[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4357 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4357

  To reauthorize the Maritime Administration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 June 8 (legislative day, June 7), 2022

  Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reauthorize the Maritime Administration, 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.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Maritime 
Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations for the Maritime 
                            Administration.
                      TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 101. Study to inform a national maritime strategy.
Sec. 102. National maritime strategy.
Sec. 103. Modification of cargo preference 3-year eligibility rule.
                   TITLE II--MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE

Sec. 201. Marine highways.
Sec. 202. GAO review of efforts to support and grow the United States 
                            Merchant Fleet.
Sec. 203. GAO review of Federal efforts to enhance port infrastructure 
                            resiliency and disaster preparedness.
Sec. 204. Study on foreign investment in shipping.
Sec. 205. Report regarding alternate marine fuel bunkering facilities 
                            at ports.
                     TITLE III--MARITIME WORKFORCE

Sec. 301. Sense of Congress on Merchant Marine.
Sec. 302. Ensuring diverse mariner recruitment.
Sec. 303. Low emissions vessels training.
Sec. 304. Improving Protections for Midshipmen Act.
Sec. 305. Board of Visitors.
Sec. 306. Maritime Technical Advancement Act.
Sec. 307. Study on CIP program at the USMMA.
Sec. 308. Implementation of recommendations from the National Academy 
                            of Public Administration.
Sec. 309. Service Academy faculty parity.
Sec. 310. Updated Requirements for Fishing Crew Agreements.
             TITLE IV--TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE

Sec. 401. Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program.
Sec. 402. Quieting Federal non-combative vessels.
Sec. 403. Study on stormwater impacts on salmon.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MARITIME 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Maritime Administration.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2023, 
for programs associated with maintaining the United States Merchant 
Marine, the following amounts:
            (1) For expenses necessary to support the United States 
        Merchant Marine Academy, $112,848,000, of which--
                    (A) $87,848,000 shall be for Academy operations;
                    (B) $22,000,000 shall be for facilities maintenance 
                and repair and equipment; and
                    (C) $3,000,000 shall be for training, staffing, 
                retention, recruiting, and contract management for 
                United States Merchant Marine Academy capital 
                improvement projects.
            (2) For expenses necessary to support the State maritime 
        academies, $80,700,000, of which--
                    (A) $2,400,000 shall be for the Student Incentive 
                Program;
                    (B) $6,000,000 shall be for direct payments for 
                State maritime academies;
                    (C) $6,800,000 shall be for training ship fuel 
                assistance;
                    (D) $8,080,000 shall be for offsetting the costs of 
                training ship sharing; and
                    (E) $30,500,000 shall be for maintenance and repair 
                of State maritime academy training vessels.
            (3) For expenses necessary to support the National Security 
        Multi-Mission Vessel Program and to meet requirements for 
        shore-side infrastructure improvements, $75,000,000.
            (4) For expenses necessary to support Maritime 
        Administration operations and programs, $101,250,000, of 
        which--
                    (A) $15,000,000 shall be for the Maritime 
                Environmental and Technical Assistance program 
                authorized under section 50307 of title 46, United 
                States Code;
                    (B) $14,819,000 shall be for the Marine Highways 
                Program, including to make grants as authorized under 
                section 55601 of title 46, United States Code; and
                    (C) $67,433,000 shall be for headquarters 
                operations expenses.
            (5) For expenses necessary for the disposal of obsolete 
        vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime 
        Administration, $6,000,000.
            (6) For expenses necessary to maintain and preserve a fleet 
        of merchant vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, 
        United States Code, to serve the national security needs of the 
        United States, as authorized under chapter 531 of title 46, 
        United States Code, $318,000,000.
            (7) For expenses necessary for the loan guarantee program 
        authorized under chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code, 
        $33,000,000, of which--
                    (A) $30,000,000 may be for the cost (as defined in 
                section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 
                (2 U.S.C. 661a(5))) of loan guarantees under the 
                program; and
                    (B) $3,000,000, may be used for administrative 
                expenses relating to loan guarantee commitments under 
                the program.
            (8) For expenses necessary to provide assistance to small 
        shipyards and for maritime training programs authorized under 
        section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, $40,000,000.
            (9) For expenses necessary to implement the Port 
        Infrastructure Development Program, as authorized under section 
        54301 of title 46, United States Code, $750,000,000, to remain 
        available until expended, except that no such funds authorized 
        under this Act for this program may be used to provide a grant 
        to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment that is 
        remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the 
        exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of 
        Transportation determines such equipment would result in a net 
        loss of jobs within a port or port terminal. If such a 
        determination is made, the data and analysis for such 
        determination shall be reported to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives not later than 3 days after the date of the 
        determination.
    (b) Availability of Amounts.--Amounts appropriated--
            (1) pursuant to the authority provided in paragraphs 
        (1)(A), (2)(A), and (4)(A) of subsection (a) shall remain 
        available through September 30, 2023; and
            (2) pursuant to the authority provided in paragraphs 
        (1)(B), (1)(C), (2)(B), (2)(C), (2)(D), (2)(E), (3), (4)(B), 
        (4)(C), (5), (6), (7)(A), (7)(B), (8), and (9) of subsection 
        (a) shall remain available without fiscal year limitation.
    (c) Tanker Security Fleet.--Section 53411 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``$60,000,000'' and inserting 
``$120,000,000''.

                      TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. STUDY TO INFORM A NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall enter 
into an agreement with a federally funded research and development 
center under which such federally funded research and development 
center shall conduct a study of the key elements and objectives needed 
for a national maritime strategy. The strategy shall address national 
objectives, as described in section 50101 of title 46, United States 
Code, to ensure--
            (1) a capable, commercially viable, militarily useful fleet 
        of merchant vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, 
        United States Code;
            (2) a robust United States mariner workforce, as described 
        in section 50101 of title 46, United States Code;
            (3) strong United States domestic shipbuilding 
        infrastructure, and related shipbuilding trades amongst skilled 
        workers in the United States; and
            (4) that the Navy Fleet Auxiliary Force, the National 
        Defense Reserve Fleet, the Military Sealift Command, the 
        Maritime Security Program under chapter 531 of title 46, United 
        States Code, the Tanker Security Program under chapter 534 of 
        title 46, United States Code, and the Cable Security Program 
        under chapter 532 of title 46, United States Code, currently 
        meet the economic and national security needs of the United 
        States and would reliably continue to meet those needs under 
        future economic or national security emergencies.
    (b) Input.--In carrying out the study, the federally funded 
research and development center shall solicit input from--
            (1) relevant Federal departments and agencies;
            (2) nongovernmental organizations;
            (3) United States companies;
            (4) maritime labor organizations;
            (5) commercial industries that depend on United States 
        mariners;
            (6) domestic shipyards regarding shipbuilding and repair 
        capacity, and the associated skilled workforce, such as the 
        workforce required for transportation, offshore wind, fishing, 
        and aquaculture;
            (7) providers of maritime workforce training; and
            (8) any other relevant organizations.
    (c) Elements of the Study.--The study conducted under subsection 
(a) shall include consultation with the Department of Transportation, 
the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other relevant 
Federal agencies, in the identification and evaluation of--
            (1) incentives needed to continue to meet the shipbuilding 
        and ship maintenance needs of the United States for commercial 
        and national security purposes, including through a review of--
                    (A) the loans and guarantees program carried out 
                under chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code, and 
                how the development of new offshore commercial 
                industries, such as wind, could be supported through 
                modification of such program or other Federal programs, 
                and thus also support the United States sealift in the 
                future;
                    (B) the barriers to participation in the loans and 
                guarantees program carried out under chapter 537 of 
                title 46, United States Code, and how the program may 
                be improved to facilitate additional shipbuilding 
                activities in the United States; and
                    (C) the needed resources, human and financial, for 
                such incentives;
            (2) incentives needed to maintain a commercially viable 
        United States-documented fleet, which shall include--
                    (A) an examination of how the preferences under 
                section 2631 of title 10, United States Code, and 
                chapter 553 of title 46, United States Code, the 
                Maritime Security Program under chapter 531 of title 
                46, United States Code, the Tanker Security Program 
                under chapter 534 of title 46, United States Code, and 
                the Cable Security Program under chapter 532 of title 
                46, United States Code, should be used to further 
                maintain and grow a United States-documented fleet and 
                the identification of other incentives that could be 
                used that may not be authorized at the time of the 
                study; and
                    (B) estimates of the needed human and financial 
                resources for such incentives;
            (3) the availability of United States mariners, and future 
        needs, including--
                    (A) the number of mariners needed for the United 
                States commercial and national security needs over the 
                next 30 years;
                    (B) the policies and programs (at the time of the 
                study) to recruit, train, and retain United States 
                mariners to support the United States maritime 
                workforce needs during peace time and at war;
                    (C) how those programs could be improved to grow 
                the number of maritime workers trained each year, 
                including potential collaboration between the uniformed 
                services, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 
                State maritime academies, maritime labor training 
                centers, and the Centers of Excellence for Domestic 
                Maritime Workforce Training under section 51706 of 
                title 46, United States Code, could be used most 
                effectively; and
                    (D) estimates of the necessary resources, human and 
                financial, to implement such programs in each relevant 
                Federal agency over the next 30 years; and
            (4) the interaction among the elements described under 
        paragraphs (1) through (3).
    (d) Public Availability.--The study conducted under subsection (a) 
shall be made publicly available on a website of the Department of 
Transportation.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating, and every 5 years thereafter, shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a national maritime strategy.
    (b) Contents.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) identify--
                    (A) international policies and Federal regulations 
                and policies that reduce the competitiveness of United 
                States-documented vessels with foreign vessels in 
                domestic and international transportation markets; and
                    (B) the impact of reduced cargo flow due to 
                reductions in the number of members of the United 
                States Armed Forces stationed or deployed outside of 
                the United States; and
            (2) include recommendations to--
                    (A) make United States-documented vessels more 
                competitive in shipping routes between United States 
                and foreign ports;
                    (B) increase the use of United States-documented 
                vessels to carry cargo imported to and exported from 
                the United States;
                    (C) ensure compliance by Federal agencies with 
                chapter 553 of title 46, United States Code;
                    (D) increase the use of short sea transportation 
                routes, including routes designated under section 
                55601(c) of title 46, United States Code, to enhance 
                intermodal freight movements;
                    (E) enhance United States shipbuilding capability;
                    (F) invest in, and identify gaps in, infrastructure 
                needed to facilitate the movement of goods at ports and 
                throughout the transportation system, including 
                innovative physical and information technologies;
                    (G) enhance workforce training and recruitment for 
                the maritime workforce, including training on 
                innovative physical and information technologies;
                    (H) increase the resilience of ports and the marine 
                transportation system; and
                    (I) increase the carriage of government-impelled 
                cargo on United States-documented vessels pursuant to 
                chapter 553 of title 46, United States Code, section 
                2631 of title 10, United States Code, or otherwise.
    (c) Update.--Not later than 6 months after the date of receipt of 
the study conducted under section 101, the Secretary of Transportation, 
in consultation with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating and the Secretary of Defense, shall--
            (1) update the national maritime strategy required by 
        section 603 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
        Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-281);
            (2) submit a report to Congress containing the updated 
        national maritime strategy; and
            (3) make the updated national maritime strategy publicly 
        available on the website of the Department of Transportation.
    (d) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 6 months after completion 
of the updated national maritime strategy under subsection (c), and 
after the completion of each strategy thereafter, the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of the department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating and the Secretary of Defense, shall 
publish on a publicly available website an implementation plan for the 
most recent national maritime strategy.

SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF CARGO PREFERENCE 3-YEAR ELIGIBILITY RULE.

    Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a);
            (2) by redesignating--
                    (A) subsection (b) as subsection (a); and
                    (B) subsections (c), (d), and (e), as subsections 
                (d), (e), and (f), respectively;
            (3) in subsection (a), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``privately-owned commercial vessels of the United 
        States,'' and inserting ``privately-owned commercial vessels of 
        the United States, as provided under subsection (b),''; and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (a), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following:
    ``(b) Eligible Vessels.--To be eligible to carry cargo as provided 
under subsection (a), a privately-owned commercial vessel shall be 
documented under the laws of the United States--
            ``(1) for not less than 3 years; or
            ``(2) for less than 3 years if the vessel owner signs an 
        agreement with the Secretary providing that--
                    ``(A) the vessel shall remain documented under the 
                laws of the United States for not less than 3 years; 
                and
                    ``(B) the vessel owner shall, upon request of the 
                Secretary, agree to enroll the vessel in an emergency 
                preparedness agreement or voluntary agreement 
                authorized under section 708 of the Defense Production 
                Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4558) and shall remain so 
                enrolled until the vessel ceases to be documented under 
                the laws of the United States.
    ``(c) Violation of Agreement.--A vessel under an agreement executed 
pursuant to subsection (b)(2) may be seized by and forfeited to the 
United States if, in violation of that agreement--
            ``(1) the vessel owner places the vessel under foreign 
        registry; or
            ``(2) a person operates the vessel under the authority of a 
        foreign country.''.

                   TITLE II--MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE

SEC. 201. MARINE HIGHWAYS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Marine Highway 
Promotion Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Our Nation's waterways are an integral part of the 
        transportation network of the United States.
            (2) Using the Nation's coastal, inland, and other waterways 
        can support commercial transportation, and alleviates surface 
        transportation congestion and burdensome road and bridge repair 
        costs.
            (3) Marine highways are serviced by documented United 
        States Flag vessels and manned by United States citizens, 
        providing added resources for national security and to aid in 
        times of crisis.
            (4) According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, 
        inland navigation is a key element of economics development and 
        is essential in maintaining economic competitiveness and 
        national security.
    (c) United States Marine Highway Program.--
            (1) In general.--Section 55601 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 55601. United States Marine Highway Program
    ``(a) Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Maritime Administrator shall 
        establish a Marine Highway Program to be known as the `United 
        States Marine Highway Program'. Under such program, the 
        Maritime Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) designate marine highway routes as extensions 
                of the surface transportation system under subsection 
                (b); and
                    ``(B) subject to the availability of 
                appropriations, make grants or enter into contracts or 
                cooperative agreements under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Program activities.--In carrying out the Marine 
        Highway Program established under paragraph (1), the Maritime 
        Administrator may--
                    ``(A) coordinate with ports, State departments of 
                transportation, localities, other public agencies, and 
                the private sector on the development of landside 
                facilities and infrastructure to support marine highway 
                transportation;
                    ``(B) develop performance measures for such Marine 
                Highway Program;
                    ``(C) collect and disseminate data for the 
                designation and delineation of marine highway routes 
                under subsection (b); and
                    ``(D) conduct research on solutions to impediments 
                to marine highway services eligible for assistance 
                under subsection (c)(1).
    ``(b) Designation of Marine Highway Routes.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Maritime Administrator may designate 
        or modify a marine highway route as an extension of the surface 
        transportation system if--
                    ``(A) such a designation or modification is 
                requested by--
                            ``(i) the government of a State or 
                        territory;
                            ``(ii) a metropolitan planning 
                        organization;
                            ``(iii) a port authority;
                            ``(iv) a non-Federal navigation district; 
                        or
                            ``(v) a Tribal government; and
                    ``(B) the Maritime Administrator determines such 
                marine highway route satisfies at least one covered 
                function under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Determination.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date on which the Maritime Administrator receives a request for 
        designation or modification of a marine highway route under 
        paragraph (1), the Maritime Administrator shall make a 
        determination of whether to make the requested designation or 
        modification.
            ``(3) Notification.--Not later than 14 days after the date 
        on which the Maritime Administrator makes the determination 
        whether to make the requested designation or modification, the 
        Maritime Administrator shall send the requester a notification 
        of the determination.
            ``(4) Map.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after 
                the date of enactment of the Marine Highway Promotion 
                Act, and thereafter each time a marine highway route is 
                designated or modified, the Administrator shall make 
                publicly available a map showing the location of marine 
                highway routes, including such routes along the coasts, 
                in the inland waterways, and at sea.
                    ``(B) Coordination.--The Administrator shall 
                coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration to incorporate the map into the Marine 
                Cadastre.
    ``(c) Assistance for Marine Highway Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Maritime Administrator may make 
        grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
        with an eligible entity to implement a marine highway service 
        or component of a marine highway service, if the Administrator 
        determines the service--
                    ``(A) satisfies at least one covered function under 
                subsection (d);
                    ``(B) uses vessels documented under chapter 121 of 
                this title; and
                    ``(C)(i) implements strategies developed under 
                section 55603; or
                    ``(ii) develops, expands, or promotes--
                            ``(I) marine highway transportation 
                        services; or
                            ``(II) shipper utilization of marine 
                        highway transportation.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--In this subsection, the term 
        `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a State, a political subdivision of a State, 
                or a local government;
                    ``(B) a United States metropolitan planning 
                organization;
                    ``(C) a United States port authority;
                    ``(D) a Tribal government in the United States; or
                    ``(E) a United States private sector operator of 
                marine highway services or private sector owners of 
                facilities with an endorsement letter from the marine 
                highway route sponsor described in subsection 
                (b)(1)(A).
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement 
                under this subsection to implement a marine highway 
                service, an eligible entity shall submit an application 
                in such form and manner, at such time, and containing 
                such information as the Maritime Administrator may 
                require, including--
                            ``(i) a comprehensive description of--
                                    ``(I) the regions to be served by 
                                the marine highway service;
                                    ``(II) the marine highway route 
                                that the service will use, which may 
                                include connection to existing or 
                                planned transportation infrastructure 
                                and intermodal facilities, key 
                                navigational factors such as available 
                                draft, channel width, bridge air draft, 
                                or lock clearance, and any foreseeable 
                                impacts on navigation or commerce, and 
                                a map of the proposed route;
                                    ``(III) the marine highway service 
                                supporters, which may include business 
                                affiliations, private sector 
                                stakeholders, State departments of 
                                transportation, metropolitan planning 
                                organizations, municipalities, or other 
                                governmental entities (including Tribal 
                                governments), as applicable;
                                    ``(IV) the estimated volume of 
                                passengers, if applicable, or cargo 
                                using the service, and predicted 
                                changes in such volume during the 5-
                                year period following the date of the 
                                application;
                                    ``(V) the need for the service;
                                    ``(VI) the definition of the 
                                success goal for the service, such as 
                                volumes of cargo or passengers moved, 
                                or contribution to environmental 
                                mitigation, safety, reduced vehicle 
                                miles traveled, or reduced maintenance 
                                and repair costs;
                                    ``(VII) the methodology for 
                                implementing the service, including a 
                                description of the proposed operational 
                                framework of the service including the 
                                origin, destination, and any 
                                intermediate stops on the route, 
                                transit times, vessel types, and 
                                service frequency; and
                                    ``(VIII) any existing programs or 
                                arrangements that can be used to 
                                supplement or leverage assistance under 
                                the program; and
                            ``(ii) a demonstration, to the satisfaction 
                        of the Maritime Administrator, that--
                                    ``(I) the marine highway service is 
                                financially viable;
                                    ``(II) the funds or other 
                                assistance provided under this 
                                subsection will be spent or used 
                                efficiently and effectively; and
                                    ``(III) a market exists for the 
                                services of the proposed marine highway 
                                service, as evidenced by contracts or 
                                written statements of intent from 
                                potential customers.
                    ``(B) Pre-proposal.--Prior to accepting a full 
                application under subparagraph (A), the Maritime 
                Administrator may require that an eligible entity first 
                submit a pre-proposal that contains a brief description 
                of the items under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Pre-proposal feedback.--Not later than 30 
                days after receiving a pre-proposal, the Maritime 
                Administrator shall provide feedback to the eligible 
                entity that submitted the pre-proposal to encourage or 
                discourage the eligible entity from submitting a full 
                application. An eligible entity may still submit a full 
                application even if that eligible entity is not 
                encouraged to do so after submitting a pre-proposal.
            ``(4) Timing of grant notice.--The Maritime Administrator 
        shall post a Notice of Funding Opportunity regarding grants, 
        contracts, or cooperative agreements under this subsection not 
        more than 60 days after the date of enactment of the 
        appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned.
            ``(5) Grant application feedback.--Following the award of 
        grants for a particular fiscal year, the Maritime Administrator 
        may provide feedback to applicants to help applicants improve 
        future applications if the feedback is requested by that 
        applicant.
            ``(6) Timing of grants.--The Maritime Administrator shall 
        award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this 
        subsection not later than 270 days after the date of the 
        enactment of the appropriations Act for the fiscal year 
        concerned.
            ``(7) Non-federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An applicant shall provide not 
                less than 20 percent of the costs from non-Federal 
                sources, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Tribal and rural areas.--The Maritime 
                Administrator may increase the Federal share of service 
                costs above 80 percent for a service located in a 
                Tribal or rural area.
                    ``(C) Tribal government.--The Maritime 
                Administrator may increase the Federal share of service 
                costs above 80 percent for a service benefitting a 
                Tribal Government.
                    ``(D) Preference.--In awarding grants, or entering 
                in contracts or cooperative agreements under this 
                subsection, the Maritime Administrator shall give a 
                preference to marine highway services that present the 
                most financially viable transportation services and 
                require the lowest percentage Federal share of the 
                costs.
            ``(8) Reuse of unexpended grant funds.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraph (6), amounts awarded under this subsection that are 
        not expended by the recipient within 3 years after obligation 
        of funds or that are returned under paragraph (10)(C) shall 
        remain available to the Maritime Administrator to make grants 
        and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements under this 
        subsection.
            ``(9) Administrative costs.--Not more than 3 percent of the 
        total amount made available to carry out this subsection for 
        any fiscal year may be used for the necessary administrative 
        costs associated with grants, contracts, and cooperative 
        agreements made under this subsection.
            ``(10) Procedural safeguards.--The Maritime Administrator, 
        in consultation with the Office of the Inspector General, shall 
        issue guidelines to establish appropriate accounting, 
        reporting, and review procedures to ensure that--
                    ``(A) amounts made available to carry out this 
                subsection are used for the purposes for which they 
                were made available;
                    ``(B) recipients of funds under this subsection 
                (including through grants, contracts, or cooperative 
                agreements) have properly accounted for all 
                expenditures of such funds; and
                    ``(C) any such funds that are not obligated or 
                expended for the purposes for which they were made 
                available are returned to the Administrator.
            ``(11) Conditions on provision of funds.--The Maritime 
        Administrator may not award funds an applicant under this 
        subsection unless the Maritime Administrator determines that--
                    ``(A) sufficient funding is available to meet the 
                non-Federal share requirement of paragraph (7);
                    ``(B) the marine highway service for which such 
                funds are provided will be completed without 
                unreasonable delay; and
                    ``(C) the recipient of such funds has authority to 
                implement the proposed marine highway service.
    ``(d) Covered Functions.--A covered function under this subsection 
is one of the following:
            ``(1) Promotion of marine highway transportation.
            ``(2) Provision of a coordinated and capable alternative to 
        landside transportation.
            ``(3) Mitigation or relief of landside congestion.
    ``(e) Prohibited Uses.--Funds awarded under this section may not be 
used to--
            ``(1) raise sunken vessels, construct buildings or other 
        physical facilities, or acquire land unless such activities are 
        necessary for the establishment or operation of a marine 
        highway service implemented using grant funds provided, or 
        pursuant to a contract or cooperative entered into under, 
        subsection (c); or
            ``(2) improve port or land-based infrastructure outside the 
        United States.
    ``(f) Geographic Distribution.--In making grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements under this section the Maritime Administrator 
shall take such measures so as to ensure an equitable geographic 
distribution of funds.
    ``(g) Audits and Examinations.--All recipients (including 
recipients of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements) under this 
section shall maintain such records as the Maritime Administrator may 
require and make such records available for review and audit by the 
Maritime Administrator.''.
            (2) Rules.--
                    (A) Final rule.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Transportation shall prescribe such final rules as are 
                necessary to carry out the amendments made by this 
                subsection.
                    (B) Interim rules.--The Secretary of Transportation 
                may prescribe temporary interim rules necessary to 
                carry out the amendments made by this subsection. For 
                this purpose, the Maritime Administrator, in 
                prescribing rules under this subparagraph, is excepted 
                from compliance with the notice and comment 
                requirements of section 553 of title 5, United States 
                Code, prior to the effective date of the interim rules. 
                All interim rules prescribed under the authority of 
                this subparagraph shall request comment and remain in 
                effect until such time as the interim rules are 
                superseded by a final rule, following notice and 
                comment.
                    (C) Savings clause.--The requirements under section 
                55601 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by 
                this subsection, shall take effect only after the 
                interim rule described in subparagraph (B) is 
                promulgated by the Secretary.
    (d) Multistate, State, and Regional Transportation Planning.--
Chapter 556 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 55602 the following:

``SEC. 55603. MULTISTATE, STATE, AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

    ``(a) In General.--The Maritime Administrator, in consultation with 
the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, State 
and local governments, and appropriate private sector entities, may 
develop strategies to encourage the use of marine highway 
transportation for the transportation of passengers and cargo.
    ``(b) Strategies.--If the Maritime Administrator develops the 
strategies described in subsection (a), the Maritime Administrator 
may--
            ``(1) assess the extent to which States and local 
        governments include marine highway transportation and other 
        marine transportation solutions in transportation planning;
            ``(2) encourage State departments of transportation to 
        develop strategies, where appropriate, to incorporate marine 
        highway transportation, ferries, and other marine 
        transportation solutions for regional and interstate transport 
        of freight and passengers in transportation planning; and
            ``(3) encourage groups of States and multistate 
        transportation entities to determine how marine highway 
        transportation can address congestion, bottlenecks, and other 
        interstate transportation challenges.''.
    (e) Research on Marine Highway Transportation.--Section 55604 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (4), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following new paragraphs:
            ``(1) the economic importance of marine highway 
        transportation to the United States economy;
            ``(2) the importance of marine highway transportation to 
        rural areas;
            ``(3) pairs of United States regions and territories, and 
        within-region areas, that do not yet have marine highway 
        services underway, but that could benefit from the 
        establishment of marine highway services;''.
    (f) Definitions.--Section 55605 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 55605. Definitions
    ``In this chapter--
            ``(1) the term `marine highway transportation' means the 
        carriage by a documented vessel of cargo--
                    ``(A) that is--
                            ``(i) contained in intermodal cargo 
                        containers and loaded by crane on the vessel;
                            ``(ii) loaded on the vessel by means of 
                        wheeled technology;
                            ``(iii) shipped in discrete units or 
                        packages that are handled individually, 
                        palletized, or unitized for purposes of 
                        transportation; or
                            ``(iv) freight vehicles carried aboard 
                        commuter ferry boats; and
                    ``(B) that is--
                            ``(i) loaded at a port in the United States 
                        and unloaded either at another port in the 
                        United States or at a port in Canada or Mexico; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) loaded at a port in Canada or Mexico 
                        and unloaded at a port in the United States;
            ``(2) the term `marine highway service' means a planned or 
        contemplated new service, or expansion of an existing service, 
        on a marine highway route, that seeks to provide new modal 
        choices to shippers, offer more desirable services, reduce 
        transportation costs, or provide public benefits;
            ``(3) the term `marine highway route' means a route on 
        commercially navigable coastal, inland, or intracoastal waters 
        of the United States, including connections between the United 
        States and a port in Canada or Mexico, that is designated under 
        section 55601(b); and
            ``(4) the term ``Tribal Government'' means the recognized 
        governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, 
        nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or 
        component reservation, individually identified (including 
        parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the 
        date of enactment of Marine Highway Promotion Act pursuant to 
        section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act 
        of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).''.
    (g) Clerical Amendments.--The analysis for chapter 556 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 55601 and 
        inserting the following:

``55601. United States Marine Highway Program.'';
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 55602 
        the following:

``55603. Multistate, State, and regional transportation planning.'';
         and
            (3) by striking the item relating to section 55605 and 
        inserting the following:

``55605. Definitions.''.

SEC. 202. GAO REVIEW OF EFFORTS TO SUPPORT AND GROW THE UNITED STATES 
              MERCHANT FLEET.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit a 
report to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that 
examines United States Government efforts to promote the growth and 
modernization of the United States maritime industry, and the vessels 
of the United States, as defined in section 116 of title 46, United 
States Code, including the overall efficacy of United States Government 
financial support and policies, including the Capital Construction 
Fund, Construction Reserve Fund, and other eligible loan, grant, or 
other programs.

SEC. 203. GAO REVIEW OF FEDERAL EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PORT INFRASTRUCTURE 
              RESILIENCY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit a 
report to the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that 
examines Federal efforts to assist ports in enhancing the resiliency of 
their key intermodal connectors to weather-related disasters. The 
report shall include consideration of the following:
            (1) Actions being undertaken at various ports to better 
        identify critical land-side connectors that may be vulnerable 
        to disruption in the event of a natural disaster, including how 
        to communicate such information during a disaster when 
        communications systems may be compromised, and the level of 
        Federal involvement in such efforts.
            (2) The extent to which the Department of Transportation 
        and other Federal agencies are working in line with recent 
        recommendations from key resiliency reports, including the 
        National Academies of Science study on strengthening supply 
        chain resilience, to establish a framework for ports to follow 
        to increase resiliency to major weather-related disruptions 
        before they happen.
            (3) The extent to which the Department of Transportation or 
        other Federal agencies have provided funds to ports for 
        resiliency-related projects.
            (4) The extent to which Federal agencies have a coordinated 
        approach to helping ports and the multiple State, local, and 
        private stakeholders involved, to improve resiliency prior to 
        weather-related disasters.

SEC. 204. STUDY ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SHIPPING.

    (a) Assessment.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for International 
Trade (referred to in this section as the ``Under Secretary'') in 
coordination with Maritime Administration, the United States 
Transportation Command, and the Federal Maritime Commission shall 
conduct an assessment of subsidies, indirect state support, or other 
financial infrastructure or benefits provided by foreign states that 
control more than 1 percent of the world merchant fleet to entities or 
individuals building, owning, chartering, operating, or financing 
vessels not documented under the laws of the United States that are 
engaged in foreign commerce.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the assessment conducted under subsection (a), including--
            (1) the amount, in United States dollars, of such support 
        provided by a foreign state described in subsection (a) to--
                    (A) the shipping industry of each country as a 
                whole;
                    (B) the shipping industry as a percent of gross 
                domestic product of each country; and
                    (C) each ship on average, by ship type for cargo, 
                tanker, and bulk;
            (2) the amount, in United States dollars, of such support 
        provided by a foreign state described in subsection (a) to the 
        shipping industry of another foreign state, including favorable 
        financial arrangements for ship construction;
            (3) a description of the shipping industry activities of 
        state-owned enterprises of a foreign state described in 
        subsection (a);
            (4) a description of the type of support provided by a 
        foreign state described in subsection (a), including tax 
        relief, direct payment, indirect support of state-controlled 
        financial entities, or other such support, as determined by the 
        Under Secretary; and
            (5) a description of how the subsidies provided by a 
        foreign state described in subsection (a) may be disadvantaging 
        the competitiveness of vessels documented under the laws of the 
        United States that are engaged in foreign commerce and the 
        national security of the United States.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Foreign commerce.--The term ``foreign commerce'' 
        means--
                    (A) commerce or trade between the United States, 
                its territories or possessions, or the District of 
                Columbia, and a foreign country;
                    (B) commerce or trade between foreign countries; or
                    (C) commerce or trade within a foreign country.
            (2) Foreign state.--The term ``foreign state'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 1603(a) of title 28, United 
        States Code.
            (3) Shipping industry.--The term ``shipping industry'' 
        means the construction, ownership, chartering, operation, or 
        financing of vessels engaged in foreign commerce.

SEC. 205. REPORT REGARDING ALTERNATE MARINE FUEL BUNKERING FACILITIES 
              AT PORTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Maritime Administrator shall report on the necessary 
port-related infrastructure needed to support bunkering facilities for 
liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, or other new marine fuels 
under development. The Maritime Administrator shall publish the report 
on a publicly available website.
    (b) Contents.--The report described in subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) information about the existing United States 
        infrastructure, in particular the storage facilities, bunkering 
        vessels, and transfer systems to support bunkering facilities 
        for liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, or other new 
        marine fuels under development;
            (2) a review of the needed upgrades to United States 
        infrastructure, including storage facilities, bunkering 
        vessels, and transfer systems, to support bunkering facilities 
        for liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, or other new 
        marine fuels under development;
            (3) an assessment of the estimated government investment in 
        this infrastructure and the duration of that investment; and
            (4) in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, 
        information on the relevant Federal agencies that would oversee 
        the permitting and construction of bunkering facilities for 
        liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia, or other new marine 
        fuels, as well as the Federal funding grants or formula 
        programs that could be used for such marine fuels.

                     TITLE III--MARITIME WORKFORCE

SEC. 301. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MERCHANT MARINE.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States Merchant Marine 
is a critical part of the national infrastructure of the United States, 
and the men and women of the United States Merchant Marine are 
essential workers.

SEC. 302. ENSURING DIVERSE MARINER RECRUITMENT.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and deliver to 
Congress a strategy to assist State maritime academies and the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy to improve the representation of women 
and underrepresented communities in the next generation of the mariner 
workforce, including each of the following:
            (1) Black and African American.
            (2) Hispanic and Latino.
            (3) Asian.
            (4) American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian.
            (5) Pacific Islander.

SEC. 303. LOW EMISSIONS VESSELS TRAINING.

    (a) Development of Strategy.--The Secretary of Transportation, in 
consultation with the United States Merchant Marine Academy, State 
maritime academies, and civilian nautical schools and the Secretary of 
the department in which Coast Guard is operating, shall develop a 
strategy to ensure there is an adequate supply of trained United States 
citizen mariners sufficient to meet the operational requirements of low 
and zero emission vessels.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date the Secretary 
of Transportation determines that there is commercially viable 
technology for low and zero emission vessels, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall--
            (1) submit a report on the strategy developed under 
        subsection (a) and plans for its implementation to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) make such report publicly available.

SEC. 304. IMPROVING PROTECTIONS FOR MIDSHIPMEN ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Improving 
Protections for Midshipmen Act''.
    (b) Suspension or Revocation of Merchant Mariner Credentials for 
Perpetrators of Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 77 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 7704 the following:
``Sec. 7704a. Sexual harassment or sexual assault as grounds for 
              suspension or revocation
    ``(a) Sexual Harassment.--If it is shown at a hearing under this 
chapter that a holder of a license, certificate of registry, or 
merchant mariner's document issued under this part, within 10 years 
before the beginning of the suspension and revocation proceedings, is 
the subject of a substantiated claim of sexual harassment, then the 
license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document shall 
be suspended or revoked.
    ``(b) Sexual Assault.--If it is shown at a hearing under this 
chapter that a holder of a license, certificate of registry, or 
merchant mariner's document issued under this part, within 20 years 
before the beginning of the suspension and revocation proceedings, is 
the subject of a substantiated claim of sexual assault, then the 
license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document shall 
be revoked.
    ``(c) Substantiated Claim.--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `substantiated claim' means--
                    ``(A) a legal proceeding or agency action in any 
                administrative proceeding that determines the 
                individual committed sexual harassment or sexual 
                assault in violation of any Federal, State, local, or 
                Tribal law or regulation and for which all appeals have 
                been exhausted, as applicable; or
                    ``(B) a determination after an investigation by the 
                Coast Guard that it is more likely than not the 
                individual committed sexual harassment or sexual 
                assault as defined in subsection (d), if the 
                determination affords appropriate due process rights to 
                the subject of the investigation.
            ``(2) Investigation by the coast guard.--An investigation 
        by the Coast Guard under paragraph (1)(B) shall include 
        evaluation of the following materials that shall be provided to 
        the Coast Guard:
                    ``(A) Any inquiry or determination made by the 
                employer of the individual as to whether the individual 
                committed sexual harassment or sexual assault.
                    ``(B) Upon request from the Coast Guard, any 
                investigative materials, documents, records, or files 
                in the possession of an employer or former employer of 
                the individual that are related to the claim of sexual 
                harassment or sexual assault by the individual.
            ``(3) Additional review.--A license, certificate of 
        registry, or merchant mariner's document shall not be suspended 
        or revoked under subsection (a) or (b) unless the substantiated 
        claim is reviewed and affirmed, in accordance with the 
        applicable definition in subsection (d), by an administrative 
        law judge at the same suspension or revocation hearing under 
        this chapter described in subsection (a) or (b), as applicable.
    ``(d) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Sexual harassment.--The term `sexual harassment' 
        means any of the following:
                    ``(A) Conduct that--
                            ``(i) involves unwelcome sexual advances, 
                        requests for sexual favors, or deliberate or 
                        repeated offensive comments or gestures of a 
                        sexual nature, when--
                                    ``(I) submission to such conduct is 
                                made either explicitly or implicitly a 
                                term or condition of a person's job, 
                                pay, or career;
                                    ``(II) submission to or rejection 
                                of such conduct by a person is used as 
                                a basis for career or employment 
                                decisions affecting that person;
                                    ``(III) such conduct has the 
                                purpose or effect of unreasonably 
                                interfering with an individual's work 
                                performance or creates an intimidating, 
                                hostile, or offensive working 
                                environment; or
                                    ``(IV) conduct may have been by a 
                                person's supervisor, a supervisor in 
                                another area, a co-worker, or another 
                                credentialed mariner; and
                            ``(ii) is so severe or pervasive that a 
                        reasonable person would perceive, and the 
                        victim does perceive, the environment as 
                        hostile or offensive.
                    ``(B) Any use or condonation, by any person in a 
                supervisory or command position, of any form of sexual 
                behavior to control, influence, or affect the career, 
                pay, or job of a subordinate.
                    ``(C) Any deliberate or repeated unwelcome verbal 
                comment or gesture of a sexual nature by any fellow 
                employee of the complainant.
            ``(2) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' means any 
        form of abuse or contact as defined in chapter 109A of title 
        18.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating may issue further regulations as necessary to 
update the definitions in this section, consistent with descriptions of 
sexual harassment and sexual assault addressed in titles 10 and title 
18 to implement this section.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis of chapter 77 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 7704 the following:

``7704a. Sexual harassment or sexual assault as grounds for suspension 
                            or revocation.''.
    (d) Supporting the United States Merchant Marine Academy.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 513 of title 46, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 51325. Sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention 
              information management system
    ``(a) Information Management System.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2023, the 
        Maritime Administrator shall establish an information 
        management system to track and maintain, in such a manner that 
        patterns can be reasonably identified, information regarding 
        claims and incidents involving cadets that are reportable 
        pursuant to subsection (d) of section 51318 of this chapter.
            ``(2) Information maintained in the system.--Information 
        maintained in the system shall include the following 
        information, to the extent that information is available:
                    ``(A) The overall number of sexual assault or 
                sexual harassment incidents per fiscal year.
                    ``(B) The location of each such incident, including 
                vessel name and the name of the company operating the 
                vessel, if applicable.
                    ``(C) The names and ranks of the individuals 
                involved in each such incident.
                    ``(D) The general nature of each such incident, to 
                include copies of any associated reports completed on 
                the incidents.
                    ``(E) The type of inquiry made into each such 
                incident.
                    ``(F) A determination as to whether each such 
                incident is substantiated.
                    ``(G) Any informal and formal accountability 
                measures taken for misconduct related to the incident, 
                including decisions on whether to prosecute the case.
            ``(3) Past information included.--The information 
        management system under this section shall include the relevant 
        data listed in this subsection related to sexual assault and 
        sexual harassment that the Maritime Administrator possesses, 
        and shall not be limited to data collected after January 1, 
        2023.
            ``(4) Privacy protections.--The Maritime Administrator and 
        the Department of Transportation Chief Information Officer 
        shall coordinate to ensure that the information management 
        system under this section shall be established and maintained 
        in a secure fashion to ensure the protection of the privacy of 
        any individuals whose information is entered in such system.
            ``(5) Cybersecurity audit.--Ninety days after the 
        implementation of the information management system, the Office 
        of Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall 
        commence an audit of the cybersecurity of the system and shall 
        submit a report containing the results of that audit to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives.
            ``(6) Correcting records.--In establishing the information 
        management system, the Maritime Administrator shall create a 
        process to ensure that if any incident report results in a 
        final agency action or final judgement that acquits an 
        individual of wrongdoing, all personally identifiable 
        information about the acquitted individual is removed from that 
        incident report in the system.
    ``(b) Sea Year Program.--The Maritime Administrator shall provide 
for the establishment of in-person and virtual confidential exit 
interviews, to be conducted by personnel who are not involved in the 
assignment of the midshipmen to a Sea Year vessel, for midshipmen from 
the Academy upon completion of Sea Year and following completion by the 
midshipmen of the survey under section 51322(d).
    ``(c) Data-Informed Decisionmaking.--The data maintained in the 
data management system under subsection (a) and through the exit 
interviews under subsection (b) shall be affirmatively referenced and 
used to inform the creation of new policy or regulation, or changes to 
any existing policy or regulation, in the areas of sexual harassment, 
dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
``Sec. 51326. Student advisory board at the United States Merchant 
              Marine Academy
    ``(a) In General.--The Maritime Administrator shall establish at 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy an advisory board to be known 
as the Advisory Board to the Secretary of Transportation (referred to 
in this section as the `Advisory Board').
    ``(b) Membership.--The Advisory Board shall be composed of not 
fewer than 12 midshipmen of the Merchant Marine Academy who are 
enrolled at the Merchant Marine Academy at the time of the appointment, 
including not fewer than 3 cadets from each class.
    ``(c) Appointment; Term.--Midshipmen shall serve on the Advisory 
Board pursuant to appointment by the Maritime Administrator. 
Appointments shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the 
swearing in of a new class of midshipmen at the Academy. The term of 
membership of a midshipmen on the Advisory Board shall be 1 academic 
year.
    ``(d) Reappointment.--The Maritime Administrator may reappoint not 
more than 6 cadets from the previous term to serve on the Advisory 
Board for an additional academic year if the Maritime Administrator 
determines such reappointment to be in the best interests of the 
Merchant Marine Academy.
    ``(e) Meetings.--The Advisory Board shall meet with the Secretary 
of Transportation not less than once each academic year to discuss the 
activities of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board shall meet in 
person with the Maritime Administrator not less than 2 times each 
academic year to discuss the activities of the Advisory Board.
    ``(f) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall--
            ``(1) identify health and wellbeing, diversity, and sexual 
        assault and harassment challenges and other topics considered 
        important by the Advisory Board facing midshipmen at the 
        Merchant Marine Academy, off campus, and while aboard ships 
        during Sea Year or other training opportunities;
            ``(2) discuss and propose possible solutions, including 
        improvements to culture and leadership development at the 
        Merchant Marine Academy; and
            ``(3) periodically review the efficacy of the program in 
        section 51325(b), as appropriate, and provide recommendations 
        to the Maritime Administrator for improvement.
    ``(g) Working Groups.--The Advisory Board may establish one or more 
working groups to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out its duties, 
including working groups composed in part of midshipmen at the Merchant 
Marine Academy who are not current members of the Advisory Board.
    ``(h) Reports and Briefings.--The Advisory Board shall regularly 
provide the Secretary of Transportation and the Maritime Administrator 
reports and briefings on the results of its duties, including 
recommendations for actions to be taken in light of such results. Such 
reports and briefings may be provided in writing, in person, or both.
``Sec. 51327. Sexual Assault Advisory Council
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish a Sexual Assault Advisory Council (in this section referred 
to as the `Council').
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of not 
        fewer than 8 and not more than 14 individuals selected by the 
        Secretary of Transportation who are alumni that have graduated 
        within the last 4 years or current midshipmen of the United 
        States Merchant Marine Academy (including midshipmen or alumni 
        who were victims of sexual assault and midshipmen or alumni who 
        were not victims of sexual assault) and governmental and 
        nongovernmental experts and professionals in the sexual assault 
        field.
            ``(2) Experts included.--The Council shall include--
                    ``(A) not less than 1 member who is licensed in the 
                field of mental health and has prior experience working 
                as a counselor or therapist providing mental health 
                care to survivors of sexual assault in a victim 
                services agency or organization; and
                    ``(B) not less than 1 member who has prior 
                experience developing or implementing sexual assault or 
                sexual harassment prevention and response policies in 
                an academic setting.
            ``(3) Rules regarding membership.--No employee of the 
        Department of Transportation shall be a member of the Council. 
        The number of governmental experts appointed to the Council 
        shall not exceed the number of nongovernmental experts.
    ``(c) Duties; Authorized Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Council shall meet not less often 
        than semiannually to--
                    ``(A) review--
                            ``(i) the policies on sexual harassment, 
                        dating violence, domestic violence, sexual 
                        assault, and stalking under section 51318 of 
                        this title;
                            ``(ii) the trends and patterns of data 
                        contained in the system described under section 
                        51325 of this title; and
                            ``(iii) related matters the Council views 
                        as appropriate; and
                    ``(B) develop recommendations designed to ensure 
                that such policies and such matters conform, to the 
                extent practicable, to best practices in the field of 
                sexual assault and sexual harassment response and 
                prevention.
            ``(2) Authorized activities.--To carry out this subsection, 
        the Council may--
                    ``(A) conduct case reviews, as appropriate and only 
                with the consent of the victim of sexual assault or 
                harassment;
                    ``(B) interview current and former midshipmen of 
                the United States Merchant Marine Academy (to the 
                extent that such midshipmen provide the Department of 
                Transportation express consent to be interviewed by the 
                Council); and
                    ``(C) review--
                            ``(i) exit interviews under section 
                        51325(b) and surveys under section 51322(d);
                            ``(ii) data collected from restricted 
                        reporting; and
                            ``(iii) any other information necessary to 
                        conduct such case reviews.
            ``(3) Personally identifiable information.--In carrying out 
        this subsection, the Council shall comply with the obligations 
        of the Department of Transportation to protect personally 
        identifiable information.
    ``(d) Reports.--On an annual basis for each of the 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this section, and at the discretion of the 
Council thereafter, the Council shall submit, to the President and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, a report on the Council's findings based on the 
reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (c) and related 
recommendations.
    ``(e) Employee Status.--Members of the Council shall not be 
considered employees of the United States Government for any purpose 
and shall not receive compensation other than reimbursement of travel 
expenses and per diem allowance in accordance with section 5703 of 
title 5.
    ``(f) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.
``Sec. 51328. Student support
    ``The Maritime Administrator shall--
            ``(1) require a biannual survey of midshipmen, faculty, and 
        staff of the Academy assessing the inclusiveness of the 
        environment of the Academy; and
            ``(2) require an annual survey of faculty and staff of the 
        Academy assessing the inclusiveness of the environment of the 
        Sea Year program.''.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Maritime Administrator shall provide 
Congress with a briefing on the resources necessary to properly 
implement section 51328 of title 46, United States Code, as added by 
this section.
    (f) Conforming Amendments.--The chapter analysis for chapter 513 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``51325. Sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention information 
                            management system.
``51326. Student advisory board at the United States Merchant Marine 
                            Academy.
``51327. Sexual Assault Advisory Council.
``51328. Student support.''.
    (g) United States Merchant Marine Academy Student Support Plan.--
            (1) Student support plan.--Not later than January 1, 2023, 
        the Maritime Administrator shall issue a Student Support Plan 
        for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in consultation 
        with relevant mental health professionals in the Federal 
        Government or experienced with the maritime industry or related 
        industries. Such plan shall--
                    (A) address the mental health resources available 
                to midshipmen, both on-campus and during Sea Year;
                    (B) establish a tracking system for suicidal 
                ideations and suicide attempts of midshipmen;
                    (C) create an option for midshipmen to obtain 
                assistance from a professional care provider virtually; 
                and
                    (D) require an annual survey of faculty and staff 
                assessing the adequacy of mental health resources for 
                midshipmen of the Academy, both on campus and during 
                Sea Year.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Maritime Administrator 
        shall provide Congress with a report on the resources necessary 
        to properly implement this subsection.
    (h) Special Victims Advisor.--Section 51319 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Special Victims Advisor.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an 
        attorney (to be known as the `Special Victims Advisor') for the 
        purpose of providing legal assistance to any cadet of the 
        Academy who is the victim of an alleged sex-related offense 
        regarding administrative and criminal proceedings related to 
        such offense, regardless of whether the report of that offense 
        is restricted or unrestricted.
            ``(2) Special victims advisory.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        that the attorney designated as the Special Victims Advisor has 
        knowledge of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as well as 
        criminal and civil law.
            ``(3) Privileged communications.--Any communications 
        between a victim of an alleged sex-related offense and the 
        Special Victim Advisor, when acting in their capacity as such, 
        shall have the same protection that applicable law provides for 
        confidential attorney-client communications.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Unfilled Vacancies.--The Administrator of the Maritime 
Administration may appoint qualified candidates to positions under 
subsections (a) and (d) of this section without regard to sections 3309 
through 3319 of title 5.''.
    (i) Catch a Serial Offender Assessment.--
            (1) Assessment.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
        in coordination with the Maritime Administrator, shall conduct 
        an assessment of the feasibility and process necessary, and 
        appropriate responsible entities to establish a program for the 
        United States Merchant Marine Academy and United States 
        Merchant Marine modeled on the Catch a Serial Offender program 
        of the Department of Defense using the information management 
        system required under subsection (a) of section 51325 of title 
        46, United States Code, and the exit interviews under 
        subsection (b) of such section.
            (2) Legislative change proposals.--If, as a result of the 
        assessment required by paragraph (1), the Commandant or the 
        Administrator determines that additional authority is necessary 
        to implement the program described in paragraph (1), the 
        Commandant or the Administrator, as applicable, shall provide 
        appropriate legislative change proposals to Congress.
    (j) Shipboard Training.--Section 51322(a) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Training.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As part of training that shall 
                be provided not less than semiannually to all 
                midshipmen of the Academy, pursuant to section 51318, 
                the Maritime Administrator shall develop and implement 
                comprehensive in-person sexual assault risk-reduction 
                and response training that, to the extent practicable, 
                conforms to best practices in the sexual assault 
                prevention and response field and includes appropriate 
                scenario-based training.
                    ``(B) Development and consultation with experts.--
                In developing the sexual assault risk-reduction and 
                response training under subparagraph (A), the Maritime 
                Administrator shall consult with and incorporate, as 
                appropriate, the recommendations and views of experts 
                in the sexual assault field.''.

SEC. 305. BOARD OF VISITORS.

    Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (D);
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated 
                        by clause (i), by striking ``flag-rank who'' 
                        and inserting ``flag-rank'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon; and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
                        the following:
                    ``(C) at least 1 shall be a representative of a 
                maritime labor organization; and''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Replacement.--If a member of the Board is 
                replaced, not later than 60 days after the date of the 
                replacement, the Designated Federal Officer selected 
                under subsection (g)(2) shall notify that member.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and 2 
                additional meetings, which may be held in person or 
                virtually'' after ``Academy''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Scheduling; notification.--When scheduling a meeting, 
        the Designated Federal Officer shall coordinate, to the 
        greatest extent practicable, with the members of the Board to 
        determine the date and time of the meeting. Members of the 
        Board shall be notified of the date of each meeting not less 
        than 30 days prior to the meeting date.'';
            (3) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Staff.--One of more staff of each member of the Board 
        may accompany them on Academy visits.
            ``(5) Scheduling; notification.--When scheduling a visit to 
        the Academy, the Designated Federal Officer shall coordinate, 
        to the greatest extent practicable, with the members of the 
        Board to determine the date and time of the visit. Members of 
        the Board shall be notified of the date of each visit not less 
        than 30 days prior to the visit date.''; and
            (4) in subsection (h)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and ranking member'' after 
                ``chairman'' each place the term appears; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following: ``Such 
                staff may attend meetings and may visit the Academy.''.

SEC. 306. MARITIME TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Maritime 
Technological Advancement Act of 2022''.
    (b) Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce.--Section 
51706 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``of Transportation'';
            (2) in subsection (b), in the subsection heading, by 
        striking ``Assistance'' and inserting ``Cooperative 
        Agreements'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
            (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by 
        adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.''; and
            (5) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' 
                means the Administrator of the Maritime Administration.
                    ``(B) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
                institution' means an institution that has a 
                demonstrated record of success in training and is--
                            ``(i) a postsecondary educational 
                        institution (as defined in section 3 of the 
                        Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
                        Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) that offers a 2-
                        year program of study or a 1-year program of 
                        training;
                            ``(ii) a postsecondary vocational 
                        institution (as defined under section 102(c) of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1002(c)));
                            ``(iii) a public or private nonprofit 
                        entity that offers 1 or more other structured 
                        experiential learning training programs for 
                        American workers in the United States maritime 
                        industry, including a program that is offered 
                        by a labor organization or conducted in 
                        partnership with a nonprofit organization or 1 
                        or more employers in the maritime industry; or
                            ``(iv) an entity sponsoring a registered 
                        apprenticeship program.
                    ``(C) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
                `registered apprenticeship program' means an 
                apprenticeship program registered with the Office of 
                Apprenticeship of the Employment and Training 
                Administration of the Department of Labor or a State 
                apprenticeship agency recognized by the Office of 
                Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937 
                (commonly known as the `National Apprenticeship Act'; 
                50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
                    ``(D) United states maritime industry.--The term 
                `United States maritime industry' means all segments of 
                the maritime-related transportation system of the 
                United States, both in domestic and foreign trade, and 
                in coastal, offshore, and inland waters, as well as 
                non-commercial maritime activities, such as pleasure 
                boating and marine sciences (including all scientific 
                research vessels), and all of the industries that 
                support or depend upon such uses, including vessel 
                construction and repair, vessel operations, ship 
                logistics supply, berthing, port operations, port 
                intermodal operations, marine terminal operations, 
                vessel design, marine brokerage, marine insurance, 
                marine financing, chartering, maritime-oriented supply 
                chain operations, offshore industry, offshore wind, and 
                maritime-oriented research and development.
            ``(2) Grant authorization.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of the Maritime Technological 
                Advancement Act of 2022, the Administrator may award 
                maritime career training grants to eligible 
                institutions for the purpose of developing, offering, 
                or improving educational or career training programs 
                for American workers related to the maritime workforce.
                    ``(B) Guidelines.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of the Maritime Technological 
                Advancement Act of 2022, the Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) promulgate guidelines for the 
                        submission of grant proposals under this 
                        subsection; and
                            ``(ii) publish and maintain such guidelines 
                        on the website of the Maritime Administration.
            ``(3) Limitations.--The Administrator may not award a grant 
        under this subsection in an amount that is more than 
        $12,000,000.
            ``(4) Required information.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible institution that 
                desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall 
                submit to the Administrator a grant proposal that 
                includes a detailed description of--
                            ``(i) the specific project for which the 
                        grant proposal is submitted, including the 
                        manner in which the grant will be used to 
                        develop, offer, or improve an educational or 
                        career training program that is suited to 
                        maritime industry workers;
                            ``(ii) the extent to which the project for 
                        which the grant proposal is submitted will meet 
                        the educational or career training needs of 
                        maritime workers in the community served by the 
                        eligible institution, particularly any 
                        individuals with a barrier to employment;
                            ``(iii) the extent to which the project for 
                        which the grant proposal is submitted fits 
                        within any overall strategic plan developed by 
                        an eligible community; and
                            ``(iv) any previous experience of the 
                        eligible institution in providing maritime 
                        educational or career training programs.
                    ``(B) Community outreach required.--In order to be 
                considered by the Administrator, a grant proposal 
                submitted by an eligible institution under this 
                subsection shall--
                            ``(i) demonstrate that the eligible 
                        institution--
                                    ``(I) reached out to employers to 
                                identify--
                                            ``(aa) any shortcomings in 
                                        existing maritime educational 
                                        and career training 
                                        opportunities available to 
                                        workers in the community; and
                                            ``(bb) any future 
                                        employment opportunities within 
                                        the community and the 
                                        educational and career training 
                                        skills required for workers to 
                                        meet the future maritime 
                                        employment demand; and
                                    ``(II) reached out to other 
                                similarly situated institutions in an 
                                effort to benefit from any best 
                                practices that may be shared with 
                                respect to providing maritime 
                                educational or career training programs 
                                to workers eligible for training; and
                            ``(ii) include a detailed description of--
                                    ``(I) the extent and outcome of the 
                                outreach conducted under clause (i);
                                    ``(II) the extent to which the 
                                project for which the grant proposal is 
                                submitted will contribute to meeting 
                                any shortcomings identified under 
                                clause (i)(I)(aa) or any maritime 
                                educational or career training needs 
                                identified under clause (i)(I)(bb); and
                                    ``(III) the extent to which 
                                employers, including small- and medium-
                                sized firms within the community, have 
                                demonstrated a commitment to employing 
                                workers who would benefit from the 
                                project for which the grant proposal is 
                                submitted.
            ``(5) Criteria for award of grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to the appropriation of 
                funds, the Administrator shall award a grant under this 
                subsection based on--
                            ``(i) a determination of the merits of the 
                        grant proposal submitted by the eligible 
                        institution to develop, offer, or improve 
                        maritime educational or career training 
                        programs to be made available to workers;
                            ``(ii) an evaluation of the likely 
                        employment opportunities available to workers 
                        who complete a maritime educational or career 
                        training program that the eligible institution 
                        proposes to develop, offer, or improve;
                            ``(iii) an evaluation of prior demand for 
                        training programs by workers in the community 
                        served by the eligible institution, as well as 
                        the availability and capacity of existing 
                        maritime training programs to meet future 
                        demand for training programs;
                            ``(iv) any prior designation of an 
                        institution as a Center of Excellence for 
                        Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and 
                        Education; and
                            ``(v) an evaluation of the previous 
                        experience of the eligible institution in 
                        providing maritime educational or career 
                        training programs.
                    ``(B) Matching requirements.--A grant awarded under 
                this subsection may not be used to satisfy any private 
                matching requirement under any other provision of law.
            ``(6) Competitive awards.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall award 
                grants under this subsection to eligible institutions 
                on a competitive basis in accordance with guidelines 
                and requirements established by the Administrator under 
                paragraph (2)(B).
                    ``(B) Timing of grant notice.--The Administrator 
                shall post a Notice of Funding Opportunity regarding 
                grants awarded under this subsection not more than 90 
                days after the date of enactment of the appropriations 
                Act for the fiscal year concerned.
                    ``(C) Timing of grants.--The Administrator shall 
                award grants under this subsection not later than 270 
                days after the date of the enactment of the 
                appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned.
                    ``(D) Application of requirements.--The 
                requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) shall not 
                apply until the guidelines required under paragraph 
                (2)(B) have been promulgated.
                    ``(E) Reuse of unexpended grant funds.--
                Notwithstanding subparagraph (C), amounts awarded as a 
                grant under this subsection that are not expended by 
                the grantee shall remain available to the Administrator 
                for use for grants under this subsection.
                    ``(F) Administrative costs.--Not more than 3 
                percent of amounts made available to carry out this 
                subsection may be used for the necessary costs of grant 
                administration.
            ``(7) Eligible uses of grant funds.--An eligible 
        institution receiving a grant under this subsection--
                    ``(A) shall carry out activities that are 
                identified as priorities for the purpose of developing, 
                offering, or improving educational or career training 
                programs for the United States maritime industry 
                workforce;
                    ``(B) shall provide training to upgrade the skills 
                of the United States maritime industry workforce, 
                including training to acquire covered requirements as 
                well as technical skills training for jobs in the 
                United States maritime industry; and
                    ``(C) may use the grant funds to--
                            ``(i) admit additional students to maritime 
                        training programs;
                            ``(ii) develop, establish, and annually 
                        update viable training capacity, courses, and 
                        mechanisms to rapidly upgrade skills and 
                        perform assessments of merchant mariners during 
                        time of war or a national emergency, and to 
                        increase credentials for domestic or defense 
                        needs where training can decrease the gap in 
                        the numbers of qualified mariners for sealift;
                            ``(iii) provide services to upgrade the 
                        skills of United States offshore wind marine 
                        service workers who transport, install, 
                        operate, or maintain offshore wind components 
                        and turbines, including training, curriculum 
                        and career pathway development, on-the-job 
                        training, safety and health training, and 
                        classroom training;
                            ``(iv) expand existing or create new 
                        maritime training programs, including through 
                        partnerships and memoranda of understanding 
                        with--
                                    ``(I) 4-year institutions of higher 
                                education;
                                    ``(II) labor organizations;
                                    ``(III) registered apprenticeship 
                                programs with the United States 
                                maritime industry; or
                                    ``(IV) an entity described in 
                                subclause (I) through (III) that has a 
                                memorandum of understanding with 1 or 
                                more employers in the maritime 
                                industry;
                            ``(v) create new maritime career pathways;
                            ``(vi) expand existing or create new 
                        training programs for transitioning military 
                        veterans to careers in the United States 
                        maritime industry;
                            ``(vii) expand existing or create new 
                        training programs that address the needs of 
                        individuals with a barrier to employment, as 
                        determined by the Secretary in consultation 
                        with the Secretary of Labor, in the United 
                        States maritime industry;
                            ``(viii) purchase, construct, develop, 
                        expand, or improve training facilities, 
                        buildings, and equipment to deliver maritime 
                        training programs;
                            ``(ix) recruit and train additional faculty 
                        to expand the maritime training programs 
                        offered by the institution;
                            ``(x) provide financial assistance through 
                        scholarships or tuition waivers, not to exceed 
                        the applicable tuition expenses associated with 
                        the covered programs;
                            ``(xi) promote the use of distance learning 
                        that enables students to take courses through 
                        the use of teleconferencing, the Internet, and 
                        other media technology;
                            ``(xii) assist in providing services to 
                        address maritime workforce recruitment and 
                        training of youth residing in targeted high-
                        poverty areas within empowerment zones and 
                        enterprise communities;
                            ``(xiii) implement partnerships with 
                        national and regional organizations with 
                        special expertise in developing, organizing, 
                        and administering maritime workforce 
                        recruitment and training services;
                            ``(xiv) carry out customized training in 
                        conjunction with--
                                    ``(I) an existing registered 
                                apprenticeship program or a pre-
                                apprenticeship program that articulates 
                                to a registered apprenticeship program;
                                    ``(II) a paid internship; or
                                    ``(III) a joint labor-management 
                                partnership;
                            ``(xv) design, develop, and test an array 
                        of approaches to providing recruitment, 
                        training, or retention services, to enhance 
                        diversity, equity and inclusion in the United 
                        States maritime industry workforce;
                            ``(xvi) in conjunction with employers, 
                        organized labor, other groups (such as 
                        community coalitions), and Federal, State, or 
                        local agencies, design, develop, and test 
                        various training approaches in order to 
                        determine effective practices; or
                            ``(xvii) assist in the development and 
                        replication of effective service delivery 
                        strategies for the United States maritime 
                        industry as a whole.
            ``(8) Public report.--Not later than December 15 in each of 
        the calendar years 2023 through 2025, the Administrator shall 
        make available on a publicly available website a report and 
        provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives--
                    ``(A) describing each grant awarded under this 
                subsection during the preceding fiscal year;
                    ``(B) assessing the impact of each award of a grant 
                under this subsection in a fiscal year preceding the 
                fiscal year referred to in subparagraph (A) on workers 
                receiving training; and
                    ``(C) the performance of the grant awarded with 
                respect to the indicators of performance under section 
                116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i)).
            ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $60,000,000 for 
        each of the fiscal years 2023 through 2027.''.

SEC. 307. STUDY ON CIP PROGRAM AT THE USMMA.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States Merchant Marine Academy campus is 
        nearly 80 years old and many of the buildings have fallen into 
        a serious state of disrepair.
            (2) Except for renovations to student barracks in the early 
        2000s, all of the buildings on campus have exceeded their 
        useful life and need to be replaced or undergo major 
        renovations.
            (3) According to the Maritime Administration, since 2011, 
        $234,000,000 has been invested in capital improvements on the 
        campus, but partly due to poor planning and cost overruns, 
        maintenance and building replacement backlogs continue.
    (b) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy Capital Improvement Program. The 
study shall include an evaluation of--
            (1) the actions the United States Merchant Marine Academy 
        has taken to bring the buildings, infrastructure, and other 
        facilities on campus up to standards and the further actions 
        that are required to do so;
            (2) how the approach that the United States Merchant Marine 
        Academy uses to manage its capital assets meets leading 
        practices;
            (3) how cost estimates prepared for capital asset projects 
        meet cost estimating leading practices;
            (4) whether the United States Merchant Marine Academy has 
        adequate staff who are trained to identify needed capital 
        projects, estimate the cost of those projects, perform building 
        maintenance, and manage capital improvement projects; and
            (5) how the United States Merchant Marine Academy 
        identifies and prioritizes capital construction needs, and how 
        that priority relates to the safety, education, and wellbeing 
        of midshipmen.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Comptroller General shall prepare 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 report containing the results of the study under this 
section.

SEC. 308. IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY 
              OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Inspector General Audit.--The Inspector General of the 
Department of Transportation shall--
            (1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this section, initiate an audit of the Maritime 
        Administration's actions to address only recommendations 4.1 
        through 4.3, 4.7 through 4.11, 5.1 through 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.11, 
        5.14, 5.15, 5.16, 6.1 through 6.4, 6.6, and 6.7, identified by 
        a National Academy of Public Administration panel in the 
        November 2021 report entitled ``Organizational Assessment of 
        the United States Merchant Marine Academy: A Path Forward''; 
        and
            (2) release publicly, and submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress, a report containing the results of the 
        audit described in paragraph (1) once the audit is completed.
    (b) Agreement for Study by National Academy of Public 
Administration.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
        enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Public 
        Administration (referred to in this section as the ``Academy'') 
        to provide support for--
                    (A) prioritizing and addressing the recommendations 
                described in subsection (a)(1), and establishing a 
                process for prioritizing other recommendations in the 
                future;
                    (B) development of long-term processes and a 
                timeframe for long-term process improvements, as well 
                as corrective actions and best practice criteria that 
                can be implemented in the medium- and near-term;
                    (C) establishment of a clear assignment of 
                responsibility for implementation of each 
                recommendation described in subsection (a)(1), and a 
                strategy for assigning other recommendations in the 
                future; and
                    (D) a performance measurement system, including 
                data collection and tracking and evaluating progress 
                toward goals.
            (2) Report of progress.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the agreement described in paragraph (1), the Academy 
        shall prepare and submit a report of progress to the Maritime 
        Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress.
    (c) Prioritization and Implementation Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Maritime Administrator shall provide 
        a prioritization and implementation plan to assess, prioritize, 
        and address the recommendations identified by the National 
        Academy of Public Administration panel in the November 2021 
        report entitled ``Organizational Assessment of the United 
        States Merchant Marine Academy: A Path Forward'' that are 
        relevant to the Maritime Administration and not listed in 
        subsection (a)(1). The prioritization and implementation plan 
        shall--
                    (A) make use of the strategies, processes, and 
                systems described in subsection (b)(1);
                    (B) include estimated timelines and cost estimates 
                for implementation of priority goals;
                    (C) include summaries of stakeholder and 
                interagency engagement used to assess goals and 
                timelines; and
                    (D) be released publicly and submitted to the 
                appropriate committees of Congress.
            (2) Audit and report.--The Inspector General of the 
        Department of Transportation shall--
                    (A) not later than 180 days after the date of 
                publication of the prioritization and implementation 
                plan described in paragraph (1), initiate an audit of 
                the Maritime Administration's actions to address the 
                prioritization and implementation plan;
                    (B) not later than 2 years after the date of 
                publication of the prioritization and implementation 
                plan, and every 3 years thereafter, initiate an audit 
                of the Maritime Administration's progress on the plan; 
                and
                    (C) release publicly and submit to the appropriate 
                committees of Congress a report containing the results 
                of the audit once the audit is completed.
    (d) Agreement for Plan on Capital Improvements.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Maritime 
Administration shall enter into an agreement with a Federal 
construction agent to create a plan to execute capital improvements at 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
    (e) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the 
Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives.

SEC. 309. SERVICE ACADEMY FACULTY PARITY.

    Section 105 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the heading of subsection (b), by deleting ``Certain 
        of Works'' and inserting ``Certain Works'';
            (2) in the first subsection (c), by deleting ``The 
        Secretary of Defense may'' and inserting ``The Secretary of 
        Defense (or, with respect to the United States Merchant Marine 
        Academy, the Secretary of Transportation, or, with respect to 
        the United States Coast Guard Academy, the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security) may'';
            (3) by redesignating the second subsection (c) as 
        subsection (d); and
            (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by 
        adding at the end the following:
                    ``(M) United States Merchant Marine Academy.''.

SEC. 310. UPDATED REQUIREMENTS FOR FISHING CREW AGREEMENTS.

    Section 10601(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) if the vessel is a catcher processor with more than 
        25 crew, require that the crewmember be served not less than 3 
        meals a day that total not less than 3,100 calories, including 
        adequate water and minerals in accordance with the Untied 
        States Recommended Daily Allowances; and''.

             TITLE IV--TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE

SEC. 401. MARITIME ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    Section 50307 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the subsection (a) enumerator and all that 
        follows through ``Transportation'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Emerging Marine Technologies and Practices.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), 
                        respectively and adjusting the margins 
                        accordingly; and
                            (ii) in clause (iv), as redesignated by 
                        clause (i), by striking ``propeller 
                        cavitation'' and inserting ``incidental vessel-
                        generated underwater noise, such as noise from 
                        propeller cavitation or hydrodynamic flow''; 
                        and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively and adjusting 
                the margins accordingly;
            (3) in subsection (c), by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
        (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively and adjusting 
        the margins accordingly;
            (4) in subsection (e), by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
        (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively and adjusting 
        the margins accordingly;
            (5) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively and adjusting the 
        margins accordingly;
            (6) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (b);
            (7) by striking subsection (f);
            (8) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), as designated under paragraph 
                (1) of this section--
                            (i) by inserting ``or support'' after 
                        ``engage in''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the use of public'' and 
                        all that follows through the end of the 
                        sentence and inserting ``eligible entities.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), as redesignated under 
                paragraph (5) of this section--
                            (i) by striking ``this section'' and 
                        inserting ``this subsection''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or improve'' and 
                        inserting ``improve, or support efforts related 
                        to,'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph 
                (5) of this section, by striking ``under subsection 
                (b)(2) may include'' and inserting ``with other Federal 
                agencies or with State, local, or Tribal governments, 
                as appropriate, under paragraph (2)(B) may include'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph 
                (5) of this section--
                            (i) by striking ``academic, public, 
                        private, and nongovernmental entities and 
                        facilities'' and inserting eligible entities; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
                        inserting ``this subsection''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Grants.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Maritime Administrator, may establish and 
        carry out a competitive grant program to award grants to 
        eligible entities for projects in the United States consistent 
        with the goals of this subsection to study, evaluate, test, 
        demonstrate, or apply technologies and practices to improve 
        environmental performance.'';
            (9) in subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (6) of 
        this section, by striking ``subsection (b)(1)'' and inserting 
        ``this section''; and
            (10) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Vessels.--Activities carried out under a grant or cooperative 
agreement made under this section may be conducted on public vessels 
under the control of the Maritime Administration, upon approval of the 
Maritime Administrator.
    ``(d) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible 
entity' means--
            ``(1) a private entity, including a nonprofit organization;
            ``(2) a State, regional, local, or Tribal government or 
        entity, including special districts;
            ``(3) an institution of higher education as defined under 
        section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1002); and
            ``(4) a partnership or collaboration of entities described 
        in paragraphs (1) through (3).
    ``(e) Center for Maritime Innovation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Maritime Administration Authorization Act for 
        Fiscal Year 2023, the Secretary of Transportation shall, 
        through a cooperative agreement, establish a United States 
        Center for Maritime Innovation (referred to in this subsection 
        as the `Center') to support the study, research, development, 
        assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies and 
        practices related to the maritime transportation system.
            ``(2) Selection.--The Center shall be--
                    ``(A) selected through a competitive process;
                    ``(B) a nonprofit organization based in the United 
                States with technical expertise in emerging marine 
                technologies and practices related to the maritime 
                transportation system; and
                    ``(C) located in close proximity to eligible 
                entities with expertise in United States emerging 
                marine technologies and practices, including the use of 
                alternative fuels and the development of both vessel 
                and shoreside infrastructure.
            ``(3) Coordination.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        coordinate with other agencies critical for science, research, 
        and regulation of emerging marine technologies for the maritime 
        sector, including the Department of Energy, the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, and the Coast Guard, when establishing the 
        Center.
            ``(4) Functions.--The Center shall--
                    ``(A) support eligible entities regarding the 
                development and use of clean energy and necessary 
                infrastructure to support the deployment of clean 
                energy on vessels of the United States;
                    ``(B) monitor and assess, on an ongoing basis, the 
                current state of knowledge regarding emerging marine 
                technologies in the United States;
                    ``(C) identify any significant gaps in emerging 
                marine technologies research specific to the United 
                States maritime industry, and seek to fill those gaps;
                    ``(D) conduct research, development, testing, and 
                evaluation for equipment, technologies, and techniques 
                to address the components under subsection (a)(2);
                    ``(E) provide--
                            ``(i) guidance on best available 
                        technologies;
                            ``(ii) technical analysis;
                            ``(iii) assistance with understanding 
                        complex regulatory requirements; and
                            ``(iv) documentation of best practices in 
                        the maritime industry, including training and 
                        informational webinars on solutions for the 
                        maritime industry; and
                    ``(F) work with academic and private sector 
                response training centers to develop maritime 
                strategies applicable to various segments of the United 
                States maritime industry, including the inland, deep 
                water, and coastal fleets.''.

SEC. 402. QUIETING FEDERAL NON-COMBATIVE VESSELS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, and the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall, not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, submit a 
report to the committees identified under subsection (b) and publish an 
unclassified report--
            (1) identifying existing, at the time of submission, non-
        classified naval technologies that reduce underwater noise; and
            (2) evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of 
        incorporating such technologies in the design, procurement, and 
        construction of non-combatant vessels of the United States.
    (b) Committees.--The report under subsection (a) shall be submitted 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Defense for carrying out this section, 
$100,000 for fiscal year 2022, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 403. STUDY ON STORMWATER IMPACTS ON SALMON.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, in concert with the Secretary of 
Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, shall commence a study that--
            (1) examines the existing science on tire-related chemicals 
        in stormwater runoff at ports and associated transportation 
        infrastructure and the impacts of such chemicals on Pacific 
        salmon and steelhead;
            (2) examines the challenges of studying tire-related 
        chemicals in stormwater runoff at ports and associated 
        transportation infrastructure and the impacts of such chemicals 
        on Pacific salmon and steelhead;
            (3) provides recommendations for improving monitoring of 
        stormwater and research related to run-off for tire-related 
        chemicals and the impacts of such chemicals on Pacific salmon 
        and steelhead at ports and associated transportation 
        infrastructure near ports; and
            (4) provides recommendations based on the best available 
        science on relevant management approaches at ports and 
        associated transportation infrastructure under their respective 
        jurisdictions.
    (b) Submission of Study.--Not later than 18 months after commencing 
the study under subsection (a), the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in concert with the Secretary 
of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, shall--
            (1) submit the study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives, including detailing any findings from the 
        study; and
            (2) make such study publicly available.
                                 <all>