[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3508 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.3508

                     One Hundred Fifteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
           the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen


                                 An Act


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

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''.

                         TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS

    SEC. 101. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.
    Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies with 
    other Federal agencies to address sources of marine debris;
        ``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, in 
    consultation with the Department of State and other Federal 
    agencies, promote international action, as appropriate, to reduce 
    the incidence of marine debris, including providing technical 
    assistance to expand waste management systems internationally; and
        ``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe marine 
    debris event under subsection (c)--
            ``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by the 
        severe marine debris event; or
            ``(B) conduct such other activity as the Administrator 
        determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine 
        debris event.'';
        (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
        (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of the 
Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, 
the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine 
debris event.''; and
        (4) in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated--
            (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' 
        and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding 
        subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an activity 
        carried out under a determination made under subsection (c) 
        shall be--
                ``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an 
            activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person, 
            including the government of a foreign country, to the 
            Federal Government for the purpose of responding to a 
            severe marine debris event; or
                ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any 
            activity other than an activity funded as described in 
            clause (i).''.
    SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO RESPOND 
      TO MARINE DEBRIS.
    It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
        (1) support research and development on systems and materials 
    that reduce--
            (A) derelict fishing gear; and
            (B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from land-
        based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the 
        marine environment;
        (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that 
    discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based 
    sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to 
    reduce such discharges;
        (3) carry out studies to determine--
            (A) the primary means of discharges referred to in 
        paragraph (2);
            (B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can 
        be most effective in preventing such discharges; and
            (C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national 
        economies of the countries with which work is undertaken under 
        paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the impacts 
        of reducing the discharge of such debris;
        (4) work with representatives of the countries with which work 
    is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new 
    international agreements that include provisions--
            (A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste 
        into the marine environment; and
            (B) to provide technical assistance and investment in waste 
        management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the 
        President determines such assistance or investment is 
        appropriate; and
        (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to 
    consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste from 
    the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph (2) in 
    relevant future trade agreements.
    SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING GREAT LAKES LAND-BASED 
      MARINE DEBRIS ACTION PLAN.
    It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based Marine 
Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-49) is vital to 
the ongoing efforts to clean up the Great Lakes Region and getting rid 
of harmful debris, such as microplastics, abandoned vessels, and other 
forms of pollution that are threatening the survival of native marine 
animals and damaging the Great Lakes' recreation and tourism economy.
    SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING 
      COMMITTEE.
    Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) is 
amended--
        (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
    semicolon;
        (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
        (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
        ``(5) the Department of State;
        ``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''.
    SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is amended to 
read as follows:
``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 
for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of which not more than 5 percent 
is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.
    ``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts 
authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of title 14, 
United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 4 of this Act, of 
which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for 
administrative costs.''.

                       TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY

    SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 
2018''.
    SEC. 202. FINDINGS.
    Congress finds the following:
        (1) On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left 
    Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying 391 
    shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and a crew of 33 
    people, including 28 Americans.
        (2) On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final 
    communication reporting that the engines were disabled and the ship 
    was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path of Hurricane 
    Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the vessel and the loss of 
    all 33 lives.
        (3) The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast 
    Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as 
    improving weather information and training, improving planning and 
    response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast Guard's program 
    delegating vessel inspections to third-party organizations to 
    assess the effectiveness of the program, and improving alerts and 
    equipment on the vessels, among other recommendations.
        (4) Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017, 
    over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States commercial 
    vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were issued ``no-sail'' 
    requirements.
        (5) The maritime industry, particularly the men and women of 
    the United States merchant marine, play a vital and important role 
    to the national security and economy of our country, and a strong 
    safety regime is necessary to ensure the vitality of the industry 
    and the protection of current and future mariners, and to honor 
    lost mariners.
    SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.
    In this title:
        (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the Commandant 
    of the Coast Guard.
        (2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized 
    organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of 
    title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
    the enactment of this Act.
        (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
    SEC. 204. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
President submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall 
publish on a publicly accessible Website information documenting 
domestic vessel compliance with the requirements of subtitle II of 
title 46, United States Code.
    (b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) shall--
        (1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of 
    inspected vessel; and
        (2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or 
    surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-issued 
    control action attributable to a major nonconformity that the 
    recognized organization failed to identify in such inspection or 
    survey.
    SEC. 205. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct an audit regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the 
Coast Guard's oversight and enforcement of safety management plans 
required under chapter 32 of title 46, United States Code.
    (b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall include 
an evaluation of--
        (1) the effectiveness and implementation of safety management 
    plans, including such plans for--
            (A) a range of vessel types and sizes; and
            (B) vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional 
        operating areas; and
        (2) the effectiveness and implementation of safety management 
    plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report detailing the results of the audit and providing recommendations 
related to such results, including ways to streamline and focus such 
plans on ship safety.
    (d) Marine Safety Alert.--Not later than 60 days after the date the 
report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall publish 
a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of the completion of the 
report and including a link to the report on a publicly accessible 
website.
    (e) Additional Actions.--
        (1) In general.--Upon completion of the report under subsection 
    (c), the Commandant shall consider additional guidance or a 
    rulemaking to address any deficiencies identified, and any 
    additional actions recommended, in the report.
        (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the report is 
    submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant shall submit to the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
    of Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has taken 
    to address any deficiencies identified, and any additional actions 
    recommended, in the report submitted under subsection (c).
    SEC. 206. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
    (a) Regulations.--
        (1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, 
    is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel 
inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and 
location technology for the higher of--
        ``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified on 
    the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or
        ``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and
    ``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of 
the United States is measured.
    ``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring 
companies to maintain records of all incremental weight changes made to 
freight vessels inspected under this chapter, and to track weight 
changes over time to facilitate rapid determination of the aggregate 
total.
    ``(2) Records maintained under paragraph (1) shall be stored, in 
paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels for not less than 3 
years and shoreside for the life of the vessel.''.
        (2) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall--
            (A) begin implementing the requirement under section 
        3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this 
        subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act; and
            (B) promulgate the regulations required under section 
        3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this 
        subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
    (b) Engagement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into 
negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to amend 
regulation 25 of chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the 
Safety of Life at Sea to require a high-water alarm sensor in each 
cargo hold of a freight vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 
of title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and visual 
alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.
    SEC. 207. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; ACCESS.
    (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 6309. Voyage data recorder access
    ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast Guard shall 
have full, concurrent, and timely access to and ability to use voyage 
data recorder data and audio held by any Federal agency in all marine 
casualty investigations, regardless of which agency is the 
investigative lead.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``6309. Voyage data recorder access.''.
    SEC. 208. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; REQUIREMENTS.
    (a) Float-Free and Beacon Requirements.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into 
    negotiations through the International Maritime Organization to 
    amend regulation 20 of chapter V of the International Convention 
    for the Safety of Life at Sea to require that all voyage data 
    recorders are installed in a float-free arrangement and contain an 
    integrated emergency position indicating radio beacon.
        (2) Progress update.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
    of Representatives an update on the progress of the engagement 
    required under paragraph (1).
    (b) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a cost-benefit analysis of requiring that voyage data 
recorders installed on commercial vessels documented under chapter 121 
of title 46, United States Code, capture communications on the internal 
telephone systems of such vessels, including requiring the capture of 
both sides of all communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.
    SEC. 209. SURVIVAL AND LOCATING EQUIPMENT.
    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
identify and procure equipment that will provide search-and-rescue 
units the ability to attach a radio or Automated Identification System 
strobe or beacon to an object that is not immediately retrievable.
    SEC. 210. TRAINING OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL.
    (a) Prospective Sector Commander Training.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
implement an Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections segment to the 
sector commander indoctrination course for prospective sector 
commanders without a Coast Guard prevention ashore officer specialty 
code.
    (b) Steamship Inspections.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement steam plant 
inspection training for Coast Guard marine inspectors and, subject to 
availability, recognized organizations to which authority is delegated 
under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code.
    (c) Advanced Journeyman Inspector Training.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish advanced 
    training to provide instruction on the oversight of recognized 
    organizations to which authority is delegated under section 3316 of 
    title 46, United States Code, auditing responsibilities, and the 
    inspection of unique vessel types.
        (2) Recipients.--The Commandant shall--
            (A) require that such training be completed by senior Coast 
        Guard marine inspectors; and
            (B) subject to availability of training capacity, make such 
        training available to recognized organization surveyors 
        authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct inspections.
    (d) Coast Guard Inspections Staff; Briefing.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a briefing detailing--
        (1) the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the 
    current size of the Coast Guard's traveling inspector staff; and
        (2) other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance and 
    maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of increased 
    reliance on--
            (A) civilian marine inspectors;
            (B) experienced licensed mariners;
            (C) retired members of the Coast Guard;
            (D) arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride onboard 
        commercial oceangoing vessels documented under chapter 121 of 
        title 46, United States Code, to gain experience and insight; 
        and
            (E) extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine safety 
        officers assigned to inspection billets.
    (e) Audits; Coast Guard Attendance and Performance.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
shall--
        (1) update Coast Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to 
    target the attendance of Coast Guard personnel during external 
    safety management certificate and document of compliance audits; 
    and
        (2) perform a quality assurance audit of recognized 
    organization representation and performance regarding United 
    States-flagged vessels.
    SEC. 211. MAJOR MARINE CASUALTY PROPERTY DAMAGE THRESHOLD.
    Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$500,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000''.
    SEC. 212. REVIEWS, BRIEFINGS, REPORTS, AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
    (a) Major Conversion Determinations.--
        (1) Review of policies and procedures.--The Commandant shall 
    conduct a review of policies and procedures for making and 
    documenting major conversion determinations, including an 
    examination of the deference given to precedent.
        (2) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
    of Representatives a briefing on the findings of the review 
    required by paragraph (1).
    (b) Ventilators, Openings and Stability Standards.--
        (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review of 
    the effectiveness of United States regulations, international 
    conventions, recognized organizations' class rules, and Coast Guard 
    technical policy regarding--
            (A) ventilators and other hull openings;
            (B) fire dampers and other closures protecting openings 
        normally open during operations;
            (C) intact and damage stability standards under subchapter 
        S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and
            (D) lifesaving equipment for mariners, including survival 
        suits and life jackets.
        (2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
    of Representatives a briefing on the effectiveness of the 
    regulations, international conventions, recognized organizations' 
    class rules, and Coast Guard technical policy reviewed under 
    paragraph (1).
    (c) Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a briefing on the reliability of self-
locating datum marker buoys and other similar technology used during 
Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations. The briefing shall include a 
description of reasonable steps the Commandant could take to increase 
the reliability of such buoys, including the potential to leverage 
technology used by the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to 
conduct testing of such buoys before using them for operations.
    (d) Correction.--
        (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
    the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section 502(f)(4) 
    of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 
    (45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)) (as in effect on the day before the 
    amendments made by section 11607 of Public Law 114-94 (129 Stat. 
    1698) took effect)--
            (A) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, and in consultation with the Director of the Office 
        of Management and Budget, shall define the term ``cohorts of 
        loans'';
            (B) before the deadline described in paragraph (2), shall 
        return to the original source, on a pro rata basis, the credit 
        risk premiums paid for the loans in the cohort of loans, with 
        interest accrued thereon, that were not used to mitigate 
        losses; and
            (C) shall not treat the repayment of a loan after the date 
        of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as precluding, limiting, or 
        negatively affecting the satisfaction of the obligation of its 
        cohort prior to the enactment of Public Law 114-94.
        (2) Deadline described.--The deadline described in this 
    paragraph is--
            (A) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have 
        been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act; and
            (B) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have 
        not been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date on 
        which all obligations attached to the cohort of loans are 
        satisfied.
    (e) Oversight Program; Effectiveness.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an 
    assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight of 
    recognized organizations and its impact on compliance by and safety 
    of vessels inspected by such organizations.
        (2) Experience.--The assessment commissioned under paragraph 
    (1) shall be conducted by a research organization with significant 
    experience in maritime operations and marine safety.
        (3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
    date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is completed, 
    the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
    and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
    the results of such assessment.
    SEC. 213. FLAG-STATE GUIDANCE AND SUPPLEMENTS.
    (a) Freight Vessels; Damage Control Information.--Within 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
flag-State guidance for all freight vessels documented under chapter 
121 of title 46, United States Code, built before January 1, 1992, 
regarding the inclusion of comprehensive damage control information in 
safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title 46, United 
States Code.
    (b) Recognized Organizations; United States Supplement.--The 
Commandant shall--
        (1) work with recognized organizations to create a single 
    United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for 
    classification of vessels; and
        (2) by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
    this Act, provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
    Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
    and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on 
    whether it is necessary to revise part 8 of title 46, Code of 
    Federal Regulations, to authorize only one United States Supplement 
    to such rules.
    SEC. 214. MARINE SAFETY STRATEGY.
    Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``each year of an annual'' 
    and inserting ``of a triennial'';
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Annual'' and 
        inserting ``Triennial''; and
            (B) by striking ``annual'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``triennial'';
        (3) in subsection (c)--
            (A) by striking ``fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``fiscal year 2020 and triennially''; and
            (B) by striking ``annual plan'' and inserting ``triennial 
        plan''; and
        (4) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``annually'' and 
    inserting ``triennially''.
    SEC. 215. RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS; OVERSIGHT.
    (a) In General.--Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h), and by 
inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g)(1) There shall be within the Coast Guard an office that 
conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all recognized 
organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    ``(2) The staff of the office shall include subject matter experts, 
including inspectors, investigators, and auditors, who possess the 
capability and authority to audit all aspects of such recognized 
organizations.
    ``(3) In this subsection the term `recognized organization' has the 
meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Hamm 
Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018.''.
    (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall establish the office required by the amendment made by subsection 
(a) by not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
    SEC. 216. TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTS AND HAZARD ADVISORIES FOR 
      MERCHANT MARINERS.
    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the 
International Maritime Organization to amend the International 
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require that vessels 
subject to the requirements of such Convention receive--
        (1) timely synoptic and graphical chart weather forecasts; and
        (2) where available, timely hazard advisories for merchant 
    mariners, including broadcasts of tropical cyclone forecasts and 
    advisories, intermediate public advisories, and tropical cyclone 
    updates to mariners via appropriate technologies.
    SEC. 217. ANONYMOUS SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM.
    (a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an anonymous 
safety alert pilot program.
    (b) Requirements.--The pilot program established under subsection 
(a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism to allow crew 
members to communicate urgent and dire safety concerns directly and in 
a timely manner with the Coast Guard.
    SEC. 218. MARINE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS.
    (a) In General.--Not later than December 19 of 2018, and of each of 
the 2 subsequent years thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a briefing on the status of implementation of each 
action outlined in the Commandant's final action memo dated December 
19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shall 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives on the status of the Coast Guard's 
implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's final action 
memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the 
vessel El Faro.
    SEC. 219. DELEGATED AUTHORITIES.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall review the authorities that 
have been delegated to recognized organizations for the alternative 
compliance program as described in subpart D of part 8 of title 46, 
Code of Federal Regulations, and, if necessary, revise or establish 
policies and procedures to ensure those delegated authorities are being 
conducted in a manner to ensure safe maritime transportation.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
briefing on the implementation of subsection (a).

                     TITLE III--CENTER OF EXPERTISE

    SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Blue Technology Center 
of Expertise Act''.
    SEC. 302. COAST GUARD BLUE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF EXPERTISE.
    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Commandant may establish under section 58 of title 
14, United States Code, a Blue Technology center of expertise.
    (b) Missions.--In addition to the missions listed in section 58(b) 
of title 14, United States Code, the Center may--
        (1) promote awareness within the Coast Guard of the range and 
    diversity of Blue Technologies and their potential to enhance Coast 
    Guard mission readiness, operational performance, and regulation of 
    such technologies;
        (2) function as an interactive conduit to enable the sharing 
    and dissemination of Blue Technology information between the Coast 
    Guard and representatives from the private sector, academia, 
    nonprofit organizations, and other Federal agencies;
        (3) increase awareness among Blue Technology manufacturers, 
    entrepreneurs, and vendors of Coast Guard acquisition policies, 
    procedures, and business practices;
        (4) provide technical support, coordination, and assistance to 
    Coast Guard districts and the Coast Guard Research and Development 
    Center, as appropriate; and
        (5) subject to the requirements of the Coast Guard Academy, 
    coordinate with the Academy to develop appropriate curricula 
    regarding Blue Technology to be offered in professional courses of 
    study to give Coast Guard cadets and officer candidates a greater 
    background and understanding of Blue Technologies.
    (c) Blue Technology Exposition; Briefing.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the costs and benefits of 
hosting a biennial Coast Guard Blue Technology exposition to further 
interactions between representatives from the private sector, academia, 
and nonprofit organizations, and the Coast Guard and examine emerging 
technologies and Coast Guard mission demands.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Blue Technology 
    center of expertise established under this section.
        (2) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the Commandant 
    of the Coast Guard.
        (3) Blue technology.--The term ``Blue Technology'' means any 
    technology, system, or platform that--
            (A) is designed for use or application above, on, or below 
        the sea surface or that is otherwise applicable to Coast Guard 
        operational needs, including such a technology, system, or 
        platform that provides continuous or persistent coverage; and
            (B) supports or facilitates--
                (i) maritime domain awareness, including--

                    (I) surveillance and monitoring;
                    (II) observation, measurement, and modeling: or
                    (III) information technology and communications;

                (ii) search and rescue;
                (iii) emergency response;
                (iv) maritime law enforcement;
                (v) marine inspections and investigations; or
                (vi) protection and conservation of the marine 
            environment.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.