
Sec. 704. Public participation.
Sec. 705. Preventing deceptive practices.
Sec. 706. Reports filed with the Commission.
Sec. 707. Transparency.
Sec. 708. Treatment of tug operators.
Sec. 709. Prohibitions and penalties.

              TITLE VIII--VESSEL INCIDENTAL DISCHARGE ACT

Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Definitions.
Sec. 803. Existing ballast water regulations.
Sec. 804. Ballast water discharge requirements.
Sec. 805. Review of ballast water discharge standard.
Sec. 806. Alternative compliance program.
Sec. 807. Reception facilities.
Sec. 808. Requirements for discharges incidental to the normal 
                            operation of a commercial vessel.
Sec. 809. Judicial review.
Sec. 810. State enforcement.
Sec. 811. Effect on State authority.
Sec. 812. Effect on other laws.

TITLE IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED 
  OFFICER CORPS AMENDMENTS AND HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT 
               REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017

Sec. 901. Short title.
Sec. 902. References to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                            Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002.

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 911. Strength and distribution in grade.
Sec. 912. Recalled officers.
Sec. 913. Obligated service requirement.
Sec. 914. Training and physical fitness.
Sec. 915. Recruiting materials.
Sec. 916. Technical correction.

                   Subtitle B--Parity and Recruitment

Sec. 921. Education loans.
Sec. 922. Interest payments.
Sec. 923. Student pre-commissioning program.
Sec. 924. Limitation on educational assistance.
Sec. 925. Applicability of certain provisions of title 10, United 
                            States Code, and extension of certain 
                            authorities applicable to members of the 
                            Armed Forces to commissioned officer corps.
Sec. 926. Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United 
                            States Code.
Sec. 927. Legion of Merit award.
Sec. 928. Prohibition on retaliatory personnel actions.
Sec. 929. Penalties for wearing uniform without authority.
Sec. 930. Application of certain provisions of competitive service law.
Sec. 931. Employment and reemployment rights.
Sec. 932. Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps for 
                            purposes of certain hiring decisions.
Sec. 933. Direct hire authority.

           Subtitle C--Appointments and Promotion of Officers

Sec. 941. Appointments.
Sec. 942. Personnel boards.
Sec. 943. Delegation of authority.
Sec. 944. Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Aviation 
                            Operations.
Sec. 945. Temporary appointments.
Sec. 946. Officer candidates.
Sec. 947. Procurement of personnel.

           Subtitle D--Separation and Retirement of Officers

Sec. 951. Involuntary retirement or separation.
Sec. 952. Separation pay.

          Subtitle E--Hydrographic Services and Other Matters

Sec. 961. Reauthorization of Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 
                            1998.
Sec. 962. System for tracking and reporting all-inclusive cost of 
                            hydrographic surveys.
Sec. 963. Homeport of certain research vessels.

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise specifically provided in this 
Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Certain Delayed Effective Dates.--The amendments made by 
sections 101, 102, 403, and 702 shall take effect on October 1, 2017, 
or the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later. The 
amendments made by section 206 shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 2702 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 2702. Authorization of appropriations
    ``Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 
2018 and 2019 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard as follows:
            ``(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
        not otherwise provided for--
                    ``(A) $7,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; and
                    ``(B) $7,592,000,000 for fiscal year 2019.
            ``(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and 
        improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore 
        facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment related 
        thereto, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and 
        operation of facilities and equipment--
                    ``(A) $1,985,845,000 for fiscal year 2018, to 
                remain available through September 30, 2022; and
                    ``(B) $2,027,547,745 for fiscal year 2019, to 
                remain available through September 30, 2023.
            ``(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including 
        operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and 
        training costs, equipment, and services--
                    ``(A) $142,956,336 for fiscal year 2018; and
                    ``(B) $145,958,419 for fiscal year 2019.
            ``(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration of 
        the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title--
                    ``(A) $17,051,721 for fiscal year 2018, to remain 
                available through September 30, 2022; and
                    ``(B) $17,409,807 for fiscal year 2019, to remain 
                available through September 20, 2023.
            ``(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research, 
        development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, 
        and human factors directly related to improving the performance 
        of the Coast Guard's mission with respect to search and rescue, 
        aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental 
        protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations, 
        oceanographic research, and defense readiness, and for 
        maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of facilities 
        and equipment--
                    ``(A) $20,307,690 for fiscal year 2018; and
                    ``(B) $20,734,151 for fiscal year 2019.''.

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND TRAINING.

    Section 2704 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training
    ``(a) Active Duty Strength.--The Coast Guard is authorized an end-
of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 and 2019.
    ``(b) Military Training Student Loads.--The Coast Guard is 
authorized average military training student loads for each of fiscal 
years 2018 and 2019 as follows:
            ``(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student 
        years.
            ``(2) For flight training, 165 student years.
            ``(3) For professional training in military and civilian 
        institutions, 350 student years.
            ``(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years.''.

                         TITLE II--COAST GUARD

SEC. 201. PRIMARY DUTIES.

    Section 2(7) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone command 
responsibilities'' and inserting ``and at all times assist in the 
defense of the United States''.

SEC. 202. TRAINING; EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 141 the following:
``Sec. 141a. Training; emergency response providers
    ``(a) In General.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
may, on a reimbursable or a nonreimbursable basis, make training 
available to public safety personnel whenever the Commandant (or the 
Commandant's designee) determines that--
            ``(1) a member of the Coast Guard, who was scheduled to 
        participate in such training, is unable or unavailable to 
        participate in such training;
            ``(2) no other member of the Coast Guard, who is assigned 
        to the unit to which the member of the Coast Guard described in 
        paragraph (1), is able or available to participate in such 
        training; and
            ``(3) such training, if made available to public safety 
        personnel, would further the goal of interoperability among 
        Federal agencies, non-Federal governmental agencies, or both.
    ``(b) Definition of Emergency Response Provider.--In this section, 
the term `emergency response provider' has the meaning given the term 
in section 101 of title 6.
    ``(c) Treatment of Reimbursement.--Any reimbursement for training 
that the Coast Guard receives under this section shall be credited to 
the appropriation used to pay the costs for such training.
    ``(d) Status; Limitation on Liability.--
            ``(1) Status.--Any individual to whom, as an emergency 
        response provider, training is made available under this 
        section shall not be considered a Federal employee for any 
        purpose, including the purposes of--
                    ``(A) chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to 
                compensation for injury); or
                    ``(B) sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 
                (relating to tort claims).
            ``(2) Limitation on liability.--The individual described in 
        paragraph (1) or that individual's employer shall be liable for 
        any claim arising out of such training.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 7 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 141 the following:

``141a. Training; emergency response providers.''.

SEC. 203. COMMISSIONED SERVICE RETIREMENT.

    Section 291 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Any 
        regular'' and indenting appropriately;
            (2) in subsection (a), as designated--
                    (A) by inserting ``of the Coast Guard'' after 
                ``officer''; and
                    (B) by striking ``President'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Active Commissioned Service.--The Secretary may authorize the 
Commandant, through fiscal year 2019, to reduce the requirement under 
subsection (a) for at least ten years of active service as a 
commissioned officer to a period of not less than eight years.''.

SEC. 204. OFFICER PROMOTION ZONES.

    Section 256(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``six-tenths'' and inserting ``one-half''.

SEC. 205. OFFICER EVALUATION REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Beginning with the first evaluation cycle after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall reduce lieutenant junior grade evaluation reports to the same 
length as an ensign or place lieutenant junior grade evaluations on an 
annual schedule.
    (b) Board Survey.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall survey 
outgoing promotion board members and assignment officers to determine, 
at a minimum--
            (1) which sections of the officer evaluation report were 
        most useful;
            (2) which sections of the officer evaluation report were 
        least useful;
            (3) how to better reflect high performers; and
            (4) any recommendations for improving the officer 
        evaluation report.
    (c) Survey of Officers.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
conduct a survey on the officer evaluation report to--
            (1) cover at least 10 percent of the officers from each 
        grade of officers from O1 to O6; and
            (2) determine how much time each member of the rating chain 
        spends on that member's portion of the officer evaluation 
        report.
    (d) Revisions.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
        revise the officer evaluation report, and providing 
        corresponding directions, taking into account the requirements 
        under paragraph (2).
            (2) Requirements.--In revising the officer evaluation 
        report under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall--
                    (A) consider the findings of the surveys under 
                subsections (b) and (c);
                    (B) improve administrative efficiency;
                    (C) reduce and streamline performance dimensions 
                and narrative text;
                    (D) eliminate redundancy with the officer specialty 
                management system and any other record information 
                systems that are used during the officer assignment or 
                promotion process;
                    (E) provide for fairness and equity for Coast Guard 
                officers with regard to promotion boards, selection 
                panels, and the assignment process; and
                    (F) ensure officer evaluation responsibilities can 
                be accomplished within normal working hours--
                            (i) to minimize any impact to officer 
                        duties; and
                            (ii) to eliminate any need for an officer 
                        to take liberty or leave for administrative 
                        purposes.
    (e) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 545 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report--
                    (A) on the findings of the survey under subsection 
                (b); and
                    (B) on the findings of the survey under subsection 
                (c).
            (2) Format.--The report under paragraph (1) shall be 
        formatted by each rank, type of board, and position, as 
        applicable.

SEC. 206. RETIRED PAY; AMOUNTS FOR PAYMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH 
              MODERNIZED RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 424a the following:
``Sec. 424b. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection with 
              modernized retirement system
    ``Of the amounts appropriated for retirement pay under this chapter 
in any fiscal year, the Secretary may use such sums as are necessary 
for the following purposes (in addition to other amounts that may be 
available for such purposes) as such purposes relate to a member:
            ``(1) Lump sum payment of certain retired pay under section 
        1415 of title 10.
            ``(2) Thrift Savings Plan contributions under section 
        8440e(e) of title 5.
            ``(3) Continuation pay under section 356 of title 37.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 11 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 424 the following:

``424b. Retired pay; amounts for payments in connection with modernized 
                            retirement system.''.

SEC. 207. INCLUSION OF VESSEL FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES.

    (a) In General.--Section 678 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ``or vessel'' after ``aircraft'' each place it 
appears.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 17 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the table of contents of chapter 17, by inserting 
        ``and vessel'' after ``Aircraft'' in the item relating to 
        section 678; and
            (2) in the heading for section 678, by inserting ``and 
        vessel'' after ``Aircraft''.

SEC. 208. LEAVE FOR THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF A CHILD.

    Section 431 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), not later 
than 1 year''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Leave Associated With the Birth or Adoption of a Child.--
Notwithstanding section 701 of title 10 or any other provision of law, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall ensure that any rule, policy, or memorandum that provides leave 
associated with the birth or adoption of a child to an officer or 
enlisted member of the Coast Guard permits, for not later than 1 year 
after the date of such birth or adoption and at the discretion of the 
Commanding Officer--
            ``(1) the officer or member, as applicable, to take such 
        leave in increments; and
            ``(2) flexible work schedules (as defined in regulation 
        promulgated by the Secretary) for the officer or member, as 
        applicable, until all such leave is expended.''.

SEC. 209. AVIATION CADETS; APPOINTMENT AS RESERVE OFFICERS; CROSS 
              REFERENCE.

    Section 373(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``designated under section 371'' after ``cadet''.

SEC. 210. CLOTHING AT TIME OF DISCHARGE FOR GOOD OF SERVICE; REPEAL.

    Section 482 of title 14, United States Code, and the item relating 
to that section in the table of contents of chapter 13 of that title, 
are repealed.

SEC. 211. MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS.

    The Secretary is authorized to enter into a multiyear contract for 
the procurement of a tenth, eleventh, and twelfth National Security 
Cutter and associated government-furnished equipment.

SEC. 212. COAST GUARD ROTC PROGRAM.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report on the costs and benefits of creating a Coast Guard Reserve 
Officers' Training Corps Program based on the other armed forces 
programs.

SEC. 213. NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM.

    Subsection (b) of section 98 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Expenditures.--The Secretary shall fund the operation and 
maintenance of the National Coast Guard Museum with nonappropriated and 
non-Federal funds to the maximum extent practicable. The priority use 
of Federal operation and maintenance funds should be to preserve and 
protect historic Coast Guard artifacts, including the design, 
fabrication, and installation of exhibits or displays in which such 
artifacts are included.''.

SEC. 214. POLAR ICEBREAKERS.

    (a) Rolling Recapitalization Report for the POLAR STAR.--
            (1) Requirement for report.--The Secretary of the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in 
        consultation with Naval Sea Systems Command, shall submit to 
        the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives a detailed report describing a 
        plan to extend the service life of the Coast Guard Cutter POLAR 
        STAR (WAGB-10) under a rolling recapitalization plan for 7 to 
        10 years.
            (2) Content.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Based upon a materiel condition assessment of 
                the Coast Guard Cutter POLAR STAR (WAGB-10)--
                            (i) a description of the service life 
                        extension needs of the vessel;
                            (ii) detailed information regarding planned 
                        shipyard work for each fiscal year to meet such 
                        needs; and
                            (iii) an estimate of the specific amount 
                        needed to be appropriated to complete the 
                        rolling recapitalization of the vessel.
                    (B) A plan to ensure the vessel will maintain 
                seasonally operational status during the rolling 
                recapitalization.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may use funds made available pursuant to section 2702(2) of title 
14, United States Code, as amended by section 101 of this Act, for the 
rolling recapitalization described in the report required by subsection 
(a).

SEC. 215. GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKER ACQUISITION.

    (a) Icebreaking on the Great Lakes.--For fiscal years 2018 and 
2019, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may use funds made available 
pursuant to section 2702(2) of title 14, United States Code, as amended 
by section 101 of this Act, for the selection of a design for, and the 
construction of, an icebreaker that is at least as capable as the Coast 
Guard Cutter Mackinaw to enhance icebreaking capacity on the Great 
Lakes.
    (b) Initial Survey and Design Work.--The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall commence initial survey and design work associated with the 
acquisition of a new Coast Guard icebreaker that is at least as capable 
as the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw to enhance icebreaking capacity on 
the Great Lakes.
    (c) Acquisition Plan.--Not later than 45 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit a plan to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives for acquiring an icebreaker described in subsections 
(a) and (b). Such plan shall include--
            (1) the details and schedule of the acquisition activities 
        to be completed; and
            (2) a description of how the funding for Coast Guard 
        acquisition, construction, and improvements that was 
        appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 
        (Public Law 115-31) will be allocated to support the 
        acquisition activities referred to in paragraph (1).

                        TITLE III--MARINE SAFETY

SEC. 301. COAST GUARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

    (a) Establishment.--Subtitle I of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``CHAPTER 7--COAST GUARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES

``Sec. .....................................................
``701. Administration.
``702. Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee.
``703. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee.
``704. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee.
``705. Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee.
``706. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.
``707. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee.
``708. National Boating Safety Advisory Council.
``709. National Maritime Security Advisory Committee.
``710. National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee.
``711. Navigation Safety Advisory Council.
``712. Towing Safety Advisory Committee.
``Sec. 701. Administration
    ``(a) Employee Status.--A member of an advisory committee or 
advisory council established under this chapter shall not be considered 
an employee of the Federal Government by reason of service on such 
committee or council, except for the purposes of the following 
provisions of law:
            ``(1) Section 5703 of title 5 (relating to travel 
        expenses).
            ``(2) Chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to compensation for 
        work injuries).
            ``(3) Chapter 171 of title 28 and any other Federal statute 
        relating to tort liability.
            ``(4) If the member is a special Government employee--
                    ``(A) chapter 73 of title 5;
                    ``(B) sections 201, 202, 203, 205, 207, 208, and 
                209 of title 18;
                    ``(C) the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
                U.S.C. App); and
                    ``(D) any other provision of law relating to 
                employee conduct, political activities, ethics, 
                conflict of interest, and corruption that applies to a 
                special Government employee.
    ``(b) Compensation.--A member of an advisory committee or advisory 
council established under this chapter who is not otherwise a Federal 
employee shall not receive pay by reason of service on such committee 
or council.
    ``(c) Acceptance of Volunteer Services.--A member of an advisory 
committee or advisory council established under this chapter may serve 
on a voluntary basis without pay without regard to section 1342 of 
title 31 or any other law.
``Sec. 702. Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Chemical 
Transportation Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous 
materials.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                not more than 25 members.
                    ``(B) Points of view.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall represent the point of view of 1 of the following 
                entities or groups associated with marine 
                transportation of hazardous materials:
                            ``(i) Chemical manufacturing.
                            ``(ii) Marine handling or transportation of 
                        chemicals.
                            ``(iii) Vessel design and construction.
                            ``(iv) Marine safety or security.
                            ``(v) Marine environmental protection.
                    ``(C) Needs of the coast guard.--The Commandant (or 
                the Commandant's designee) shall, based on the needs of 
                the Coast Guard, determine the number of members who 
                represent a specific point of view.
                    ``(D) Rule of construction.--Neither this 
                subsection nor any other provision of law or policy 
                shall be construed to require an equal distribution of 
                members representing specific points of view among the 
                membership of the Committee.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby deemed a 
        representative of the member's respective special interest 
        entity or group, and not a special Government employee (as 
        defined in section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an appointment to 
                fill a vacancy on the Committee, the Secretary shall 
                appoint an individual for a full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 703. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Commercial Fishing 
Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee)--
            ``(1) shall advise, consult with, report to, and make 
        recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to the 
        safe operation of vessels to which chapter 45 of this title 
        applies, including navigation safety, safety equipment and 
        procedures, marine insurance, vessel design, construction, 
        maintenance and operation, and personnel qualifications and 
        training;
            ``(2) shall review proposed regulations promulgated 
        pursuant to chapter 45 of this title;
            ``(3) shall submit recommendations described in paragraph 
        (1) to the Secretary in writing;
            ``(4) may submit any recommendations described in paragraph 
        (1) at any time and frequency as determined to be appropriate 
        by the Committee;
            ``(5) shall to review proposed regulations promulgated 
        pursuant to chapter 45 of this title; and
            ``(6) shall make available to Congress any information, 
        advice, and recommendations that the Committee is authorized to 
        give to the Secretary.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                18 members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and 
                experience regarding the commercial fishing industry.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (D), a member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) 10 members representing the 
                        commercial fishing industry who--
                                    ``(I) reflect a regional and 
                                representational balance; and
                                    ``(II) have experience in the 
                                operation of vessels to which chapter 
                                45 of this title applies or as a crew 
                                member or processing line worker on a 
                                fish processing vessel.
                            ``(ii) 1 member representing naval 
                        architects or marine engineers.
                            ``(iii) 1 member representing manufacturers 
                        of equipment for vessels to which chapter 45 of 
                        this title applies.
                            ``(iv) 1 member representing education or 
                        training professionals related to fishing 
                        vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender 
                        vessel safety or personnel qualifications.
                            ``(v) 1 member representing underwriters 
                        that insure vessels to which chapter 45 of this 
                        title applies.
                            ``(vi) 1 member representing owners of 
                        vessels to which chapter 45 of this title 
                        applies.
                    ``(D) Exception.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        3 members of the Committee shall represent the 
                        general public.
                            ``(ii) Experience.--Whenever possible, a 
                        member who represents the general public shall 
                        be either--
                                    ``(I) an independent expert or 
                                consultant in maritime safety;
                                    ``(II) a marine surveyor who 
                                provides services to vessels to which 
                                chapter 45 of this title applies; or
                                    ``(III) a person familiar with 
                                issues affecting fishing communities 
                                and families of fishermen.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18--
                    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent a point of view of an entity or 
                group under paragraph (2)(C), is hereby deemed a 
                representative of the member's respective special 
                interest entity or group, and not a special Government 
                employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18); 
                and
                    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                may appoint to represent the general public, is hereby 
                deemed a special Government employee (as defined in 
                section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an appointment to 
                fill a vacancy on the Committee, the Secretary shall 
                appoint an individual for a full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall elect a 
                Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its 
                members.
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
shall, whenever practicable--
            ``(1) consult with the Committee before taking any 
        significant action relating to the safe operation of vessels to 
        which chapter 45 of this title applies;
            ``(2) consider the information, advice, and recommendations 
        of the Committee in consulting with other agencies and the 
        public or in formulating policy regarding the safe operation of 
        vessels to which chapter 45 of this title applies;
            ``(3) make all recommendations made by the Committee in 
        paragraph (b) public and available for comment within 30 days 
        of receiving the recommendation from the Committee;
            ``(4) respond in writing to all public comments made 
        regarding recommendations made by the Committee in paragraph 
        (b);
            ``(5) respond in writing to any recommendations or 
        resolutions made by the Committee in paragraph (b) and provide 
        reasoning for acceptation or rejection to all recommendations 
        within 60 days of receiving the recommendation; and
            ``(6) make all responses in paragraph (5) available to the 
        Congress and the public at the time the response is 
        transmitted.
    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 704. Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a Great 
        Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (referred to in this section 
        as the `Committee').
            ``(2) Duties.--The Committee--
                    ``(A) may review proposed Great Lakes pilotage 
                regulations and policies and make recommendations to 
                the Secretary that the Committee considers appropriate;
                    ``(B) may advise, consult with, report to, and make 
                recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to 
                Great Lakes pilotage;
                    ``(C) may make available to the Congress 
                recommendations that the Committee makes to the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(D) shall meet at the call of--
                            ``(i) the Secretary, who shall call such a 
                        meeting at least once during each calendar 
                        year; or
                            ``(ii) a majority of the Committee.
    ``(b) Organization.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Membership.--The Committee shall consist of 7 
                members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with 
                this subsection, each of whom has at least 5 years 
                practical experience in maritime operations.
                    ``(B) Term.--The term of each member is for a 
                period of not more than 5 years, specified by the 
                Secretary.
                    ``(C) Notice.--Before filling a position on the 
                Committee, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 
                Federal Register soliciting nominations for membership 
                on the Committee.
            ``(2) Representation.--The membership of the Committee 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) the President of each of the 3 Great Lakes 
                pilotage districts, or the President's representative;
                    ``(B) 1 member representing the interests of vessel 
                operators that contract for Great Lakes pilotage 
                services;
                    ``(C) 1 member representing the interests of Great 
                Lakes ports;
                    ``(D) 1 member representing the interests of 
                shippers whose cargoes are transported through Great 
                Lakes ports; and
                    ``(E) a member with a background in finance or 
                accounting, who--
                            ``(i) must have been recommended to the 
                        Secretary by a unanimous vote of the other 
                        members of the Committee, and
                            ``(ii) may be appointed without regard to 
                        requirement in paragraph (1) that each member 
                        have 5 years of practical experience in 
                        maritime operations.
    ``(c)(1) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Committee shall elect 
1 of its members as the Chairperson and 1 of its members as the Vice 
Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in the 
absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, or in the event of a vacancy 
in the office of the Chairperson.
    ``(2) Observer.--The Secretary shall, and any other interested 
agency may, designate a representative to participate as an observer 
with the Committee. The Secretary's designated representative shall act 
as the executive secretary of the Committee and shall perform the 
duties set forth in section 10(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Recommendations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, whenever 
        practicable, consult with the Committee before taking any 
        significant action relating to Great Lakes pilotage.
            ``(2) Consideration.--The Secretary shall consider the 
        information, advice, and recommendations of the Committee in 
        formulating policy regarding matters affecting Great Lakes 
        pilotage.
            ``(3) Approval.--Any recommendations to the Secretary under 
        subsection (a)(2)(B) must have been approved by at least all 
        but 1 of the members then serving on the Committee.
    ``(e)(1) Compensation.--Notwithstanding section 701, a member of 
the Committee, when attending meetings of the Committee or when 
otherwise engaged in the business of the Committee, is entitled to 
receive--
            ``(A) compensation at a rate fixed by the Secretary, not 
        exceeding the daily equivalent of the current rate of basic pay 
        in effect for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 
        of title 5 including travel time; and
            ``(B) travel or transportation expenses under section 5703 
        of title 5.
    ``(2) Employee Status.--Notwithstanding section 701, a member of 
the Committee shall not be considered to be an officer or employee of 
the United States for any purpose based on their receipt of any payment 
under this subsection.
    ``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) applies to the Committee, except that the Committee 
        terminates on September 30, 2020.
            ``(2) Renewal.--2 years before the termination date set 
        forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Committee shall 
        submit to the Congress its recommendation regarding whether the 
        Committee should be renewed and continued beyond the 
        termination date.
``Sec. 705. Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Lower Mississippi 
River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in this section 
as the `Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to communication, surveillance, traffic management, 
anchorages, development and operation of New Orleans Vessel Traffic 
Services, and other related topics dealing with and actions relating to 
navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                24 members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall have expertise, knowledge, and experience 
                regarding the transportation, equipment, and techniques 
                that are used to ship cargo and to navigate vessels on 
                the Lower Mississippi River and its connecting 
                navigable waterways, including the Gulf of Mexico.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (D), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) 5 members representing River Port 
                        Authorities between Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and 
                        the head of passes of the Lower Mississippi 
                        River, of which--
                                    ``(I) 1 member shall be from the 
                                Port of St. Bernard; and
                                    ``(II) 1 member from the Port of 
                                Plaquemines.
                            ``(ii) 2 members representing vessel owners 
                        or ship owners domiciled in the State of 
                        Louisiana.
                            ``(iii) 2 members representing 
                        organizations which operate harbor tugs or 
                        barge fleets in the geographical area covered 
                        by the Committee.
                            ``(iv) 2 members representing companies 
                        which transport cargo or passengers on the 
                        navigable waterways in the geographical area 
                        covered by the Committee.
                            ``(v) 3 members representing State 
                        Commissioned Pilot organizations, with 1 member 
                        each representing--
                                    ``(I) the New Orleans-Baton Rouge 
                                Steamship Pilots Association;
                                    ``(II) the Crescent River Port 
                                Pilots Association; and
                                    ``(III) the Association Branch 
                                Pilots.
                            ``(vi) 3 members representing consumers, 
                        shippers, or importers and exporters that 
                        utilize vessels which utilize the navigable 
                        waterways covered by the Committee.
                            ``(vii) 2 members representing those 
                        licensed merchant mariners, other than pilots, 
                        who perform shipboard duties on those vessels 
                        which utilize navigable waterways covered by 
                        the Committee.
                            ``(viii) 1 member representing an 
                        organization that serves in a consulting or 
                        advisory capacity to the maritime industry.
                            ``(ix) 1 member representing an 
                        environmental organization.
                    ``(D) Additional members.--
                            ``(i) In general.--3 members of the 
                        Committee shall represent the general public.
                            ``(ii) Water transportation facilities.--
                        Whenever possible, 2 of the 3 members who 
                        represent the general public shall be 
                        individuals who utilize water transportation 
                        facilities located in the geographic area that 
                        the Committee covers.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18--
                    ``(A) each member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the point of view of an 
                entity or group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby 
                deemed a representative of the member's respective 
                special interest entity or group, and not a special 
                Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
                title 18); and
                    ``(B) each member of the Committee, whom the 
                Secretary appoints to represent the general public, is 
                hereby deemed a special Government employee (as defined 
                in section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extension.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                    ``(B) Vacancy.--In the case of an appointment to 
                fill a vacancy on the Committee, the Secretary shall 
                appoint an individual for a full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
shall, whenever practicable, consult with the Committee before taking 
any significant action relating to navigation safety in the Lower 
Mississippi River.
    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 706. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Merchant Marine 
Personnel Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including 
training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness 
standards.
    ``(c) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each calendar 
year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee).
    ``(d) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 19 
        members.
            ``(2) Points of view.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
        (C), each member of the Committee shall represent the point of 
        view of an entity or group, as follows:
                    ``(A) 9 members representing the interests of 
                mariners--
                            ``(i) each of whom--
                                    ``(I) shall be a citizen of the 
                                United States; and
                                    ``(II) shall hold an active license 
                                or certificate issued under chapter 71 
                                of this title or a merchant mariner 
                                document issued under chapter 73 of 
                                this title; and
                            ``(ii) among whom shall be--
                                    ``(I) 3 deck officers representing 
                                the interests of merchant marine deck 
                                officers, of whom--
                                            ``(aa) 2 shall be licensed 
                                        for oceans any gross tons;
                                            ``(bb) 1 shall be licensed 
                                        for inland river route with a 
                                        limited or unlimited tonnage;
                                            ``(cc) 2 shall have a 
                                        master's license or a master of 
                                        towing vessels license;
                                            ``(dd) 1 shall have 
                                        significant tanker experience; 
                                        and
                                            ``(ee) to the extent 
                                        practicable--

                                                    ``(AA) 1 shall 
                                                represent the interests 
                                                of labor; and

                                                    ``(BB) 1 shall 
                                                represent the interests 
                                                of management;

                                    ``(II) 3 engineering officers 
                                representing the interests of merchant 
                                marine engineering officers, of whom--
                                            ``(aa) 2 shall be licensed 
                                        as chief engineer any 
                                        horsepower;
                                            ``(bb) 1 shall be licensed 
                                        as either a limited chief 
                                        engineer or a designated duty 
                                        engineer; and
                                            ``(cc) to the extent 
                                        practicable--

                                                    ``(AA) 1 shall 
                                                represent the interests 
                                                of labor; and

                                                    ``(BB) 1 shall 
                                                represent the interests 
                                                of management;

                                    ``(III) 2 unlicensed seamen, of 
                                whom--
                                            ``(aa) 1 shall represent 
                                        the interests of able-bodied 
                                        seamen; and
                                            ``(bb) 1 shall represent 
                                        the interests of qualified 
                                        members of the engine 
                                        department; and
                                    ``(IV) 1 pilot representing the 
                                interests of merchant marine pilots.
                    ``(B) 6 members representing the interests of 
                marine educators--
                            ``(i) each of whom shall be a marine 
                        educator; and
                            ``(ii) among whom shall be--
                                    ``(I) 3 marine educators who shall 
                                represent the interests of maritime 
                                academies, including--
                                            ``(aa) 2 who shall 
                                        represent the interests of 
                                        State maritime academies; and
                                            ``(bb) 1 who shall 
                                        represent either the viewpoint 
                                        of the State maritime academies 
                                        or the United States Merchant 
                                        Marine Academy; and
                                    ``(II) 3 marine educators who shall 
                                represent the interests of other 
                                maritime training institutions, 1 of 
                                whom shall represent the interests of 
                                the small vessel industry.
                    ``(C) 2 members representing the interests of 
                shipping companies employed in ship operation 
                management.
                    ``(D) 2 members of the Committee shall represent 
                the general public.
            ``(3) Status of members.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
                including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and 
                chapter 11 of title 18--
                            ``(i) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                        Secretary appoints to represent the point of 
                        view of an entity or group set out in paragraph 
                        (2)(B), is hereby deemed a representative of 
                        the member's respective special interest entity 
                        or group, and not a special Government employee 
                        (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18); and
                            ``(ii) a member of the Committee, whom the 
                        Secretary appoints to represent the general 
                        public, is hereby deemed a special Government 
                        employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 
                        18).
                    ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                section shall be construed to prohibit the nomination 
                or appointment of a Federal employee to serve as a 
                member of the Committee representing the interests of 
                the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointment.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Soliciting nominations.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary may--
                            ``(i) with regard to the appointment of a 
                        member or members to represent the interests of 
                        the State maritime academies, solicit 
                        nominations for membership on the Committee 
                        from each State maritime academy or a joint 
                        nomination from some or all State maritime 
                        academies; and
                            ``(ii) with regard to the appointment of a 
                        member to represent the interests of the United 
                        States Merchant Marine Academy, solicit a 
                        nomination for membership on the Committee from 
                        the Secretary of Transportation.
                    ``(D) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 707. Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Merchant Mariner 
Medical Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to--
            ``(1) medical certification determinations of merchant 
        mariners;
            ``(2) medical standards and guidelines for the physical 
        qualifications of operators of commercial vessels;
            ``(3) medical examiner education; and
            ``(4) medical research.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                14 members.
                    ``(B) Restriction.--No member of the Committee 
                shall be a regular Federal employee.
                    ``(C) Experience.--Of the members of the 
                Committee--
                            ``(i) 10 members shall be healthcare 
                        professionals with particular expertise, 
                        knowledge, or experience regarding the medical 
                        examinations of merchant mariners or 
                        occupational medicine; and
                            ``(ii) 4 members shall be professional 
                        mariners with knowledge and experience in 
                        mariners' occupational requirements.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby deemed a 
        special Government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of 
        title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 708. National Boating Safety Advisory Council
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National Boating 
Safety Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the `Council').
    ``(b) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Council shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Council shall consist of 21 
                members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Council shall 
                have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in 
                recreational boating safety.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (D), each member of the Council shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) 7 members representing State 
                        officials responsible for State boating safety 
                        programs.
                            ``(ii) 7 members representing 
                        manufacturers, wholesale distributors, or 
                        retail distributors of recreational vessels or 
                        associated equipment.
                            ``(iii) At least 5 members representing 
                        national recreational boating organizations.
                    ``(D) Additional members.--Not more than 2 members 
                of the Council may represent the general public.
                    ``(E) Panels.--Additional individuals from an 
                entity or group set out in subparagraph (C) may be 
                appointed to panels of the Council to assist the 
                Council in performing its duties.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18--
                    ``(A) a member of the Council, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent the point of view of an entity or 
                group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby deemed a 
                representative of the member's respective special 
                interest entity or group, and not a special Government 
                employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18); 
                and
                    ``(B) in the event that the Secretary appoints a 
                member to represent the general public, such member of 
                the Council is hereby deemed a special Government 
                employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Council.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Council.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Council.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Council more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Council shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Council shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (1), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Council to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Council as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Council as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Council, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Council in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(c) Consultation.--In addition to the consultation required by 
section 4302 of this title, the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
designee) shall, whenever practicable, consult with the Council on 
boating safety matters related to chapter 131 of this title.
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Council.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 709. National Maritime Security Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National Maritime 
Security Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to national maritime security.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                not less than 8 members, but not more than 12 members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall have at least 5 years practical experience in 
                maritime security operations.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall represent the point of view of an entity or 
                group, as follows:
                            ``(i) At least 1 member representing the 
                        port authorities.
                            ``(ii) At least 1 member representing the 
                        facilities owners or operators.
                            ``(iii) At least 1 member representing the 
                        terminal owners or operators.
                            ``(iv) At least 1 member representing the 
                        vessel owners or operators.
                            ``(v) At least 1 member representing the 
                        maritime labor organizations.
                            ``(vi) At least 1 member representing the 
                        academic community.
                            ``(vii) At least 1 member representing 
                        State or local governments.
                            ``(viii) At least 1 member representing the 
                        maritime industry.
                            ``(ix) Not more than 4 members, each 
                        representing an entity or group, the point of 
                        view of which or the area of expertise of which 
                        the Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
                        determines would aid the Committee's 
                        deliberations.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18, each member of the Committee is hereby deemed a 
        representative of the member's respective special interest 
        entity or group, and not a special Government employee (as 
        defined in section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall appoint members 
                        to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of an 
                        individual in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Background examinations.--The Secretary may 
                require an individual to have passed an appropriate 
                security background examination before appointment to 
                the Committee.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 710. National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a National Offshore 
Safety Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the 
`Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to activities directly involved with, or in support of, the 
exploration of offshore mineral and energy resources insofar as such 
activities relate to matters within Coast Guard jurisdiction.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                15 members.
                    ``(B) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (C), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) 2 members representing companies, 
                        organizations, enterprises, or similar entities 
                        engaged in the production of petroleum.
                            ``(ii) 2 members representing companies, 
                        organizations, enterprises, or similar entities 
                        engaged in offshore drilling.
                            ``(iii) 2 members representing companies, 
                        organizations, enterprises or similar entities 
                        engaged in the support, by offshore supply 
                        vessels or other vessels, of offshore 
                        operations.
                            ``(iv) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        engaged in the construction of offshore 
                        facilities.
                            ``(v) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        providing diving services to the offshore 
                        industry.
                            ``(vi) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        providing safety and training services to the 
                        offshore industry.
                            ``(vii) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        providing subsea engineering, construction or 
                        remotely operated vehicle support to the 
                        offshore industry.
                            ``(viii) 2 members representing employees 
                        of companies, organizations, enterprises or 
                        similar entities engaged in offshore 
                        operations, 1 of whom should have recent 
                        practical experience on vessels or units 
                        involved in the offshore industry.
                            ``(ix) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        providing environmental protection, compliance 
                        or response services to the offshore industry.
                            ``(x) 1 member representing a company, 
                        organization, enterprise or similar entity 
                        engaged in offshore oil exploration or 
                        production on the Outer Continental Shelf of 
                        Alaska.
                    ``(C) Additional member.--1 member of the Committee 
                shall represent the general public.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18--
                    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent the point of view of an entity or 
                group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby deemed a 
                representative of the member's respective special 
                interest entity or group, and not a special Government 
                employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18); 
                and
                    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent the general public, is hereby 
                deemed a special Government employee (as defined in 
                section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate one member of 
                the Committee as the Chairperson and another member of 
                the Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom 
                shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 711. Navigation Safety Advisory Council
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Navigation Safety 
Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the `Council').
    ``(b) Function.--The Council, acting through the Commandant (or the 
Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, report 
to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to 
maritime collisions, rammings and groundings, Inland Rules of the Road, 
International Rules of the Road, navigation regulations and equipment, 
routing measures, marine information, and aids to navigation systems.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Council shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Council shall consist of not 
                more than 21 members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Council shall 
                have expertise in Inland and International vessel 
                navigation Rules of the Road, aids to maritime 
                navigation, maritime law, vessel safety, or port 
                safety.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Each member of the Council 
                shall represent the point of view of one of the 
                following entities or groups:
                            ``(i) Commercial vessel owners or 
                        operators.
                            ``(ii) Professional mariners.
                            ``(iii) Recreational boaters.
                            ``(iv) State agencies responsible for 
                        vessel or port safety.
                            ``(v) The Maritime Law Association.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18, each member of the Council is hereby deemed a 
        representative of the member's respective special interest 
        entity or group, and not a special Government employee (as 
        defined in section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Council.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Council.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of a 
                        nominee in making an appointment to the 
                        Council.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Council more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Council shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Council shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Council to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Council as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Council as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Council, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Council in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Council.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
``Sec. 712. Towing Safety Advisory Committee
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Towing Safety Advisory 
Committee (referred to in this section as the `Committee').
    ``(b) Function.--The Committee, acting through the Commandant (or 
the Commandant's designee), is authorized to advise, consult with, 
report to, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
relating to shallow-draft inland navigation, coastal waterway 
navigation, and towing safety.
    ``(c) Organization.--
            ``(1) Meeting.--The Committee shall, at least once each 
        calendar year, meet at the call of the Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 
                18 members.
                    ``(B) Experience.--Each member of the Committee 
                shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and 
                experience regarding--
                            ``(i) shallow-draft inland navigation or 
                        coastal waterway navigation; and
                            ``(ii) towing safety.
                    ``(C) Points of view.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (D), each member of the Committee shall 
                represent the point of view of an entity or group, as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) 7 members representing the barge and 
                        towing industry, reflecting a regional 
                        geographic balance.
                            ``(ii) 1 member representing the offshore 
                        mineral and oil supply vessel industry.
                            ``(iii) 1 member representing Masters or 
                        Pilots of towing vessels who have experience on 
                        the Western Rivers and the Gulf Intracoastal 
                        Waterway.
                            ``(iv) 1 member representing Masters of 
                        towing vessels who have experience in offshore 
                        service.
                            ``(v) 1 member representing Masters of 
                        towing vessels who have experience in harbor-
                        assist operations.
                            ``(vi) 1 member representing towing vessel 
                        engineers.
                            ``(vii) 2 members representing port 
                        districts, authorities, or terminal operators.
                            ``(viii) 1 member representing shippers.
                            ``(ix) 1 member representing shippers who 
                        are engaged in the chartering or shipping of 
                        oil or hazardous materials by barge.
                    ``(D) Additional members.--2 members of the 
                Committee shall represent the general public.
            ``(3) Status of members.--For the purposes of Federal law, 
        including the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and chapter 11 
        of title 18--
                    ``(A) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent the point of view of an entity or 
                group set out in paragraph (2)(C), is hereby deemed a 
                representative of the member's respective special 
                interest entity or group, and not a special Government 
                employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18); 
                and
                    ``(B) a member of the Committee, whom the Secretary 
                appoints to represent the general public, is hereby 
                deemed a special Government employee (as defined in 
                section 202(a) of title 18).
            ``(4) Nominations; appointments; service.--
                    ``(A) Nominations.--As necessary, the Secretary 
                shall publish, in the Federal Register, a notice 
                soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
                    ``(B) Appointments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--After timely notice is 
                        published, the Secretary shall, as necessary, 
                        appoint members to the Committee.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary may not 
                        seek, consider, or otherwise use information 
                        concerning the political affiliation of an 
                        individual in making an appointment to the 
                        Committee.
                            ``(iii) Reappointments.--The Secretary may 
                        reappoint a member to the Committee more than 
                        once.
                    ``(C) Service.--Each member of the Committee shall 
                serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
            ``(5) Term; vacancy.--
                    ``(A) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term of each member 
                        of the Committee shall expire on December 31 of 
                        the third full year after the effective date of 
                        the appointment.
                            ``(ii) Extensions.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), paragraph (4), or any other provision of 
                        law or policy, the Commandant (or the 
                        Commandant's designee) may extend the term of a 
                        member of the Committee to December 31 of the 
                        fifth full year after the effective date of the 
                        appointment.
                            ``(iii) Vacancy.--In the case of an 
                        appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee, 
                        the Secretary shall appoint an individual for a 
                        full term.
            ``(6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) shall designate 1 member of the 
                Committee as the Chairperson and another member of the 
                Committee as the Vice Chairperson, both of whom shall 
                serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) and for a 
                term to be fixed by the Commandant (or the Commandant's 
                designee).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--The Commandant (or the 
                Commandant's designee) may solicit, from the Committee, 
                recommendations with regard to the members whom the 
                Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) shall 
                designate as the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson.
                    ``(C) Vacancy.--The Vice Chairperson shall act as 
                Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of, or in the 
                event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chairperson.
            ``(7) Designated federal officer.--The Commandant (or the 
        Commandant's designee) shall designate a Designated Federal 
        Officer to the Committee in accordance with the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(d) Consultation.--The Commandant (or the Commandant's designee) 
shall, whenever practicable, consult with the Committee before taking 
any significant action affecting shallow-draft inland navigation, 
coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety.
    ``(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the Committee.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of chapters.--The table of chapters for subtitle 
        I of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:

``7. Coast Guard advisory committees........................     701.''
            (2) Commercial fishing safety advisory committee.--
                    (A) Repeal.--Section 4508 of title 46, United 
                States Code, is repealed.
                    (B) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
                chapter 45 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking the item relating to section 4508.
            (3) Great lakes pilotage advisory committee.--
                    (A) Repeal.--Section 9307 of title 46, United 
                States Code, is repealed.
                    (B) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
                chapter 93 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking the item relating to section 9307.
            (4) Lower mississippi river waterway safety advisory 
        committee.--Section 19 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
        1991 (Public Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2215) is repealed.
            (5) Merchant marine personnel advisory committee.--
                    (A) Repeal.--Section 8108 of title 46, United 
                States Code, is repealed.
                    (B) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
                chapter 81 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking the item relating to section 8108.
            (6) Merchant mariner medical advisory committee.--
                    (A) Repeal.--Section 7115 of title 46, United 
                States Code, is repealed.
                    (B) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
                chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking the item relating to section 7115.
            (7) National boating safety advisory council.--
                    (A) Repeal.--Section 13110 of title 46, United 
                States Code, is repealed.
                    (B) Table of contents.--The table of contents of 
                chapter 131 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
                by striking the item relating to section 13110.
                    (C) Technical amendment.--Section 4302(c)(4) of 
                title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 
                ``13110'' and inserting ``708''.
            (8) National maritime security advisory committee.--Section 
        109(a)(1) of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 
        (46 U.S.C. 70101 note) is amended by striking ``section 70112 
        of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act'' and 
        inserting ``section 709 of title 46, United States Code''.
            (9) Navigation safety advisory council.--Section 5 of the 
        Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 U.S.C. 2073) is 
        repealed.
            (10) Towing safety advisory committee.--The Act to 
        establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department 
        of Transportation, approved October 6, 1980, (33 U.S.C. 1231a) 
        is repealed.
    (c) Area Maritime Security Advisory Committees.--
            (1) In general.--Section 70112 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Maritime Security 
                Advisory Committees'' and inserting ``Area Maritime 
                Security Advisory Committees'';
                    (B) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Establishment of Committees.--
            ``(1) The Secretary may--
                    ``(A) establish an Area Maritime Security Advisory 
                Committee for any port area of the United States; and
                    ``(B) request an Area Maritime Security Committee 
                to review the proposed Area Maritime Transportation 
                Security Plan developed under section 70103(b) and make 
                recommendations to the Secretary that the Committee 
                considers appropriate.
            ``(2) Each Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee--
                    ``(A) may advise, consult with, report to, and make 
                recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to 
                maritime security in that area;
                    ``(B) may make available to the Congress 
                recommendations that the Committee makes to the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(C) shall meet at the call of--
                            ``(i) the Secretary, who shall call such a 
                        meeting at least once during each calendar 
                        year; or
                            ``(ii) a majority of the Committee.'';
                    (C) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of the 
                        committees'' and inserting ``Area Maritime 
                        Security Advisory Committee'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (3)--
                                    (I) by striking ``such a 
                                committee'' and inserting ``an Area 
                                Maritime Security Advisory Committee''; 
                                and
                                    (II) by striking ``the committee'' 
                                and inserting ``an Area Maritime 
                                Security Advisory Committee'';
                            (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the 
                        Committee'' and inserting ``an Area Maritime 
                        Security Advisory Committee''; and
                            (iv) in paragraph (5)--
                                    (I) by striking subparagraph (A); 
                                and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                striking ``(b)'' and indenting 
                                appropriately;
                    (D) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``committee'' 
                and inserting ``Area Maritime Security Advisory 
                Committee'';
                    (E) by striking subsection (d);
                    (F) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) 
                as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively;
                    (G) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                            (i) by striking ``the Committee'' and 
                        inserting ``an Area Maritime Security Advisory 
                        Committee''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting ``for an area.'';
                    (H) in subsection (e), as redesignated--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a 
                        committee'' and inserting ``an Area Maritime 
                        Security Advisory Committee''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``such a 
                        committee'' and inserting ``an Area Maritime 
                        Security Advisory Committee''; and
                    (I) by amending subsection (f), as redesignated, to 
                read as follows:
    ``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act; Termination Date.--
            ``(1) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) does not apply to Area Maritime Security Advisory 
        Committees established under this section.
            ``(2) Termination.--The Area Maritime Security Advisory 
        Committees shall terminate on September 30, 2027.''.
    (d) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 701 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended in the item relating to 
section 70112 by striking ``Maritime Security Advisory Committees'' and 
inserting ``Area Maritime Security Advisory Committees''.
    (e) Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee; 
Repeal.--Section 18 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 
(Public Law 102-241; 105 Stat. 2213) is repealed.
    (f) Transition of Coast Guard Advisory Committees.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the amendments made under 
        subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an advisory committee 
        described in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall continue to 
        be subject to the requirements under law to which such advisory 
        committee was subject as in effect on the day before the date 
        of enactment of this Act, including its charter, and the 
        members appointed to such advisory committee shall continue to 
        serve pursuant thereto, until the Secretary of the department 
        in which the Coast Guard is operating makes the applicable 
        appointments under sections 702 through 712 of title 46, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Coast guard advisory committees.--An advisory committee 
        described in this paragraph is as follows:
                    (A) Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee.
                    (B) Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee 
                established under section 4508 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (C) Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee 
                established under section 9307 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (D) Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety 
                Advisory Committee established under section 19 of the 
                Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-
                241; 105 Stat. 2215).
                    (E) Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee 
                established under section 8108 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (F) Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee 
                established under section 7115 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (G) National Boating Safety Advisory Council 
                established under section 13110 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (H) National Maritime Security Advisory Committee 
                established under section 70112 of title 46, United 
                States Code.
                    (I) National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee.
                    (J) Navigation Safety Advisory Council established 
                under section 5 of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 
                1980 (33 U.S.C. 2073).
                    (K) Towing Safety Advisory Committee established 
                under the Act entitled the ``Act to establish a Towing 
                Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of 
                Transportation'', approved October 6, 1980 (33 U.S.C. 
                1231a).
            (3) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
        the Coast Guard is operating shall make the appointments, and 
        file any necessary charters, under sections 702 through 712 of 
        title 46, United States Code.

SEC. 302. CLARIFICATION OF LOGBOOK AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 11304 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``an official logbook, which'' and 
                inserting ``a logbook, which may be in any form, 
                including electronic, and''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or a ferry, passenger vessel, or 
                small passenger vessel (as those terms are defined in 
                section 2101)'' after ``Canada''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``log book'' and inserting ``logbook''; and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Each illness or injury, the nature of the illness or 
        injury, and any medical treatment administered.''.

SEC. 303. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS; LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OF REGISTRY, 
              AND MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS.

    Part E of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 7106(b), by striking ``merchant mariner's 
        document'' and inserting ``license'';
            (2) in section 7107(b), by striking ``merchant mariner's 
        document'' and inserting ``certificate of registry''; and
            (3) in section 7507(b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``licenses or 
                certificates of registry'' and inserting ``merchant 
                mariner documents''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``a merchant 
                mariner's document'' and inserting ``a license or a 
                certificate of registry.''.

SEC. 304. NUMBERING FOR UNDOCUMENTED BARGES.

    Chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 12102--
                    (A) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
                following: ``The Secretary may require such an 
                undocumented barge more than 100 gross tons operating 
                on the navigable waters of the United States to be 
                numbered under chapter 123 of this title.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``Secretary of 
                Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of the 
                department in which the Coast Guard is operating''; and
            (2) in section 12301--
                    (A) by striking subsection (b); and
                    (B) by striking the subsection designation in 
                subsection (a) and indenting appropriately.

SEC. 305. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS; EXEMPTION FROM THROWABLE PERSONAL 
              FLOTATION DEVICES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall revise section 175.17 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, 
to exempt paddleboards and rafts from the requirement for carriage of 
an additional throwable personal flotation device if each person is 
required to wear a personal flotation device while under way and at 
least 1 rescue throw bag, as typically used in whitewater rafting, is 
on board.

SEC. 306. ENSURING MARITIME COVERAGE.

    In order to meet all of the mission requirements of its maritime 
response program, as the Coast Guard recapitalizes assets, it shall 
ensure continuity of the coverage currently provided by that program to 
locations that may lose assets.

SEC. 307. DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALTERNATE SAFETY COMPLIANCE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 4503(d) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``After January 1, 
        2020,'' and all that follows through ``the Secretary, if'' and 
        inserting ``Subject to paragraph (3), beginning on the date 
        that is 3 years after the date that the Secretary prescribes an 
        alternate safety compliance program, a fishing vessel, fish 
        processing vessel, or fish tender vessel to which section 
        4502(b) of this title applies shall comply with the alternate 
        safety compliance program if'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``establishes standards 
        for an alternate safety compliance program, shall comply with 
        such an alternative safety compliance program that is developed 
        in cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and 
        prescribed by the Secretary'' and inserting ``prescribes an 
        alternate safety compliance program under paragraph (1), shall 
        comply with the alternate safety compliance program''; and
            (3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), a separate alternate 
        safety compliance program may be developed for a specific 
        region or specific fishery.''.
    (b) Final Rule.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall issue a final rule implementing the alternate safety 
compliance programs under section 4503 of title 46, United States Code, 
as amended by subsection (a) of this section.

SEC. 308. FISHING, FISH TENDER, AND FISH PROCESSING VESSEL 
              CERTIFICATION.

    (a) Nonapplication.--Section 4503(c)(2)(A) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``79'' and inserting ``180''.
    (b) Determining When Keel Is Laid.--Section 4503 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) For purposes of this section, a keel is laid when a 
structure, adequate of serving as a keel for a vessel greater than 79 
feet in length is identified for use in the construction of a specific 
vessel and is so affirmed by a marine surveyor.''.

SEC. 309. TERMINATION OF UNSAFE OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

    Section 4505 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``4503(1)'' and inserting ``4503(a)''.

SEC. 310. INSTALLATION AND USE OF ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES ON 
              RECREATIONAL VESSEL.

    (a) Use of Engine Cut-off Switch Links.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Secretary of the department in which 
        the Coast Guard is operating shall revise the regulations under 
        part 175 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, to prohibit 
        a person from operating a recreational vessel 25 feet or less 
        in length unless--
                    (A) the person is wearing an engine cut-off switch 
                link while operating on plane or above displacement 
                speed; and
                    (B) the engine cut-off switch is factory equipped 
                on the primary propulsion machinery.
            (2) Exceptions.--The requirement under paragraph (1) shall 
        not apply to the following:
                    (A) A vessel 25 feet or less in length whose main 
                helm is installed within an enclosed cabin that would 
                protect an operator from being thrown overboard should 
                the operator be displaced from the helm.
                    (B) A vessel with propulsion machinery developing 
                static thrust of less than 115 pounds or 3 horsepower.
                    (C) A vessel without factory equipped engine cut-
                off switches.
    (b) Installation of Engine Cut-off Switches.--The Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall revise the 
regulations under part 183 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
require an equipment manufacturer, distributor, or dealer that installs 
propulsion machinery and associate starting controls on a recreational 
vessel 25 feet or less in length and capable of developing at least 115 
pounds of static thrust to install an engine cut-off switch on such 
recreational vessel in accordance with the American Boat and Yacht 
Standard A-33, as amended.
    (c) Penalty.--A person that violates a regulation promulgated under 
subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty 
under section 4311 of title 46, United States Code, not to exceed--
            (1) $100 for the first offense;
            (2) $250 for the second offense; and
            (3) $500 for any subsequent offense.
    (d) Preemption.--In accordance with section 4306 of title 46, 
United States Code, a State may not establish, continue in effect, or 
enforce any law or regulation addressing engine cut-off switch 
requirements that is not identical to a regulation prescribed under 
this section.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Engine cut-off switch.--The term ``engine cut-off 
        switch'' means a mechanical or electronic device that is 
        connected to propulsion machinery that will stop propulsion 
        if--
                    (A) the switch is not properly connected; or
                    (B) the switch components are submerged in water or 
                separated from the switch by a predetermined distance.
            (2) Engine cut-off switch link.--The term ``engine cut-off 
        switch link'' means the equipment attached to the recreational 
        vessel operator and which activates the engine cut-off switch.
    (f) Effective Dates.--A regulation prescribed under this section 
shall specify an effective date that is not earlier than 1 year from 
the date the regulation was published.

SEC. 311. VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS AND ALTERNATIVE USE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall develop a performance standard for the 
alternative use and possession of visual distress signals as mandated 
by carriage requirements for recreational boats in subpart C of part 
175 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the performance 
standard for alternative use and possession of a visual distress signal 
is finalized, the Secretary shall revise part 175 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations, to allow for carriage of such alternative signal 
devices.
    (c) EPIRBs and PLBs.--In revising the regulations under subsection 
(b), the Secretary shall allow use of position indicating radio beacons 
(EPIRBs) or Personal Locating Devices (PLBs) of 406 megahertz, 
operating on the COSPAS-SARSAT system, to meet the alternative carriage 
requirements for recreational boats under subpart C of part 175 of 
title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 312. RENEWAL PERIOD FOR DOCUMENTED RECREATIONAL VESSELS.

    Section 12114 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(d) Issuance of Certificate of Documentation.--The Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating is authorized to 
issue certificates of documentation with effective periods of 1 year, 2 
years, 3 years, 4 years, or 5 years.
            ``(1) Phased in issuance of certificates.--
                    ``(A) In fiscal year 2019, vessel owners or 
                operators with vessel documentation numbers ending in 
                0, 1, 2, 3 shall be qualified to apply for a renewal 
                certificate of documentation with an effective period 
                of 5 years. Alternatively, vessel owners or operators 
                with vessel documentation numbers ending in 0, 1, 2, 3 
                may elect to apply for a renewal certificate of 
                documentation with an effective period of 1 year, 2 
                years, 3 years, or 4 years. All other vessel owners and 
                operators shall be qualified to apply for an initial or 
                renewal certificate with an effective period of 1 year.
                    ``(B) In fiscal year 2020, vessel owners or 
                operators with vessel documentation numbers ending in 
                4, 5, or 6 shall be qualified to apply for a renewal 
                certificate of documentation with an effective period 
                of 5 years. Alternatively, vessel owners or operators 
                with vessel documentation numbers ending in 4, 5, or 6 
                may elect to apply for a renewal certificate of 
                documentation with an effective period of 1 year, 2 
                years, 3 years, or 4 years. All other vessel owners and 
                operators shall be qualified to apply for an initial or 
                renewal certificate with an effective period of 1 year.
                    ``(C) In fiscal year 2021, vessel owners or 
                operators with vessel documentation numbers ending in 
                7, 8, or 9 shall be qualified to apply for an initial 
                or renewal certificate of documentation with an 
                effective period of 5 years. Alternatively, vessel 
                owners or operators with vessel documentation numbers 
                ending in 7, 8, or 9 may elect to apply for an initial 
                or renewal certificate of documentation with an 
                effective period of 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or 4 
                years. All other vessel owners and operators shall be 
                qualified to apply for an initial or renewal 
                certificate with an effective period of 1 year.
                    ``(D) Starting in fiscal year 2022 all vessel 
                owners and operators shall be qualified to apply for a 
                renewal certificate of documentation with effective 
                periods of 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, or 5 
                years.
                    ``(E) Starting in fiscal year 2019 vessel owners 
                and operators applying for an initial certificate of 
                documentation may apply for such documentation with an 
                effective period of 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 
                or 5 years.
            ``(2) Application for renewal.--Applications for renewal 
        may be submitted no earlier than 90 days prior to the 
        expiration date of a certificate of documentation.
            ``(3) Fees.--
                    ``(A) For fiscal years 2019 through 2021, the 
                Secretary shall collect the following fees from vessel 
                owners or operators:
                            ``(i) For a certificate of documentation 
                        with an effective period of 5 years the fee 
                        collected from the vessel owner or operator 
                        shall be $130.
                            ``(ii) For a certificate of documentation 
                        with an effective period of 4 years the fee 
                        collected from the vessel owner or operator 
                        shall be $104.
                            ``(iii) For a certificate of documentation 
                        with an effective period of 3 years the fee 
                        collected from the vessel owner or operator 
                        shall be $78.
                            ``(iv) For a certificate of documentation 
                        with an effective period of 2 years the fee 
                        collected from the vessel owner or operator 
                        shall be $52.
                            ``(v) For a certificate of documentation 
                        with an effective period of 1 year the fee 
                        collected from the vessel owner or operator 
                        shall be $26.
                    ``(B) For fiscal years 2022 and thereafter, such 
                fees shall be published in the Federal Register as a 
                direct final rule. Such rulemaking shall be exempt from 
                the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
                (Public Law 79-404; 60 Stat 237).
            ``(4) Funds availability.--Fees collected for the issuance 
        of certificates of documentation by the Secretary of the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating--
                    ``(A) shall be deposited into the account that bore 
                the expense for issuance of such certificate of 
                documentation, and
                    ``(B) shall be available until expended.''.

SEC. 313. EXCEPTION FROM SURVIVAL CRAFT REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 3104 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Auxiliary Craft.--
            ``(1) Exception.--Subject to paragraph (2), this section 
        shall not apply to a vessel carrying an auxiliary craft on 
        board, except an inflatable liferaft, if the auxiliary craft--
                    ``(A) is readily accessible during an emergency; 
                and
                    ``(B) is capable of safely holding all individuals 
                on board the vessel.
            ``(2) Requirement.--A vessel described in paragraph (1) may 
        not exceed the rated capacity on the capacity plate of the 
        auxiliary craft if the auxiliary craft is equipped with a Coast 
        Guard required capacity plate.''.

SEC. 314. INLAND WATERWAY AND RIVER TENDER, AND BAY CLASS ICEBREAKER 
              ACQUISITION PLAN.

    (a) Acquisition Plan.--Not later than 545 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a plan to replace the aging fleet of inland waterway 
and river tenders, and the bay class icebreakers.
    (b) Contents.--The plan described in subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) a schedule for the acquisition to begin;
            (2) the date the first vessel will be delivered;
            (3) the date the acquisition will be complete;
            (4) a description of the order and location of 
        replacements;
            (5) an estimate of the cost per vessel and for total 
        acquisition program of record; and
            (6) an analysis of whether existing vessels can be used.

SEC. 315. ARCTIC PLANNING CRITERIA.

    (a) Alternative Planning Criteria.--
            (1) In general.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard may 
        approve alternative planning criteria for the area covered by 
        the Captain of the Port Zone that includes the Arctic, or for 
        an area of lesser geographic extent than the area covered by 
        the Captain of the Port Zone that includes the Arctic, for 
        purposes of complying with subpart D and subpart J of section 
        155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, if the 
        Commandant, in addition to the requirements described in 
        sections 155.1065 and 155.5067 of that title--
                    (A) verifies that equipment included in the plan 
                has been tested and proven capable of operating in the 
                environmental conditions expected in the area in which 
                it is intended to be operated; and
                    (B) verifies that training has been conducted by 
                the equipment operators on the equipment listed in the 
                plan.
            (2) Post-approval requirements.--For each plan approved 
        under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) an alternative planning criteria provider shall 
                conduct regular exercises and drills of the plan as 
                described in the Coast Guard Preparedness for Response 
                Exercise Program guidelines; or
                    (B) an alternative planning criteria provider may 
                take credit for responses to actual spills or releases, 
                or to significant threats of a spill, instead of 
                conducting regular exercises and drills of the plan, if 
                the provider--
                            (i) documents which exercise requirements, 
                        as described in the Preparedness for Response 
                        Exercise Program guidelines, were met during 
                        the response; and
                            (ii) submits a request for credit to and 
                        receives approval from the Commandant.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the oil spill prevention and 
        response capabilities for the area covered by the Captain of 
        the Port Zone that includes the Arctic.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall include the following:
                    (A) Levels of equipment and assets.
                    (B) Location the equipment and assets that are to 
                be deployed, including an estimate of the time to 
                deploy the equipment and assets.
                    (C) A determination on the degree of how 
                effectively the assets are distributed throughout the 
                area.
                    (D) A statement on whether performance of ability 
                to deploy equipment and impact on other areas covered 
                by the Captain of the Port Zone is taken into account 
                when measuring the level of equipment available.
                    (E) Validation of port assessment visit process and 
                response resource inventory.
                    (F) A description of the resources need throughout 
                the Coast Guard to conduct port assessments, exercises, 
                response plan review and spill responses.
    (c) Definition of Arctic.--In this section, the term ``Arctic'' has 
the meaning given the term under section 112 of the Arctic Research and 
Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).

SEC. 316. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Fishing Safety Training Grant Program.--Section 4502(i)(4) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2015 through 
2017'' and inserting ``2015 through 2019''.
    (b) Fishing Safety Research Grant Program.--Section 4502(j)(4) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2015 through 
2017'' and inserting ``2015 through 2019''.

SEC. 317. SAFETY STANDARDS.

    Section 4502(f) of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2), and inserting the following:
            ``(2) shall examine at dockside a vessel described in 
        subsection (b) at least once every 5 years, but may require an 
        exam at dockside every 2 years for certain vessels described in 
        subsection (b) requested by the owner or operator;
            ``(3) shall issue a certificate of compliance to a vessel 
        meeting the requirements of this chapter and satisfying the 
        requirements in paragraph (2); and''.

SEC. 318. COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY OUTREACH STRATEGY.

    (a) Requirement for Strategy.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall develop and submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
national communications plan for the purposes of--
            (1) disseminating information to the commercial fishing 
        vessel industry;
            (2) conducting outreach with the commercial fishing vessel 
        industry;
            (3) facilitating interaction with the commercial fishing 
        vessel industry; and
            (4) releasing information collected under section 703 of 
        title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act, to the 
        commercial fishing vessel industry.
    (b) Content.--The plan required by subsection (a), and each annual 
update, shall--
            (1) employ all available staff, resources, and systems 
        available to the Secretary to ensure the widest dissemination 
        of information to the commercial fishing vessel industry;
            (2) be individually adapted as necessary by Captain of the 
        Port Zone to ensure the most effective strategy and means to 
        communicate with commercial fishing vessel industry;
            (3) include a means to document all communication and 
        outreach conducted with the commercial fishing vessel industry; 
        and
            (4) include a mechanism to measure effectiveness of such 
        plan.
    (c) Updates.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall--
            (1) update and submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives the plan required by subsection (a) not less 
        frequently than once each year; and
            (2) include input from individual Captain of the Port's and 
        any feedback received from the commercial fishing vessel 
        industry under subsection (b)(3).

                      TITLE IV--MARITIME SECURITY

SEC. 401. MARITIME BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION.

    The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating shall, in accordance with law--
            (1) partner with other Federal, State, and local government 
        agencies to leverage technology, including existing sensor and 
        camera systems and other sensors, to provide continuous 
        monitoring of the maritime border; and
            (2) enter into such agreements as the Secretary considers 
        necessary to ensure 24-hour monitoring of such technology.

SEC. 402. CURRENCY DETECTION CANINE TEAM PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Canine currency detection team.--The term ``canine 
        currency detection team'' means a canine and a canine handler 
        that are trained to detect currency.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to allow 
the use of canine currency detection teams for purposes of Coast Guard 
maritime law enforcement and maritime security operations, including 
underway vessel boardings.
    (c) Operation.--The Secretary may cooperate with, or enter into an 
agreement with, the head of another Federal agency to meet the 
requirements under subsection (b).

SEC. 403. CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE EXPENSES.

    Section 658 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``$45,000'' and inserting ``$250,000''.

SEC. 404. MONITORING OF ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED FISHING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall conduct a 1-year pilot program to determine 
the impact of persistent aircraft-based surveillance on illegal 
maritime activities in the Alaskan and Western Pacific regions.
    (b) Requirements.--The pilot program shall--
            (1) use light aircraft-based detection systems which can 
        identify potential illegal activity from higher altitudes and 
        produce enforcement-quality evidence at lower altitudes; and
            (2) be directed at detecting and deterring illegal, 
        unreported, and unregulated fishing and enhancing maritime 
        domain awareness.

SEC. 405. STRATEGIC ASSETS IN THE ARCTIC.

    (a) Definition of Arctic.--In this section, the term ``Arctic'' has 
the meaning given the term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and 
Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Arctic continues to grow in significance to both 
        the national security interests and the economic prosperity of 
        the United States; and
            (2) the Coast Guard must ensure it is positioned to respond 
        to any accident, incident, or threat with appropriate assets.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense and taking into consideration the Department of 
Defense 2016 Arctic Strategy, shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report on the progress toward implementing the strategic objectives 
described in the United States Coast Guard Arctic Strategy dated May 
2013.
    (d) Contents.--The report under subsection (c) shall include--
            (1) a description of the Coast Guard's progress toward each 
        strategic objective;
            (2) plans to provide communications throughout the entire 
        Coastal Western Alaska Captain of the Port zone to improve 
        waterway safety and mitigate close calls, collisions, and other 
        dangerous interactions between the shipping industry and 
        subsistence hunters;
            (3) plans to prevent marine casualties, when possible, by 
        ensuring vessels avoid environmentally sensitive areas and 
        permanent security zones;
            (4) an explanation of--
                    (A) whether it is feasible to establish a vessel 
                traffic service, using existing resources or otherwise; 
                and
                    (B) whether an Arctic Response Center of Expertise 
                is necessary to address the gaps in experience, skills, 
                equipment, resources, training, and doctrine to 
                prepare, respond to, and recover spilled oil in the 
                Arctic;
            (5) an assessment of whether sufficient agreements are in 
        place to ensure the Coast Guard is receiving the information it 
        needs to carry out its responsibilities;
            (6) an assessment of the assets and infrastructure 
        necessary to meet the strategic objectives identified in the 
        United States Coast Guard Arctic Strategy dated May 2013 based 
        on factors such as--
                    (A) response time;
                    (B) coverage area;
                    (C) endurance on scene;
                    (D) presence; and
                    (E) deterrence; and
            (7) an analysis of National Security Cutters, Offshore 
        Patrol Cutters, and Fast Response Cutters capabilities based on 
        the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of 
        paragraph (6), both stationed from various Alaska ports and in 
        other locations.

SEC. 406. FLEET REQUIREMENTS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating, in consultation with interested Federal and non-Federal 
stakeholders, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report including--
            (1) an assessment of Coast Guard at-sea operational fleet 
        requirements to support its statutory missions established in 
        the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.); and
            (2) a strategic plan for meeting the requirements 
        identified under paragraph (1).
    (b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) an assessment of--
                    (A) the extent to which the Coast Guard at-sea 
                operational fleet requirements are currently being met;
                    (B) the Coast Guard's current fleet, its 
                operational lifespan, and how the aging of the fleet 
                will impact at-sea operational needs;
                    (C) fleet operations and recommended improvements 
                to minimize costs and extend operational vessel life 
                spans; and
                    (D) actual cutter requirements for the Fast 
                Response Cutter, the Offshore Patrol Cutter, and the 
                National Security Cutter to meet at-sea operational 
                needs as compared to planned acquisitions under the 
                current programs of record;
            (2) an analysis of--
                    (A) how the Coast Guard at-sea operational fleet 
                requirements are currently met, including the use of 
                the Coast Guard's current cutter fleet, agreements with 
                partners, chartered vessels, and unmanned vehicle 
                technology; and
                    (B) how existing and planned cutter programs of 
                record meet the at-sea operational requirements, 
                including the Fast Response Cutter, the Offshore Patrol 
                Cutter, and the National Security Cutter; and
            (3) a description of--
                    (A) planned manned and unmanned vessel acquisition; 
                and
                    (B) how such acquisitions will change the extent to 
                which the Coast Guard at-sea operational requirements 
                are met.
    (c) Consultation and Transparency.--
            (1) Consultation.--In consulting with the Federal and non-
        Federal stakeholders under subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
        department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall--
                    (A) provide the stakeholders with opportunities for 
                input--
                            (i) prior to initially drafting the report, 
                        including the assessment and strategic plan; 
                        and
                            (ii) not later than 3 months prior to 
                        finalizing the report, including the assessment 
                        and strategic plan, for submission; and
                    (B) document the input and its disposition in the 
                report.
            (2) Transparency.--All input provided under paragraph (1) 
        shall be made available to the public.

SEC. 407. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON CERTAIN TASK FORCES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Joint Interagency Task Force 
South (referred to in this section as the ``JIATF-South'') is an 
exemplary program that executes its counter-narcotics mission with 
distinction and in a cost-effective manner.
    (b) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
study each of the following task forces and compare the execution of 
the task force's counter-narcotics and illegal migrant operation to 
that of the JIATF-South:
            (1) The Joint Interagency Task Force West (referred to in 
        this section as the ``JIATF-West'').
            (2) The Department of Homeland Security's Joint Task Forces 
        (referred to in this section as the ``DHS-JTF'').
    (c) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (b), the 
Comptroller General shall, at a minimum--
            (1) review the JIATF-West Counternarcotics Operations 
        Center and its performance of its mission to support counter-
        narcotics missions by United States law enforcement agencies;
            (2) compare the JIATF-West, DHS-JTFs, and JIATF-South 
        organizational and manning structure;
            (3) assess the JIATF-West's current organizational and 
        manning structure as it relates to JIATF-West's ability to 
        conduct counter-narcotics missions;
            (4) review the JIATF-West's December 2015-May 2017 
        reorganization initiative and its impact, if any, on improving 
        mission performance;
            (5) review the JIATF-West's leadership, including an 
        assessment of--
                    (A) the role of a Coast Guard flag officer as the 
                director as compared to the Coast Guard's role in 
                JIAFT-South; and
                    (B) the process used by the JIATF-West for 
                developing and implementing its December 2015-May 2017 
                reorganization initiative, including how it assessed 
                progress and solicited feedback on the initiative;
                    (C) its general management and personnel practices, 
                and their impact, if any, on mission performance;
            (6) include recommendations for improving the JIATF-West's 
        performance; and
            (7) review whether there is any redundancy between DHS-JTF 
        and JIATF-South or JIATF-West.
    (d) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the findings of the study under subsection 
(b), including any recommendations for improving the counter-narcotics 
and illegal migrant operations of the JIATF-West or DHS-JTF.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 501. SHIP SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE TRANSFER; REPEAL.

    Section 27 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 
102-241; 105 Stat. 2218) is repealed.

SEC. 502. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.

    (a) Expedited Hiring Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 15 of title 14, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 563 the following:
``Sec. 563a. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority
    ``For purposes of section 3304 of title 5, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may--
            ``(1) designate any category of acquisition positions 
        within the Coast Guard as shortage category positions; and
            ``(2) use the authorities in such section to recruit and 
        appoint highly qualified persons directly to positions so 
        designated.''.
            (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of chapter 15 
        of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
        the item relating to section 563 the following:

``563a. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.''.
            (3) Repeal.--Section 404 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
        Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-281; 124 Stat. 2950) is repealed.
    (b) Acquisition Workforce Reemployment Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 15 of title 14, as amended by 
        subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting 
        after section 563a the following:
``Sec. 563b. Acquisition workforce reemployment authority
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), if an 
annuitant receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and 
Disability Fund becomes employed in any category of acquisition 
positions designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard under section 
563a of this title, the annuity of an annuitant so employed shall 
continue. An annuitant so reemployed shall not be considered an 
employee for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of 
title 5.
    ``(b)(1) Election.--An annuitant retired under section 8336(d)(1) 
or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, receiving an annuity from the Civil 
Service Retirement and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in a 
position within the Coast Guard after the date of enactment of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, may elect to be subject to 
section 8344 or 8468 of such title (as the case may be).
                    ``(A) Deadline.--An election for coverage under 
                this subsection shall be filed not later than 90 days 
                after the Commandant takes reasonable actions to notify 
                employees who may file an election.
                    ``(B) Coverage.--If an employee files an election 
                under this subsection, coverage shall be effective 
                beginning on the first day of the first applicable pay 
                period beginning on or after the date of the filing of 
                the election.
            ``(2) Application.--Paragraph (1) shall apply to an 
        individual who is eligible to file an election under paragraph 
        (1) and does not file a timely election under this 
        subsection.''.
            (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of chapter 15 
        of title 14, United States Code, as amended in subsection (a) 
        of this section, is further amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 563a the following:

``563b. Acquisition workforce reemployment authority.''.

SEC. 503. DRAWBRIDGES.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            (1) to ensure the public is made aware of any temporary 
        change to a drawbridge operating schedule; and
            (2) to ensure the operators are maintaining logs of 
        drawbridge movement.
    (b) Temporary Changes to Drawbridge Operating Schedules.--Section 5 
of the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the 
construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on 
rivers and harbors, and for other purposes'', approved August 18, 1894 
(33 U.S.C. 499), is amended by adding at the end the following--
    ``(d) Temporary Changes to Drawbridge Operating Schedules.--
Notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, United States Code, whenever a 
temporary change to the operating schedule of a drawbridge, lasting 180 
days or less--
            ``(1) is approved--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of the department in which the 
                Coast Guard is operating shall--
                            ``(i) issue a deviation approval letter to 
                        the bridge owner; and
                            ``(ii) announce the temporary change in--
                                    ``(I) the Local Notice to Mariners;
                                    ``(II) broadcast notices to 
                                mariners through the Coast Guard radio 
                                station or Navy radio station, or both; 
                                or
                                    ``(III) such other local media as 
                                the Secretary considers appropriate; 
                                and
                    ``(B) the bridge owner, except a railroad bridge 
                owner, shall notify--
                            ``(i) the public by publishing notice of 
                        the temporary change in a newspaper of general 
                        circulation published in the place where the 
                        bridge is located;
                            ``(ii) the department, agency, or office of 
                        transportation with jurisdiction over the 
                        roadway that abuts the approaches to the 
                        bridge; and
                            ``(iii) the law enforcement organization 
                        with jurisdiction over the roadway that abuts 
                        the approaches to the bridge; or
            ``(2) is denied, the Secretary of the department in which 
        the Coast Guard is operating shall--
                    ``(A) not later than 10 days after the date of 
                receipt of the request, provide the bridge owner in 
                writing the reasons for the denial, including any 
                supporting data and evidence used to make the 
                determination; and
                    ``(B) provide the bridge owner a reasonable 
                opportunity to address each reason for the denial and 
                resubmit the request.
    ``(e) Drawbridge Movements.--The Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating--
            ``(1) shall require a drawbridge operator to record each 
        movement of the drawbridge in a log;
            ``(2) may inspect the log to ensure drawbridge movement is 
        in accordance with the posted operating schedule;
            ``(3) shall review whether deviations from the posted 
        operating schedule are impairing vehicular and pedestrian 
        traffic; and
            ``(4) may determine if the operating schedule should be 
        adjusted for efficiency of maritime or vehicular and pedestrian 
        traffic.''.

SEC. 504. INCENTIVE CONTRACT; COAST GUARD YARD AND INDUSTRIAL 
              ESTABLISHMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Whenever the parties to a project order for 
industrial work to be performed by the Coast Guard Yard or a designated 
Coast Guard industrial establishment agree that delivery or technical 
performance of the wage-grade industrial employees may, during the term 
of such project order, improve, the parties to such project order may, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any provision of 
law that provides for the time or purpose of appropriated funds, enter 
into an incentive project order or a cost-plus-incentive-fee project 
order by which an agreed upon amount of the adjustment to be made 
pursuant to section 648(a) of title 14, United States Code, may, 
notwithstanding that provision of law or any other provision of law, be 
distributed as an incentive to the wage-grade industrial employees who 
completed the project order.
    (b) Condition.--Before entering into an incentive project order or 
a cost-plus-incentive-fee project order, the commanding officer of the 
Coast Guard Yard or the commanding officer of the Coast Guard 
industrial establishment, as the case may be, shall complete a 
determination and finding for such incentive project order or cost-
plus-incentive-fee project order that justifies the use of such project 
order as in the best interest of the Federal Government.
    (c) Treatment of Incentive Award.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, in the event that the industrial workforce of the 
Coast Guard Yard or a Coast Guard industrial establishment satisfies 
the performance target set out in an incentive project order or a cost-
plus-incentive-fee project order--
            (1) the adjustment to be made pursuant to section 648(a) of 
        title 14, United States Code, shall, notwithstanding that 
        provision of law, be reduced by the agreed amount and 
        distributed as an incentive to such wage-grade industrial 
        employees; and
            (2) the remainder of the adjustment shall be credited to 
        the appropriation current at that time.

SEC. 505. COAST GUARD HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS; LICENSURE PORTABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 1094(d)(1) of title 10, United States 
Code, shall apply in the same manner and to the same degree as such 
section applies to a health-care professional described in subsection 
(d)(2) of that section to a health-care professional described in 
subsection (b) of this section.
    (b) Health-care Professional.--A health-care professional described 
in this subsection is a member of the Coast Guard, civilian employee of 
the Coast Guard, member of the Public Health Service assigned to the 
Coast Guard, personal services contractor under section 1091 of title 
10, United States Code, or other health-care professional credentialed 
and privileged at a Federal health care institution or location 
specially designated by the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating for this purpose who--
            (1) has a current license to practice medicine, osteopathic 
        medicine, dentistry, or another health profession; and
            (2) is performing authorized duties for the Coast Guard.

SEC. 506. LAND EXCHANGE; AYAKULIK ISLAND, ALASKA.

    (a) Land Exchange; Ayakulik Island, Alaska.--If the owner of 
Ayakulik Island, Alaska, offers to exchange the Island for the Tract--
            (1) within 10 days after receiving such offer, the 
        Secretary shall provide notice of the offer to the Commandant;
            (2) within 90 days after receiving the notice under 
        paragraph (1), the Commandant shall develop and transmit to the 
        Secretary proposed operational restrictions on commercial 
        activity conducted on the Tract, including the right of the 
        Commandant to--
                    (A) order the immediate termination, for a period 
                of up to 72 hours, of any activity occurring on or from 
                the Tract that violates or threatens to violate 1 or 
                more of such restrictions; or
                    (B) commence a civil action for appropriate relief, 
                including a permanent or temporary injunction enjoining 
                the activity that violates or threatens to violate such 
                restrictions;
            (3) within 90 days after receiving the proposed operational 
        restrictions from the Commandant, the Secretary shall transmit 
        such restrictions to the owner of Ayakulik Island; and
            (4) within 30 days after transmitting the proposed 
        operational restrictions to the owner of Ayakulik Island, and 
        if the owner agrees to such restrictions, the Secretary shall 
        convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
        and to the Tract to the owner, subject to an easement granted 
        to the Commandant to enforce such restrictions, in exchange for 
        all right, title, and interest of such owner in and to Ayakulik 
        Island.
    (b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make technical and 
conforming revisions to the boundaries of the Tract before the date of 
the exchange.
    (c) Public Land Order.--Effective on the date of an exchange under 
subsection (a), Public Land Order 5550 shall have no force or effect 
with respect to submerged lands that are part of the Tract.
    (d) Failure to Timely Respond to Notice.--If the Commandant does 
not transmit proposed operational restrictions to the Secretary within 
30 days after receiving the notice under subsection (a)(1), the 
Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after transmitting such 
notice, convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to the Tract to the owner of Ayakulik Island in exchange for all 
right, title, and interest of such owner in and to Ayakulik Island.
    (e) CERCLA.--
            (1) In general.--This section and an exchange under this 
        section shall not be construed to limit the application of or 
        otherwise affect section 120(h) of the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
        (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
            (2) Exemption.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Coast 
        Guard shall be exempt from liability under the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
        (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the 
        Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
        operating, acting through the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) Tract.--The term ``Tract'' means the land (including 
        submerged land) depicted as ``PROPOSED PROPERTY EXCHANGE AREA'' 
        on the survey titled ``PROPOSED PROPERTY EXCHANGE PARCEL'' and 
        dated March 22, 2017.

SEC. 507. ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND AMENDMENTS.

    Section 11113 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``may be appropriated 
        to the Secretary'' in the matter before subparagraph (A) and 
        inserting ``shall be available to the Secretary without further 
        appropriation, and shall remain available until expended,''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``plus a 
                surcharge of 25 percent of such total amount,'' after 
                ``seafarer,'' in the matter preceding subparagraph (A); 
                and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (4).

SEC. 508. SMALL SHIPYARD CONTRACTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 667 the following:
``Sec. 667a. Construction of Coast Guard vessels and assignment of 
              vessel projects
    ``The assignment of Coast Guard vessel conversion, alteration, and 
repair projects shall be based on economic and military considerations 
and may not be restricted by a requirement that certain parts of Coast 
Guard shipwork be assigned to a particular type of shipyard or 
geographical area or by a similar requirement.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 17 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 667 the following:

``667a. Construction of Coast Guard vessels and assignment of vessel 
                            projects.''.

SEC. 509. WESTERN CHALLENGER; CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION.

    Section 604(b) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-281; 128 Stat. 3062) is 
amended by inserting ``and a fisheries endorsement'' after 
``endorsement''.

SEC. 510. RADAR REFRESHER TRAINING.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
prescribe a final rule eliminating the requirement that a mariner 
complete an approved refresher or recertification course to maintain a 
radar observer endorsement. This rulemaking shall be exempt from the 
notice and comment requirements of section 553 of title 5, United 
States Code.

SEC. 511. VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN AUDIT.

    (a) Requirement for Audit.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall complete and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an audit of the 
verification and approval process of the Coast Guard for vessel 
response plans required under section 311 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321).
    (b) Review and Recommendations.--The audit required by subsection 
(a) shall--
            (1) review and make recommendations regarding the 
        verification and approval process of the Coast Guard for vessel 
        response plans required under section 311 of the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) for--
                    (A) the current Coast Guard staffing model and 
                organization used for such process;
                    (B) the amount of time expended by the Coast Guard 
                verifying and approving such vessel response plans; and
                    (C) the amount of time expended by the Coast Guard 
                for verification and approval of a single such vessel 
                response plan; and
            (2) include a detailed analysis of--
                    (A) such process beginning with initial submission 
                from the vessel through final approval;
                    (B) how such process ensures compliance with 
                applicable statutes and regulations;
                    (C) the role of local and regional Coast Guard 
                units in such process;
                    (D) any public comment or other forms of engagement 
                with regional stakeholders, including State governments 
                and Indian tribes;
                    (E) any engagement or utilization of Federal or 
                State agency resources and consultation, including 
                weather data systems, oil spill trajectory modeling, or 
                risk management information for the purposes of 
                reviewing vessel response plans;
                    (F) how the Coast Guard verifies availability and 
                contractual obligation of resources required in a such 
                a vessel response plan;
                    (G) the resources available and used by the Coast 
                Guard to verify operational capability and capacity of 
                equipment listed in a vessel response plan for the 
                applicable operating environment;
                    (H) how the Coast Guard verifies alternate measures 
                when a vessel cannot meet the National Planning 
                Criteria;
                    (I) the weather data, modeling software, and 
                information systems available and used by the Coast 
                Guard when determining compliance for response resource 
                mobilization times stipulated in regulation;
                    (J) how the Coast Guard factors in regional 
                specific adverse weather, as defined in section 
                155.1020 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, in 
                determining compliance for response resource 
                mobilization times stipulated in regulation;
                    (K) how the Coast Guard reviews and verifies 
                previously approved vessel response plans for 
                compliance when there is a change in statute or 
                regulation which effects response planning criteria or 
                resource mobilization times;
                    (L) the Coast Guard process for calculating 
                compliance for response resource mobilization times 
                stipulated in statute and regulation;
                    (M) how the Coast Guard verifies availability and 
                compliance with response resource mobilization 
                requirements for different geographic regions;
                    (N) how the Coast Guard ensures vessel response 
                plans are adapted and updated to account for new 
                regional response needs, such as regional trends of 
                transportation of heavy oils and volume of traffic;
                    (O) the Coast Guard processes and actions taken if 
                an approved vessel response plan is discovered to be 
                noncompliant;
                    (P) how such process could be improved; and
                    (Q) the resources needed to improve such process.

SEC. 512. CENTER OF EXPERTISE FOR GREAT LAKES OIL SPILL RESEARCH AND 
              RESPONSE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish a Center 
of Expertise for Great Lakes Oil Spill Preparedness and Response 
(referred to in this section as the ``Center of Expertise'') in 
accordance with section 58 of title 14, United States Code.
    (b) Location.--The Center of Expertise shall be located in close 
proximity to--
            (1) critical crude oil transportation infrastructure on and 
        connecting the Great Lakes, such as submerged pipelines and 
        high-traffic navigation locks; and
            (2) an institution of higher education with adequate 
        aquatic research laboratory facilities and capabilities and 
        expertise in Great Lakes aquatic ecology, environmental 
        chemistry, fish and wildlife, and water resources.
    (c) Functions.--The Center of Expertise shall--
            (1) monitor and assess, on an ongoing basis, the current 
        state of knowledge regarding freshwater oil spill response 
        technologies and the behavior and effects of oil spills in the 
        Great Lakes;
            (2) identify any significant gaps in Great Lakes oil spill 
        research, including an assessment of major scientific or 
        technological deficiencies in responses to past spills in the 
        Great Lakes and other freshwater bodies, and seek to fill those 
        gaps;
            (3) conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation 
        for freshwater oil spill response equipment, technologies, and 
        techniques to mitigate and respond to oil spills in the Great 
        Lakes;
            (4) educate and train Federal, State, and local first 
        responders located in United States Coast Guard District 9 in--
                    (A) the incident command system structure;
                    (B) Great Lakes oil spill response techniques and 
                strategies; and
                    (C) public affairs; and
            (5) work with academic and private sector response training 
        centers to develop and standardize maritime oil spill response 
        training and techniques for use on the Great Lakes.
    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Great Lakes'' means 
Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

                TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VESSELS

SEC. 601. WAIVERS FOR CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

    Section 3134 of title 40, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security,'' after 
        ``Air Force,'' each place it appears; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Commerce.--The Secretary of Commerce may waive this 
subchapter with respect to contracts for the construction, alteration, 
or repair of vessels, regardless of the terms of the contracts as to 
payment or title, when the contract is made under the Act entitled `An 
Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, and for other purposes', approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 
883a et seq.).''.

    TITLE VII--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017

SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Federal Maritime Commission 
Authorization Act of 2017''.

SEC. 702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 308 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``$24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017'' and inserting 
``$28,490,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019''.

SEC. 703. RECORD OF MEETINGS AND VOTES.

    (a) In General.--Section 303 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 303. Meetings
    ``(a) In General.--The Federal Maritime Commission shall be deemed 
to be an agency for purposes of section 552b of title 5.
    ``(b) Record.--The Commission, through its secretary, shall keep a 
record of its meetings and the votes taken on any action, order, 
contract, or financial transaction of the Commission.
    ``(c) Nonpublic Collaborative Discussions.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, 
        a majority of the Commissioners may hold a meeting that is not 
        open to public observation to discuss official agency business 
        if--
                    ``(A) no formal or informal vote or other official 
                agency action is taken at the meeting;
                    ``(B) each individual present at the meeting is a 
                Commissioner or an employee of the Commission; and
                    ``(C) the General Counsel of the Commission is 
                present at the meeting.
            ``(2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions.--
        Except as provided under paragraph (3), not later than 2 
        business days after the conclusion of a meeting under paragraph 
        (1), the Commission shall make available to the public, in a 
        place easily accessible to the public--
                    ``(A) a list of the individuals present at the 
                meeting; and
                    ``(B) a summary of the matters discussed at the 
                meeting, except for any matters the Commission properly 
                determines may be withheld from the public under 
                section 552b(c) of title 5.
            ``(3) Exception.--If the Commission properly determines 
        matters may be withheld from the public under section 555b(c) 
        of title 5, the Commission shall provide a summary with as much 
        general information as possible on those matters withheld from 
        the public.
            ``(4) Ongoing proceedings.--If a meeting under paragraph 
        (1) directly relates to an ongoing proceeding before the 
        Commission, the Commission shall make the disclosure under 
        paragraph (2) on the date of the final Commission decision.
            ``(5) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency 
        action.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit 
        the applicability of section 552b of title 5 with respect to a 
        meeting of the Commissioners other than that described in this 
        subsection.
            ``(6) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        may be construed--
                    ``(A) to limit the applicability of section 552b of 
                title 5 with respect to any information which is 
                proposed to be withheld from the public under paragraph 
                (2)(B) of this subsection; or
                    ``(B) to authorize the Commission to withhold from 
                any individual any record that is accessible to that 
                individual under section 552a of title 5.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 3 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended by amending the item relating to 
section 303 to read as follows:

``303. Meetings.''.

SEC. 704. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

    (a) Notice of Filing.--Section 40304(a) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Notice of Filing.--Not later than 7 days after the date an 
agreement is filed, the Federal Maritime Commission shall--
            ``(1) transmit a notice of the filing to the Federal 
        Register for publication; and
            ``(2) request interested persons to submit relevant 
        information and documents.''.
    (b) Request for Information and Documents.--Section 40304(d) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``section'' and 
inserting ``part''.
    (c) Saving Clause.--Nothing in this section, or the amendments made 
by this section, may be construed--
            (1) to prevent the Federal Maritime Commission from 
        requesting from a person, at any time, any additional 
        information or documents the Commission considers necessary to 
        carry out chapter 403 of title 46, United States Code;
            (2) to prescribe a specific deadline for the submission of 
        relevant information and documents in response to a request 
        under section 40304(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code; or
            (3) to limit the authority of the Commission to request 
        information under section 40304(d) of title 46, United States 
        Code.

SEC. 705. PREVENTING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.

    (a) License Requirement.--Section 40901(a) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``act'' and 
inserting ``act, including holding itself out by solicitation, 
advertisement, or otherwise,''.
    (b) Financial Responsibility.--Section 40902(a) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended, in the language preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ``act'' and inserting ``act, including holding itself out by 
solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise,''.

SEC. 706. REPORTS FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.

    Section 40104(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(a) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Federal Maritime Commission may 
        require a common carrier or marine terminal operator, or an 
        officer, receiver, trustee, lessee, agent, or employee of the 
        common carrier or marine terminal operator to file with the 
        Commission a periodical or special report, an account, record, 
        rate, or charge, or a memorandum of facts and transactions 
        related to the business of the common carrier or marine 
        terminal operator, as applicable.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The report, account, record, rate, 
        charge, or memorandum shall--
                    ``(A) be made under oath if the Commission 
                requires; and
                    ``(B) be filed in the form and within the time 
                prescribed by the Commission.''.

SEC. 707. TRANSPARENCY.

    (a) In General.--Beginning not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Maritime Commission shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives biannual reports that describe the Commission's 
progress toward addressing the issues raised in each unfinished 
regulatory proceeding, regardless of whether the proceeding is subject 
to a statutory or regulatory deadline.
    (b) Format of Reports.--Each report under subsection (a) shall, 
among other things, clearly identify for each unfinished regulatory 
proceeding--
            (1) the popular title;
            (2) the current stage of the proceeding;
            (3) an abstract of the proceeding;
            (4) what prompted the action in question;
            (5) any applicable statutory, regulatory, or judicial 
        deadline;
            (6) the associated docket number;
            (7) the date the rulemaking was initiated;
            (8) a date for the next action; and
            (9) if a date for next action identified in the previous 
        report is not met, the reason for the delay.

SEC. 708. TREATMENT OF TUG OPERATORS.

    (a) Exceptions.--Section 40307(b)(1) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``tug operators,'' after ``motor 
carriers,''.
    (b) Concerted Action.--Section 41105(4) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``non-ocean carrier'' and inserting ``tug 
        operator, non-ocean carrier,''; and
            (2) by inserting ``tug operators or'' after ``States by 
        those''.

SEC. 709. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.

    Section 41104(11) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``a tariff as required by section 40501 of this title and''.

              TITLE VIII--VESSEL INCIDENTAL DISCHARGE ACT

SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Vessel Incidental Discharge Act''.

SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Aquatic nuisance species.--The term ``aquatic nuisance 
        species'' means a nonindigenous species (including a pathogen) 
        that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or 
        the ecological stability of navigable waters of the United 
        States, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural, or 
        recreational activities dependent on such waters.
            (3) Ballast water.--The term ``ballast water'' means any 
        water and suspended matter taken on board a commercial vessel 
        to control or maintain trim, draught, stability, or stresses of 
        the commercial vessel, regardless of how it is carried.
            (4) Ballast water discharge standard.--The term ``ballast 
        water discharge standard'' means the numerical ballast water 
        discharge standard set forth in section 151.2030 of title 33, 
        Code of Federal Regulations, or section 151.1511 of such title, 
        or a revised numerical ballast water discharge standard 
        established under section 805, as applicable.
            (5) Ballast water management system.--The term ``ballast 
        water management system'' means any system (including all 
        ballast water treatment equipment and all associated control 
        and monitoring equipment) that processes ballast water to kill, 
        render harmless, or remove organisms.
            (6) Commercial vessel.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``commercial vessel'' 
                means a vessel (as defined in section 3 of title 1, 
                United States Code) that is engaged in commercial 
                service (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United 
                States Code).
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term ``commercial vessel'' does 
                not include a recreational vessel.
            (7) Discharge incidental to the normal operation of a 
        commercial vessel.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``discharge incidental to 
                the normal operation of a commercial vessel'' means--
                            (i) a discharge into navigable waters of 
                        the United States from a commercial vessel of--
                                    (I)(aa) graywater, bilge water, 
                                cooling water, oil water separator 
                                effluent, anti-fouling hull coating 
                                leachate, boiler or economizer 
                                blowdown, byproducts from cathodic 
                                protection, controllable pitch 
                                propeller and thruster hydraulic fluid, 
                                distillation and reverse osmosis brine, 
                                elevator pit effluent, firemain system 
                                effluent, freshwater layup effluent, 
                                gas turbine wash water, motor gasoline 
                                and compensating effluent, 
                                refrigeration and air condensate 
                                effluent, seawater piping biofouling 
                                prevention substances, boat engine wet 
                                exhaust, sonar dome effluent, exhaust 
                                gas scrubber washwater, or stern tube 
                                packing gland effluent; or
                                    (bb) any other pollutant associated 
                                with the operation of a marine 
                                propulsion system, shipboard 
                                maneuvering system, habitability 
                                system, or installed major equipment, 
                                or from a protective, preservative, or 
                                absorptive application to the hull of a 
                                commercial vessel;
                                    (II) deck runoff, deck washdown, 
                                above the waterline hull cleaning 
                                effluent, aqueous film forming foam 
                                effluent, chain locker effluent, non-
                                oily machinery wastewater, underwater 
                                ship husbandry effluent, welldeck 
                                effluent, or fish hold and fish hold 
                                cleaning effluent; or
                                    (III) any effluent from a properly 
                                functioning marine engine; or
                            (ii) a discharge of a pollutant into 
                        navigable waters of the United States in 
                        connection with the testing, maintenance, or 
                        repair of a system, equipment, or engine 
                        described in subclause (I)(bb) or (III) of 
                        clause (i) whenever the commercial vessel is 
                        waterborne.
                    (B) Exclusions.--The term ``discharge incidental to 
                the normal operation of a commercial vessel'' does not 
                include--
                            (i) a discharge into navigable waters of 
                        the United States from a commercial vessel of--
                                    (I) ballast water;
                                    (II) rubbish, trash, garbage, 
                                incinerator ash, or other such material 
                                discharged overboard;
                                    (III) oil or a hazardous substance 
                                (as such terms are defined in section 
                                311 of the Federal Water Pollution 
                                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321)); or
                                    (IV) sewage (as defined in section 
                                312(a)(6) of the Federal Water 
                                Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
                                1322(a)(6))); or
                            (ii) any emission of an air pollutant 
                        resulting from the operation onboard a 
                        commercial vessel of a commercial vessel 
                        propulsion system, motor driven equipment, or 
                        incinerator; or
                            (iii) any discharge into navigable waters 
                        of the United States from a commercial vessel 
                        when the commercial vessel is operating in a 
                        capacity other than as a means of 
                        transportation on water.
            (8) General permit.--The term ``General Permit'' means the 
        Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Vessel 
        General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal 
        Operation of a Vessel noticed in the Federal Register on April 
        12, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 21938).
            (9) Geographically limited area.--The term ``geographically 
        limited area'' means an area--
                    (A) with a physical limitation that prevents a 
                commercial vessel from operating outside the area, such 
                as the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River, as 
                determined by the Secretary; or
                    (B) that is ecologically homogeneous, as determined 
                by the Secretary in consultation with the heads of 
                other Federal departments or agencies the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
            (10) Major conversion.--The term ``major conversion'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 2101(14a) of title 46, 
        United States Code.
            (11) Navigable waters of the united states.--The term 
        ``navigable waters of the United States'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 2101(17a) of title 46, United States Code.
            (12) Owner or operator.--The term ``owner or operator'' 
        means a person owning, operating, or chartering by demise a 
        commercial vessel.
            (13) Pollutant.--The term ``pollutant'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 502(6) of the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362(6)).
            (14) Recreational vessel.--The term ``recreational vessel'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 2101(25) of title 
        46, United States Code.
            (15) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

SEC. 803. EXISTING BALLAST WATER REGULATIONS.

    (a) Effect on Existing Regulations.--Any regulation issued pursuant 
to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 
1990 that is in effect on the date immediately preceding the effective 
date of this title, and that relates to a matter subject to regulation 
under this title, shall remain in full force and effect unless or until 
superseded by a new regulation issued under this title relating to such 
matter.
    (b) Application of Other Regulations.--The regulations issued 
pursuant to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 
Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) relating to sanctions for 
violating a regulation under that Act shall apply to violations of a 
regulation issued under this title.

SEC. 804. BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Requirements.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), and 
        subject to sections 151.2035 and 151.2036 of title 33, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment 
        of this Act), an owner or operator may discharge ballast water 
        into navigable waters of the United States from a commercial 
        vessel covered under subsection (b) only if--
                    (A) by applying the best available technology 
                economically achievable, the discharge meets the 
                ballast water discharge standard; and
                    (B) the owner or operator discharges the ballast 
                water in accordance with other requirements established 
                by the Secretary.
            (2) Commercial vessels entering the great lakes system and 
        hudson river.--If a commercial vessel enters the Great Lakes 
        through the Saint Lawrence River or the Hudson River north of 
        the George Washington Bridge after operating outside the 
        exclusive economic zone of the United States or Canada, the 
        owner or operator shall--
                    (A) comply with the requirements of--
                            (i) paragraph (1);
                            (ii) subpart C of part 151 of title 33, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations; and
                            (iii) section 401.30 of such title; and
                    (B) conduct a complete ballast water exchange in an 
                area that is 200 nautical miles or more from any shore 
                before the owner or operator may discharge ballast 
                water while operating in the Saint Lawrence River or 
                the Great Lakes, subject to any requirements the 
                Secretary determines necessary with regard to such 
                exchange, or any ballast water management system that 
                is to be used in conjunction with such exchange, to 
                ensure that any discharge of ballast water complies 
                with the requirements under paragraph (1).
            (3) Safety exemption.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and 
        (2), an owner or operator may discharge any ballast water into 
        navigable waters of the United States from a commercial vessel 
        if--
                    (A) the ballast water is discharged solely to 
                ensure the safety of life at sea;
                    (B) the ballast water is discharged accidentally as 
                the result of damage to the commercial vessel or its 
                equipment and--
                            (i) all reasonable precautions to prevent 
                        or minimize the discharge have been taken; and
                            (ii) the owner or operator did not 
                        willfully or recklessly cause such damage; or
                    (C) the ballast water is discharged solely for the 
                purpose of avoiding or minimizing a discharge from the 
                commercial vessel of a pollutant that would violate an 
                applicable Federal or State law.
            (4) Limitation on requirements.--In establishing 
        requirements under this subsection, the Secretary may not 
        require the installation of a ballast water management system 
        on a commercial vessel that--
                    (A) carries all of its ballast water in sealed 
                tanks that are not subject to discharge; or
                    (B) discharges ballast water solely into a 
                reception facility described in section 807.
    (b) Applicability.--
            (1) Covered vessels.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        subsection (a) shall apply to any commercial vessel that is 
        designed, constructed, or adapted to carry ballast water while 
        such commercial vessel is operating in navigable waters of the 
        United States.
            (2) Exempted vessels.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a 
        commercial vessel--
                    (A) that continuously takes on and discharges 
                ballast water in a flow-through system, if such system 
                does not introduce aquatic nuisance species into 
                navigable waters of the United States, as determined by 
                the Secretary;
                    (B) that operates exclusively within a 
                geographically limited area;
                    (C) that operates pursuant to a geographic 
                restriction issued as a condition under section 3309 of 
                title 46, United States Code, or an equivalent 
                restriction issued by the country of registration of 
                the commercial vessel;
                    (D) in the National Defense Reserve Fleet that is 
                scheduled to be disposed of through scrapping or 
                sinking;
                    (E) that discharges ballast water consisting solely 
                of water taken aboard from a public or commercial 
                source that, at the time the water is taken aboard, 
                meets the applicable regulations or permit requirements 
                for such source under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
                U.S.C. 300f et seq.); or
                    (F) in an alternative compliance program 
                established pursuant to section 806.
    (c) Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems That Render 
Ballast Water Organisms Incapable of Reproduction.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding chapter 5 of title 5, 
        United States Code, part 151 of title 33, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, and part 162 of title 46, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, a ballast water management system that renders 
        organisms in ballast water incapable of reproduction at the 
        concentrations prescribed in the ballast water discharge 
        standard shall be type approved by the Secretary, if--
                    (A) such system--
                            (i) undergoes type approval testing at an 
                        independent laboratory designated by the 
                        Secretary under such regulations; and
                            (ii) meets the requirements of subpart 
                        162.060 of title 46, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations, other than the requirements 
                        related to staining methods or measuring the 
                        concentration of living organisms; and
                    (B) such laboratory uses a type approval testing 
                method described in a final policy letter published 
                under paragraph (2).
            (2) Type approval testing methods.--
                    (A) Draft policy.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                publish a draft policy letter describing type approval 
                testing methods capable of measuring the concentration 
                of organisms in ballast water that are capable of 
                reproduction.
                    (B) Public comment.--The Secretary shall provide 
                for a period of not more than 60 days for the public to 
                comment on the draft policy letter published under 
                paragraph (1).
                    (C) Final policy.--Not later than 150 days after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
                shall publish a final policy letter describing type 
                approval testing methods capable of measuring the 
                concentration of organisms in ballast water that are 
                capable of reproduction.
                    (D) Revisions.--The Secretary shall revise such 
                policy letter as additional testing methods are 
                determined by the Secretary to be capable of measuring 
                the concentration of organisms in ballast water that 
                are capable of reproduction.
                    (E) Considerations.--In developing a policy letter 
                under this paragraph, the Secretary--
                            (i) shall consider a type approval testing 
                        method that uses organism grow out and most 
                        probable number statistical analysis to 
                        determine the concentration of organisms in 
                        ballast water that are capable of reproduction; 
                        and
                            (ii) shall not consider a type approval 
                        testing method that relies on a staining method 
                        that measures the concentration of organisms 
                        greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and 
                        organisms less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

SEC. 805. REVIEW OF BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE STANDARD.

    (a) Effectiveness Review.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct reviews in 
        accordance with this section to determine whether revising the 
        ballast water discharge standard based on the application of 
        the best available technology economically achievable would 
        result in a reduction in the risk of the introduction or 
        establishment of aquatic nuisance species.
            (2) Required reviews.--Not later than January 1, 2022, and 
        every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with 
        the Administrator, shall complete a review under paragraph (1).
            (3) State petitions for review.--
                    (A) In general.--The Governor of a State may submit 
                a petition requesting the Secretary to conduct a review 
                under paragraph (1) if there is significant new 
                information that could reasonably indicate the ballast 
                water discharge standard could be revised to result in 
                a reduction in the risk of the introduction or 
                establishment of aquatic nuisance species.
                    (B) Timing.--A Governor may not submit a petition 
                under subparagraph (A) during the 1-year period 
                following the date of completion of a review under 
                paragraph (1).
                    (C) Required information.--A petition submitted to 
                the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) a proposed ballast water discharge 
                        standard that would result in a reduction in 
                        the risk of the introduction or establishment 
                        of aquatic nuisance species;
                            (ii) information regarding any ballast 
                        water management systems that may achieve the 
                        proposed ballast water discharge standard;
                            (iii) the scientific and technical 
                        information on which the petition is based, 
                        including a description of the risk reduction 
                        that would result from the proposed ballast 
                        water discharge standard included under clause 
                        (i); and
                            (iv) any additional information the 
                        Secretary considers appropriate.
                    (D) Public availability.--Upon receiving a petition 
                under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make 
                publicly available a copy of the petition, including 
                the information included under subparagraph (C).
                    (E) Treatment of more than one petition as a single 
                petition.--The Secretary may treat more than one 
                petition submitted under subparagraph (A) as a single 
                such petition.
                    (F) Authority to review.--After receiving a 
                petition that meets the requirements of this paragraph, 
                the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, 
                may conduct a review under paragraph (1).
    (b) Practicability Review.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary determines under 
        subsection (a) that revision of the ballast water discharge 
        standard would result in a reduction in the risk of the 
        introduction or establishment of aquatic nuisance species, the 
        Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall 
        conduct a practicability review to determine whether--
                    (A) a ballast water management system that is 
                capable of achieving the ballast water discharge 
                standard as proposed to be revised is economically 
                achievable and operationally practicable; and
                    (B) testing protocols that can assure accurate 
                measurement of compliance with the ballast water 
                discharge standard as proposed to be revised can be 
                practicably implemented.
            (2) Criteria for practicability review.--In conducting a 
        practicability review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        consider--
                    (A) improvements in the scientific understanding of 
                biological and ecological processes that lead to the 
                introduction or establishment of aquatic nuisance 
                species;
                    (B) improvements in ballast water management 
                systems, including--
                            (i) the capability of such systems to 
                        achieve the ballast water discharge standard as 
                        proposed to be revised;
                            (ii) the effectiveness and reliability of 
                        such systems in the shipboard environment;
                            (iii) the compatibility of such systems 
                        with the design and operation of a commercial 
                        vessel by class, type, and size;
                            (iv) the commercial availability of such 
                        systems; and
                            (v) the safety of such systems;
                    (C) improvements in the capabilities to detect, 
                quantify, and assess whether aquatic nuisance species 
                are capable of reproduction under the ballast water 
                discharge standard as proposed to be revised;
                    (D) the impact of ballast water management systems 
                on water quality;
                    (E) the costs, cost-effectiveness, and effects of--
                            (i) a revised ballast water discharge 
                        standard; and
                            (ii) maintaining the existing ballast water 
                        discharge standard; and
                    (F) other criteria that the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
            (3) Information from states.--In conducting a 
        practicability review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        solicit information from the States concerning matters the 
        Secretary is required to consider under paragraph (2).
    (c) Revised Ballast Water Discharge Standard.--The Secretary shall 
issue a rule to revise the ballast water discharge standard if the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, determines on the 
basis of the practicability review under subsection (b) that--
            (1) a ballast water management system that is capable of 
        achieving the ballast water discharge standard as proposed to 
        be revised is economically achievable and operationally 
        practicable; and
            (2) testing protocols that can assure accurate measurement 
        of compliance with the ballast water discharge standard as 
        proposed to be revised can be practicably implemented.
    (d) Revised Ballast Water Discharge Standard Effective Date and 
Compliance Deadline.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary issues a rule to revise 
        the ballast water discharge standard under subsection (c), the 
        Secretary shall include in such rule--
                    (A) an effective date for the revised ballast 
                discharge standard that is 3 years after the date on 
                which such rule is published in the Federal Register; 
                and
                    (B) for the owner or operator of a commercial 
                vessel that is constructed or completes a major 
                conversion on or after the date that is 3 years after 
                the date on which the rule is published in the Federal 
                Register, a deadline to comply with the revised ballast 
                water discharge standard that is the first day on which 
                such commercial vessel operates in navigable waters of 
                the United States.
            (2) Extensions.--The Secretary shall establish a process 
        for an owner or operator to submit a petition to the Secretary 
        for an extension of a compliance deadline under paragraph 
        (1)(B).
            (3) Factors.--In reviewing a petition under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall consider, with respect to the 
        ability of an owner or operator to meet a compliance deadline--
                    (A) whether the ballast water management system to 
                be installed, if applicable, is available in sufficient 
                quantities to meet the compliance deadline;
                    (B) whether there is sufficient shipyard or other 
                installation facility capacity;
                    (C) whether there is sufficient availability of 
                engineering and design resources;
                    (D) commercial vessel characteristics, such as 
                engine room size, layout, or a lack of installed 
                piping;
                    (E) electric power generating capacity aboard the 
                commercial vessel;
                    (F) the safety of the commercial vessel and crew; 
                and
                    (G) any other factor that the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (4) Consideration of petitions.--
                    (A) Determinations.--The Secretary shall approve or 
                deny a petition for an extension of a compliance 
                deadline submitted by an owner or operator under this 
                subsection.
                    (B) Deadline.--If the Secretary does not approve or 
                deny a petition referred to in subparagraph (A) on or 
                before the last day of the 90-day period beginning on 
                the date of submission of the petition, the petition 
                shall be deemed approved.
            (5) Period of use of installed ballast water management 
        system.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an 
                owner or operator shall be considered to be in 
                compliance with the ballast water discharge standard 
                if--
                            (i) the ballast water management system 
                        installed on the commercial vessel complies 
                        with the ballast water discharge standard in 
                        effect at the time of installation, 
                        notwithstanding any revisions to the ballast 
                        water discharge standard occurring after the 
                        installation;
                            (ii) the owner or operator maintains the 
                        ballast water management system in proper 
                        working condition, as determined by the 
                        Secretary; and
                            (iii) the ballast water management system 
                        continues to meet the ballast water discharge 
                        standard applicable to the commercial vessel at 
                        the time of installation, as determined by the 
                        Secretary.
                    (B) Limitation.--Subparagraph (A) shall cease to 
                apply with respect to a commercial vessel after--
                            (i) the expiration of the service life of 
                        the ballast water management system of the 
                        commercial vessel, as determined by the 
                        Secretary;
                            (ii) the expiration of the service life of 
                        the commercial vessel, as determined by the 
                        Secretary; or
                            (iii) the completion of a major conversion 
                        of the commercial vessel.

SEC. 806. ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.

    The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, may issue a 
rule establishing 1 or more compliance programs that may be used by an 
owner or operator as an alternative to compliance with the requirements 
of section 804(a) for a commercial vessel that--
            (1) has a maximum ballast water capacity of less than 8 
        cubic meters; or
            (2) is less than 3 years from the end of the service life 
        of the commercial vessel, as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 807. RECEPTION FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the requirements under section 
804(a), an owner or operator may discharge ballast water into an 
onshore or offshore facility for the reception of ballast water that 
meets the standards established by the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Secretary, under subsection (b).
    (b) Issuance of Standards.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
Secretary, shall publish a rule in the Federal Register that 
establishes reasonable and practicable standards for reception 
facilities to mitigate adverse effects of aquatic nuisance species on 
navigable waters of the United States.

SEC. 808. REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL 
              OPERATION OF A COMMERCIAL VESSEL.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, 
shall publish a rule in the Federal Register that establishes best 
management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation 
of a commercial vessel for commercial vessels that are--
            (1) greater than or equal to 79 feet in length; and
            (2) not fishing vessels, including fish processing vessels 
        and fish tender vessels (as such terms are defined in section 
        2101 of title 46, United States Code).
    (b) Transition.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the expiration date for 
        the General Permit, any practice, limitation, or concentration 
        applicable to any discharge incidental to the normal operation 
        of a commercial vessel that is required by the General Permit 
        on the date of enactment of this Act, and any reporting 
        requirement required by the General Permit on such date of 
        enactment, shall remain in effect until the effective date of a 
        rule issued by the Secretary under subsection (a).
            (2) Part 6 conditions.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and 
        any other provision of law, the terms and conditions of Part 6 
        of the General Permit (relating to specific requirements for 
        individual States or Indian country lands) shall expire on the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Application to Certain Vessels.--
            (1) Application of federal water pollution control act.--No 
        permit shall be required under section 402 of the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) or prohibition enforced 
        under any other provision of law for, nor shall any best 
        management practice regarding a discharge incidental to the 
        normal operation of a commercial vessel under this title apply 
        to, a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a 
        commercial vessel if the commercial vessel is--
                    (A) less than 79 feet in length; or
                    (B) a fishing vessel, including a fish processing 
                vessel and a fish tender vessel (as such terms are 
                defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States 
                Code).
            (2) Application of general permit.--The terms and 
        conditions of the General Permit shall cease to apply to 
        vessels described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) 
        on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) State Petition for Revision of Best Management Practices.--
            (1) In general.--The Governor of a State may submit a 
        petition to the Secretary requesting that the Secretary revise 
        a best management practice established under subsection (a) if 
        there is significant new information that could reasonably 
        indicate that--
                    (A) revising the best management practice would 
                substantially reduce the adverse effects on navigable 
                waters of the United States of discharges incidental to 
                the normal operation of a commercial vessel; and
                    (B) the revised best management practice would be 
                economically achievable and operationally practicable.
            (2) Required information.--A petition submitted to the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) the scientific and technical information on 
                which the petition is based; and
                    (B) any additional information the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
            (3) Public availability.--Upon receiving a petition under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make publicly available a 
        copy of the petition, including the information included under 
        paragraph (2).
            (4) Treatment of more than one petition as a single 
        petition.--The Secretary may treat more than one petition 
        submitted under paragraph (1) as a single petition.
            (5) Revision of best management practices.--If, after 
        reviewing a petition submitted by a Governor under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, 
        determines that revising a best management practice would 
        substantially reduce the adverse effects on navigable waters of 
        the United States of discharges incidental to the normal 
        operation of a commercial vessel, and the revised best 
        management practice would be economically achievable and 
        operationally practicable, the Secretary, in consultation with 
        the Administrator, may issue a rule to revise the best 
        management practice established under subsection (a).

SEC. 809. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--A person may file a petition for review of a final 
rule issued under this title in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the District of Columbia Circuit.
    (b) Deadline.--
            (1) In general.--A petition shall be filed under this 
        section not later than 120 days after the date on which the 
        rule to be reviewed is published in the Federal Register.
            (2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a petition 
        that is based solely on grounds that arise after the deadline 
        to file a petition under paragraph (1) has passed may be filed 
        not later than 120 days after the date on which such grounds 
        first arise.

SEC. 810. STATE ENFORCEMENT.

    The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Governor of a 
State to authorize the State to enforce the provisions of this title, 
as the Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. 811. EFFECT ON STATE AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b) and as 
necessary to implement an agreement entered into under section 810, no 
State or political subdivision thereof may adopt or enforce any 
statute, regulation, or other requirement of the State or political 
subdivision with respect to--
            (1) a discharge into navigable waters of the United States 
        from a commercial vessel of ballast water; or
            (2) a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a 
        commercial vessel.
    (b) Preservation of Authority.--Nothing in this title may be 
construed as affecting the authority of a State or political 
subdivision thereof to adopt or enforce any statute, regulation, or 
other requirement with respect to any water or other substance 
discharged or emitted from a vessel in preparation for transport of the 
vessel by land from one body of water to another body of water.

SEC. 812. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

    (a) Application of Federal Water Pollution Control Act.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in section 808(b), on 
        or after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) shall not apply 
        to a discharge into navigable waters of the United States of 
        ballast water from a commercial vessel or a discharge 
        incidental to the normal operation of a commercial vessel.
            (2) Oil and hazardous substance liability; marine 
        sanitation devices.--Nothing in this title may be construed as 
        affecting the application to a commercial vessel of section 311 
        or 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
        1321 and 1322).
    (b) Established Regimes.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this title, nothing in this title may be construed as affecting the 
authority of the Federal Government under--
            (1) the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 
        et seq.) with respect to the regulation by the Federal 
        Government of any discharge or emission that, on or after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, is covered under the 
        International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 
        Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978; and
            (2) title X of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 
        (33 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) with respect to the regulation by the 
        Federal Government of any anti-fouling system that, on or after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, is covered under the 
        International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling 
        Systems on Ships, done at London October 5, 2001.
    (c) International Law.--
            (1) In general.--Any action taken under this title shall be 
        taken in accordance with international law.
            (2) Standards.--Nothing in this title may be construed to 
        impose any design, equipment, or operation standard on a 
        commercial vessel not documented under the laws of the United 
        States and engaged in innocent passage unless the standard 
        implements a generally accepted international rule, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    (d) Other Authorities.--Nothing in this title may be construed as 
affecting the authority of the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary 
of the Interior, as the case may be, to administer lands or waters 
under such Secretary's administrative control.
    (e) Conforming Amendments.--The Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) in section 1101(c)(2) (16 U.S.C. 4711(c)(2))--
                    (A) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (L); and
            (2) in section 1205 (16 U.S.C. 4725), by adding at the end 
        the following: ``Ballast water and discharges incidental to the 
        normal operation of a commercial vessel (as such terms are 
        defined in the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act) shall be 
        regulated pursuant to such Act.''.

TITLE IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED 
  OFFICER CORPS AMENDMENTS AND HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT 
               REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2017

SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments and Hydrographic 
Services Improvement Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017''.

SEC. 902. REFERENCES TO NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
              COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS ACT OF 2002.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 
U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 911. STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION IN GRADE.

    Section 214 (33 U.S.C. 3004) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 214. STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION IN GRADE.

    ``(a) Grades.--The commissioned grades in the commissioned officer 
corps of the Administration are the following, in relative rank with 
officers of the Navy:
            ``(1) Vice admiral.
            ``(2) Rear admiral.
            ``(3) Rear admiral (lower half).
            ``(4) Captain.
            ``(5) Commander.
            ``(6) Lieutenant commander.
            ``(7) Lieutenant.
            ``(8) Lieutenant (junior grade).
            ``(9) Ensign.
    ``(b) Grade Distribution.--The Secretary shall prescribe, with 
respect to the distribution on the lineal list in grade, the 
percentages applicable to the grades set forth in subsection (a).
    ``(c) Annual Computation of Number in Grade.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each year, 
        the Secretary shall make a computation to determine the number 
        of officers on the lineal list authorized to be serving in each 
        grade.
            ``(2) Method of computation.--The number in each grade 
        shall be computed by applying the applicable percentage to the 
        total number of such officers serving on active duty on the 
        date the computation is made.
            ``(3) Fractions.--If a final fraction occurs in computing 
        the authorized number of officers in a grade, the nearest whole 
        number shall be taken. If the fraction is \1/2\, the next 
        higher whole number shall be taken.
    ``(d) Temporary Increase in Numbers.--The total number of officers 
authorized by law to be on the lineal list during a fiscal year may be 
temporarily exceeded if the average number on that list during that 
fiscal year does not exceed the authorized number.
    ``(e) Positions of Importance and Responsibility.--Officers serving 
in positions designated under section 228(a) and officers recalled from 
retired status shall not be counted when computing authorized strengths 
under subsection (c) and shall not count against those strengths.
    ``(f) Preservation of Grade and Pay.--No officer may be reduced in 
grade or pay or separated from the commissioned officer corps of the 
Administration as the result of a computation made to determine the 
authorized number of officers in the various grades.''.

SEC. 912. RECALLED OFFICERS.

    Section 215 (33 U.S.C. 3005) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``Effective'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--Effective''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Positions of Importance and Responsibility.--Officers serving 
in positions designated under section 228 and officers recalled from 
retired status or detailed to an agency other than the Administration--
            ``(1) may not be counted in determining the total number of 
        authorized officers on the lineal list under this section; and
            ``(2) may not count against such number.''.

SEC. 913. OBLIGATED SERVICE REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A (33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 216. OBLIGATED SERVICE REQUIREMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Rulemaking.--The Secretary shall prescribe the 
        obligated service requirements for appointments, training, 
        promotions, separations, continuations, and retirement of 
        officers not otherwise covered by law.
            ``(2) Written agreements.--The Secretary and officers shall 
        enter into written agreements that describe the officers' 
        obligated service requirements prescribed under paragraph (1) 
        in return for such appointments, training, promotions, 
        separations, and retirements as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    ``(b) Repayment for Failure to Satisfy Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require an officer who 
        fails to meet the service requirements prescribed under 
        subsection (a)(1) to reimburse the Secretary in an amount that 
        bears the same ratio to the total costs of the training 
        provided to that officer by the Secretary as the unserved 
        portion of active duty bears to the total period of active duty 
        the officer agreed to serve.
            ``(2) Obligation as debt to united states.--An obligation 
        to reimburse the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be 
        considered for all purposes as a debt owed to the United 
        States.
            ``(3) Discharge in bankruptcy.--A discharge in bankruptcy 
        under title 11 that is entered less than 5 years after the 
        termination of a written agreement entered into under 
        subsection (a)(2) does not discharge the individual signing the 
        agreement from a debt arising under such agreement.
    ``(c) Waiver or Suspension of Compliance.--The Secretary may waive 
the service obligation of an officer who--
            ``(1) becomes unqualified to serve on active duty in the 
        commissioned officer corps of the Administration because of a 
        circumstance not within the control of that officer; or
            ``(2) is--
                    ``(A) not physically qualified for appointment; and
                    ``(B) determined to be unqualified for service in 
                the commissioned officer corps of the Administration 
                because of a physical or medical condition that was not 
                the result of the officer's own misconduct or grossly 
                negligent conduct.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 215 the 
following:

``Sec. 216. Obligated service requirement.''.

SEC. 914. TRAINING AND PHYSICAL FITNESS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A (33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), as amended by 
section 913(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 217. TRAINING AND PHYSICAL FITNESS.

    ``(a) Training.--The Secretary may take such measures as may be 
necessary to ensure that officers are prepared to carry out their 
duties in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration and 
proficient in the skills necessary to carry out such duties. Such 
measures may include the following:
            ``(1) Carrying out training programs and correspondence 
        courses, including establishing and operating a basic officer 
        training program to provide initial indoctrination and maritime 
        vocational training for officer candidates as well as refresher 
        training, mid-career training, aviation training, and such 
        other training as the Secretary considers necessary for officer 
        development and proficiency.
            ``(2) Providing officers and officer candidates with books 
        and school supplies.
            ``(3) Acquiring such equipment as may be necessary for 
        training and instructional purposes.
    ``(b) Physical Fitness.--The Secretary shall ensure that officers 
maintain a high physical state of readiness by establishing standards 
of physical fitness for officers that are substantially equivalent to 
those prescribed for officers in the Coast Guard.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372), 
as amended by section 913(b), is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 216 the following:

``Sec. 217. Training and physical fitness.''.

SEC. 915. RECRUITING MATERIALS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A (33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), as amended by 
section 914(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 218. USE OF RECRUITING MATERIALS FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS.

    ``The Secretary may use for public relations purposes of the 
Department of Commerce any advertising materials developed for use for 
recruitment and retention of personnel for the commissioned officer 
corps of the Administration. Any such use shall be under such 
conditions and subject to such restrictions as the Secretary shall 
prescribe.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372), 
as amended by section 914(b), is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 217 the following:

``Sec. 218. Use of recruiting materials for public relations.''.

SEC. 916. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

    Section 101(21)(C) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``in the commissioned officer corps'' before ``of the 
National''.

                   Subtitle B--Parity and Recruitment

SEC. 921. EDUCATION LOANS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E (33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 267. EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Authority To Repay Education Loans.--For the purpose of 
maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer 
corps of the Administration on active duty who have skills required by 
the commissioned officer corps, the Secretary may repay, in the case of 
a person described in subsection (b), a loan that--
            ``(1) was used by the person to finance education; and
            ``(2) was obtained from a governmental entity, private 
        financial institution, educational institution, or other 
        authorized entity.
    ``(b) Eligible Persons.--To be eligible to obtain a loan repayment 
under this section, a person must--
            ``(1) satisfy 1 of the requirements specified in subsection 
        (c);
            ``(2) be fully qualified for, or hold, an appointment as a 
        commissioned officer in the commissioned officer corps of the 
        Administration; and
            ``(3) sign a written agreement to serve on active duty, or, 
        if on active duty, to remain on active duty for a period in 
        addition to any other incurred active duty obligation.
    ``(c) Academic and Professional Requirements.--One of the following 
academic requirements must be satisfied for purposes of determining the 
eligibility of an individual for a loan repayment under this section:
            ``(1) The person is fully qualified in a profession that 
        the Secretary has determined to be necessary to meet identified 
        skill shortages in the commissioned officer corps.
            ``(2) The person is enrolled as a full-time student in the 
        final year of a course of study at an accredited educational 
        institution (as determined by the Secretary of Education) 
        leading to a degree in a profession that will meet identified 
        skill shortages in the commissioned officer corps.
    ``(d) Loan Repayments.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the limits established under 
        paragraph (2), a loan repayment under this section may consist 
        of the payment of the principal, interest, and related expenses 
        of a loan obtained by a person described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Limitation on amount.--For each year of obligated 
        service that a person agrees to serve in an agreement described 
        in subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may pay not more than the 
        amount specified in section 2173(e)(2) of title 10, United 
        States Code.
    ``(e) Active Duty Service Obligation.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person entering into an agreement 
        described in subsection (b)(3) incurs an active duty service 
        obligation.
            ``(2) Length of obligation determined under regulations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the length of the obligation under 
                paragraph (1) shall be determined under regulations 
                prescribed by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Minimum obligation.--The regulations 
                prescribed under subparagraph (A) may not provide for a 
                period of obligation of less than 1 year for each 
                maximum annual amount, or portion thereof, paid on 
                behalf of the person for qualified loans.
            ``(3) Persons on active duty before entering into 
        agreement.--The active duty service obligation of persons on 
        active duty before entering into the agreement shall be served 
        after the conclusion of any other obligation incurred under the 
        agreement.
    ``(f) Effect of Failure To Complete Obligation.--
            ``(1) Alternative obligations.--An officer who is relieved 
        of the officer's active duty obligation under this section 
        before the completion of that obligation may be given any 
        alternative obligation, at the discretion of the Secretary.
            ``(2) Repayment.--An officer who does not complete the 
        period of active duty specified in the agreement entered into 
        under subsection (b)(3), or the alternative obligation imposed 
        under paragraph (1), shall be subject to the repayment 
        provisions under section 216.
    ``(g) Rulemaking.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 
carry out this section, including--
            ``(1) standards for qualified loans and authorized payees; 
        and
            ``(2) other terms and conditions for the making of loan 
        repayments.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 266 the 
following:

``Sec. 267. Education loan repayment program.''.

SEC. 922. INTEREST PAYMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E (33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.), as amended by 
section 921(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 268. INTEREST PAYMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary may pay the interest and any 
special allowances that accrue on 1 or more student loans of an 
eligible officer, in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Eligible Officers.--An officer is eligible for the benefit 
described in subsection (a) while the officer--
            ``(1) is serving on active duty;
            ``(2) has not completed more than 3 years of service on 
        active duty;
            ``(3) is the debtor on 1 or more unpaid loans described in 
        subsection (c); and
            ``(4) is not in default on any such loan.
    ``(c) Student Loans.--The authority to make payments under 
subsection (a) may be exercised with respect to the following loans:
            ``(1) A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of 
        title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et 
        seq.).
            ``(2) A loan made under part D of such title (20 U.S.C. 
        1087a et seq.).
            ``(3) A loan made under part E of such title (20 U.S.C. 
        1087aa et seq.).
    ``(d) Maximum Benefit.--Interest and any special allowance may be 
paid on behalf of an officer under this section for any of the 36 
consecutive months during which the officer is eligible under 
subsection (b).
    ``(e) Funds for Payments.--The Secretary may use amounts 
appropriated for the pay and allowances of personnel of the 
commissioned officer corps of the Administration for payments under 
this section.
    ``(f) Coordination With Secretary of Education.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall consult with the 
        Secretary of Education regarding the administration of this 
        section.
            ``(2) Transfer of funds.--The Secretary shall transfer to 
        the Secretary of Education the funds necessary--
                    ``(A) to pay interest and special allowances on 
                student loans under this section (in accordance with 
                sections 428(o), 455(l), and 464(j) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(o), 1087e(l), and 
                1087dd(j)); and
                    ``(B) to reimburse the Secretary of Education for 
                any reasonable administrative costs incurred by the 
                Secretary in coordinating the program under this 
                section with the administration of the student loan 
                programs under parts B, D, and E of title IV of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 
                1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.).
    ``(g) Special Allowance Defined.--In this section, the term 
`special allowance' means a special allowance that is payable under 
section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087-1).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 428(o) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1078(o)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking the subsection heading and 
                inserting ``Armed Forces and NOAA Commissioned Officer 
                Corps Student Loan Interest Payment Programs''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or section 268 of the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                        Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002'' after 
                        ``Code,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or an officer in the 
                        commissioned officer corps of the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
                        respectively,'' after ``Armed Forces''.
            (2) Sections 455(l) and 464(j) of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(l) and 1087dd(j)) are each amended--
                    (A) by striking the subsection heading and 
                inserting ``Armed Forces and NOAA Commissioned Officer 
                Corps Student Loan Interest Payment Programs''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or section 268 of the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                        Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002'' after 
                        ``Code,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or an officer in the 
                        commissioned officer corps of the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
                        respectively'' after ``Armed Forces''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372), 
as amended by section 921(b), is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 267 the following:

``Sec. 268. Interest payment program.''.

SEC. 923. STUDENT PRE-COMMISSIONING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E (33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.), as amended by 
section 922(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 269. STUDENT PRE-COMMISSIONING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Authority To Provide Financial Assistance.--For the purpose 
of maintaining adequate numbers of officers of the commissioned officer 
corps of the Administration on active duty, the Secretary may provide 
financial assistance to a person described in subsection (b) for 
expenses of the person while the person is pursuing on a full-time 
basis at an accredited educational institution (as determined by the 
Secretary of Education) a program of education approved by the 
Secretary that leads to--
            ``(1) a baccalaureate degree in not more than 5 academic 
        years; or
            ``(2) a postbaccalaureate degree.
    ``(b) Eligible Persons.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person is eligible to obtain financial 
        assistance under subsection (a) if the person--
                    ``(A) is enrolled on a full-time basis in a program 
                of education referred to in subsection (a) at any 
                educational institution described in such subsection;
                    ``(B) meets all of the requirements for acceptance 
                into the commissioned officer corps of the 
                Administration except for the completion of a 
                baccalaureate degree; and
                    ``(C) enters into a written agreement with the 
                Secretary described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Agreement.--A written agreement referred to in 
        paragraph (1)(C) is an agreement between the person and the 
        Secretary in which the person--
                    ``(A) agrees to accept an appointment as an 
                officer, if tendered; and
                    ``(B) upon completion of the person's educational 
                program, agrees to serve on active duty, immediately 
                after appointment, for--
                            ``(i) up to 3 years if the person received 
                        less than 3 years of assistance; and
                            ``(ii) up to 5 years if the person received 
                        at least 3 years of assistance.
    ``(c) Qualifying Expenses.--Expenses for which financial assistance 
may be provided under subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) Tuition and fees charged by the educational 
        institution involved.
            ``(2) The cost of books.
            ``(3) In the case of a program of education leading to a 
        baccalaureate degree, laboratory expenses.
            ``(4) Such other expenses as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    ``(d) Limitation on Amount.--The Secretary shall prescribe the 
amount of financial assistance provided to a person under subsection 
(a), which may not exceed the amount specified in section 2173(e)(2) of 
title 10, United States Code, for each year of obligated service that a 
person agrees to serve in an agreement described in subsection (b)(2).
    ``(e) Duration of Assistance.--Financial assistance may be provided 
to a person under subsection (a) for not more than 5 consecutive 
academic years.
    ``(f) Subsistence Allowance.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person who receives financial 
        assistance under subsection (a) shall be entitled to a monthly 
        subsistence allowance at a rate prescribed under paragraph (2) 
        for the duration of the period for which the person receives 
        such financial assistance.
            ``(2) Determination of amount.--The Secretary shall 
        prescribe monthly rates for subsistence allowance provided 
        under paragraph (1), which shall be equal to the amount 
        specified in section 2144(a) of title 10, United States Code.
    ``(g) Initial Clothing Allowance.--
            ``(1) Training.--The Secretary may prescribe a sum which 
        shall be credited to each person who receives financial 
        assistance under subsection (a) to cover the cost of the 
        person's initial clothing and equipment issue.
            ``(2) Appointment.--Upon completion of the program of 
        education for which a person receives financial assistance 
        under subsection (a) and acceptance of appointment in the 
        commissioned officer corps of the Administration, the person 
        may be issued a subsequent clothing allowance equivalent to 
        that normally provided to a newly appointed officer.
    ``(h) Termination of Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall terminate the 
        assistance provided to a person under this section if--
                    ``(A) the Secretary accepts a request by the person 
                to be released from an agreement described in 
                subsection (b)(2);
                    ``(B) the misconduct of the person results in a 
                failure to complete the period of active duty required 
                under the agreement; or
                    ``(C) the person fails to fulfill any term or 
                condition of the agreement.
            ``(2) Reimbursement.--The Secretary may require a person 
        who receives assistance described in subsection (c), (f), or 
        (g) under an agreement entered into under subsection (b)(1)(C) 
        to reimburse the Secretary in an amount that bears the same 
        ratio to the total costs of the assistance provided to that 
        person as the unserved portion of active duty bears to the 
        total period of active duty the officer agreed to serve under 
        the agreement.
            ``(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the service 
        obligation of a person through an agreement entered into under 
        subsection (b)(1)(C) if the person--
                    ``(A) becomes unqualified to serve on active duty 
                in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration 
                because of a circumstance not within the control of 
                that person; or
                    ``(B) is--
                            ``(i) not physically qualified for 
                        appointment; and
                            ``(ii) determined to be unqualified for 
                        service in the commissioned officer corps of 
                        the Administration because of a physical or 
                        medical condition that was not the result of 
                        the person's own misconduct or grossly 
                        negligent conduct.
            ``(4) Obligation as debt to united states.--An obligation 
        to reimburse the Secretary imposed under paragraph (2) is, for 
        all purposes, a debt owed to the United States.
            ``(5) Discharge in bankruptcy.--A discharge in bankruptcy 
        under title 11, United States Code, that is entered less than 5 
        years after the termination of a written agreement entered into 
        under subsection (b)(1)(C) does not discharge the person 
        signing the agreement from a debt arising under such agreement 
        or under paragraph (2).
    ``(i) Regulations.--The Secretary may promulgate such regulations 
and orders as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this 
section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372), 
as amended by section 922(c), is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 268 the following:

``Sec. 269. Student pre-commissioning education assistance program.''.

SEC. 924. LIMITATION ON EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year 
in which this Act is enacted, the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure 
that the total amount expended by the Secretary under section 267 of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned 
Officer Corps Act of 2002 (as added by section 921(a)), section 268 of 
such Act (as added by section 922(a)), and section 269 of such Act (as 
added by section 923(a)) does not exceed the amount by which--
            (1) the total amount the Secretary would pay in that fiscal 
        year to officer candidates under section 203(f)(1) of title 37, 
        United States Code (as added by section 946(d)), if such 
        section entitled officer candidates to pay at monthly rates 
        equal to the basic pay of a commissioned officer in the pay 
        grade O-1 with less than 2 years of service; exceeds
            (2) the total amount the Secretary actually pays in that 
        fiscal year to officer candidates under section 203(f)(1) of 
        such title (as so added).
    (b) Officer Candidate Defined.--In this section, the term ``officer 
candidate'' has the meaning given the term in section 212 of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer 
Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3002), as added by section 946(c).

SEC. 925. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 10, UNITED 
              STATES CODE, AND EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES 
              APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES TO COMMISSIONED 
              OFFICER CORPS.

    (a) Applicability of Certain Provisions of Title 10.--Section 
261(a) (33 U.S.C. 3071(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (16) as 
        paragraphs (22) through (25), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (12) as 
        paragraphs (14) through (19), respectively;
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Section 771, relating to unauthorized wearing of 
        uniforms.
            ``(5) Section 774, relating to wearing religious apparel 
        while in uniform.
            ``(6) Section 982, relating to service on State and local 
        juries.
            ``(7) Section 1031, relating to administration of oaths.'';
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(11) Section 1074n, relating to annual mental health 
        assessments.
            ``(12) Section 1090a, relating to referrals for mental 
        health evaluations.
            ``(13) Chapter 58, relating to the Benefits and Services 
        for members being separated or recently separated.''; and
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (19), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(20) Subchapter I of chapter 88, relating to Military 
        Family Programs.
            ``(21) Section 2005, relating to advanced education 
        assistance, active duty agreements, and reimbursement 
        requirements.''.
    (b) Extension of Certain Authorities.--
            (1) Notarial services.--Section 1044a of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``armed 
                forces'' and inserting ``uniformed services''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``armed 
                forces'' both places it appears and inserting 
                ``uniformed services''.
            (2) Acceptance of voluntary services for programs serving 
        members and their families.--Section 1588 of such title is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(3), in the matter before 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``armed forces'' and 
                inserting ``uniformed services''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(g) Secretary Concerned for Acceptance of Services for Programs 
Serving Members of NOAA Corps and Their Families.--For purposes of the 
acceptance of services described in subsection (a)(3), the term 
`Secretary concerned' in subsection (a) shall include the Secretary of 
Commerce with respect to members of the commissioned officer corps of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.''.
            (3) Capstone course for newly selected flag officers.--
        Section 2153 of such title is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or the commissioned 
                        officer corps of the National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration'' after ``in the 
                        case of the Navy''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``other armed forces'' and 
                        inserting ``other uniformed services''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(1), in the matter before 
                subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or the Secretary of 
                Commerce, as applicable,'' after ``the Secretary of 
                Defense''.

SEC. 926. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 37, UNITED 
              STATES CODE.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E (33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 261 the following:

``SEC. 261A. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 37, UNITED 
              STATES CODE.

    ``(a) Provisions Made Applicable to Commissioned Officer Corps.--
The provisions of law applicable to the Armed Forces under the 
following provisions of title 37, United States Code, shall apply to 
the commissioned officer corps of the Administration:
            ``(1) Section 324, relating to accession bonuses for new 
        officers in critical skills.
            ``(2) Section 403(f)(3), relating to prescribing 
        regulations defining the terms `field duty' and `sea duty'.
            ``(3) Section 403(l), relating to temporary continuation of 
        housing allowance for dependents of members dying on active 
        duty.
            ``(4) Section 488, relating to allowances for recruiting 
        expenses.
            ``(5) Section 495, relating to allowances for funeral 
        honors duty.
    ``(b) References.--The authority vested by title 37, United States 
Code, in the `military departments', `the Secretary concerned', or `the 
Secretary of Defense' with respect to the provisions of law referred to 
in subsection (a) shall be exercised, with respect to the commissioned 
officer corps of the Administration, by the Secretary of Commerce or 
the Secretary's designee.''.
    (b) Personal Money Allowance.--Section 414 of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``or the director of the 
commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration'' after ``Health Service''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 261 the 
following:

``Sec. 261A. Applicability of certain provisions of title 37, United 
                            States Code.''.

SEC. 927. LEGION OF MERIT AWARD.

    Section 1121 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``armed forces'' and inserting ``uniformed services''.

SEC. 928. PROHIBITION ON RETALIATORY PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 261 (33 U.S.C. 3071), as 
amended by section 925(a), is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (25) as 
        paragraphs (9) through (26), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) Section 1034, relating to protected communications 
        and prohibition of retaliatory personnel actions.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of such section is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of paragraph 
(8) of subsection (a), the term `Inspector General' in section 1034 of 
such title 10 shall mean the Inspector General of the Department of 
Commerce.''.
    (c) Regulations.--Such section is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(c) Regulations Regarding Protected Communications and 
Prohibition of Retaliatory Personnel Actions.--The Secretary may 
promulgate regulations to carry out the application of section 1034 of 
title 10, United States Code, to the commissioned officer corps of the 
Administration, including by promulgating such administrative 
procedures for investigation and appeal within the commissioned officer 
corps as the Secretary considers appropriate.''.

SEC. 929. PENALTIES FOR WEARING UNIFORM WITHOUT AUTHORITY.

    Section 702 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``Service or any'' and inserting ``Service, the commissioned officer 
corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or any''.

SEC. 930. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF COMPETITIVE SERVICE LAW.

    Section 3304(f) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and members of the 
        commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration (or its predecessor organization the 
        Coast and Geodetic Survey) separated from such uniformed 
        service'' after ``separated from the armed forces'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or veteran'' and 
        inserting ``, veteran, or member''; and
            (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and members of the 
        commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration (or its predecessor organization the 
        Coast and Geodetic Survey) separated from such uniformed 
        service'' after ``separated from the armed forces''.

SEC. 931. EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

    Section 4303(16) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration,'' after ``Public Health Service,''.

SEC. 932. TREATMENT OF COMMISSION IN COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS FOR 
              PURPOSES OF CERTAIN HIRING DECISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E (33 U.S.C. 3071 et seq.), as amended by 
this subtitle, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 269A. TREATMENT OF COMMISSION IN COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS AS 
              EMPLOYMENT IN ADMINISTRATION FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN 
              HIRING DECISIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--In any case in which the Secretary accepts an 
application for a position of employment with the Administration and 
limits consideration of applications for such position to applications 
submitted by individuals serving in a career or career-conditional 
position in the competitive service within the Administration, the 
Secretary shall deem an officer who has served as an officer in the 
commissioned officer corps for at least 3 years to be serving in a 
career or career-conditional position in the competitive service within 
the Administration for purposes of such limitation.
    ``(b) Career Appointments.--If the Secretary selects an application 
submitted by an officer described in subsection (a) for a position 
described in such subsection, the Secretary shall give such officer a 
career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service, as 
appropriate.
    ``(c) Competitive Service Defined.--In this section, the term 
`competitive service' has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of 
title 5, United States Code.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 269, as 
added by section 923, the following new item:

``Sec. 269A. Treatment of commission in commissioned officer corps as 
                            employment in Administration for purposes 
                            of certain hiring decisions.''.

SEC. 933. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The head of a Federal agency may appoint, without 
regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, 
United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, a 
qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to a position 
in the agency for which the candidate meets qualification standards of 
the Office of Personnel Management.
    (b) Candidates Described.--A candidate described in this subsection 
is a current or former member of the commissioned officer corps of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who--
            (1) fulfilled his or her obligated service requirement 
        under section 216 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, as added 
        by section 913;
            (2) if no longer a member of the commissioned officer corps 
        of the Administration, was not discharged or released therefrom 
        as part of a disciplinary action; and
            (3) has been separated or released from service in the 
        commissioned officer corps of the Administration for a period 
        of not more than 5 years.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
appointments made in fiscal year 2017 and in each fiscal year 
thereafter.

           Subtitle C--Appointments and Promotion of Officers

SEC. 941. APPOINTMENTS.

    (a) Original Appointments.--Section 221 (33 U.S.C. 3021) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 221. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS.

    ``(a) Original Appointments.--
            ``(1) Grades.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), an original appointment of an officer 
                may be made in such grades as may be appropriate for--
                            ``(i) the qualification, experience, and 
                        length of service of the appointee; and
                            ``(ii) the commissioned officer corps of 
                        the Administration.
                    ``(B) Appointment of officer candidates.--
                            ``(i) Limitation on grade.--An original 
                        appointment of an officer candidate, upon 
                        graduation from the basic officer training 
                        program of the commissioned officer corps of 
                        the Administration, may not be made in any 
                        other grade than ensign.
                            ``(ii) Rank.--Officer candidates receiving 
                        appointments as ensigns upon graduation from 
                        basic officer training program shall take rank 
                        according to their proficiency as shown by the 
                        order of their merit at date of graduation.
            ``(2) Source of appointments.--An original appointment may 
        be made from among the following:
                    ``(A) Graduates of the basic officer training 
                program of the commissioned officer corps of the 
                Administration.
                    ``(B) Graduates of the military service academies 
                of the United States who otherwise meet the academic 
                standards for enrollment in the training program 
                described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Graduates of the maritime academies of the 
                States who--
                            ``(i) otherwise meet the academic standards 
                        for enrollment in the training program 
                        described in subparagraph (A);
                            ``(ii) completed at least 3 years of 
                        regimented training while at a maritime academy 
                        of a State; and
                            ``(iii) obtained an unlimited tonnage or 
                        unlimited horsepower Merchant Mariner 
                        Credential from the United States Coast Guard.
                    ``(D) Licensed officers of the United States 
                merchant marine who have served 2 or more years aboard 
                a vessel of the United States in the capacity of a 
                licensed officer, who otherwise meet the academic 
                standards for enrollment in the training program 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Maritime academies of the states.--The term 
                `maritime academies of the States' means the following:
                            ``(i) California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, 
                        California.
                            ``(ii) Great Lakes Maritime Academy, 
                        Traverse City, Michigan.
                            ``(iii) Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, 
                        Maine.
                            ``(iv) Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 
                        Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.
                            ``(v) State University of New York Maritime 
                        College, Fort Schuyler, New York.
                            ``(vi) Texas A&M Maritime Academy, 
                        Galveston, Texas.
                    ``(B) Military service academies of the united 
                states.--The term `military service academies of the 
                United States' means the following:
                            ``(i) The United States Military Academy, 
                        West Point, New York.
                            ``(ii) The United States Naval Academy, 
                        Annapolis, Maryland.
                            ``(iii) The United States Air Force 
                        Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
                            ``(iv) The United States Coast Guard 
                        Academy, New London, Connecticut.
                            ``(v) The United States Merchant Marine 
                        Academy, Kings Point, New York.
    ``(b) Reappointment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), an 
        individual who previously served in the commissioned officer 
        corps of the Administration may be appointed by the Secretary 
        to the grade the individual held prior to separation.
            ``(2) Reappointments to higher grades.--An appointment 
        under paragraph (1) to a position of importance and 
        responsibility designated under section 228 may only be made by 
        the President.
    ``(c) Qualifications.--An appointment under subsection (a) or (b) 
may not be given to an individual until the individual's mental, moral, 
physical, and professional fitness to perform the duties of an officer 
has been established under such regulations as the Secretary shall 
prescribe.
    ``(d) Precedence of Appointees.--Appointees under this section 
shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance 
with the dates of their commissions as commissioned officers in such 
grade. Appointees whose dates of commission are the same shall take 
precedence with each other as the Secretary shall determine.
    ``(e) Inter-Service Transfers.--For inter-service transfers (as 
described in the Department of Defense Directive 1300.4 (dated December 
27, 2006)) the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense and the 
        Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is 
        operating to promote and streamline inter-service transfers;
            ``(2) give preference to such inter-service transfers for 
        recruitment purposes as determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary; and
            ``(3) reappoint such inter-service transfers to the 
        equivalent grade in the commissioned officer corps.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 221 and inserting 
the following:

``Sec. 221. Original appointments and reappointments.''.

SEC. 942. PERSONNEL BOARDS.

    Section 222 (33 U.S.C. 3022) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 222. PERSONNEL BOARDS.

    ``(a) Convening.--Not less frequently than once each year and at 
such other times as the Secretary determines necessary, the Secretary 
shall convene a personnel board.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--A board convened under subsection (a) 
        shall consist of 5 or more officers who are serving in or above 
        the permanent grade of the officers under consideration by the 
        board.
            ``(2) Retired officers.--Officers on the retired list may 
        be recalled to serve on such personnel boards as the Secretary 
        considers necessary.
            ``(3) No membership on 2 successive boards.--No officer may 
        be a member of 2 successive personnel boards convened to 
        consider officers of the same grade for promotion or 
        separation.
    ``(c) Duties.--Each personnel board shall--
            ``(1) recommend to the Secretary such changes as may be 
        necessary to correct any erroneous position on the lineal list 
        that was caused by administrative error; and
            ``(2) make selections and recommendations to the Secretary 
        and the President for the appointment, promotion, involuntary 
        separation, continuation, and involuntary retirement of 
        officers in the commissioned officer corps of the 
        Administration as prescribed in this title.
    ``(d) Action on Recommendations Not Acceptable.--If any 
recommendation by a board convened under subsection (a) is not accepted 
by the Secretary or the President, the board shall make such further 
recommendations as the Secretary or the President considers 
appropriate.''.

SEC. 943. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.

    Section 226 (33 U.S.C. 3026) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Appointments'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) In General.--Appointments''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Delegation of Appointment Authority.--If the President 
delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under this 
section, the President shall, during a period in which the position of 
the Secretary is vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy 
Secretary of Commerce or the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere 
during such period.''.

SEC. 944. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION 
              OPERATIONS.

    Section 228(c) (33 U.S.C. 3028(c)) is amended--
            (1) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``Director'' and 
        inserting ``Assistant Administrator''; and
            (2) in the heading, by inserting ``Assistant Administrator 
        of the'' before ``Office''.

SEC. 945. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 229 (33 U.S.C. 3029) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 229. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS.

    ``(a) Appointments by President.--Temporary appointments in the 
grade of ensign, lieutenant junior grade, or lieutenant may be made by 
the President.
    ``(b) Termination.--A temporary appointment to a position under 
subsection (a) shall terminate upon approval of a permanent appointment 
for such position made by the President.
    ``(c) Order of Precedence.--Appointees under subsection (a) shall 
take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the 
dates of their appointments as officers in such grade. The order of 
precedence of appointees who are appointed on the same date shall be 
determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Any One Grade.--When determined by the Secretary to be in the 
best interest of the commissioned officer corps, officers in any 
permanent grade may be temporarily promoted one grade by the President. 
Any such temporary promotion terminates upon the transfer of the 
officer to a new assignment.
    ``(e) Delegation of Appointment Authority.--If the President 
delegates authority to the Secretary to make appointments under this 
section, the President shall, during a period in which the position of 
the Secretary is vacant, delegate such authority to the Deputy 
Secretary of Commerce or the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere 
during such period.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 229 and inserting 
the following:

``Sec. 229. Temporary appointments.''.

SEC. 946. OFFICER CANDIDATES.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B (33 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 234. OFFICER CANDIDATES.

    ``(a) Determination of Number.--The Secretary shall determine the 
number of appointments of officer candidates.
    ``(b) Appointment.--Appointment of officer candidates shall be made 
under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, including 
regulations with respect to determining age limits, methods of 
selection of officer candidates, term of service as an officer 
candidate before graduation from the program, and all other matters 
affecting such appointment.
    ``(c) Dismissal.--The Secretary may dismiss from the basic officer 
training program of the Administration any officer candidate who, 
during the officer candidate's term as an officer candidate, the 
Secretary considers unsatisfactory in either academics or conduct, or 
not adapted for a career in the commissioned officer corps of the 
Administration. Officer candidates shall be subject to rules governing 
discipline prescribed by the Director of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.
    ``(d) Agreement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each officer candidate shall sign an 
        agreement with the Secretary in accordance with section 
        216(a)(2) regarding the officer candidate's term of service in 
        the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.
            ``(2) Elements.--An agreement signed by an officer 
        candidate under paragraph (1) shall provide that the officer 
        candidate agrees to the following:
                    ``(A) That the officer candidate will complete the 
                course of instruction at the basic officer training 
                program of the Administration.
                    ``(B) That upon graduation from the such program, 
                the officer candidate--
                            ``(i) will accept an appointment, if 
                        tendered, as an officer; and
                            ``(ii) will serve on active duty for at 
                        least 4 years immediately after such 
                        appointment.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 
carry out this section. Such regulations shall include--
            ``(1) standards for determining what constitutes a breach 
        of an agreement signed under such subsection (d)(1); and
            ``(2) procedures for determining whether such a breach has 
        occurred.
    ``(f) Repayment.--An officer candidate or former officer candidate 
who does not fulfill the terms of the obligation to serve as specified 
under section (d) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of 
section 216(b).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372) 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 233 the 
following:

``Sec. 234. Officer candidates.''.
    (c) Officer Candidate Defined.--Section 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 3002(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as 
        paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Officer candidate.--The term `officer candidate' 
        means an individual who is enrolled in the basic officer 
        training program of the Administration and is under 
        consideration for appointment as an officer under section 
        221(a)(2)(A).''.
    (d) Pay for Officer Candidates.--Section 203 of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f)(1) An officer candidate enrolled in the basic officer 
training program of the commissioned officer corps of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is entitled, while participating 
in such program, to monthly officer candidate pay at monthly rate equal 
to the basic pay of an enlisted member in the pay grade E-5 with less 
than 2 years service.
    ``(2) An individual who graduates from such program shall receive 
credit for the time spent participating in such program as if such time 
were time served while on active duty as a commissioned officer. If the 
individual does not graduate from such program, such time shall not be 
considered creditable for active duty or pay.''.

SEC. 947. PROCUREMENT OF PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B (33 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.), as amended by 
section 946(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 235. PROCUREMENT OF PERSONNEL.

    ``The Secretary may make such expenditures as the Secretary 
considers necessary in order to obtain recruits for the commissioned 
officer corps of the Administration, including advertising.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in section 1 of the 
Act entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes'' (Public Law 107-372), 
as amended by section 946(b), is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 234 the following:

``235. Procurement of personnel.''.

           Subtitle D--Separation and Retirement of Officers

SEC. 951. INVOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION.

    Section 241 (33 U.S.C. 3041) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Deferment of Retirement or Separation for Medical Reasons.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that the 
        evaluation of the medical condition of an officer requires 
        hospitalization or medical observation that cannot be completed 
        with confidence in a manner consistent with the officer's well 
        being before the date on which the officer would otherwise be 
        required to retire or be separated under this section, the 
        Secretary may defer the retirement or separation of the 
        officer.
            ``(2) Consent required.--A deferment may only be made with 
        the written consent of the officer involved. If the officer 
        does not provide written consent to the deferment, the officer 
        shall be retired or separated as scheduled.
            ``(3) Limitation.--A deferral of retirement or separation 
        under this subsection may not extend for more than 30 days 
        after completion of the evaluation requiring hospitalization or 
        medical observation.''.

SEC. 952. SEPARATION PAY.

    Section 242 (33 U.S.C. 3042) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Exception.--An officer discharged for twice failing selection 
for promotion to the next higher grade is not entitled to separation 
pay under this section if the officer--
            ``(1) expresses a desire not to be selected for promotion; 
        or
            ``(2) requests removal from the list of selectees.''.

          Subtitle E--Hydrographic Services and Other Matters

SEC. 961. REAUTHORIZATION OF HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 
              1998.

    (a) Reauthorizations.--Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``There 
        are'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--There are'';
            (2) in subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1))--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``surveys--'' and 
                all that follows through the end of the paragraph and 
                inserting ``surveys, $70,814,000 for each of fiscal 
                years 2017 through 2021.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``vessels--'' and 
                all that follows through the end of the paragraph and 
                inserting ``vessels, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
                years 2017 through 2021.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking 
                ``Administration--'' and all that follows through the 
                end of the paragraph and inserting ``Administration, 
                $29,932,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 
                2021.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``title--'' and 
                all that follows through the end of the paragraph and 
                inserting ``title, $26,800,000 for each of fiscal years 
                2017 through 2021.''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``title--'' and 
                all that follows through the end of the paragraph and 
                inserting ``title, $30,564,000 for each of fiscal years 
                2017 through 2021.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Arctic Programs.--Of the amount authorized by this section 
for each fiscal year--
            ``(1) $10,000,000 is authorized for use--
                    ``(A) to acquire hydrographic data;
                    ``(B) to provide hydrographic services;
                    ``(C) to conduct coastal change analyses necessary 
                to ensure safe navigation;
                    ``(D) to improve the management of coastal change 
                in the Arctic; and
                    ``(E) to reduce risks of harm to Alaska Native 
                subsistence and coastal communities associated with 
                increased international maritime traffic; and
            ``(2) $2,000,000 is authorized for use to acquire 
        hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services in the 
        Arctic necessary to delineate the United States extended 
        Continental Shelf.''.
    (b) Limitation on Administrative Expenses for Surveys.--Section 306 
of such Act (33 U.S.C. 892d) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(c) Limitation on Administrative Expenses for Surveys.--Of 
amounts authorized by this section for each fiscal year for contract 
hydrographic surveys, not more than 5 percent is authorized for 
administrative costs associated with contract management.''.

SEC. 962. SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND REPORTING ALL-INCLUSIVE COST OF 
              HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall--
            (1) develop and implement a system to track and report the 
        full cost to the Department of Commerce of hydrographic data 
        collection, including costs relating to vessel acquisition, 
        vessel repair, and administration of contracts to procure data;
            (2) evaluate additional measures for comparing cost per 
        unit effort beyond square nautical miles; and
            (3) submit to Congress a report on which additional 
        measures for comparing cost per unit effort the Secretary 
        intends to use and the rationale for such use.
    (b) Development of Strategy for Increased Contracting With 
Nongovernmental Entities for Hydrographic Data Collection.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the 
activities required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a 
strategy for how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
will increase contracting with nongovernmental entities for 
hydrographic data collection in a manner that is consistent with the 
requirements of the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (Public 
Law 111-11; 33 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

SEC. 963. HOMEPORT OF CERTAIN RESEARCH VESSELS.

    (a) Acceptance of Funds Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce may 
accept non-Federal funds for the purpose of obtaining such cost 
estimates, designs, and permits as may be necessary for construction of 
a new port facility--
            (1) to facilitate the homeporting of the R/V FAIRWEATHER in 
        accordance with title II of the Departments of Commerce, 
        Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
        Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-77; 115 Stat. 775); 
        and
            (2) that is under the administrative jurisdiction of the 
        Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.
    (b) Strategic Plan Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and 
submit to Congress a strategic plan for the construction described in 
subsection (a).
    (c) Acceptance of Funds Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce may 
accept non-Federal funds for the purpose of obtaining such cost 
estimates, designs, and permits as may be necessary for construction of 
a new port facility--
            (1) to facilitate the homeporting of a new, existing, or 
        reactivated research vessel in the city of St. Petersburg, 
        Florida; and
            (2) that is under the administrative jurisdiction of the 
        Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.
    (d) Strategic Plan Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and 
submit to Congress a strategic plan for construction or acquisition of 
the facilities needed to allow for an oceanographic research vessel to 
be homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida. The strategic plan shall 
include an estimate of funding needed to construct such facilities.
                                                       Calendar No. 112

115th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1129

                          [Report No. 115-89]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              June 5, 2017

                       Reported with an amendment