Findings; sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

Congress makes the following findings:(1)The United States Uniformed Services are composed of the world’s most highly trained and professional servicemembers.(2)A robust Merchant Marine and ensuring United States mariners can compete in the global workforce are vital to economic and national security.(3)Attracting additional trained and credentialed mariners, particularly from active duty servicemembers and military veterans, will support United States national security requirements and provide meaningful, well-paying jobs to United States veterans. (4)There is a need to ensure that the Federal Government has a robust, state of the art, and efficient merchant mariner credentialing system to support economic and national security.(b)

Sense of congress

It is the sense of Congress that—(1)veterans and members of the Uniformed Services who pursue credentialing to join the United States Merchant Marine should receive vigorous support; and(2)it is incumbent upon the regulatory bodies of the United States to streamline regulations to facilitate transition of veterans and members of the Uniformed Services into the United States Merchant Marine to maintain a strong maritime presence in the United States and worldwide.

Modification of sea service requirements for merchant mariner credentials for veterans and members of the Uniformed Services

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Merchant mariner credential

The term merchant mariner credential has the meaning given the term in section 7510 of title 46, United States Code.(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.(3)

Uniformed Services

The term Uniformed Services has the meaning given the term uniformed services in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code.(b)

Review and regulations

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—(1)review and examine—(A)the requirements and procedures for veterans and members of the Uniformed Services to receive a merchant mariner credential;(B)the classifications of sea service acquired through training and service as a member of the Uniformed Services and level of equivalence to sea service on merchant vessels;(C)the amount of sea service, including percent of the total time onboard for purposes of equivalent underway service, that will be accepted as required experience for all endorsements for applicants for a merchant mariner credential who are veterans or members of the Uniformed Services;(2)provide the availability for a fully internet-based application process for a merchant mariner credential, to the maximum extent practicable; and(3)issue new regulations to—(A)reduce paperwork, delay, and other burdens for applicants for a merchant mariner credential who are veterans and members of the Uniformed Services, and, if determined to be appropriate, increase the acceptable percentages of time equivalent to sea service for such applicants; and(B)reduce burdens and create a means of alternative compliance to demonstrate instructor competency for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers courses.(c)

Consultation

In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee taking into account the present and future needs of the United States Merchant Marine labor workforce.(d)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Committee on the Marine Transportation System shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, a report that contains an update on the activities carried out to implement—(1)the July 2020 report by the Committee on the Marine Transportation System to the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy on the implementation of Executive Order 13860 (84 Fed. Reg. 8407; relating to supporting the transition of active duty servicemembers and military veterans into the Merchant Marine); and(2)section 3511 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1978).(e)

Assessment of skillbridge for employment as a merchant mariner

The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, shall assess the use of the SkillBridge program of the Department of Defense as a means for transitioning active duty sea service personnel toward employment as a merchant mariner.