[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H2763-H2779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2014
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4005) to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for
fiscal years 2015 and 2016, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4005
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training.
TITLE II--COAST GUARD
Sec. 201. Commissioned officers.
Sec. 202. Prevention and response workforces.
Sec. 203. Centers of expertise.
Sec. 204. Agreements.
[[Page H2764]]
Sec. 205. Coast Guard housing.
Sec. 206. Determinations.
Sec. 207. Annual Board of Visitors.
Sec. 208. Repeal of limitation on medals of honor.
Sec. 209. Mission need statement.
Sec. 210. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.
Sec. 211. Inventory of real property.
Sec. 212. Active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces.
Sec. 213. Acquisition workforce expedited hiring authority.
Sec. 214. Icebreakers.
Sec. 215. Multiyear procurement authority for Offshore Patrol Cutters.
Sec. 216. Maintaining Medium Endurance Cutter mission capability.
Sec. 217. Coast Guard administrative savings.
Sec. 218. Technical corrections to title 14.
Sec. 219. Flag officers.
Sec. 220. Aviation capability in the Great Lakes region.
Sec. 221. e-LORAN.
TITLE III--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
Sec. 301. Treatment of fishing permits.
Sec. 302. International ice patrol reform.
Sec. 303. Repeal.
Sec. 304. Donation of historical property.
Sec. 305. Small shipyards.
Sec. 306. Drug testing reporting.
Sec. 307. Recourse for noncitizens.
Sec. 308. Penalty wages.
Sec. 309. Crediting time in the sea services.
Sec. 310. Treatment of abandoned seafarers.
Sec. 311. Clarification of high-risk waters.
Sec. 312. Uninspected passenger vessels in the Virgin Islands.
Sec. 313. Offshore supply vessel third-party inspection.
Sec. 314. Survival craft.
Sec. 315. Technical correction to title 46.
Sec. 316. Enforcement.
Sec. 317. Severe marine debris events.
Sec. 318. Minimum tonnage.
Sec. 319. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.
Sec. 320. Report on effect of LNG export carriage requirements on job
creation in the United States maritime industry.
TITLE IV--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Terms of Commissioners.
TITLE V--COMMERCIAL VESSEL DISCHARGE REFORM
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Discharges incidental to the normal operation of certain
vessels.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 601. Distant water tuna fleet.
Sec. 602. Vessel determination.
Sec. 603. Lease authority.
Sec. 604. National maritime strategy.
Sec. 605. IMO Polar Code negotiations.
Sec. 606. Valley View Ferry.
Sec. 607. Competition by United States flag vessels.
Sec. 608. Survey.
Sec. 609. Fishing safety grant programs.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal
years 2015 and 2016 for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard
as follows:
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard--
(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016.
(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and
improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore
facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment
related thereto--
(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016;
to remain available until expended.
(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including
personnel and training costs, equipment, and services--
(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016.
(4) For environmental compliance and restoration of Coast
Guard vessels, aircraft, and facilities (other than parts and
equipment associated with operation and maintenance)--
(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016;
to remain available until expended.
(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research,
development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials,
and human factors directly related to improving the
performance of the Coast Guard's mission with respect to
search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine
environmental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties,
ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense
readiness--
(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND
TRAINING.
(a) Active Duty Strength.--The Coast Guard is authorized an
end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000 for
each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016.
(b) Military Training Student Loads.--The Coast Guard is
authorized average military training student loads for each
of fiscal years 2015 and 2016 as follows:
(1) For recruit and special training, 2,500 student years.
(2) For flight training, 165 student years.
(3) For professional training in military and civilian
institutions, 350 student years.
(4) For officer acquisition, 1,200 student years.
TITLE II--COAST GUARD
SEC. 201. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Section 42(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``7,200'' and inserting ``6,700''.
SEC. 202. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE WORKFORCES.
Section 57 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) waterways operations manager shall have knowledge,
skill, and practical experience with respect to marine
transportation system management; or
``(5) port and facility safety and security specialist
shall have knowledge, skill, and practical experience with
respect to the safety, security, and environmental protection
responsibilities associated with maritime ports and
facilities.'';
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ``or marine safety
engineer'' and inserting ``marine safety engineer, waterways
operations manager, or port and facility safety and security
specialist''; and
(3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking ``investigator or
marine safety engineer.'' and inserting ``investigator,
marine safety engineer, waterways operations manager, or port
and facility safety and security specialist.''.
SEC. 203. CENTERS OF EXPERTISE.
Section 58(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended
to read as follows:
``(b) Missions.--Any center established under subsection
(a) may--
``(1) promote, facilitate, and conduct--
``(A) education;
``(B) training; and
``(C) activities authorized under section 93(a)(4); and
``(2) be a repository of information on operations,
practices, and resources related to the mission for which the
center was established.''.
SEC. 204. AGREEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 93(a)(4) of title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``, investigate'' and inserting ``and
investigate''; and
(2) by striking ``, and cooperate and coordinate such
activities with other Government agencies and with private
agencies''.
(b) Authority.--Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 102. Agreements
``(a) In General.--In carrying out section 93(a)(4), the
Commandant may--
``(1) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and
other agreements with Federal entities and other public or
private entities, including academic entities; and
``(2) impose on and collect from an entity subject to an
agreement or contract under paragraph (1) a fee to assist
with expenses incurred in carrying out such section.
``(b) Deposit and Use of Fees.--Fees collected under this
section shall be deposited in the general fund of the
Treasury as offsetting receipts. The fees may be used, to the
extent provided in advance in an appropriation law, only to
carry out activities under section 93(a)(4).''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``102. Agreements.''.
SEC. 205. COAST GUARD HOUSING.
(a) Commandant; General Powers.--Section 93(a)(13) of title
14, United States Code, is amended by striking ``the
Treasury'' and inserting ``the fund established under section
687''.
(b) Lighthouse Property.--Section 672a(b) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``the Treasury''
and inserting ``the fund established under section 687''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 687(b) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(4) Monies received under section 93(a)(13).
``(5) Amounts received under section 672a(b).''.
SEC. 206. DETERMINATIONS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code,
as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``Sec. 103. Determinations
``The Secretary may only make a determination that a
waterway, or any portion thereof, is navigable for purposes
of the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard through a rulemaking
that is conducted in a manner consistent with subchapter II
of chapter 5 of title 5.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 5 of
title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``103. Determinations.''.
SEC. 207. ANNUAL BOARD OF VISITORS.
Section 194 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
``Sec. 194. Annual Board of Visitors
``(a) In General.--A Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard
Academy is established to
[[Page H2765]]
review and make recommendations on the operation of the
Academy.
``(b) Membership.--
``(1) In general.--The membership of the Board shall
consist of the following:
``(A) The chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, or the chairman's designee.
``(B) The chairman of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, or the
chairman's designee.
``(C) 3 Members of the Senate designated by the Vice
President.
``(D) 4 Members of the House of Representatives designated
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
``(E) 6 individuals designated by the President.
``(2) Length of service.--
``(A) Members of congress.--A Member of Congress designated
under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (1) as a member of
the Board shall be designated as a member in the First
Session of a Congress and serve for the duration of that
Congress.
``(B) Individuals designated by the president.--Each
individual designated by the President under subparagraph (E)
of paragraph (1) shall serve as a member of the Board for 3
years, except that any such member whose term of office has
expired shall continue to serve until a successor is
appointed.
``(3) Death or resignation of a member.--If a member of the
Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for
any unexpired portion of the term of the member by the
official who designated the member.
``(c) Academy Visits.--
``(1) Annual visit.--The Board shall visit the Academy
annually to review the operation of the Academy.
``(2) Additional visits.--With the approval of the
Secretary, the Board or individual members of the Board may
make other visits to the Academy in connection with the
duties of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of
the Academy.
``(d) Scope of Review.--The Board shall review, with
respect to the Academy--
``(1) the state of morale and discipline;
``(2) the curriculum;
``(3) instruction;
``(4) physical equipment;
``(5) fiscal affairs; and
``(6) other matters relating to the Academy that the Board
determines appropriate.
``(e) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of an
annual visit of the Board under subsection (c)(1), the Board
shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the actions of the Board during
such visit and the recommendations of the Board pertaining to
the Academy.
``(f) Advisors.--If approved by the Secretary, the Board
may consult with advisors in carrying out this section.
``(g) Reimbursement.--Each member of the Board and each
adviser consulted by the Board under subsection (f) shall be
reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, by the Coast
Guard for actual expenses incurred while engaged in duties as
a member or adviser.''.
SEC. 208. REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON MEDALS OF HONOR.
Section 494 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``medal of honor,'' each place that it appears.
SEC. 209. MISSION NEED STATEMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 569 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 569. Mission need statement
``(a) In General.--On the date on which the President
submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2016 under
section 1105 of title 31, on the date on which the President
submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2019 under such
section, and every 4 years thereafter, the Commandant shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an
integrated major acquisition mission need statement.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section, the following
definitions apply:
``(1) Integrated major acquisition mission need
statement.--The term `integrated major acquisition mission
need statement' means a document that--
``(A) identifies current and projected gaps in Coast Guard
mission capabilities using mission hour targets;
``(B) explains how each major acquisition program addresses
gaps identified under subparagraph (A) if funded at the
levels provided for such program in the most recently
submitted capital investment plan; and
``(C) describes the missions the Coast Guard will not be
able to achieve, by fiscal year, for each gap identified
under subparagraph (A).
``(2) Major acquisition program.--The term `major
acquisition program' has the meaning given that term in
section 569a(e).
``(3) Capital investment plan.--The term `capital
investment plan' means the plan required under section
663(a)(1).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 15 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to section 569 and inserting the following:
``569. Mission need statement.''.
SEC. 210. TRANSMISSION OF ANNUAL COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION
REQUEST.
(a) In General.--Title 14, United States Code, as amended
by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section
662 the following:
``Sec. 662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization
request
``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the President submits to Congress a budget for a fiscal
year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary
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 Coast Guard authorization request with respect to
such fiscal year.
``(b) Coast Guard Authorization Request Defined.--In this
section, the term `Coast Guard authorization request' means a
proposal for legislation that, with respect to the Coast
Guard for the relevant fiscal year--
``(1) recommends end strengths for personnel for that
fiscal year, as described in section 661;
``(2) recommends authorizations of appropriations for that
fiscal year, including with respect to matters described in
section 662; and
``(3) addresses any other matter that the Secretary
determines is appropriate for inclusion in a Coast Guard
authorization bill.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 17 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 662 the following:
``662a. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.''.
SEC. 211. INVENTORY OF REAL PROPERTY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 679. Inventory of real property
``(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2014, the
Commandant shall establish an inventory of all real property,
including submerged lands, under the control of the Coast
Guard, which shall include--
``(1) the size, the location, and any other appropriate
description of each unit of such property;
``(2) an assessment of the physical condition of each unit
of such property, excluding lands;
``(3) an estimate of the fair market value of each unit of
such property;
``(4) a determination of whether each unit of such property
should be--
``(A) retained to fulfill a current or projected Coast
Guard mission requirement; or
``(B) subject to divestiture; and
``(5) other information the Commandant considers
appropriate.
``(b) Inventory Maintenance.--The Commandant shall--
``(1) maintain the inventory required under subsection (a)
on an ongoing basis; and
``(2) update information on each unit of real property
included in such inventory not later than 30 days after any
change relating to such property.
``(c) Recommendations to Congress.--Not later than March
30, 2015, and every 5 years thereafter, the Commandant shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
that includes--
``(1) a list of all real property under the control of the
Coast Guard and the location of such property by property
type;
``(2) recommendations for divestiture with respect to any
units of such property, including an estimate of--
``(A) the fair market value of any property recommended for
divestiture; and
``(B) the costs or savings associated with divestiture; and
``(3) recommendations for consolidating any units of such
property, including--
``(A) an estimate of the costs or savings associated with
each recommended consolidation; and
``(B) a discussion of the impact that such consolidation
would have on Coast Guard mission effectiveness.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 17 of
title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``679. Inventory of real property.''.
SEC. 212. ACTIVE DUTY FOR EMERGENCY AUGMENTATION OF REGULAR
FORCES.
Section 712(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``not more than 60 days in any 4-month period
and''.
SEC. 213. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY.
Section 404(b) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-281; 124 Stat. 2951) is amended by striking
``2015'' and inserting ``2017''.
SEC. 214. ICEBREAKERS.
(a) Coast Guard Polar Icebreakers.--Section 222 of the
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public
Law 112-213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) in the paragraph heading by striking ``; bridging
strategy''; and
(B) by striking ``Commandant of the Coast Guard'' and all
that follows through the period at the end and inserting
``Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission the Polar
Sea.'';
(2) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following:
``(3) Result of no determination.--If in the analysis
submitted under this section
[[Page H2766]]
the Secretary does not make a determination under subsection
(a)(5) regarding whether it is cost-effective to reactivate
the Polar Sea, then--
``(A) the Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission
the Polar Sea; or
``(B) the Secretary may make such determination, not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph,
and take actions in accordance with this subsection as though
such determination was made in the analysis previously
submitted.'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) as
subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and
(4) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Strategies.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
on which the analysis required under subsection (a) is
submitted, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate--
``(A) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard's Arctic ice
operations needs through September 30, 2050; and
``(B) unless the Secretary makes a determination under this
section that it is cost-effective to reactivate the Polar
Sea, a bridging strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard's
polar icebreaking services until at least September 30, 2024.
``(2) Requirement.--The strategies required under paragraph
(1) shall include a business case analysis comparing the
leasing and purchasing of icebreakers to maintain the needs
and services described in that paragraph.''.
(b) Limitation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may not expend amounts
appropriated for the Coast Guard for any of fiscal years 2015
through 2024, for--
(A) design activities related to a capability of a Polar-
Class Icebreaker that is based on an operational requirement
of another Federal department or agency, except for amounts
appropriated for design activities for a fiscal year before
fiscal year 2016; or
(B) long-lead-time materials, production, or post-delivery
activities related to such a capability.
(2) Other amounts.--Amounts made available to the Secretary
under an agreement with another Federal department or agency
and expended on a capability of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that
is based on an operational requirement of that or another
Federal department or agency shall not be treated as amounts
expended by the Secretary for purposes of the limitation
established under paragraph (1).
SEC. 215. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR OFFSHORE PATROL
CUTTERS.
In fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating may enter into, in accordance with section 2306b of
title 10, United States Code, multiyear contracts for the
procurement of Offshore Patrol Cutters and associated
equipment.
SEC. 216. MAINTAINING MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTER MISSION
CAPABILITY.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall submit to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a report that includes--
(1) a schedule and plan for decommissioning, not later than
September 30, 2029, each of the 210-foot, Reliance-Class
Cutters operated by the Coast Guard on the date of enactment
of this Act;
(2) a schedule and plan for enhancing the maintenance or
extending the service life of each of the 270-foot, Famous-
Class Cutters operated by the Coast Guard on the date of
enactment of this Act--
(A) to maintain the capability of the Coast Guard to carry
out sea-going missions with respect to such Cutters at the
level of capability existing on September 30, 2013; and
(B) for the period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act and ending on the date on which the final Offshore
Patrol Cutter is scheduled and planned to be commissioned
under paragraph (4);
(3) an identification of the number of Offshore Patrol
Cutters capable of sea state 5 operations that, if 8 National
Security Cutters are commissioned, are necessary to return
the sea state 5 operating capability of the Coast Guard to
the level of capability that existed prior to the
decommissioning of the first High Endurance Cutter in fiscal
year 2011;
(4) a schedule and plan for commissioning the number of
Offshore Patrol Cutters identified under paragraph (3); and
(5) a schedule and plan for commissioning, not later than
September 30, 2034, a number of Offshore Patrol Cutters not
capable of sea state 5 operations that is equal to--
(A) 25; less
(B) the number of Offshore Patrol Cutters identified under
paragraph (3).
SEC. 217. COAST GUARD ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS.
(a) Elimination of Outdated and Duplicative Reports.--
(1) Marine industry training.--Section 59 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``(a) In General.--The Commandant'' and
inserting ``The Commandant''; and
(B) by striking subsection (b).
(2) Operations and expenditures.--Section 651 of title 14,
United States Code, and the item relating to such section in
the analysis for chapter 17 of such title, are repealed.
(3) Drug interdiction.--Section 103 of the Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 1996 (14 U.S.C. 89 note), and the item
relating to that section in the table of contents in section
2 of that Act, are repealed.
(4) National defense.--Section 426 of the Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002 (14 U.S.C. 2 note), and
the item relating to that section in the table of contents in
section 1(b) of that Act, are repealed.
(5) Living marine resources.--Section 4(b) of the Cruise
Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (16 U.S.C. 1828 note)
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``No report
shall be required under this subsection, including that no
report shall be required under section 224 of the Coast Guard
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 or section 804 of the
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006, for
fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 2013.''.
(b) Consolidation and Reform of Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Marine safety.--
(A) In general.--Section 2116(d)(2)(B) of title 46, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(B) on the program's mission performance in achieving
numerical measurable goals established under subsection (b),
including--
``(i) the number of civilian and military Coast Guard
personnel assigned to marine safety positions; and
``(ii) an identification of marine safety positions that
are understaffed to meet the workload required to accomplish
each activity included in the strategy and plans under
subsection (a); and''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Section 57 of title 14, United
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended--
(i) by striking subsection (e); and
(ii) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as
subsections (e), (f), and (g) respectively.
(2) Minor construction.--Section 656(d)(2) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Report.--Not later than the date on which the
President submits to Congress a budget under section 1105 of
title 31 each year, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report describing each
project carried out under paragraph (1), in the most recently
concluded fiscal year, for which the amount expended under
such paragraph for such project was more than $1,000,000. If
no such project was carried out during a fiscal year, no
report under this paragraph shall be required with respect to
that fiscal year.''.
(3) Rescue 21.--Section 346 of the Maritime Transportation
Security Act of 2002 (14 U.S.C. 88 note) is amended to read
as follows:
``SEC. 346. MODERNIZATION OF NATIONAL DISTRESS AND RESPONSE
SYSTEM.
``(a) Report.--Not later than March 30, 2014, the Secretary
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
on the implementation of the Rescue 21 project in Alaska and
in Coast Guard sectors Upper Mississippi River, Lower
Mississippi River, and Ohio River Valley.
``(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall--
``(1) describe what improvements are being made to the
distress response system in the areas specified in subsection
(a), including information on which areas will receive
digital selective calling and direction finding capability;
``(2) describe the impediments to installing digital
selective calling and direction finding capability in areas
where such technology will not be installed;
``(3) identify locations in the areas specified in
subsection (a) where communication gaps will continue to
present a risk to mariners after completion of the Rescue 21
project;
``(4) include a list of all reported marine accidents,
casualties, and fatalities occurring in the locations
identified under paragraph (3) since 1990; and
``(5) provide an estimate of the costs associated with
installing the technology necessary to close communication
gaps in the locations identified under paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 218. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14.
Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is
further amended--
(1) in section 93(b)(1) by striking ``Notwithstanding
subsection (a)(14)'' and inserting ``Notwithstanding
subsection (a)(13)'';
(2) in section 197(b) by striking ``of Homeland Security'';
and
(3) in section 573(c)(3)(A) by inserting ``and shall
maintain such cutter in such class'' before the period at the
end.
SEC. 219. FLAG OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Title 14, United States Code, is amended
by inserting after section 295 the following:
``Sec. 296. Flag officers
``During any period in which the Coast Guard is not
operating as a service in the Navy, section 1216(d) of title
10 does not
[[Page H2767]]
apply with respect to flag officers of the Coast Guard.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 11 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 295 the following:
``296. Flag officers.''.
SEC. 220. AVIATION CAPABILITY IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating may--
(1) request and accept through a direct military-to-
military transfer under section 2571 of title 10, United
States Code, such H-60 helicopters as may be necessary to
establish a year-round operational capability in the Coast
Guard's Ninth District; and
(2) use funds provided under section 101 of this Act to
convert such helicopters to Coast Guard MH-60T configuration.
SEC. 221. E-LORAN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating may not carry out activities
related to the dismantling or disposal of infrastructure that
supported the former LORAN system until the later of--
(1) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act; or
(2) the date on which the Secretary provides to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate notice of a determination by
the Secretary that such infrastructure is not required to
provide a positioning, navigation, and timing system to
provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are
disrupted.
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to activities
necessary for the safety of human life.
(c) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative
agreements, contracts, and other agreements with Federal
entities and other public or private entities, including
academic entities, to develop a positioning, timing, and
navigation system, including an enhanced LORAN system, to
provide redundant capability in the event GPS signals are
disrupted.
TITLE III--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
SEC. 301. TREATMENT OF FISHING PERMITS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 313 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Sec. 31310. Treatment of fishing permits
``(a) Limitation on Maritime Liens.--This chapter--
``(1) does not establish a maritime lien on a fishing
permit; and
``(2) does not authorize any civil action to enforce a
maritime lien on a fishing permit.
``(b) Treatment of Fishing Permits Under State and Federal
Law.--A fishing permit--
``(1) is governed solely by the State or Federal law under
which it is issued; and
``(2) shall not be treated as part of a vessel, or as an
appurtenance or intangible of a vessel, for any purpose under
Federal law.
``(c) Authority of Secretary of Commerce Not Affected.--
Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing any
limitation upon the authority of the Secretary of Commerce--
``(1) to modify, suspend, revoke, or impose a sanction on
any fishing permit issued by the Secretary of Commerce; or
``(2) to bring a civil action to enforce such a
modification, suspension, revocation, or sanction.
``(d) Fishing Permit Defined.--In this section the term
`fishing permit' means any authorization of a person or
vessel to engage in fishing that is issued under State or
Federal law.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 31309 the following:
``31310. Treatment of fishing permits.''.
SEC. 302. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL REFORM.
(a) In General.--Section 80301 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Payments.--Payments received pursuant to subsection
(b)(1) shall be credited to the appropriation for operating
expenses of the Coast Guard.
``(d) Limitation.--
``(1) In general.--A Coast Guard vessel or aircraft may not
be used to carry out an agreement under subsection (a) in
fiscal year 2015 and any fiscal year thereafter unless
payments are received by the United States Government
pursuant to subsection (b)(1) in the preceding fiscal year in
a total amount that is not less than difference between--
``(A) the cost incurred by the Coast Guard in maintaining
the services; minus
``(B) the amount of the proportionate share of the expense
generated by vessels documented under the laws of the United
States.
``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), Coast
Guard aircraft may be used to carry out an agreement under
subsection (a) if the President determines it necessary in
the interest of national security.
``(3) Notification.--The President shall notify the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate of a determination made
under paragraph (2) within 15 days after such
determination.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 80302 of title 46, United States Code,
and the item relating to such section in the analysis for
chapter 803 of such title, are repealed on October 1, 2014.
SEC. 303. REPEAL.
Chapter 555 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by repealing section 55501;
(2) by redesignating section 55502 as section 55501; and
(3) in the analysis by striking the items relating to
sections 55501 and 55502 and inserting the following:
``55501. United States Committee on the Marine Transportation
System.''.
SEC. 304. DONATION OF HISTORICAL PROPERTY.
Section 51103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Donation for Historical Purposes.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may convey the right,
title, and interest of the United States Government in any
property administered by the Maritime Administration, except
real estate or vessels, if--
``(A) the Secretary determines that such property is not
needed by the Maritime Administration; and
``(B) the recipient--
``(i) is a nonprofit organization, a State, or a political
subdivision of a State;
``(ii) agrees to hold the Government harmless for any
claims arising from exposure to hazardous materials,
including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead paint,
after conveyance of the property;
``(iii) provides a description and explanation of the
intended use of the property to the Secretary for approval;
``(iv) has provided to the Secretary proof, as determined
by the Secretary, of resources sufficient to accomplish the
intended use provided under clause (iii) and to maintain the
property;
``(v) agrees that when the recipient no longer requires the
property, the recipient shall--
``(I) return the property to the Secretary, at the
recipient's expense and in the same condition as received
except for ordinary wear and tear; or
``(II) subject to the approval of the Secretary, retain,
sell, or otherwise dispose of the property in a manner
consistent with applicable law; and
``(vi) agree to any additional terms the Secretary
considers appropriate.
``(2) Reversion.--The Secretary shall include in any
conveyance under this subsection terms under which all right,
title, and interest conveyed by the Secretary shall revert to
the Government if the Secretary determines the property has
been used other than as approved by the Secretary under
paragraph (1)(B)(iii).''.
SEC. 305. SMALL SHIPYARDS.
Section 54101(i) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``2009 through 2013'' and inserting
``2015 and 2016''.
SEC. 306. DRUG TESTING REPORTING.
Section 7706 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``an applicant for
employment by a Federal agency,'' after ``Federal agency,'';
and
(2) in subsection (c), by--
(A) inserting ``or an applicant for employment by a Federal
agency'' after ``an employee''; and
(B) striking ``the employee.'' and inserting ``the employee
or the applicant.''.
SEC. 307. RECOURSE FOR NONCITIZENS.
Section 30104 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before the first
sentence; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Restriction on Recovery for Nonresident Aliens
Employed on Foreign Passenger Vessels.--A claim for damages
or expenses relating to personal injury, illness, or death of
a seaman who is a citizen of a foreign nation, arising during
or from the engagement of the seaman by or for a passenger
vessel duly registered under the laws of a foreign nation,
may not be brought under the laws of the United States if--
``(1) such seaman was not a permanent resident alien of the
United States at the time the claim arose;
``(2) the injury, illness, or death arose outside the
territorial waters of the United States; and
``(3) the seaman or the seaman's personal representative
has or had a right to seek compensation for the injury,
illness, or death in, or under the laws of--
``(A) the nation in which the vessel was registered at the
time the claim arose; or
``(B) the nation in which the seaman maintained citizenship
or residency at the time the claim arose.''.
SEC. 308. PENALTY WAGES.
(a) Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages.--Section 10313(g) of
title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``all claims in a class action suit by
seamen'' and inserting ``each claim by a seaman''; and
(B) by striking ``the seamen'' and inserting ``the
seaman''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``class action''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, by a seaman who is
a claimant in the suit,'' and inserting ``by the seaman''.
(b) Coastwise Voyages.--Section 10504(c) of such title is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``all claims in a class action suit by
seamen'' and inserting ``each claim by a seaman''; and
[[Page H2768]]
(B) by striking ``the seamen'' and inserting ``the
seaman''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``class action''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, by a seaman who is
a claimant in the suit,'' and inserting ``by the seaman''.
SEC. 309. CREDITING TIME IN THE SEA SERVICES.
(a) Endorsements for Veterans.--Section 7101 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(j) The Secretary may issue a license under this section
in a class under subsection (c) to an applicant that--
``(1) has at least 3 months of qualifying service on
vessels of the uniformed services (as that term is defined in
section 101(a) of title 10) of appropriate tonnage or
horsepower within the 7-year period immediately preceding the
date of application; and
``(2) satisfies all other requirements for such a
license.''.
(b) Sea Service Letters.--
(1) In general.--Title 14, United States Code, as amended
by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section
427 the following:
``Sec. 428. Sea service letters
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide a sea
service letter to a member or former member of the Coast
Guard who--
``(1) accumulated sea service on a vessel of the armed
forces (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of title
10); and
``(2) requests such letter.
``(b) Deadline.--Not later than 30 days after receiving a
request for a sea service letter from a member or former
member of the Coast Guard under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall provide such letter to such member or former member if
such member or former member satisfies the requirement under
subsection (a)(1).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 11 of
title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 427 the following:
``428. Sea service letters.''.
(c) Crediting of United States Armed Forces Service,
Training, and Qualifications.--
(1) Maximizing creditability.--The Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in
implementing United States merchant mariner license,
certification, and document laws and the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, shall maximize the extent
to which United States Armed Forces service, training, and
qualifications are creditable toward meeting the requirements
of such laws and such Convention.
(2) Notification.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall notify the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to
implement this subsection.
SEC. 310. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS.
(a) In General.--The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
(33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 18. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS.
``(a) Abandoned Seafarers Fund.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
a separate account to be known as the Abandoned Seafarers
Fund.
``(2) Crediting of amounts to fund.--
``(A) In general.--There shall be credited to the Fund the
following:
``(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund under section 9,
except as provided in subparagraph (B).
``(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recovered under subsection
(d).
``(B) Limitation.--Amounts may be credited to the Fund
under subparagraph (A)(i) only if the unobligated balance of
the Fund is less than $2,000,000.
``(3) Report required.--On the date on which the President
submits each budget for a fiscal year pursuant to section
1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
that describes--
``(A) the amounts credited to the Fund under paragraph (2)
for the preceding fiscal year; and
``(B) amounts in the Fund that were expended for the
preceding fiscal year.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations From Fund.--Amounts
in the Fund may be appropriated to the Secretary for use to--
``(1) pay necessary support of--
``(A) a seafarer that--
``(i) enters, remains, or is paroled into the United
States; and
``(ii) is involved in an investigation, reporting,
documentation, or adjudication of any matter that is related
to the administration or enforcement of this Act by the Coast
Guard; and
``(B) a seafarer that the Secretary determines was
abandoned in the United States and has not applied for asylum
under section 208 or 235 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1158, 1225); and
``(2) reimburse a vessel owner or operator that has
provided necessary support of a seafarer who has been paroled
into the United States to facilitate an investigation,
reporting, documentation, or adjudication of any matter that
is related to the administration or enforcement of this Act
by the Coast Guard, for the costs of such necessary support.
``(c) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed--
``(1) to create a private right of action or any other
right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary support for any
person; or
``(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reimburse the cost
of necessary support.
``(d) Reimbursement; Recovery.--
``(1) In general.--A vessel owner or operator shall
reimburse the Fund an amount equal to the total amount paid
from the Fund for necessary support of a seafarer, if--
``(A) the vessel owner or operator--
``(i) during the course of an investigation, reporting,
documentation, or adjudication of any matter under this Act
that the Coast Guard referred to a United States attorney or
the Attorney General, fails to provide necessary support of a
seafarer who was paroled into the United States to facilitate
the investigation, reporting, documentation, or adjudication;
and
``(ii) subsequently is--
``(I) convicted of a criminal offense related to such
matter; or
``(II) required to reimburse the Fund pursuant to a court
order or negotiated settlement related to such matter; or
``(B) the vessel owner or operator abandons a seafarer in
the United States, as determined by the Secretary based on
substantial evidence.
``(2) Enforcement.--If a vessel owner or operator fails to
reimburse the Fund under paragraph (1), the Secretary may--
``(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on which the
affected seafarer served in the Federal district court for
the district in which the vessel is found; and
``(B) withhold or revoke the clearance required under
section 60105 of title 46, United States Code, for the
vessel.
``(3) Remedy.--A vessel may obtain clearance from the
Secretary after it is withheld or revoked under paragraph
(2)(B) if the vessel owner or operator--
``(A) reimburses the Fund the amount required under
paragraph (1); or
``(B) provides a bond, or other evidence of financial
responsibility sufficient to meet the amount required to be
reimbursed under paragraph (1).
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Abandons; abandoned.--Each of the terms `abandons'
and `abandoned' means--
``(A) a vessel owner's or operator's unilateral severance
of ties with a seafarer; and
``(B) a vessel owner's or operator's failure to provide
necessary support of a seafarer.
``(2) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Abandoned Seafarers
Fund established under this section.
``(3) Necessary support.--The term `necessary support'
means normal wages and expenses the Secretary considers
reasonable for lodging, subsistence, clothing, medical care
(including hospitalization), repatriation, and any other
support the Secretary considers to be appropriate.
``(4) Seafarer.--The term `seafarer' means an alien crewman
who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board a vessel
subject to this Act.''; and
(2) in section 9, by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Any penalty collected under subsection (a) or (b)
that is not paid under that subsection to the person giving
information leading to the conviction or assessment of such
penalties shall be deposited in the Abandoned Seafarers Fund
established under section 18, subject to the limitation in
subsection (a)(2)(B) of such section.''.
SEC. 311. CLARIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK WATERS.
Section 55305(e) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``provide armed personnel aboard'' and
inserting ``reimburse, subject to the availability of
appropriations, the owners or operators of''; and
(B) by inserting ``for the cost of providing armed
personnel aboard such vessels'' before ``if''; and
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the
following:
``(2) In this subsection, the term `high-risk waters' means
waters--
``(A) so designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard in
the maritime security directive issued by the Commandant and
in effect on the date on which an applicable voyage begins;
and
``(B) in which the Secretary of Transportation determines
an act of piracy is likely to occur based on documented acts
of piracy that occurred in such waters during the 12-month
period preceding the date on which an applicable voyage
begins.''.
SEC. 312. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE VIRGIN
ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--Section 4105 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) In applying this title with respect to an uninspected
vessel of less than 24 meters overall in length that carries
passengers to or from a port in the United States Virgin
Islands, the Secretary shall substitute `12 passengers' for
`6 passengers' each place it appears in section 2101(42) if
the Secretary determines that the vessel complies with--
``(1) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small
Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly
[[Page H2769]]
referred to as the `Yellow Code'), as published by the U.K.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency and in effect on January 1,
2014; or
``(2) the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small
Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly referred to as the `Blue
Code'), as published by such agency and in effect on such
date.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 4105(c) of title 46,
United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of
this section, is amended by striking ``Within twenty-four
months of the date of enactment of this subsection, the'' and
inserting ``The''.
SEC. 313. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY INSPECTION.
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), and by
inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f)(1) Upon request of an owner or operator of an
offshore supply vessel, the Secretary shall delegate the
authorities set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) with
respect to such vessel to a classification society to which a
delegation is authorized under that paragraph. A delegation
by the Secretary under this subsection shall be used for any
vessel inspection and examination function carried out by the
Secretary, including the issuance of certificates of
inspection and all other related documents.
``(2) If the Secretary determines that a certificate of
inspection or related document issued under authority
delegated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect
to a vessel has reduced the operational safety of that
vessel, the Secretary may terminate the certificate or
document, respectively.
``(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act
of 2014, and for each year of the subsequent 2-year period,
the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report describing--
``(A) the number of vessels for which a delegation was made
under paragraph (1);
``(B) any savings in personnel and operational costs
incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted from the
delegations; and
``(C) based on measurable marine casualty and other data,
any impacts of the delegations on the operational safety of
vessels for which the delegations were made, and on the crew
on those vessels.''.
SEC. 314. SURVIVAL CRAFT.
(a) In General.--Section 3104 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3104. Survival craft
``(a) Requirement to Equip.--The Secretary shall require
that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival craft that
ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water,
if--
``(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion
after January 1, 2016; and
``(2) operates in cold waters as determined by the
Secretary.
``(b) Higher Standard of Safety.--The Secretary may revise
part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 2016, if such
revision provides a higher standard of safety than is
provided by the regulations in effect on or before the date
of enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2014.
``(c) Innovative and Novel Designs.--The Secretary may, in
lieu of the requirements set out in part 117 or part 180 of
title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the
date of the enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2014, allow a passenger vessel to be
equipped with a life saving appliance or arrangement of an
innovative or novel design that--
``(1) ensures no part of an individual is immersed in
water; and
``(2) provides an equal or higher standard of safety than
is provided by such requirements as in effect before such
date of enactment.
``(d) Built Defined.--In this section, the term `built' has
the meaning that term has under section 4503(e).''.
(b) Review; Revision of Regulations.--
(1) Review.--Not later than December 31, 2015, the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating 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 review of--
(A) the number of casualties for individuals with
disabilities, children, and the elderly as a result of
immersion in water, reported to the Coast Guard over the
preceding 30-year period, by vessel type and area of
operation;
(B) the risks to individuals with disabilities, children,
and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, by
passenger vessel type and area of operation;
(C) the effect that carriage of survival craft that ensure
that no part of an individual is immersed in water has on--
(i) passenger vessel safety, including stability and safe
navigation;
(ii) improving the survivability of individuals, including
individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; and
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost difference to vessel
operators, and the cost effectiveness of requiring the
carriage of such survival craft to address the risks to
individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly;
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices, or
measures in improving survivability of individuals with
disabilities, children, and the elderly; and
(E) the number of small businesses and nonprofit vessel
operators that would be affected by requiring the carriage of
such survival craft on passenger vessels to address the risks
to individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly.
(2) Revision.--Based on the review conducted under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regulations
concerning the carriage of survival craft pursuant to section
3104(c) of title 46, United States Code.
SEC. 315. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO TITLE 46.
Section 2116(b)(1)(D) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``section 93(c)'' and inserting ``section
93(c) of title 14''.
SEC. 316. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) In General.--
(1) Determination of covered programs.--Section 55305(d) of
title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall annually review
programs administered by other departments and agencies and
determine whether each such program is subject to the
requirements of this section.'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (5), and by
inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) The Secretary shall have the sole responsibility to
make determinations described in paragraph (1).
``(3) A determination made by the Secretary under paragraph
(1) regarding a program shall remain in effect until the
Secretary determines that such program is no longer subject
to the requirements of this section.
``(4) Each department or agency administering a program
determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1) to be subject
to the requirements of this section shall administer such
program in accordance with this section and any rules or
guidance issued by the Secretary. The issuance of such rules
or guidance is not a prerequisite to the issuance of final
determinations under paragraph (1).'';
(C) in paragraph (5)(A), as so redesignated, by striking
``section;'' and inserting ``section, to determine compliance
with the requirements of this section;''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) On the date on which the President submits to
Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a report that--
``(A) lists the programs determined under paragraph (1) to
be subject to the requirements of this section; and
``(B) describes the results of the most recent annual
review required by paragraph (5)(A), including identification
of the departments and agencies that transported cargo in
violation of this section and any action the Secretary took
under paragraph (5) with respect to each violation.''.
(2) Deadline for first review.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall complete the first review and make the
determinations required under the amendment made by paragraph
(1)(A) by not later than December 31, 2015.
(b) Rulemaking.--
(1) Authority.--Section 55305(d) of title 46, United States
Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(7) The Secretary may prescribe rules, including interim
rules, necessary to carry out paragraph (5). An interim rule
prescribed under this paragraph shall remain in effect until
superseded by a final rule.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3511(c) of the Duncan
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2009 (46 U.S.C. 55305 note) is repealed.
SEC. 317. SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENTS.
(a) NOAA Marine Debris Program.--Section 3 of the Marine
Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading by striking ``and Contracts''
and inserting ``Contracts, and Other Agreements'';
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--To carry out the purposes set forth in
section 2, the Administrator, acting through the Program,
may--
``(A) enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and
other agreements with Federal agencies, States, local
governments, regional agencies, interstate agencies, and
other entities, including agreements to use the personnel,
services, equipment, or facilities of such entities on a
reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis; and
``(B) make grants to--
``(i) State, local, and tribal governments; and
``(ii) institutions of higher education, nonprofit
organizations, and commercial organizations with the
expertise or responsibility to identify, determine sources
of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine debris.''; and
(C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) and inserting
the following:
``(4) Grants.--
``(A) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under
paragraph (1)(B), an entity specified in that paragraph shall
submit to the
[[Page H2770]]
Administrator a marine debris project proposal.
``(B) Review and approval.--The Administrator shall--
``(i) review each marine debris project proposal submitted
under subparagraph (A) to determine if the proposal meets
grant criteria established by the Administrator and supports
the purposes set forth in section 2;
``(ii) after considering any written comments and
recommendations with respect to the review conducted under
clause (i), approve or disapprove a grant for the proposal;
and
``(iii) provide notification of that approval or
disapproval to the entity that submitted the proposal.
``(C) Reporting.--Each entity receiving a grant under
paragraph (1)(B) shall provide reports to the Administrator
as required by the Administrator. Each report provided shall
include all information determined necessary by the
Administrator for evaluating the progress and success of the
project for which the grant was provided and describe the
impact of the grant on the identification, determination of
sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, or removal of
marine debris.
``(D) Training.--The Administrator may require a recipient
of a grant under this subsection to provide training to
persons engaged in marine debris response efforts funded by
such grant with respect to the potential impacts of marine
debris, including nonindigenous species related to the
debris, on the economy of the United States, the marine
environment, and navigation safety.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Severe Marine Debris Events.--
``(1) Grant preference.--In evaluating proposals for grants
under subsection (c), the Administrator may give preference
in approving grants to proposals that address a severe marine
debris event.
``(2) Request for a declaration.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the
Governor of a State may request that the Administrator
declare a severe marine debris event in such State or a
region that includes such State.
``(B) Response to requests.--Not later than 30 days after
the Administrator receives a request under subparagraph (A),
the Administrator shall either--
``(i) declare a severe marine debris event with respect to
the request; or
``(ii) submit a response to the Governor who submitted the
request, explaining why the Administrator has not declared a
severe marine debris event with respect to the request.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 7 of the Marine Debris Act (33
U.S.C. 1956) is amended--
(1) by moving paragraph (5) to appear before paragraph (6);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as
paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Nonindigenous species.--The term `nonindigenous
species' has the meaning given that term in section 1003 of
the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4702).''.
(c) Severe Marine Debris Event Determination.--
(1) Authority to provide funds.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration may provide funds to an
eligible entity impacted by the covered severe marine debris
event to assist such entity with the costs of any activity
carried out to address the effects of such event.
(B) Funding.--The Administrator may provide funds under
subparagraph (A) using any funds provided by the Government
of Japan for activities to address the effects of the covered
severe marine debris event.
(C) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following
definitions apply:
(i) Covered severe marine debris event.--The term ``covered
severe marine debris event'' means the events, including
marine debris, resulting from the March 2011 Tohoku
earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
(ii) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means
any State (as defined in section 7 of the Marine Debris Act
(33 U.S.C. 1956)), local, or tribal government.
(2) Repeal.--The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-213) is amended--
(A) in the table of contents in section 1(b) by striking
the item relating to section 609; and
(B) by striking section 609.
SEC. 318. MINIMUM TONNAGE.
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Minimum Tonnage.--With respect to commodities
transported under the activities specified in section
55314(b), the percentage specified in subsection (b) of this
section shall be treated as 75 percent.''.
SEC. 319. MERCHANT MARINE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment of Advisory Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Chapter 81 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in this section
referred to as `the Committee'). The Committee--
``(1) shall act solely in an advisory capacity to the
Secretary through the Commandant of the Coast Guard on
matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant
marine, including training, qualifications, certification,
documentation, and fitness standards, and other matters as
assigned by the Commandant;
``(2) shall review and comment on proposed Coast Guard
regulations and policies relating to personnel in the United
States merchant marine, including training, qualifications,
certification, documentation, and fitness standards;
``(3) may be given special assignments by the Secretary and
may conduct studies, inquiries, workshops, and fact finding
in consultation with individuals and groups in the private
sector and with State or local governments;
``(4) shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations
reflecting its independent judgment to the Secretary;
``(5) shall meet not less than twice each year; and
``(6) may make available to the Congress recommendations
that the Committee makes to the Secretary.
``(b) Membership.--
``(1) In general.--The Committee shall consist of not more
than 19 members who are appointed by and serve terms of a
duration determined by the Secretary. Before filling a
position on the Committee, the Secretary shall publish a
notice in the Federal Register soliciting nominations for
membership on the Committee.
``(2) Required members.--The Secretary shall appoint as
members of the Committee--
``(A) 9 United States citizens with active licenses or
certificates issued under chapter 71 or merchant mariner
documents issued under chapter 73, including--
``(i) 3 deck officers who represent the viewpoint of
merchant marine deck officers, of whom--
``(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans any gross tons;
``(II) 1 shall be licensed for inland river route with a
limited or unlimited tonnage;
``(III) 2 shall have a master's license or a master of
towing vessels license;
``(IV) 1 shall have significant tanker experience; and
``(V) to the extent practicable--
``(aa) 1 shall represent the viewpoint of labor; and
``(bb) another shall represent a management perspective;
``(ii) 3 engineering officers who represent the viewpoint
of merchant marine engineering officers, of whom--
``(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief engineer any horsepower;
``(II) 1 shall be licensed as either a limited chief
engineer or a designated duty engineer; and
``(III) to the extent practicable--
``(aa) 1 shall represent a labor viewpoint; and
``(bb) another shall represent a management perspective;
``(iii) 2 unlicensed seamen, of whom--
``(I) 1 shall represent the viewpoint of able-bodied
seamen; and
``(II) another shall represent the viewpoint of qualified
members of the engine department; and
``(iv) 1 pilot who represents the viewpoint of merchant
marine pilots;
``(B) 6 marine educators, including--
``(i) 3 marine educators who represent the viewpoint of
maritime academies, including--
``(I) 2 who represent the viewpoint of State maritime
academies and are jointly recommended by such State maritime
academies; and
``(II) 1 who represents either the viewpoint of the State
maritime academies or the United States Merchant Marine
Academy; and
``(ii) 3 marine educators who represent the viewpoint of
other maritime training institutions, 1 of whom shall
represent the viewpoint of the small vessel industry;
``(C) 2 individuals who represent the viewpoint of shipping
companies employed in ship operation management; and
``(D) 2 members who are appointed from the general public.
``(c) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Committee shall
elect one of its members as the Chairman and one of its
members as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as
Chairman in the absence or incapacity of the Chairman, or in
the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman.
``(d) Subcommittees.--The Committee may establish and
disestablish subcommittees and working groups for any purpose
consistent with this section, subject to conditions imposed
by the Committee. Members of the Committee and additional
persons drawn from the general public may be assigned to such
subcommittees and working groups. Only Committee members may
chair subcommittee or working groups.
``(e) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on
September 30, 2020.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:
``8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.''.
(b) Competitiveness of the U.S. Merchant Marine.--
(1) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the
[[Page H2771]]
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee established
under the amendment made by subsection (a) shall--
(A) review--
(i) the merchant mariner licensing, certification, and
documentation programs and STCW Convention implementation
programs of the 3 flag-states; and
(ii) State maritime academy problems regarding
implementation of the STCW Convention; and
(B) report to the Commandant of the Coast Guard--
(i) a description of each specific provision for which
United States merchant mariner license, certification, and
document and STCW Convention implementation requirements are
more stringent than the requirements of such flag-state
programs, and a recommendation of whether such United States
provision should be retained, modified, or eliminated;
(ii) a description of which United States merchant mariner
license, certification, and document evaluation requirements
must be complied with separately from similar STCW Convention
evaluation requirements, any statutory requirement for such
separate compliance, and steps that can be taken by the Coast
Guard or by the Congress to minimize such redundant
requirements; and
(iii) a description of problems State maritime academies
are having in implementing the STCW Convention and
recommendations on how to address such problems.
(3) Report to congress.--Within 6 months from the date the
Commandant receives the report under paragraph (1)(B), the
Commandant shall forward to the Congress a copy of the report
with recommendations for actions to implement the report's
recommendations.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) 3 flag states.--The term ``3 flag states'' means the 3
countries that are parties to the Annex to the International
Maritime Organization Maritime Safety Committee Circular
MSC.1/Circ.1163/Rev.8 dated January 7, 2013, and, of all such
countries, have the greatest vessel tonnage documented under
the laws of each respective country.
(B) STCW convention.--The term ``STCW Convention'' means
the amendments to the International Convention on Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers,
1978 that entered into force on January 1, 2012.
SEC. 320. REPORT ON EFFECT OF LNG EXPORT CARRIAGE
REQUIREMENTS ON JOB CREATION IN THE UNITED
STATES MARITIME INDUSTRY.
No later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
on the number of jobs, including vessel construction and
vessel operating jobs, that would be created in the United
States maritime industry each year in 2015 through 2025 if
liquified natural gas exported from the United States were
required to be carried--
(1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels documented under
the laws of the United States; and
(2) after such date, on vessels documented under the laws
of the United States and constructed in the United States.
TITLE IV--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal
Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2015
and 2016.
SEC. 402. TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS.
(a) In General.--Section 301(b) of title 46, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Terms.--The term of each Commissioner is 5 years.
When the term of a Commissioner ends, the Commissioner may
continue to serve until a successor is appointed and
qualified, but for a period not to exceed one year. Except as
provided in paragraph (3), no individual may serve more than
2 terms.''; and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5), and
inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Vacancies.--A vacancy shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment. An individual appointed
to fill a vacancy is appointed only for the unexpired term of
the individual being succeeded. An individual appointed to
fill a vacancy may serve 2 terms in addition to the remainder
of the term for which the predecessor of that individual was
appointed.
``(4) Conflicts of interest.--
``(A) Limitation on relationships with regulated
entities.--A Commissioner may not have a pecuniary interest
in, hold an official relation to, or own stocks or bonds of
any entity the Commission regulates under chapter 401 of this
title.
``(B) Limitation on other activities.--A Commissioner may
not engage in another business, vocation, or employment.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a)(1)
does not apply with respect to a Commissioner of the Federal
Maritime Commission appointed and confirmed by the Senate
before the date of enactment of this Act.
TITLE V--COMMERCIAL VESSEL DISCHARGE REFORM
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Commercial Vessel
Discharge Reform Act of 2014''.
SEC. 502. DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF
CERTAIN VESSELS.
Section 2(a) of Public Law 110-299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 note) is
amended by striking ``during the period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 18,
2014,''.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.
Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-241; 120 Stat. 547) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--Subsection (a) only applies to a foreign
citizen who holds a credential to serve as an officer on a
fishing vessel or vessel of similar tonnage.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``An equivalent
credential'' and inserting ``A credential''; and
(2) by striking subsections (c), (e), and (f) and
redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
SEC. 602. VESSEL DETERMINATION.
The vessel assigned United States official number 1205366
is deemed a new vessel effective on the date of delivery of
the vessel after January 1, 2012, from a privately owned
United States shipyard, if no encumbrances are on record with
the Coast Guard at the time of the issuance of the new
certificate of documentation for the vessel.
SEC. 603. LEASE AUTHORITY.
(a) Authority.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard may lease
under section 93(a)(13) of title 14, United States Code,
submerged lands and tidelands under the control of the Coast
Guard without regard to the limitation under that section
with respect to lease duration.
(b) Limitation.--The Commandant may lease submerged lands
and tidelands under subsection (a) only if--
(1) lease payments are--
(A) received exclusively in the form of cash;
(B) equal to the fair market value of the leased submerged
lands or tidelands, as determined by the Commandant; and
(C) deposited in the fund established under section 687 of
title 14, United States Code; and
(2) the lease does not provide authority to or commit the
Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to such
submerged lands or tidelands, or obtain goods or services
from the lessee.
SEC. 604. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation with the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating, 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) Federal regulations and policies that reduce the
competitiveness of United States flag vessels in the
international trade; 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 flag vessels more competitive in
shipping routes between United States and foreign ports;
(B) increase the use of United States flag vessels to carry
cargo imported to and exported from the United States;
(C) assure compliance by Federal agencies with chapter 553
of title 46, United States Code;
(D) increase the use of third-party inspection and
certification authorities to inspect and certify vessels;
(E) increase the use of short sea transportation routes
designated under section 55601(c) of title 46, United States
Code, to enhance intermodal freight movements; and
(F) enhance United States shipbuilding capability.
SEC. 605. IMO POLAR CODE NEGOTIATIONS.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and thereafter with the submission of the budget
proposal submitted for each of fiscal years 2016, 2017, and
2018 under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, a report on--
(1) the status of the negotiations at the International
Maritime Organization regarding the establishment of a draft
international code of safety for ships operating in polar
waters, popularly known as the Polar Code, and any amendments
proposed by such a code to be made to the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships;
(2) the coming into effect of such a code and such
amendments for nations that are parties to those conventions;
(3) impacts, for coastal communities located in the Arctic
(as that term is defined
[[Page H2772]]
in the section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of
1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111)) of such a code or such amendments,
on--
(A) the costs of delivering fuel and freight; and
(B) the safety of maritime transportation; and
(4) actions the Secretary must take to implement the
requirements of such a code and such amendments.
SEC. 606. VALLEY VIEW FERRY.
(a) Exemption.--Section 8902 of title 46, United States
Code, shall not apply to the vessel John Craig (United States
official number D1110613) when such vessel is operating on
the portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, located at
approximately mile point 158, in Pool Number 9, between Lock
and Dam Number 9 and Lock and Dam Number 10.
(b) Application.--Subsection (a) shall apply on and after
the date on which the Secretary determines that a licensing
requirement has been established under Kentucky State law
that applies to an operator of the vessel John Craig.
SEC. 607. COMPETITION BY UNITED STATES FLAG VESSELS.
(a) In General.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of
Sciences to conduct an assessment of authorities under
subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, that have been
delegated to the Coast Guard that impact the ability of
vessels documented under the laws of the United States to
effectively compete in the carriage of merchandise and
passengers in the international trade.
(b) Review of Differences With IMO Standards.--The
assessment under subsection (a) shall include a review of
differences between United States laws, policies,
regulations, and guidance governing the inspection of vessels
documented under the laws of the United States and standards
set by the International Maritime Organization governing the
inspection of vessels.
(c) Deadline.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Commandant enters into an arrangement with the
National Academy of Sciences under subsection (a), the
Commandant shall submit the assessment required under such
subsection to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate.
SEC. 608. SURVEY.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a survey of the parcel of
real property under the administrative control of the Coast
Guard, consisting of approximately 1.95 acres (measured at
the mean low-water mark) located at the entrance to Gig
Harbor, Washington, and commonly known as the Gig Harbor Sand
Spit Area.
SEC. 609. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) Fishing Safety Training Grant Program.--Section
4502(i)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``2010 through 2014'' and inserting ``2015 and
2016''.
(b) Fishing Safety Research Grant Program.--Section
4502(j)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``2010 through 2014'' and inserting ``2015 and
2016''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Hunter) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Garamendi) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on H.R. 4005.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 4005 is the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.
It reauthorizes funding for the Coast Guard through fiscal year 2016 at
levels that are fiscally sound and will reverse the misguided cuts
proposed by this administration. The President proposed to slash the
service's acquisition budget by over 20 percent, reduce the number of
servicemembers by over 1,300, undermine readiness by cutting programmed
hours for aircraft, and jeopardize the success of research and rescue
missions by taking fixed-wing aircraft crews off of immediate alert
status.
{time} 1700
The President's budget request will only worsen the Coast Guard's
growing gaps in mission performance, increase acquisition delays, drive
up the costs of the new assets, and deny our servicemembers the
critical resources needed to perform their duties.
H.R. 4005 provides sufficient funding to ensure these cuts do not
happen and the service has what it needs to successfully conduct its
missions.
In 2012--that is the last year we have the numbers for--the Coast
Guard responded to over 19,700 search and rescue cases; saved over
3,500 lives; conducted over 20,000 safety, security, and environmental
inspections of U.S. and foreign flag commercial vessels, more
importantly; and interdicted over 2,900 undocumented migrants and 163
metric tons of illegal drugs.
The Coast Guard is our first line of defense in this country. H.R.
4005 is going to fund the eighth national security cutter. That is the
last one. It is a 425-foot frigate that the Navy is even jealous of.
It funds six fast response cutters over the next 2 years. It also
prepares us to buy the new offshore patrol cutter, and it also
transfers 14 C-27Js from the Air Force to the Coast Guard for not a
penny--not a dime--not a penny--totally free--transfers it from the Air
Force to the Coast Guard. It can put those into effect.
The bill also makes several reforms to Coast Guard authorities, as
well as laws governing shipping and navigation. Specifically, H.R. 4005
supports Coast Guard servicemembers by authorizing military pay raises
and enhancing military benefits.
There are about 42,000 Active Duty Coast Guardsmen patrolling all the
navigable waters throughout the United States in rivers, bays, and seas
and also every single piece of coastline that we have--42,000.
Compare that to the Marine Corps numbers, over 175,000; the Army,
over 400,000; yet the Coast Guard is responsible for every single piece
of American water, every inland waterway, the Great Lakes, and every
river. That is what the Coast Guard is responsible for.
If you talk about weapons of mass destruction coming in through
American ports from the ocean, the Coast Guard is our first line of
defense there, too.
This bill improves Coast Guard mission effectiveness by replacing and
modernizing Coast Guard assets in a cost-effective manner. It enhances
oversight of the Coast Guard, reduces inefficient operations, and saves
taxpayer dollars by making commonsense reforms to Coast Guard missions
and administration.
The bill helps veterans make an easier transition from the Coast
Guard into the life of a mariner, so they can get out and get good-
paying jobs in industry, so it gives them time and service for their
Coast Guard time, as opposed to making them go through all of the
hurdles, jumps, and hoops that you would have to go through otherwise.
It encourages job growth in the maritime sector by cutting regulatory
burdens on job creators, and it reauthorizes and reforms the structure
and operations of the Federal Maritime Commission.
H.R. 4005 is a bipartisan effort that was put together in close
consultation with the minority. I want to thank Ranking Members Rahall
and Garamendi for their efforts and Chairman Shuster for his
leadership.
I would also like to thank John Rayfield and Geoff Gosselin on the
committee staff, whose depths of knowledge on the Coast Guard and
Maritime issues are unfathomable, and Lieutenant Commander Stephen
West, my Coast Guard fellow that was our reality check in this
committee by giving us great, sane advice when we needed it.
Finally, I want to take a minute to point out that this will be the
last Coast Guard authorization bill that will benefit from the advice
and support of the only Member of Congress with service in the Coast
Guard, our colleague and friend, Howard Coble.
Howard is a Korean war veteran with 5 years of Active Duty in the
Coast Guard and another 18 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. He is the
founder of the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, as well as an active
member and former chairman of our subcommittee.
Throughout his career in Congress, Howard has been a tireless
advocate for the men and women of the Coast Guard. I thank him and
commend him for his service to our Nation and his contributions to this
and past Coast Guard authorizations and to this Congress.
I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H2773]]
Committee on Armed Services,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, February 20, 2014.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 4005, the Howard
Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, as
amended. This legislation includes matters that fall within
the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services.
Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 4005, and
the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Our
committee also appreciates efforts by your staff to
coordinate on matters that fall in our Rule X jurisdiction in
advance. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to
jurisdiction over this legislation, I do not intend to
request sequential referral on H.R. 4005. By waiving
consideration of the bill, the Committee on Armed Services
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its
Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to
name members of this committee to any conference committee
which is named to consider the provisions over which we have
jurisdiction.
Please place this letter and your committee's response into
the committee report to accompany H.R. 4005 and into the
Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on
the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in
which you have worked regarding this matter and others
between our respective committees.
Sincerely,
Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, February 25, 2014.
Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Rayburn House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McKeon: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2014. I appreciate your willingness to
support expediting the consideration of this legislation on
the House floor.
I acknowledge that by waiving consideration of this bill,
the Committee on Armed Services does not waive any future
jurisdictional claim on this or similar legislation. In
addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I
would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate
conference involving this legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 4005 in the bill report
filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
as well as in the Congressional Record during House floor
consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation, and I look forward to working
with the Committee on Armed Services as the bill moves
through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 25, 2014.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Shuster: On February 11, 2014, the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure ordered reported, with
amendment, H.R. 4005, the ``Howard Coble Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.'' The reported version
of H.R. 4005 includes provisions within the Rule X
Jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security regarding
border security, port security, research and development, and
the organization, administration, and general management of
the Department of Homeland Security.
Due to the desire to bring H.R. 4005 to the House floor in
an expeditious manner, the Committee on Homeland Security
will forgo any consideration of H.R. 4005. I take this
action, however, with the mutual understanding that by
forgoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any
jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or
similar legislation, and our Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. In addition, our
Committee reserves the right to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate
conference involving this or similar legislation, and I ask
that you support this request. Finally, I ask that a copy of
exchange of letters be included in your committee's report on
H.R. 4005 and in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration thereof.
Sincerely,
Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 25, 2014.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
Ford House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2014. I appreciate your willingness to
support expediting the consideration of this legislation on
the House floor.
I acknowledge that by waiving consideration of this bill,
the Committee on Homeland Security does not waive any future
jurisdictional claim on this or similar legislation. In
addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I
would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate
conference involving this legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 4005 in the bill report
filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
as well as in the Congressional Record during House floor
consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation, and I look forward to working
with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill moves
through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014,
is bipartisan legislation.
Maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient maritime economy enables
foreign and domestic trade to fuel the U.S. economy, and it remains
vital. This legislation will provide the Coast Guard with the resources
and policy tools it needs to fulfill its vital missions.
I want to thank Chairman Hunter and his staff for their willingness
to work with me and several of the Democratic Members, and I also want
to commend Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Nick Rahall for their
valuable contributions to this bill. We thank the gentlemen.
H.R. 4005 will provide not only the budget stability for the Coast
Guard for the next 2 years, it will also advance several important
initiatives to revitalize our U.S. maritime industry.
For example, H.R. 4005 will better align the Coast Guard's mission
needs with its long-term capital planning and annual budgetary
processes, and explicit cooperative agreement authority is also
granted.
It provides a new multiyear procurement authority for the offshore
patrol cutter, the OPC, a critical and new asset. It directs the
administration to enforce our cargo preference laws. No way out, guys.
Enforce those laws and regulations, something that is long overdue.
It will streamline the administrative processes to make it easier for
our veterans to get their civilian licenses and find jobs in the
merchant marine.
Now, natural gas is a strategic American asset that is allowing
America to enjoy low energy costs and a resurgence of American
manufacturing. The export of LNG at a modest level could create even
more American jobs if that LNG is transported on American-made LNG
tankers flying the American flag with American sailors.
The currently approved export terminals will require approximately
100 LNG tankers. This tanker fleet could be American made, phased in as
the LNG export terminals come on line and LNG exports grow. American
shipyards could build these tankers over the next decade and beyond,
creating thousands of jobs and maintaining a vital industrial base for
America and our Navy.
This legislation does direct the Government Accountability Office,
the GAO, to assess how future transport of LNG on U.S. tankers could
affect American job creation in the U.S. maritime industry. It is a
good first step, but we should be doing more.
This legislation also directs the Department of Transportation to
develop a new national maritime strategy, a much-needed revision and
new thought into what that strategy could be.
The bill authorizes a needed increase in the funding for the Federal
Maritime Commission, and the bill reauthorizes the Small Shipyard Grant
Program through fiscal year 2017 to improve the quality and
competitiveness of our small, domestic shipyards.
There is more to be done. Specifically, title 11 needs to be
rewritten and redone so that our American shipyards will have the loan
guaranties that they need to construct the ships, perhaps those LNG
tankers.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4005 is responsible legislation. It
deserves an ``aye'' vote, and I want to thank all of who have been
involved in writing it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H2774]]
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman
of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. SHUSTER. I thank the gentleman from California.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.
The United States Coast Guard enforces all U.S. laws on U.S.
waterways and, when necessary, on the high seas. This service saves the
life and property of those who sail in our waters for recreation and
commerce.
They protect our marine natural resources and secure our borders
against illegal drugs and against human trafficking. They have a huge
job, and they deserve our thanks.
H.R. 4005 provides the service with our support. This bipartisan
legislation authorizes the Coast Guard to carry out all its vital
missions, improves its mission effectiveness, and helps replace and
modernize aging Coast Guard assets in a cost-effective manner; it
enhances oversight and reduces inefficiency to save taxpayer dollars.
Additionally, the bill strengthens U.S. maritime transportation,
reduces regulatory burdens to create jobs and encourage economic
growth, and improves the Nation's competitiveness.
Specifically, it authorizes funding for Coast Guard activities in
2015 and 2016 at fiscally responsible levels that will allow the Coast
Guard to continue updating its fleet of aging cutters and continue
operations, supports Coast Guard servicemen and women, and encourages
the Coast Guard to work with the private sector; it enhances
Congressional oversight, improves Coast Guard acquisition activities,
requires development of a national maritime strategy, creates
opportunities for our veterans, and it reforms the Federal Maritime
Commission.
I would also like to make note, as Chairman Hunter noted, this is our
colleague Howard Coble's last term as a member of the Coast Guard
Subcommittee. The gentleman from North Carolina has served on the
subcommittee and its predecessor, the Merchant Marine Committee, since
he came to Congress in 1985.
He is the only former coastie now serving in Congress. I know the
Coast Guard appreciates his strong support for the service,
particularly during his term as subcommittee chairman on this
committee. I know all the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
members join me in wishing Howard a well-deserved and happy retirement.
I want to thank and commend Subcommittee Chairman Hunter for
introducing this bill and working with Ranking Member Rahall and also
Ranking Member Garamendi for their work on this bill.
I also will take notice that our good friend from the Virgin Islands
is in the Chamber working on a couple provisions that I know are going
to be very beneficial to the U.S. territories and to the U.S. Virgin
Islands. I thank her for her hard work on this legislation.
I look forward to working with the Senate to get the final version of
this bill enacted this year.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the good lady from
Los Angeles, California (Ms. Hahn).
Ms. HAHN. Mr. Garamendi, thank you for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to discuss the importance of an
amendment that I offered to this bill, but withdrew it because of
jurisdictional concerns.
In exchange for dropping this amendment, the language was supposed to
be included in a manager's amendment, but, unfortunately, the
suspension calendar precluded this from happening. It is my hope that,
with the help of the chairman, this issue will be taken up during the
conference with the Senate.
Under current law, port authorities are required to develop port
security plans which are then submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard for
review. However, ports are not required to address cybersecurity in
these plans.
Without a requirement, many of our ports have not addressed this
issue, creating a gap in our Nation's port security.
Last July, the Brookings Institute released a report stating our
Nation's port cybersecurity awareness is remarkably low. Without
requiring ports to address this vulnerability, we risk exposing our
Nation to a disruption that could devastate our economy and grind the
flow of commerce to a halt in a matter of days.
That is why I offered an amendment to this bill that would have
required that ports address cybersecurity in their port security plans
that they submit to the Coast Guard every 5 years. Unfortunately, this
language was not included in the final bill, and it is my hope that it
is put in the bill during the conference as it was intended.
By requiring every port to begin to address cybersecurity in their
port security plans, we can help avoid a potentially devastating attack
that would leave our Nation's freight network crippled beyond repair.
I appreciate the chairman's willingness to work with me on this
issue, and I look forward to his support in trying to address this
issue in conference.
Mr. HUNTER. Will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. HAHN. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. HUNTER. To the extent that the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee has jurisdiction over this issue, I look forward to working
with the gentlelady from California to include her proposal to include
cybersecurity as an element in facility security plans required under
chapter 701 of title 46 because it is important, and we need to figure
out who is the best at it, who can do it.
It might not be the Coast Guard. It might not be the actual ports. It
might be the Navy. I think it is important, and I look forward to
working with you on the issue.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. HUNTER. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I thank the gentleman from California
for the time, and I also thank him for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I would like to commend Chairman Shuster
and Ranking Member Rahall for their hard work on the legislation before
the House today.
H.R. 4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2014, authorizes the United States Coast Guard, a critical
component of the Department of Homeland Security, for 2 years.
Every day, the men and women of the Coast Guard work to protect our
ports and waterways from terrorist attack and other dangers.
{time} 1715
It is for that very reason that the Committee on Homeland Security
should have considered this legislation. Unfortunately, Chairman McCaul
rejected my request that, consistent with precedent the committee
established in prior Congresses, he insist on a referral of this
measure.
Doing so would have ensured that the members of the Committee on
Homeland Security could inform the bill's security-related provisions
in an open markup setting.
As a result of Chairman McCaul's decision to waive the right of the
committee to consider this measure, the House has before it a bill that
does not fully take into account the statutory mission of the
Department of Homeland Security component it authorizes.
In fact, it does not have a single provision solely dedicated to port
and maritime security. You just heard the gentlelady from California
talk about port security and how important it is, and I appreciate the
gentleman from California saying that he would work with her, but it is
also a responsibility of the Committee on Homeland Security.
While disappointing, I do not blame the leadership of the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure for the absence of such
provisions. It is the responsibility of the Committee on Homeland
Security to leave its mark on this important homeland security
legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. GARAMENDI. I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. To be clear, this is not a case of the
Committee on Homeland Security lacking
[[Page H2775]]
the jurisdiction needed to inform the legislation before us today. It
is a case of a chairman failing to ensure his committee was afforded
the right to exercise its jurisdictional authority.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, February 11, 2014.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office
Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security,
Cannon House Office Building, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Subcommittee Chairman Miller: We
write to urge you to insist upon a sequential referral of
H.R. 4005, the ``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act
of 2014,'' and to afford the Members of the Committee on
Homeland Security (the Committee) the opportunity to consider
this important homeland security legislation in an open
markup session.
Despite H.R. 4005 containing numerous provisions within the
Committee's Rule X, clause 1(j) jurisdiction, the Speaker
chose not to refer the bill to the Committee upon
introduction, opting to refer the bill to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) alone. As you are
aware, H.R. 4005, as ordered to be reported by T&I today,
contains numerous provisions within the legislative
jurisdiction of the Committee.
Since being established as a standing committee in the
109th Congress, the Committee has waived its right to a
sequential referral of legislation authorizing the United
States Coast Guard (USCG) on only two occasions. The first
instance was in the 109th Congress and the most recent was
during the 112th Congress. In contrast, in the 110th and
111th Congresses, we made certain that bills authorizing the
USCG, a critical component of the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), were referred to the Committee.
As recently as last week, the Committee's Subcommittee on
Border and Maritime Security held a public hearing to explore
the USCG's homeland security mission. During that hearing,
Chairman Miller emphasized the important homeland security
mission of the USCG when she stated:
``Since 9/11, the Coast Guard has taken an ever-increasing
role in the protection of our nation. We've given the Coast
Guard additional responsibility. We have tasked them to
specifically focus their limited resources on port and
maritime security.''
We concur with Chairman Miller's sentiment regarding the
critical role the USCG plays in ensuring the security of our
ports and maritime system. To ensure H.R. 4005 reflects the
USCG's homeland security mission, we urge you to insist on a
referral and hold an open markup session of the bill.
In addition to our desire to see the Members of our
Committee have an opportunity to shape the policy in a bill
authorizing a critical component of DHS, we believe it is
critical that the Committee exercise its jurisdictional
prerogative whenever possible. H.R. 4005 represents an
opportunity for you to ensure that the Committee exercises
its existing jurisdictional authority to the fullest extent
possible.
Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this request.
Should you or your staff have any questions on this matter,
please contact Ms. Rosaline Cohen, Chief Counsel for
Legislation of the Committee on Homeland Security, at x6-
2616.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member.
Sheila Jackson Lee,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime
Security.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, April 1, 2014.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office
Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security,
Cannon House Office Building, U.S. House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Subcommittee Chairman Miller: On
February 11, 2014, we wrote urging you to insist upon a
sequential referral of H.R. 4005, the ``Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.'' Today, we are writing
to express our deep disappointment with your decision to
waive the Committee's right to a sequential referral of this
important homeland security legislation. As your letter to
the Speaker on February 12, 2014, requesting a sequential
referral of the bill rightly points out, the United States
Coast Guard (USCG) is charged with port, waterway, and costal
security, putting them on the forefront of defending the
Nation's maritime borders.
Since being established as a standing committee in the
109th Congress, the Committee has failed to receive referrals
of bills authorizing the Coast Guard during Republican
control of the House of Representatives. In contrast, during
the 110th and 111th Congresses, during our time in the
Majority, we insisted that both bills authorizing the Coast
Guard be referred to the Committee. During the 112th
Congress, Chairman King decided to break with Committee
precedent by waiving the Committee's right to a referral of
H.R. 2838, the ``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act
of 2011.'' Given the critical role the USCG plays in ensuring
the security of our ports and maritime system, we are
disappointed with your decision to continue the Republican
precedent and waive the Committee's right to a referral of
H.R. 4005. This decision not only denies our Members the
opportunity to consider this port and maritime security
legislation in Committee but also cleared the way for the
measure to be considered by the Full House on the suspension
calendar, thereby denying our Members the opportunity to
offer port and maritime security amendments to this critical
authorizing legislation.
During the Committee's hearing on February 26, 2014, titled
The Secretary's Vision for the Future--Challenges and
Priorities, you responded to Subcommittee on Transportation
Security Ranking Member Richmond's urging that the Committee
insist on a referral of H.R. 4005 by stating that you intend
to offer a Coast Guard reauthorization bill. We would ask,
for the record, for details on your Coast Guard
reauthorization proposal, including the scope of the measure
and the timeline for consideration. Further, we would like to
know what relationship, if any, there is between your
decision to waive a referral to H.R. 4005 and this
forthcoming effort. We are eager to work with you on the
Coast Guard reauthorization bill you announced you would be
offering for consideration by the Committee.
Should you or your staff have any further questions on this
matter, please contact Ms. Rosaline Cohen, Chief Counsel for
Legislation of the Committee on Homeland Security.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member.
Sheila Jackson Lee,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime
Security.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would like to indulge in a
colloquy with Mr. Hunter.
I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee for yielding and,
again, thank him for his work. Section 221 of H.R. 4005 prohibits the
Secretary of Homeland Security from dismantling or disposing of any
former LORAN system infrastructure for at least 1 year from the date of
enactment of the act or until the date the Secretary notifies the
committee that such infrastructure is not needed for a positioning,
navigation, and timing system to provide redundant capability in the
event GPS signals are disrupted, whichever is later; is that the
chairman's understanding?
Mr. HUNTER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. HUNTER. Yes, it is.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I ask the chairman, I am aware there are several
important issues surrounding the disposition of LORAN stations,
including the disposition of lands associated with them that we should
closely examine and deal with in an appropriate manner.
I ask the chairman and my colleagues on the committee to work with me
to resolve these issues in the context of H.R. 4005 as this bill moves
forward.
Mr. HUNTER. To the extent that these issues are within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I
look forward to working with the gentleman from Alaska with respect to
resolving the disposition of the assets associated with the Coast Guard
LORAN stations in a manner satisfactory to the longest-serving member
of the subcommittee and its predecessors.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I thank the chairman. I look forward to working
on this issue further, and I also want to extend my heartfelt
congratulations and best wishes to the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Coble), the only former coastguardsman now serving in Congress.
To find a finer gentleman and colleague than Mr. Coble would be
difficult, indeed. We will miss you, Howard, so please stay in touch.
Mr. GARAMENDI. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms.
Bonamici).
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues today in support of H.R.
4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act. I know that the
chairmen and ranking members have
[[Page H2776]]
worked diligently on the underlying bill, and I commend them for their
efforts.
Importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with them to
add language from two bills I introduced to help coastal communities
dealing with increasing marine debris.
Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011,
residents of the Pacific Northwest have faced an increase in the volume
of marine debris reaching our coast. This debris is a hazard to
navigators, a threat to the marine environment, and a potential drag on
coastal tourism.
Following the arrival of a 66-foot dock on an Oregon beach in June
2012, I worked with a bipartisan coalition on two bills to improve the
Federal response to marine debris.
The first proposal, which I introduced with the gentlewoman from
Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), was introduced to expedite NOAA's
grant process for debris cleanup by allowing NOAA to prioritize grant
applications from communities affected by a severe marine debris event.
I partnered with Congressman Don Young on the second proposal to
allow NOAA to reimburse States for debris cleanup costs with a generous
$5 million gift from the Government of Japan.
I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Natural
Resources Committee for their support, with special thanks to my Oregon
colleague, Ranking Member DeFazio.
I would also like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including these
proposals in the underlying bill.
I am pleased to have worked with so many Members on the passage of
these bipartisan marine provisions, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the
underlying bill.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and thank the leadership of my
good friend and colleague from California (Mr. Hunter) on his
recognition that we need to go forward with this Coast Guard
reauthorization.
Not only does it put in good reforms and continues to work in a real
way to support our men and women who serve in the Coast Guard, but it
does so in--quite frankly, in a very streamlined way, so I thank the
leadership of Congressman Hunter.
I want to go on further and recognize a gentleman from North
Carolina, the dean of the delegation, Congressman Howard Coble. Not
only is Howard a good friend, but he has served with distinction for
more than 30 years here in this House.
Being an active member of the Coast Guard, it was his leadership and
truly his work with Congressman Hunter that really set this in motion.
Having, at the age of 83, decided that it is time for him to retire
from representing the people of the great State of North Carolina, I
just want to acknowledge this particular day, Mr. Speaker, on a great
statesman, truly a gentleman.
When you look up ``gentleman'' in the dictionary, it should have
Howard Coble's picture right beside it. He is the epitome of what it is
to not only represent the people of North Carolina in such a fine
fashion, but he works across party aisles.
He works with his colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to make
sure that our country is served in the best way possible. It is with
great pleasure that I get to speak on behalf of this bill and, in doing
so, honor a man who knows the Coast Guard well and knows that the men
and women who serve there serve our country in a the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the
gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).
It is my understanding that this legislation contains a provision
that would survey property at the open water entrance from the Puget
Sound to the city of Gig Harbor, Washington, commonly known as the Gig
Harbor sand spit area.
That property was leased to the city by the Coast Guard in 1988 to
construct a small replica lighthouse with a private aid to navigation
on the parcel and that the city and other local parties have financed,
operated, and maintained the sand spit area, lighthouse, and private
aid since that time and have used the property primarily for
recreational purposes.
Mr. HUNTER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. KILMER. I yield to the chairman.
Mr. HUNTER. That is my understanding as well.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, the Coast Guard in 2005 determined that the
property was in excess to their operational requirements and authorized
the disposal of the property.
In addition, the city has been in discussions with the Coast Guard
since 2011 regarding transferring the property.
I yield to the chairman.
Mr. HUNTER. That is also my understanding.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, the legislation before us today provides
for a survey of the Gig Harbor sand spit area.
Am I correct in understanding that, when the Federal Government
completes the survey, the chairman will work with me to convey this
property to the city?
I yield to the chairman.
Mr. HUNTER. To the extent that the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee has jurisdiction over this property, I will work with the
gentleman from Washington to convey the property to the city.
Mr. KILMER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you working with me
on this issue.
It is very important to my constituents, and I look forward to a
final resolution in the very near future. The Gig Harbor sand spit area
is a cherished maritime gateway to the city of Gig Harbor, which is an
area in my district which has a long and rich history of boating and
commercial fishing.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 8\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
One thing that this bill does is not only does it inventory this
property--or it would--it also works to reduce the Coast Guard's excess
property in general.
It requires the Coast Guard to conduct an inventory of all of its
real property and to determine which property can be divested or
consolidated to save taxpayers money and to give the land back to the
municipalities and cities and counties in which it resides.
This is not just a Coast Guard bill. As the ranking member spoke
about--and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Shuster, it is
beyond the Coast Guard in that this bill is important because it deals
with maritime transportation. A healthy maritime industry is vital to
our national security.
Throughout our history, the Navy has relied on U.S.-flagged
commercial vessels, crewed by American merchant mariners to carry
troops, weapons, and supplies to the battlefield.
When I deployed on my second tour to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 out of
San Diego, I was in charge as the logistics officer of driving down all
of our equipment with Humvees and our big battery cannons down to the
local pier in San Diego. We then put this on a roll-on/roll-off boat.
I made sure everything was the way it was supposed to be, and that is
how all of our equipment got over to Iraq. This boat was driven--manned
by American merchant mariners.
It was not driven by the Navy or the Coast Guard, but by civilian
mariners that do this for us; so I have a very close personal
relationship, if you will, because all of the gear that we fell in on
in Fallujah was stuff we had shipped over from San Diego to Iraq.
During Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom,
U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transported 63 percent of all military
cargos, like mine, moved to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Since we cannot rely on foreign vessels and crews to provide for our
national security--let's say we relied on the Russians to move our
military equipment like we rely on them to move our people and
equipment into space--it is critical that we maintain a robust fleet of
U.S.-flagged vessels, a large cadre of skilled American workers, and a
strong shipyard industrial base.
Let me go through what the maritime sector provides to our economy
[[Page H2777]]
very quickly. The U.S. maritime industry currently employs more than
260,000 Americans, providing nearly $29 billion in annual wages.
There are more than 40,000 commercial vessels currently flying the
American flags on our waterways, and the vast majority of these vessels
are engaged in domestic commerce, moving over 100 million passengers
and $400 billion worth of goods between ports in the U.S. on an annual
basis.
Each year, the U.S. maritime industry accounts for over $100 billion
in economic output, and these are not just port cities that get this.
It is the inland waterways, the Mississippi, the Great Lakes, all of
the different locks and dams throughout Pennsylvania and the Northeast,
including the Colorado River.
Those are places where the Coast Guard is hard at work and our
maritime industry is creating jobs and keeping people's mortgages paid
and food on their table.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire as to the amount of time
I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 9\1/4\
minutes remaining.
Mr. GARAMENDI. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for
yielding, and I thank the manager of this legislation.
I rise with an appreciation for this legislation and also a concern.
I think this legislation would have been important to have been
referred and for the waiver not to be exercised to the Homeland
Security Committee.
I serve as the ranking member on the Border Security and Maritime
Security Committee, and it is known that the Coast Guard has a
responsibility for defending the Nation's maritime borders. It is
charged with port waterway and coastal security.
{time} 1730
With that in mind, it would be appropriate to address those questions
of Homeland Security. I notice that this bill limits and reduces the
number of commissioned officers, alters the mission of Coast Guard
centers, and did not come before our committee.
At a hearing on the oil spill in Houston, which has an impact on
America's waterways, particularly around the gulf region and has an
impact on security, it was clear that the Coast Guard were the first
responders. They were the first responders in terms of the potential
rescue. They were the first responders in terms of being the cops of
the waterway, to ensure that all of those who needed to use that
waterway and the ports were able do so. They were the ones that
protected the individuals that were on cruise lines that were left
offshore, and they were, of course, taking care of commerce. This is
clearly part of the responsibility of Homeland Security.
As I indicated, we are very proud of the Coast Guard. I am always
reminded of the great service they rendered during Hurricane Katrina,
saving over 1,000 persons.
I rise today to hope that we will have an opportunity to address the
questions dealing with security. As I do so, however, I want to commend
Admiral Robert Papp, Jr., who is a commandant now of the United States
Coast Guard, 24th United States Coast Guard Commandant and has served
39 years. Let us salute this great American.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. GARAMENDI. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Commandant Papp is a great American. He has been a
friend to not only those of us in the United States Congress who are on
the responsible committees, but he has been a friend to his men and
women that serve in the United States Coast Guard.
Commandant Papp, we salute you for your grand service and look
forward to your continued service to America, but more importantly, we
owe you a great deal of respect and honor. Thank you so very much.
I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak with reservations regarding the
consideration of H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act under a suspension because the bill establishes appropriations
limits; reduces the number of commissioned officers; alters the mission
of Coast Guard Centers; and did not come before the Homeland Security
Committee under a sequential referral.
The bill before the House accomplishes several goals that may have
been shared by the House Transportation Committee and the House
Committee on Homeland Security, but it also addresses areas that should
have had more deliberation before coming to the House Floor for a vote
with no opportunity to amend the legislation.
On February 11, 2014, as Ranking Member of the House Committee on
Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I
joined Ranking Member of the Full Homeland Security Committee Bennie
Thompson in writing to urge a sequential referral of H.R. 4005, the
``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.''
We were disappointed with the decision of the Homeland Security's
Chair and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime
Security to waive the Committee's right to a sequential referral of
this important homeland security legislation.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is charged with port, waterway,
and coastal security, putting them on the forefront of defending the
Nation's maritime borders.
On March 25, 2014, I participated in the hearing held by the Homeland
Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and
Communication when FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate testified.
One of the provisions of H.R. 4005 would prohibit the Secretary of
Homeland Security from making a determination that a waterway is
navigable for purposes of the Coast Guard's jurisdiction without
conducting a rulemaking under appropriate administrative procedures.
This provision of H.R. 4005 could have huge repercussions in an
emergency related to a waterway's safety.
I raised the issue with Administrator Fugate regarding the critical
role of the Coast Guard in making sure that our ports and waterways are
navigable because of the 168,000 gallons of oil spilled due to a
tugboat accident into the Port of Houston which led to a shutdown.
The Port of Houston is critical infrastructure:
According to the Department of Commerce in 2012, Texas exports
totaled $265 billion.
The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public
and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the
Gulf of Mexico.
In 2012 ship channel-related businesses contribute 1,026,820 jobs and
generate more than $178.5 billion in statewide economic impact.
For the past 11 consecutive years, Texas has outpaced the rest of the
country in exports.
First ranked U.S. port in foreign tonnage;
Second ranked U.S. port in total tonnage;
Seventh ranked U.S. container port by total TEUs in 2012;
Largest Texas port with 46 percent of market share by tonnage;
Largest Texas container port with 96 percent market share in
containers by total TEUs in 2012;
Largest Gulf Coast container port, handling 67 percent of U.S. Gulf
Coast container traffic in 2012;
Second ranked U.S. port in terms of cargo value (based on CBP Customs
port definitions).
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), reports that this port,
and its waterways, and vessels are part of an economic engine handling
more than $700 billion in merchandise annually.
The Port of Houston houses approximately 100 steamship lines offering
services that link Houston with 1,053 ports in 203 countries.
The Port of Houston has $15 billion petrochemical complex, the
largest in the nation and second largest worldwide.
The bill does establish rules for the Coast Guard engaging in ice
patrol agreements with other nations and the need to establish
reimbursement agreements prior to the commitment of resources in ice
patrols.
The bill provides for compensation of ship owners and operators who
provide necessary support to seafarers paroled into the United States
to facilitate investigations, reporting, documentation, or
adjudications.
The bill also addresses the definition of ``high-risk waters,'' for
the purpose of determining when owners and operators of U.S. vessels
carrying government-impelled cargo are to be reimbursed for the cost of
providing armed on-board safety personnel.
Since being established as a standing committee in the 109th
Congress, the Homeland Security Committee has failed to receive a
referral of a bill authorizing the Coast Guard only during periods of
Republican control of the House of Representatives.
[[Page H2778]]
In contrast, during the 110th and 111th Congresses, during our time
in the Majority, we insisted that both bills authorizing the Coast
Guard be referred to the Committee.
Given the critical role the Coast Guard plays in ensuring the
security of our ports and maritime system the Homeland Security
Committee should never waive its right to consider legislation directly
related to homeland security. The Committee on Homeland Security had no
chance to provide valuable input in the drafting of H.R. 4005.
H.R. 4005, is an important bill that should have had the attention of
the House Committee on Homeland Security, and if not members should
have had an opportunity to offer amendments during full House
Consideration of the bill.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4005, the
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. I want to thank
the subcommittee chair, Chairman Hunter, and Subcommittee Ranking
Member Garamendi, as well as Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member
Rahall, for their leadership on the committee and their willingness to
include language in the bill that would rectify a problem that has hurt
the charter boat industry in my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Section 312 of the bill would enable U.S.-owned passenger vessels
operating in the Virgin Islands to carry up to 12 passengers, provided
the vessels, of course, meet certain safety requirements, something our
charter boat industry has been advocating for at least 20 years.
Because of the existing rule, our once thriving charter yacht industry
has gone to the British Virgin Islands, and estimates of revenue losses
to the USVI economy range from $70 million to $100 million annually.
I also want to thank the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Council for
their invaluable assistance. I have been working on this change since
coming to the House. And I can honestly say it is only because of their
efforts and the support of Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall
that we are on the cusp of finally resolving the issue. I thank them
again, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4005.
I rise in support of H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2014.
I especially want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall
for their willingness to include language in the bill that would
clarify a problem with the Charter boat industry in my district, the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Section 312 of the bill would enable U.S. owned uninspected passenger
vessels operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands to carry up to 12
passengers provided the vessels meet certain safety requirements. The
Virgin Islands Charter boat industry has been advocating for this
change for at least 20 years.
Because of the rule this section will change, our once thriving
charter yacht industry has migrated to the British Virgin Islands where
regulations are less restrictive. Estimates of revenue losses to the
USVI economy because of the damage to this industry, range from $70 to
$100 million annually. This is at a time when the territory's economy
has not rebounded from the 2008 recession and the closure of largest
private employer.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Virgin Islands Marine
Advisory Council for their invaluable assistance. I have been working
on this change since coming to the House and I can honestly say that it
is only because of their efforts and the support of Chairman Shuster
and Ranking Member Rahall that we are on the cusp of finally resolving
the issue.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4005, as amended.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
First, I just wanted to say that Congressman Rick Larsen entered his
statement in the Record, and his statement speaks to the issue of the
Coast Guard providing icebreaking services in the Arctic, and
particularly the reconstruction of the polar sea.
I want to thank Mr. Hunter and the staff, Republican staff, and our
staff on our side, David, and the people that worked on this particular
piece of legislation.
This legislation is very important to the Coast Guard and to the
American economy because it deals with the international trade. Ninety
percent or more of the trade and services go by water. This bill
provides the Coast Guard with the materials that it needs, with the
budget authority, and with important reforms.
The legislation also provides considerable support for the Merchant
Marine elements in our committee. It deals in part with the necessity
for the national defense.
Chairman Hunter spoke to the issue of the Maritime Security Program.
Similarly, the bill does speak to the Ready Reserve program as well as
the breaking of ships, that is, the disposal of ships that have lost
their usefulness. It is a comprehensive bill. There are a few more
things that we should be doing in this piece of legislation that
hopefully we will be able to take up in the Senate or in the conference
committee.
I spoke earlier about the export of liquified natural gas, LNG. This
is an enormous opportunity for America to rebuild its Merchant Marine.
More than 100 ships will be needed to export that LNG. Those should be
American-made ships, manned by American sailors, flying under the
American flag.
I think we need, also, to work on title XI, the Loan Guarantee
Program for ships that are built in the United States. It is very
restrictive in its present form.
Chairman Hunter in his opening remarks also talked about the problem
of the appropriations. While this bill does provide authorization
authority that should be sufficient for all of these elements, the
ultimate money available would be through the appropriation process.
I am very concerned about the austerity budgeting that has consumed
this Congress for the last 3 years and appears to be continuing for the
next 2. If that happens, all of the good intentions in this bill may be
lost upon the shoals of an austerity budget. We need to pay attention
to that.
It is a good piece of legislation. It has been a great honor to work
on this subcommittee as the ranking member.
I yield back my remaining time, asking for a positive vote on this
bill.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank the ranking member, Mr. Garamendi from
California. He was great to work with on this. We had some
disagreements, but we agree on the majority of it.
I would like to thank you for your support. It was great working with
you, and we will do it more in the future.
I would also like to take into account what Mr. Garamendi said about
an icebreaker. America is the only Arctic nation with no icebreaker. We
don't have one. China has them; Russia has them; Canada has them. Just
about everybody else that has any Arctic in its sphere of influence has
an icebreaker, except for the United States; meaning, if an American
oil ship got stuck in the Arctic, guess who would bail them out? Our
good friend the Russians, maybe our good friends the Communist Chinese.
The Canadians, if we are lucky, will have a ship available so we can at
least go with a free country if we had to get that ship out of trouble.
We don't have an icebreaker. That is a travesty. Icebreakers are
expensive, especially if you just buy one. They are about a billion
dollars by the Coast Guard's account.
There are other options to get an icebreaker. You can lease an
icebreaker like you lease a car, and it can be operated by merchant
mariners, the same ones that we have been praising. Talking about this
bill, that is who could run this icebreaker. We are going to work on
that, and that should be this subcommittee and this committee's
crowning achievement is getting an American icebreaker on the high seas
to support American industry and American seafarers in the Arctic.
Number two, maritime transportation is more than just important to
this country; it is what this country is all about. There is an old
saying in the Department of Defense--and I was a marine, so let me just
throw this out there--whoever controls the oceans controls the world.
Now you can say whoever controls space controls the ocean, but whoever
controls the oceans controls the world.
America is surrounded by water for the most part. All of our trade
comes in through the Pacific or the Atlantic.
[[Page H2779]]
It is more than important. It is the most important thing out there
that we make sure of two things: that we protect these trade routes on
the high seas for goods coming in and out of this country; number 2, we
have to secure our ports and coastline from drugs, from illegal
immigrants, and, most importantly, from a weapon of mass destruction
that might be smuggled to our shoreline and then detonated by one of
our port cities. That is easier to do than it is now to fly an airplane
and land in an American airport and set something off. It is also
easier to do than it is to cross the southern border and sneak across
with some weapon of mass destruction. It is easier to get a ship or a
cargo container ship with a weapon of mass destruction off of an
American coast than it is to get it into this country any other way.
When it comes to maritime transportation, Americans are leading the
way in making these ships. We just made in San Diego, a company called
NASSCO, a shipbuilding company in San Diego just built or is in the
process of building right now the very first liquified natural gas-
powered ships. They are not container ships that carry liquified
natural gas, LNG, but they are powered by it. They are the first ones
in the world. They are being made here in this country. So we might not
be able to make cheap ships as easily as nations that don't have the
same labor laws or environmental laws, but we can still make the most
technologically advanced ships in the world, and we are doing that
today.
Lastly, the Coast Guard, approximately 41,000 military personnel--and
to my friends that say that the U.S. Coast Guard should be under
Homeland Security, the Coast Guard is a fifth branch of the U.S.
military. It is actually under DOD. So if we want to move it anywhere,
I would say put it under the Armed Services Committee.
Approximately 41,000 military personnel, 8,000 reservists, 8,500
civilian employees, and 30,000 volunteers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
comprise this adaptable responsive military force within the Department
of Homeland Security.
As one the Nation's five Armed Forces, the Coast Guard also is
prepared to operate as a specialized service to the Navy in times of
war or at the President's direction. The Coast Guard is instrumental to
the security of our Nation and our maritime transportation system of
this Nation which, both of those, are, in turn, the most important
things that we can look at when it comes to the high seas and
maintaining a robust economy and secure shores.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the Arctic is fast becoming
the 21st-century version of the Northwest Passage. Just four years ago,
two German ships followed a Russian icebreaker to complete the first
commercial shipment across the Arctic. Last year, with the warmest
Arctic summer on record, 46 ships made the crossing. An active and
well-maintained icebreaker fleet is a key part of our country's
responsibility as an Arctic nation.
As Ranking Member of the Coast Guard subcommittee in the 112th
Congress, I had the privilege to work with Representative LoBiondo, who
was the Chairman at that time. We agreed it was time for the Coast
Guard to make a decision about how to move forward with its icebreaker
fleet. In the last Coast Guard reauthorization bill, we asked the
agency to look at the business case for reactivating the Polar Sea,
which is currently docked in Seattle.
That analysis showed that for about $100 million, we could have a
functioning Polar Sea, which is about one-tenth the price tag for a
brand new icebreaker. In my view that is a bargain.
However, the Coast Guard still has not come to a conclusion about
what to do with the Polar Sea. Instead, it is currently sitting in cold
storage in Seattle. Every day the Polar Sea sits without maintenance it
loses value.
The bill before us would require the Coast Guard to use the analysis
Representative LoBiondo and I requested and make a decision about the
Polar Sea.
I was pleased to hear Coast Guard Admiral Papp talk about
reactivation of the Polar Sea in a positive light during a subcommittee
hearing last week. I believe the right course of action is to
reactivate the Polar Sea.
But that decision needs to be made soon.
The Coast Guard also needs to start moving on the next generation of
icebreakers.
I understand that the intent of this legislation is to encourage the
Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation and other
interested agencies to partner with the Coast Guard in building a new
fleet of icebreakers.
However, I am concerned that by tying the Coast Guard's hands until
those agencies fully engage in this process, we may be delaying much
needed progress towards building a new icebreaker.
That's why I am pleased that Chairman Duncan and Ranking Member
Garamendi included some changes I requested to the icebreaker language
in this bill to ensure that we do not hinder what little progress is
being made on icebreakers today.
I hope we can continue to work together to ensure our country meets
its responsibilities as an Arctic nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4005, the
``Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act.'' I want to commend
Chairman Hunter, Ranking Member Garamendi, and their staffs for the
amount of work they put in to have this bipartisan measure brought to
the floor.
This important legislation contains a provision based on the
``Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2013'' introduced by
myself and Mr. Larsen. This provision puts in place a permanent
moratorium from Environmental Protection Agency, state regulations and
fines governing incidental discharges from commercial fishing vessels
and all other commercial vessels less than 79 feet. With our stagnant
economy, the government must not enact federal penalties which could
discourage economic growth and job creation. The fines that are
scheduled to be levied against our commercial fishermen for incidental
charges will be devastating to our national and local South Jersey
businesses.
In conclusion, I'd also like to praise the tireless efforts on behalf
of all Coasties that our colleague Mr. Coble has worked on during his
entire career in the House. A Coasty himself, he has always fought for
the men and women serving in this distinguished uniform and we will
surely miss him.
I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 4005.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4005, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________