[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H3284-H3293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1987) to authorize appropriations for the Coast
Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1987
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Authorization
Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS
Sec. 101. Authorizations.
Sec. 102. Conforming amendments.
TITLE II--COAST GUARD
Sec. 201. Vice Commandant.
Sec. 202. Vice admirals.
Sec. 203. Coast Guard remission of indebtedness.
Sec. 204. Acquisition reform.
Sec. 205. Auxiliary jurisdiction.
Sec. 206. Long-term major acquisitions plan.
Sec. 207. Coast Guard communities.
Sec. 208. ``Polar Sea'' materiel condition assessment and service life
extension decision.
Sec. 209. Repeal.
Sec. 210. Technical corrections to title 14.
Sec. 211. Digital boat profile pilot program.
Sec. 212. Discontinuance of an aid to navigation.
Sec. 213. Mission performance measures.
Sec. 214. Communications.
Sec. 215. Coast Guard graduate maritime operations education.
TITLE III--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
Sec. 301. Treatment of fishing permits.
Sec. 302. Survival craft.
Sec. 303. Enforcement.
Sec. 304. Model years for recreational vessels.
Sec. 305. Merchant mariner credential expiration harmonization.
Sec. 306. Marine event safety zones.
Sec. 307. Technical corrections.
Sec. 308. Recommendations for improvements of marine casualty
reporting.
Sec. 309. Recreational vessel engine weights.
Sec. 310. Merchant mariner medical certification reform.
Sec. 311. Atlantic Coast port access route study.
Sec. 312. Certificates of documentation for recreational vessels.
Sec. 313. Program guidelines.
Sec. 314. Repeals.
TITLE IV--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Duties of the Chairman.
Sec. 403. Prohibition on awards.
TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 501. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Marin County,
California.
Sec. 502. Elimination of reports.
Sec. 503. Vessel documentation.
Sec. 504. Conveyance of Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska.
Sec. 505. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.
Sec. 506. Use of vessel sale proceeds.
Sec. 507. Fishing vessel and fish tender vessel certification.
Sec. 508. National Academy of Sciences cost comparison.
Sec. 509. Penalty wages.
Sec. 510. Recourse for noncitizens.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) In General.--Title 14, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``PART III--COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS
``Chap. Sec.
``27. Authorizations...........................................2701....
``29. Reports.................................................2901.....
``CHAPTER 27--AUTHORIZATIONS
``Sec.
``2702. Authorization of appropriations.
``2704. Authorized levels of military strength and training.
``Sec. 2702. Authorization of appropriations
``Funds are authorized to be appropriated for each of
fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for necessary expenses of the
Coast Guard as follows:
``(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard,
not otherwise provided for--
``(A) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
``(B) $6,981,036,000 for fiscal year 2017.
``(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and
improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels,
and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of
facilities and equipment--
``(A) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
``(B) $1,546,448,000 for fiscal year 2017.
``(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including
operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and
training costs, equipment, and services--
``(A) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
``(B) $140,016,000 for fiscal year 2017.
``(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration
functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title--
``(A) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
``(B) $16,701,000 for fiscal year 2017.
``(5) To the Commandant of the Coast Guard for research,
development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials,
and human factors directly related to improving the
performance of the Coast Guard's mission with respect to
search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine
environmental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties,
ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense
readiness, and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and
operation of facilities and equipment--
``(A) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
``(B) $19,890,000 for fiscal year 2017.
``Sec. 2704. Authorized levels of military strength and
training
``(a) Active Duty Strength.--The Coast Guard is authorized
an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 43,000
for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
``(b) Military Training Student Loads.--The Coast Guard is
authorized average military training student loads for each
of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 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.
``CHAPTER 29--REPORTS
``Sec.
``2904. Manpower requirements plan.
``Sec. 2904. Manpower requirements plan
``(a) In General.--On the date on which the President
submits to Congress a budget for fiscal year 2017 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 a
manpower requirements plan.
``(b) Scope.--A manpower requirements plan submitted under
subsection (a) shall include for each mission of the Coast
Guard--
``(1) an assessment of all projected mission requirements
for the upcoming fiscal year and for each of the 3 fiscal
years thereafter;
``(2) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian
personnel assigned or available to fulfill such mission
requirements--
``(A) currently; and
``(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each of
the 3 fiscal years thereafter;
``(3) the number of active duty, reserve, and civilian
personnel required to fulfill such mission requirements--
``(A) currently; and
``(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each of
the 3 fiscal years thereafter;
``(4) an identification of any capability gaps between
mission requirements and mission performance caused by
deficiencies in the numbers of personnel available--
``(A) currently; and
``(B) as projected for the upcoming fiscal year and each of
the 3 fiscal years thereafter; and
``(5) an identification of the actions the Commandant will
take to address capability gaps identified under paragraph
(4).
``(c) Consideration.--In composing a manpower requirements
plan for submission under subsection (a), the Commandant
shall consider--
``(1) the marine safety strategy required under section
2116 of title 46;
``(2) information on the adequacy of the acquisition
workforce included in the most recent report under section
2903 of this title; and
[[Page H3285]]
``(3) any other Federal strategic planning effort the
Commandant considers appropriate.''.
(b) Requirement for Prior Authorization of
Appropriations.--Section 662 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by redesignating such section as section 2701;
(2) by transferring such section to appear before section
2702 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this
section); and
(3) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting
the following:
``(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard,
not otherwise provided for.
``(2) For the acquisition, construction, renovation, and
improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels,
and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, and for
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of
facilities and equipment.
``(3) For the Coast Guard Reserve program, including
operations and maintenance of the program, personnel and
training costs, equipment, and services.
``(4) For the environmental compliance and restoration
functions of the Coast Guard under chapter 19 of this title.
``(5) For research, development, test, and evaluation of
technologies, materials, and human factors directly related
to improving the performance of the Coast Guard.
``(6) For alteration or removal of bridges over navigable
waters of the United States constituting obstructions to
navigation, and for personnel and administrative costs
associated with the Alteration of Bridges Program.''.
(c) Authorization of Personnel End Strengths.--Section 661
of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating such section as section 2703; and
(2) by transferring such section to appear before section
2704 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this
section).
(d) Reports.--
(1) Transmission of annual coast guard authorization
request.--Section 662a of title 14, United States Code, is
amended--
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2901;
(B) by transferring such section to appear before section
2904 of such title (as added by subsection (a) of this
section); and
(C) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ``described in section
661'' and inserting ``described in section 2703''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ``described in section
662'' and inserting ``described in section 2701''.
(2) Capital investment plan.--Section 663 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2902; and
(B) by transferring such section to appear after section
2901 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by
paragraph (1) of this subsection).
(3) Major acquisitions.--Section 569a of title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating such section as section 2903;
(B) by transferring such section to appear after section
2902 of such title (as so redesignated and transferred by
paragraph (2) of this subsection); and
(C) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ``of this
subchapter''.
(e) Icebreaking on the Great Lakes.--For fiscal years 2016
and 2017, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may use funds
made available pursuant to section 2702(2) of title 14,
United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this
section) for the selection of a design for and the
construction of an icebreaker that is capable of buoy tending
to enhance icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes.
(f) Additional Submissions.--The Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives--
(1) each plan required under section 2904 of title 14,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this
section;
(2) each plan required under section 2903(e) of title 14,
United States Code, as added by section 206 of this Act;
(3) each plan required under section 2902 of title 14,
United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (d) of this
section; and
(4) each mission need statement required under section 569
of title 14, United States Code.
SEC. 102. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Analysis for Title 14.--The analysis for title 14,
United States Code, is amended by adding after the item
relating to part II the following:
``III. Coast Guard Authorizations and Reports to Congress...2701''.....
(b) Analysis for Chapter 15.--The analysis for chapter 15
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the
item relating to section 569a.
(c) Analysis for Chapter 17.--The analysis for chapter 17
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the
items relating to sections 661, 662, 662a, and 663.
(d) Analysis for Chapter 27.--The analysis for chapter 27
of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a)
of this Act, is amended by inserting--
(1) before the item relating to section 2702 the following:
``2701. Requirement for prior authorization of appropriations.'';
and
(2) before the item relating to section 2704 the following:
``2703. Authorization of personnel end strengths.''.
(e) Analysis for Chapter 29.--The analysis for chapter 29
of title 14, United States Code, as added by section 101(a)
of this Act, is amended by inserting before the item relating
to section 2904 the following:
``2901. Transmission of annual Coast Guard authorization request.
``2902. Capital investment plan.
``2903. Major acquisitions.''.
(f) Mission Need Statement.--Section 569(b) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ``in section 569a(e)'' and
inserting ``in section 2903''; and
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ``under section
663(a)(1)'' and inserting ``under section 2902(a)(1)''.
TITLE II--COAST GUARD
SEC. 201. VICE COMMANDANT.
(a) Grades and Ratings.--Section 41 of title 14, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``an admiral,'' and
inserting ``admirals (two);''.
(b) Vice Commandant; Appointment.--Section 47 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``vice admiral''
and inserting ``admiral''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 51 of title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ``admiral or'' before
``vice admiral,'';
(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ``admiral or'' before
``vice admiral,'' each place it appears; and
(3) in subsection (c) by inserting ``admiral or'' before
``vice admiral,''.
(d) Application.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the officer who, on the date of the enactment of this
Act, is serving as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard--
(1) shall have the grade of admiral, with the pay and
allowances of that grade; and
(2) shall not be required to be reappointed by reason of
the enactment of this Act, including the amendments made by
this Act.
SEC. 202. VICE ADMIRALS.
Section 50 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) The President may--
``(A) designate, within the Coast Guard, no more than 5
positions of importance and responsibility that shall be held
by officers who, while so serving, shall have the grade of
vice admiral, with the pay and allowances of that grade, and
shall perform such duties as the Commandant may prescribe (if
the President designates 5 such positions, 1 position shall
be a Chief of Staff); and
``(B) designate, within the executive branch, other than
within the Coast Guard or the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, positions of importance and
responsibility that shall be held by officers who, while so
serving, shall have the grade of vice admiral, with the pay
and allowances of that grade.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ``under paragraph (1)''
and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, while awaiting
orders after being relieved from the position, beginning on
the day the officer is relieved from the position, but not
for more than 60 days; and''.
SEC. 203. COAST GUARD REMISSION OF INDEBTEDNESS.
(a) In General.--Section 461 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 461. Remission of indebtedness
``The Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any part of
a person's indebtedness to the United States or any
instrumentality of the United States if--
``(1) the indebtedness was incurred while the person served
on active duty as a member of the Coast Guard; and
``(2) the Secretary determines that remitting or cancelling
the indebtedness is in the best interest of the United
States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 13 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to section 461 and inserting the following:
``461. Remission of indebtedness.''.
SEC. 204. ACQUISITION REFORM.
(a) Minimum Performance Standards.--Section 572(d)(3) of
title 14, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as
subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) the performance data to be used to determine whether
the key performance parameters have been resolved;''; and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as redesignated by
paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following:
``(D) the results during test and evaluation that will be
required to demonstrate that a capability, asset, or
subsystem meets performance requirements;''.
[[Page H3286]]
(b) Capital Investment Plan.--Section 2902(a)(1) of title
14, United States Code, as redesignated and otherwise amended
by this Act, is further amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``completion;'' and
inserting ``completion based on the proposed appropriations
included in the budget;''; and
(2) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``at the projected
funding levels;'' and inserting ``based on the proposed
appropriations included in the budget;''.
(c) Days Away From Homeport.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the
Coast Guard shall--
(1) implement a standard for tracking operational days at
sea for Coast Guard cutters that does not include days during
which such cutters are undergoing maintenance or repair; and
(2) notify the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate of the standard implemented under paragraph (1).
(d) Fixed Wing Aircraft Fleet Mix Analysis.--Not later than
September 30, 2015, 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 revised
fleet mix analysis of Coast Guard fixed wing aircraft.
SEC. 205. AUXILIARY JURISDICTION.
(a) In General.--Section 822 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``The purpose'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) In General.--The purpose''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Limitation.--The Auxiliary may conduct a patrol of a
waterway, or a portion thereof, only if--
``(1) the Commandant has determined such waterway, or
portion thereof, is navigable for purposes of the
jurisdiction of the Coast Guard; or
``(2) a State or other proper authority has requested such
patrol pursuant to section 141 of this title or section 13109
of title 46.''.
(b) Notification.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard
shall--
(1) review the waterways patrolled by the Coast Guard
Auxiliary in the most recently completed fiscal year to
determine whether such waterways are eligible or ineligible
for patrol under section 822(b) of title 14, United States
Code (as added by subsection (a)); and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, 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 written notification of--
(A) any waterways determined ineligible for patrol under
paragraph (1); and
(B) the actions taken by the Commandant to ensure Auxiliary
patrols do not occur on such waterways.
SEC. 206. LONG-TERM MAJOR ACQUISITIONS PLAN.
Section 2903 of title 14, United States Code, as
redesignated and otherwise amended by this Act, is further
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Long-Term Major Acquisitions Plan.--Each report under
subsection (a) shall include a plan that describes for the
upcoming fiscal year, and for each of the 20 fiscal years
thereafter--
``(1) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be
decommissioned;
``(2) the numbers and types of cutters and aircraft to be
acquired to--
``(A) replace the cutters and aircraft identified under
paragraph (1); or
``(B) address an identified capability gap; and
``(3) the estimated level of funding in each fiscal year
required to--
``(A) acquire the cutters and aircraft identified under
paragraph (2);
``(B) acquire related command, control, communications,
computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
systems; and
``(C) acquire, construct, or renovate shoreside
infrastructure.''.
SEC. 207. COAST GUARD COMMUNITIES.
Section 409 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998
(14 U.S.C. 639 note) is amended by striking the second
sentence and inserting the following: ``The Commandant may
recognize any other community in a similar manner if the
Commandant determines that such community has demonstrated
enduring support of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard personnel,
and the dependents of Coast Guard personnel.''.
SEC. 208. ``POLAR SEA'' MATERIEL CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND
SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION DECISION.
Section 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of
2015, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating shall--
``(1) complete a materiel condition assessment with respect
to the Polar Sea;
``(2) make a determination of whether it is cost effective
to reactivate the Polar Sea compared with other options to
provide icebreaking services as part of a strategy to
maintain polar icebreaking services; and
``(3) 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) the assessment required under paragraph (1); and
``(B) written notification of the determination required
under paragraph (2).'';
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ``analysis'' and
inserting ``written notification'';
(3) by striking subsection (c);
(4) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as
subsections (c) through (g), respectively;
(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (4) of
this section)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``based on the analysis
required''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``analysis'' and
inserting ``written notification'';
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Decommissioning.--If the Secretary makes a
determination under subsection (a) that it is not cost
effective to reactivate the Polar Sea, then, not later than
180 days after written notification of that determination is
submitted under that subsection, the Commandant of the Coast
Guard may decommission the Polar Sea.''; and
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Result of no determination.--If the Secretary does
not make a determination under subsection (a) regarding
whether it is cost effective to reactivate the Polar Sea,
then the Commandant of the Coast Guard may decommission the
Polar Sea.'';
(6) in subsection (d)(1) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)
of this section) by striking ``analysis'' and inserting
``written notification''; and
(7) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (4) of
this section) by striking ``in subsection (d)'' and inserting
``in subsection (c)''.
SEC. 209. REPEAL.
Section 225(b)(2) of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-281; 128
Stat. 3039) is repealed.
SEC. 210. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO TITLE 14.
Title 14, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is
further amended--
(1) in the analysis for part I by striking the item
relating to chapter 19 and inserting the following:
``19. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program.......690'';....
(2) in section 46(a) by striking ``subsection'' and
inserting ``section'';
(3) in section 47 in the section heading by striking
``commandant'' and inserting ``Commandant'';
(4) in section 93(f) by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Limitation.--The Commandant may lease submerged lands
and tidelands under paragraph (1) only if--
``(A) the lease is for cash exclusively;
``(B) the lease amount is equal to the fair market value of
the use of the leased submerged lands or tidelands for the
period during which such lands are leased, as determined by
the Commandant;
``(C) the lease does not provide authority to or commit the
Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to such
submerged lands and tidelands, or obtain goods and services
from the lessee; and
``(D) proceeds from the lease are deposited in the Coast
Guard Housing Fund established under section 687.'';
(5) in the analysis for chapter 9 by striking the item
relating to section 199 and inserting the following:
``199. Marine safety curriculum.'';
(6) in section 427(b)(2) by striking ``this chapter'' and
inserting ``chapter 61 of title 10'';
(7) in the analysis for chapter 15 before the item relating
to section 571 by striking the following:
``Sec.'';
(8) in section 573(c)(3)(A) by inserting ``and shall
maintain such cutter in class'' before the period at the end;
(9) in section 581(5)(B) by striking ``$300,000,0000,'' and
inserting ``$300,000,000,'';
(10) in section 637(c)(3) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) by inserting ``it is'' before ``any'';
(11) in section 641(d)(3) by striking ``Guard,
installation'' and inserting ``Guard installation'';
(12) in section 691(c)(3) by striking ``state'' and
inserting ``State'';
(13) in the analysis for chapter 21--
(A) by striking the item relating to section 709 and
inserting the following:
``709. Reserve student aviation pilots; Reserve aviation pilots;
appointments in commissioned grade.'';
and
(B) by striking the item relating to section 740 and
inserting the following:
``740. Failure of selection and removal from an active status.'';
(14) in section 742(c) by striking ``subsection'' and
inserting ``subsections'';
(15) in section 821(b)(1) by striking ``Chapter 26'' and
inserting ``Chapter 171''; and
[[Page H3287]]
(16) in section 823a(b)(1), by striking ``Chapter 26'' and
inserting ``Chapter 171''.
SEC. 211. DIGITAL BOAT PROFILE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--If, during the 1-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines
that there are at least 2 digital boat profile technologies
that are commercially available, the Secretary shall
establish a pilot program, in accordance with this section,
under which digital boat profiles are utilized for--
(1) not less than 2 National Security Cutters;
(2) not less than 4 Fast Response Cutters; and
(3) not less than 4 Medium Endurance Cutters (270 foot).
(b) Timing.--With respect to the National Security Cutters
and Fast Response Cutters participating in the pilot program,
a digital boat profile shall be established prior to the
commissioning of the cutters.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment
of the pilot program, and annually thereafter for the
succeeding 4 years, 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 describing--
(1) the implementation of the pilot program; and
(2) the results of the use of digital boat profiles under
the pilot program with respect to--
(A) efficient maintenance of the cutters involved; and
(B) the post-delivery warranty management of equipment
items, the repair and replacement of which are contractually
obligated.
(d) Digital Boat Profile Defined.--In this section, the
term ``digital boat profile'' means a commercially available
off-the-shelf technology that creates an electronic data
source with respect to a vessel that--
(1) provides lifecycle management support, including
through the incorporation of systems manuals, schematics, and
vessel documentation;
(2) incorporates all manufacturer recommendations and
operator best practices;
(3) incorporates the use of real-time analytics of deferred
tasks, future tasks, readiness assessments, and budgetary
planners;
(4) provides advance electronic notification of upcoming
maintenance and inspections to multi-level permission-based
recipients on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis;
(5) facilitates oversight for pre-delivery discrepancy
reporting and post-delivery warranty management of equipment
items, the repair and replacement of which are contractually
obligated; and
(6) is accessible by computing devices.
SEC. 212. DISCONTINUANCE OF AN AID TO NAVIGATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process
for the discontinuance of an aid to navigation established,
maintained, or operated by the Coast Guard.
(b) Requirement.--The process established under subsection
(a) shall include procedures to notify the public of any
discontinuance of an aid to navigation described in that
subsection.
(c) Consultation.--In establishing a process under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and consider
any recommendations of the Navigation Safety Advisory
Council.
(d) Notification.--Not later than 30 days after
establishing a process under subsection (a), 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 of the process established.
SEC. 213. MISSION PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
Not later than 1 year 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
and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the efficacy of
the Coast Guard's Standard Operational Planning Process with
respect to annual mission performance measures.
SEC. 214. COMMUNICATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating shall establish and carry out a
response capabilities pilot program to assess, at not fewer
than 2 Coast Guard command centers, the effectiveness of a
radio gateway that--
(1) provides for--
(A) multiagency collaboration and interoperability; and
(B) wide-area, secure, and peer-invitation-and-acceptance-
based multimedia communications;
(2) is certified by the Department of Defense Joint
Interoperability Test Center; and
(3) is composed of commercially available, off-the-shelf
technology.
(b) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
succeeding 4 years, 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 an assessment of the pilot
program, including the impacts of the program with respect to
interagency and Coast Guard response capabilities.
SEC. 215. COAST GUARD GRADUATE MARITIME OPERATIONS EDUCATION.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating shall establish an education program, for
members and employees of the Coast Guard, that--
(1) offers a master's degree in maritime operations;
(2) is relevant to the professional development of such
members and employees;
(3) provides resident and distant education options,
including the ability to utilize both options; and
(4) to the greatest extent practicable, is conducted using
existing academic programs at an accredited public academic
institution that--
(A) is located near a significant number of Coast Guard,
maritime, and other Department of Homeland Security law
enforcement personnel; and
(B) has an ability to simulate operations normally
conducted at a command center.
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. 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 the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of
2015.
``(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 Authorization Act of
2015, 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 the 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
[[Page H3288]]
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. 303. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 55305(d) of title 46, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Each department or agency that has responsibility for
a program under this section shall administer that program
consistent with this section and any regulations promulgated
pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, issued by
the Secretary of Transportation, and developed in
consultation with each department and agency subject to this
section.'';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3), and by
inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2)(A) The Secretary, after consulting with the
department, agency, organization, or person involved, shall
have sole responsibility for determining the applicability of
this section to a program of a Federal department or agency,
after consulting with the department, agency, organization,
or person involved.
``(B) The head of a Federal department or agency shall
request the Secretary to determine the applicability of this
section to a program of such department or agency if the
department or agency is uncertain of such applicability. Not
later than 30 days after receiving such a request, the
Secretary shall make such determination.
``(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not be construed to limit the
authority of the Secretary to make a determination regarding
the applicability of this section to a program administered
by a Federal department or agency.
``(D) A determination made by the Secretary under this
paragraph regarding a program shall remain in effect until
the Secretary determines that this section no longer applies
to such program.'';
(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by amending
subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) shall conduct an annual review of the administration
of programs subject to the requirements of this section to
determine compliance with the requirements of this
section;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) On the date on which the President submits to
Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the
Secretary shall make available on the Internet website of the
Department of Transportation a report that--
``(A) lists the programs that were subject to
determinations made by the Secretary under paragraph (2) in
the preceding year; and
``(B) describes the results of the most recent annual
review required by paragraph (3)(A), including identification
of the departments and agencies that transported cargo in
violation of this section and any action the Secretary took
under paragraph (3) with respect to each violation.''.
(b) Deadline for First Review.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall complete the first review required under
the amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(C) by not later than
December 31, 2015.
(c) 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. 304. MODEL YEARS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS.
(a) In General.--Section 4302 of title 46, United States
Code is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e)(1) If in prescribing regulations under this section
the Secretary establishes a model year for recreational
vessels and associated equipment, such model year shall,
except as provided in paragraph (2)--
``(A) begin on June 1 of a year and end on July 31 of the
following year; and
``(B) be designated by the year in which it ends.
``(2) Upon the request of a recreational vessel
manufacturer to which this chapter applies, the Secretary may
alter a model year for a model of recreational vessel of the
manufacturer and associated equipment, by no more than 6
months from the model year described in paragraph (1).''.
(b) Application.--This section shall only apply with
respect to recreational vessels and associated equipment
constructed or manufactured, respectively, on or after June
1, 2015.
(c) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall publish guidance to
implement section 4302(d)(2) of title 46, United States Code.
SEC. 305. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL EXPIRATION
HARMONIZATION.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard
is operating shall establish a process to harmonize the
expiration dates of merchant mariner credentials, mariner
medical certificates, and radar observer endorsements for
individuals applying to the Secretary for a new merchant
mariner credential or for renewal of an existing merchant
mariner credential.
(b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
process established under subsection (a)--
(1) does not require an individual to renew a merchant
mariner credential earlier than the date on which the
individual's current credential expires; and
(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates for
merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates,
and radar observer endorsements for all individuals by not
later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(c) Exception.--The process established under subsection
(a) does not apply to individuals--
(1) holding a merchant mariner credential with--
(A) an active Standards of Training, Certification, and
Watchkeeping endorsement; or
(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; or
(2) who have been issued a time-restricted medical
certificate.
SEC. 306. MARINE EVENT SAFETY ZONES.
Section 6 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C.
1225) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Marine Event Safety Zones.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall recover all costs the Coast Guard incurs to
enforce a safety zone under this section if such safety zone
is established for a marine event conducted under a permit or
other authorization by the Coast Guard.
``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may not recover costs under
paragraph (1) from a State or local government.
``(3) Treatment of recovered costs.--Costs recovered by the
Secretary under this subsection shall be credited to the
appropriation for operating expenses of the Coast Guard.
``(4) Marine event defined.--In this section the term
`marine event' means a planned activity of limited duration
that by its nature, circumstances, or location, will
introduce extra or unusual hazards to the safety of life on
the navigable waters of the United States.''.
SEC. 307. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Title 46.--Title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 103, by striking ``(33 U.S.C. 151).'' and
inserting ``(33 U.S.C. 151(b)).'';
(2) in section 2118--
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``title,'' and inserting ``subtitle,''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``title'' and inserting
``subtitle'';
(3) in the analysis for chapter 35--
(A) by adding a period at the end of the item relating to
section 3507; and
(B) by adding a period at the end of the item relating to
section 3508;
(4) in section 3715(a)(2), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(5) in section 8103(b)(1)(A)(iii), by striking ``Academy.''
and inserting ``Academy; and''; and
(6) in section 11113(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking ``under this
Act''.
(b) General Bridge Statutes.--
(1) Act of march 3, 1899.--The Act of March 3, 1899,
popularly known as the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act
of 1899, is amended--
(A) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 401), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''; and
(B) in section 18 (33 U.S.C. 502), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''.
(2) Act of march 23, 1906.--The Act of March 23, 1906,
popularly known as the Bridge Act of 1906, is amended--
(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 491), by striking
``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating'';
(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 494), by striking ``Secretary
of Homeland Security'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''; and
(C) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 495), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it
[[Page H3289]]
appears and inserting ``Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating''.
(3) Act of august 18, 1894.--Section 5 of the Act entitled
``An Act making appropriations for the construction, repair,
and preservation of certain public works on rivers and
harbors, and for other purposes'', approved August 18, 1894
(33 U.S.C. 499) is amended by striking ``Secretary of
Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''.
(4) Act of june 21, 1940.--The Act of June 21, 1940,
popularly known as the Truman-Hobbs Act, is amended--
(A) in the first section (33 U.S.C. 511), by striking
``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating'';
(B) in section 4 (33 U.S.C. 514), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating'';
(C) in section 7 (33 U.S.C. 517), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''; and
(D) in section 13 (33 U.S.C. 523), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating''.
(5) General bridge act of 1946.--The General Bridge Act of
1946 is amended--
(A) in section 502(b) (33 U.S.C. 525(b)), by striking
``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating''; and
(B) in section 510 (33 U.S.C. 533), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''.
(6) International bridge act of 1972.--The International
Bridge Act of 1972 is amended--
(A) in section 5 (33 U.S.C. 535c), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of the
department in which the Coast Guard is operating''; and
(B) in section 8 (33 U.S.C. 535e), by striking ``Secretary
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating''.
SEC. 308. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF MARINE CASUALTY
REPORTING.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 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 the actions the
Commandant will take to implement recommendations on
improvements to the Coast Guard's marine casualty reporting
requirements and procedures included in--
(1) the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector
General report entitled ``Marine Accident Reporting,
Investigations, and Enforcement in the United States Coast
Guard'', released on May 23, 2013; and
(2) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee report entitled
``Recommendations for Improvement of Marine Casualty
Reporting'', released on March 26, 2015.
SEC. 309. RECREATIONAL VESSEL ENGINE WEIGHTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating shall issue regulations amending Table 4
to Subpart H of Part 183-Weights (Pounds) of Outboard Motor
and Related Equipment for Various Boat Horsepower Ratings (33
C.F.R. 183) as appropriate to reflect ``Standard 30-Outboard
Engine and Related Equipment Weights'' published by the
American Boat and Yacht Council, as in effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 310. MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION REFORM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 75 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 7509. Medical certification by trusted agents
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law and pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary,
a trusted agent may issue a medical certificate to an
individual who--
``(1) must hold such certificate to qualify for a license,
certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document, or
endorsement thereto under this part; and
``(2) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and physical
condition to perform the duties of such license, certificate,
document, or endorsement, as determined by the trusted agent.
``(b) Trusted Agent Defined.--In this section the term
`trusted agent' means a medical practitioner certified by the
Secretary to perform physical examinations of an individual
for purposes of a license, certificate of registry, or
merchant mariner's document under this part.''.
(b) Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a final rule
implementing section 7509 of title 46, United States Code, as
added by this section.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``7509. Medical certification by trusted agents.''.
SEC. 311. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY.
Not later than April 1, 2016, the Commandant of the Coast
Guard shall conclude the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route
Study and submit the results of such study to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 312. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR RECREATIONAL
VESSELS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast
Guard is operating shall issue regulations that--
(1) make certificates of documentation for recreational
vessels effective for 5 years; and
(2) require the owner of such a vessel--
(A) to notify the Coast Guard of each change in the
information on which the issuance of the certificate of
documentation is based, that occurs before the expiration of
the certificate; and
(B) apply for a new certificates of documentation for such
a vessel if there is any such change.
SEC. 313. PROGRAM GUIDELINES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall--
(1) develop guidelines to implement the program authorized
under section 304(a) of the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-241), including
specific actions to ensure the future availability of able
and credentialed United States licensed and unlicensed
seafarers including--
(A) incentives to encourage partnership agreements with
operators of foreign-flag vessels that carry liquified
natural gas, that provide no less than one training billet
per vessel for United States merchant mariners in order to
meet minimum mandatory sea service requirements;
(B) development of appropriate training curricula for use
by public and private maritime training institutions to meet
all United States merchant mariner license, certification,
and document laws and requirements under the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and
(C) steps to promote greater outreach and awareness of
additional job opportunities for sea service veterans of the
United States Armed Forces; and
(2) submit such guidelines to the Committee Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate.
SEC. 314. REPEALS.
(a) Repeals, Merchant Marine Act, 1936.--Sections 601
through 606, 608 through 611, 613 through 616, 802, and 809
of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) are
repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 575 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 57501, by striking ``titles V and VI'' and
inserting ``title V'' ; and
(2) in section 57531(a), by striking ``titles V and VI''
and inserting ``title V''.
(c) Transfer From Merchant Marine Act, 1936.--
(1) In general.--Section 801 of the Merchant Marine Act,
1936 (46 U.S.C. 53101 note) is--
(A) redesignated as section 57522 of title 46, United
States Code, and transferred to appear after section 57521 of
such title; and
(B) as so redesignated and transferred, is amended--
(i) by striking so much as precedes the first sentence and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and
inspection and auditing'';
(ii) by striking ``the provision of title VI or VII of this
Act'' and inserting ``this chapter'';
(iii) by striking ``That the provisions'' and all that
follows through ``Commission; (2)'' ; and
(iv) by redesignating clauses (3) and (4) as clauses (2)
and (3), respectively.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 575, of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 57521 the following:
``57522. Books and records, balance sheets, and inspection and
auditing.''.
(d) Repeals, Title 46, U.S.C..--Section 8103 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended in subsections (c) and (d) by
striking ``or operating'' each place it appears.
TITLE IV--FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 46, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 308. Authorization of appropriations
``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal
Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2016
and 2017 for the activities of the Commission authorized
under this chapter and subtitle IV.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``308. Authorization of appropriations.''.
SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN.
Section 301(c)(3)(A) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended--
[[Page H3290]]
(1) in clause (ii) by striking ``units, but only after
consultation with the other Commissioners;'' and inserting
``units (with such appointments subject to the approval of
the Commission);'';
(2) in clause (iv) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in clause (v) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) prepare and submit to the President and Congress
requests for appropriations for the Commission (with such
requests subject to the approval of the Commission).''.
SEC. 403. PROHIBITION ON AWARDS.
Section 307 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Federal Maritime Commission'' and
inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Federal Maritime Commission''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
Federal Maritime Commission may not expend any funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to it to issue an
award, prize, commendation, or other honor to a non-Federal
entity.''.
TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 501. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN MARIN COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Commandant of the Coast
Guard may convey all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the covered property, upon payment to the
United States of the fair market value of the covered
property.
(b) Right of First Refusal.--The County of Marin,
California shall have the right of first refusal with respect
to purchase of the covered property under this section.
(c) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory
to the Commandant.
(d) Fair Market Value.--The fair market value of the
covered property shall--
(1) be determined by appraisal; and
(2) be subject to the approval of the Commandant.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--The responsibility for all
reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate
transaction and environmental documentation costs, associated
with a conveyance under this section shall be determined by
the Commandant and the purchaser.
(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Commandant may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with a conveyance under this section as the Commandant
considers appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests
of the United States.
(g) Deposit of Proceeds.--Any proceeds received by the
United States in a conveyance under this section shall be
deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established by
section 687 of title 14, United States Code.
(h) Covered Property Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered property'' means the approximately 32 acres of real
property (including all improvements located on the property)
that are--
(1) located at Station Point Reyes in Marin County,
California;
(2) under the administrative control of the Coast Guard;
and
(3) described as ``Parcel A, Tract 1'', ``Parcel B, Tract
2'', ``Parcel C'', and ``Parcel D'' in the Declaration of
Taking (Civil No. C-71-1245 SC) filed June 28, 1971, in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of
California.
SEC. 502. ELIMINATION OF REPORTS.
(a) Distant Water Tuna Fleet.--Section 421 of the Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103
note) is amended by striking subsection (d).
(b) Annual Updates on Limits to Liability.--Section
603(c)(3) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act
of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 2704 note) is amended by striking ``on an
annual basis.'' and inserting ``not later than January 30 of
the year following each year in which occurs an oil discharge
from a vessel or nonvessel source that results or is likely
to result in removal costs and damages (as those terms are
defined in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2701)) that exceed liability limits established under
section 1004 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C.
2704).''.
(c) International Bridge Act of 1972.--The International
Bridge Act of 1972 is amended by striking section 11 (33
U.S.C. 535h).
SEC. 503. VESSEL DOCUMENTATION.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and infrastructure
of the House and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, a description of actions that
could be taken to--
(1) improve the efficiency of performance of the functions
currently carried out by the National Vessel Documentation
Center, including by--
(A) transferring such functions to Coast Guard
headquarters; and
(B) reassigning Coast Guard personnel to better meet the
Coast Guard's vessel documentation mission; and
(2) strengthen the review of compliance with United States
ownership requirements for vessels documented under the laws
of the United States.
SEC. 504. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN TOK, ALASKA.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Commandant of the Coast
Guard may convey all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the covered property, upon payment to the
United States of the fair market value of the covered
property.
(b) Right of First Refusal.--The Tanana Chiefs' Conference
shall have the right of first refusal with respect to
purchase of the covered property under this section.
(c) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
covered property shall be determined by a survey satisfactory
to the Commandant.
(d) Fair Market Value.--The fair market value of the
covered property shall be--
(1) determined by appraisal; and
(2) subject to the approval of the Commandant.
(e) Costs of Conveyance.--The responsibility for all
reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate
transaction and environmental documentation costs, associated
with a conveyance under this section shall be determined by
the Commandant and the purchaser.
(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Commandant may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with a conveyance under this section as the Commandant
considers appropriate and reasonable to protect the interests
of the United States.
(g) Deposit of Proceeds.--Any proceeds received by the
United States from a conveyance under this section shall be
deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established under
section 687 of title 14, United States Code.
(h) Covered Property Defined.--
(1) In general.--In this section, the term ``covered
property'' means the approximately 3.25 acres of real
property (including all improvements located on the property)
that are--
(A) located in Tok, Alaska;
(B) under the administrative control of the Coast Guard;
and
(C) described in paragraph (2).
(2) Description.--The property described in this paragraph
is the following:
(A) Lots 11, 12 and 13, block ``G'', Second Addition to
Hartsell Subdivision, Section 20, Township 18 North, Range 13
East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska as appears by Plat No.
72-39 filed in the Office of the Recorder for the Fairbanks
Recording District of Alaska, bearing seal dated 25 September
1972, all containing approximately 1.25 Acres and commonly
known as 2-PLEX - Jackie Circle, Units A and B.
(B) Beginning at a point being the SE corner of the SE \1/
4\ of the SE \1/4\ Section 24, Township 18 North, Range 12
East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska; thence running westerly
along the south line of said SE \1/4\ of the NE \1/4\ 260
feet; thence northerly parallel to the east line of said SE
\1/4\ of the NE \1/4\ 335 feet; thence easterly parallel to
the south line 260 feet; then south 335 feet along the east
boundary of Section 24 to the point of beginning; all
containing approximately 2.0 acres and commonly known as 4-
PLEX - West ``C'' and Willow, Units A, B, C and D.
SEC. 505. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES.
The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-281) is amended--
(1) in section 610, by--
(A) striking the section enumerator and heading and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 610. SAFE VESSEL OPERATION IN THE GREAT LAKES.'';
(B) striking ``existing boundaries and any future expanded
boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and
Underwater Preserve'' and inserting ``boundaries of any
national marine sanctuary that preserves shipwrecks or
maritime heritage in the Great Lakes''; and
(C) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ``, unless the designation documents for such
sanctuary do not allow taking up or discharging ballast water
in such sanctuary''; and
(2) in the table of contents in section 2, by striking the
item relating to such section and inserting the following:
``Sec. 610. Safe vessel operation in the Great Lakes.''.
SEC. 506. USE OF VESSEL SALE PROCEEDS.
(a) Audit.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct an audit of funds credited in each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2004 to the Vessel Operations Revolving
Fund that are attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in
the National Defense Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold
under sections 57102, 57103, and 57104 of title 46, United
States Code, including--
(1) a complete accounting of all vessel sale proceeds
attributable to the sale of obsolete vessels in the National
Defense Reserve Fleet that were scrapped or sold under
sections 57102, 57103 and 57104 of title 46, United States
Code, in each fiscal year after fiscal year 2004;
(2) the annual apportionment of proceeds accounted for
under paragraph (1) among the uses authorized under section
308704 of title 54, United States Code, in each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2004, including--
(A) for National Maritime Heritage Grants, including a list
of all annual National Maritime Heritage Grant grant and
subgrant awards that identifies the respective grant and
subgrant recipients and grant and subgrant amounts;
[[Page H3291]]
(B) for the preservation and presentation to the public of
maritime heritage property of the Maritime Administration;
(C) to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and State
maritime academies, including a list of annual awards; and
(D) for the acquisition, repair, reconditioning, or
improvement of vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet;
and
(3) an accounting of proceeds, if any, attributable to the
sale of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve
Fleet that were scrapped or sold under sections 57102, 57103,
and 57104 of title 46, United States Code, in each fiscal
year after fiscal year 2004, that were expended for uses not
authorized under section 308704 of title 54, United States
Code.
(b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit the audit conducted in subsection (a) to the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Natural Resources, and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 507. FISHING VESSEL AND FISH TENDER VESSEL
CERTIFICATION.
Section 4503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``Subsection (a) does not apply to a fishing vessel or fish
tender vessel described in subsection (d)(6), if the vessel
complies with an alternative safety compliance program
established under that subsection for such a vessel.''; and
(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(6) The Secretary shall establish an alternative safety
compliance program for fishing vessels or fish tender vessels
(or both) that are at least 50 feet overall in length, and
not more than 79 feet overall in length, and built after July
1, 2013.''.
SEC. 508. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES COST COMPARISON.
(a) Cost Comparison.--The Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating shall seek to enter into
an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under
which the Academy, by no later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, 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 comparison of the costs
incurred by the Federal Government for each of the following
alternatives:
(1) Transferring the Polar Sea to a non-governmental entity
at no cost, and leasing back the vessel beginning on the date
on which the Coast Guard certifies that the vessel is capable
of the breaking out and missions described in subsection
(c)(1).
(2) The reactivation and operation by the Coast Guard of
the Polar Sea to an operational level at which the vessel is
capable of such breaking out and missions.
(3) Acquiring and operating a new icebreaker through the
Coast Guard's acquisition process that is capable of such
breaking out and missions.
(4) Construction by a non-Federal entity of an icebreaker
capable of such breaking out and missions, that will be
leased by the Federal Government and operated using a Coast
Guard crew.
(5) Construction by a non-Federal entity of an icebreaker
capable of such breaking out and missions, that will be
leased by the Federal Government and operated by a crew of
non-Federal employees.
(6) The acquisition of services from a non-Federal entity
to perform such breaking out and missions.
(b) Included Costs.--For purposes of subsection (a), the
cost of each alternative includes costs incurred by the
Federal Government for--
(1) the lease or operation and maintenance of the vessel
concerned;
(2) disposal of such vessel at the end of the useful life
of the vessel;
(3) retirement and other benefits for Federal employees who
operate such vessel; and
(4) interest payments assumed to be incurred for Federal
capital expenditures.
(c) Assumptions.--For purposes of comparing the costs of
such alternatives, the Academy shall assume that--
(1) each vessel under consideration is--
(A) capable of breaking out of McMurdo Station, and
conducting Coast Guard missions in the United States
territory in the Arctic (as that term is defined in section
112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C.
4111)); and
(B) operated for a period of 20 years;
(2) the acquisition of services and the operation of each
vessel begin on the same date; and
(3) the periods for conducting Coast Guard missions in the
Arctic are of equal lengths.
SEC. 509. 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
(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. 510. 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.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1987.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1987, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015,
reauthorizes funding for the United States Coast Guard through fiscal
year 2017 at levels that are fiscally responsible and that will reverse
the misguided cuts proposed by the administration.
The President's budget would slash the service's acquisition budget
by over 17 percent. This will only worsen the Coast Guard's growing
gaps in mission performance, increase acquisition delays, drive up the
costs of new assets, and deny our servicemembers the critical resources
they need to perform their duties.
Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard has become somewhat of the Swiss Army
knife of the seas. They are responsible for law enforcement, dealing
with fisheries, alien interdiction, drug interdiction, maritime law,
and national security. Mission after mission has been heaped upon the
Coast Guard without the corresponding resources for those
servicemembers to do their job. H.R. 1987 provides sufficient funding
to ensure these cuts do not happen and the service has what it needs to
successfully conduct its missions.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
May 18, 2015, on page H3291, the following appeared: Mission
after mission has been heaped upon the Corps of Engineers without
the corresponding resources
The online version should be corrected to read: Mission after
mission has been heaped upon the Coast Guard without the
corresponding resources
========================= END NOTE =========================
The bill also makes several reforms to Coast Guard authorities, as
well as laws governing shipping and navigation. Specifically, H.R. 1987
supports Coast Guard servicemembers by authorizing sufficient funds to
allow for pay raises consistent with the NDAA and by ensuring they
receive access to some of the same benefits as their counterparts in
the Department of Defense.
It improves Coast Guard mission effectiveness by aligning the
leadership structure of the service to that of other armed services and
by replacing and modernizing Coast Guard assets in a cost-effective
manner.
The bill enhances oversight of the Coast Guard, reduces inefficient
operations, and saves taxpayers' dollars by making commonsense reforms
to the service's administration and its acquisition process. It
supports the U.S.-flagged and crewed vessels by strengthening the
enforcement of cargo preference laws. It encourages job growth
[[Page H3292]]
in the maritime sector by cutting regulatory burdens on job creators.
It reauthorizes and reforms the administrative procedures of the
Federal Maritime Commission to improve accountability.
Finally, it includes language to require an independent assessment of
leases versus constructing a new polar icebreaker. Mr. Speaker, right
now, other nations operating in the Arctic far exceed the capabilities
of the United States. This is an area where we must focus and ensure
that the United States' capabilities are capable of protecting our
interests in that region. I believe it could potentially deliver this
critically needed asset--polar icebreaking capabilities--much sooner
and save a tremendous amount of taxpayer funds if we pursue a public-
private partnership to acquire a polar icebreaker.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1987 is a bipartisan effort that was put together
in close consultation with the minority. I want to commend Ranking
Members DeFazio and Garamendi for their efforts, as well as Chairman
Shuster and Subcommittee Chairman Hunter for their leadership.
I also want to thank the men and women of the Coast Guard for the
tremendous job they do for our Nation. Coast Guard servicemembers risk
their lives on a daily basis to save those in peril, ensure the safety
and security of our ports and waterways, and protect our environment;
and they do all this on aging and obsolete cutters and aircraft, some
of which were first commissioned in World War II.
Passing H.R. 1987 will help rebuild and strengthen the Coast Guard.
It will also demonstrate the strong support Congress has for the men
and women of the Coast Guard and the deep appreciation we have for the
sacrifices they make for our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 1987, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Subcommittee Ranking Member Garamendi
and Chairman Hunter for their work on this legislation. I fully support
this very important piece of legislation.
H.R. 1987 authorizes robust funding for the United States Coast
Guard's operations, and particularly for its acquisition program. The
Coast Guard has been cut to the bone, and everybody knows that. If we
fail to ensure adequate funding for the construction of critically
needed new cutters, then the Coast Guard of the future will be less
capable than the Coast Guard of the past has been, something that
should be unacceptable to our Nation.
I strongly support section 303 of this measure, which strengthens the
enforcement of existing statutes that require government-impelled
cargoes to be carried on U.S.-flagged vessels. Today, according to the
Maritime Administration, there are just 83--just 83--ships flying the
U.S. flag in the foreign trade. We have lost more than 20 ships from
the U.S.-flagged foreign trade fleet just since the end of 2012.
Our merchant marine not only carries commercial cargo, it provides
vital sealift capacity to the United States military. And yet,
particularly during periods of demobilization, we have repeatedly
allowed our blue-water fleet to decay until unforeseen crises have
created an urgent new need for sealift capacity. Such a post-
mobilization decline is happening again, but now our fleet is falling
to such low levels that we risk reaching a tipping point from which we
may never recover. We cannot afford to let that happen, and I remind my
colleagues this is our watch.
Mr. Speaker, effective enforcement of our existing cargo preference
requirements is essential to the success of our U.S.-flagged fleet, and
it is just like any other Buy America policy that ensures the
expenditure of U.S. taxpayer dollars supports the interests of United
States taxpayers.
I want to thank my colleagues on the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation Subcommittee for working with me to look closely at this
critical issue. I also commend Chairman Hunter for offering an
amendment to the NDAA that would provide a 1-year increase in the MSP
annual operating stipend. I want to thank him for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, as I close, I note that section 302 of this bill is of
deep concern to me. Section 302 would gut much of what was enacted in
section 609 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. Section 609
was enacted to ensure that all survival craft approved by the United
States Coast Guard provide the basic protection of keeping individuals
out of the water if they are forced to abandon a vessel. Of particular
concern is ensuring that the elderly, children, and those with
disabilities have access to a survival craft that can actually ensure
their survival. The National Transportation Safety Board has been clear
for the last 40 years that out-of-water survival craft save lives.
Rather than rolling back the requirements contained in the Coast
Guard Authorization Act of 2010, we should be focused on ensuring full
implementation of these requirements. As such, I hope that before this
authorization is finalized, section 302 is removed from it.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleagues for their hard
work on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman.
Congratulations here to Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio
for getting this important bill to the floor today. We are certainly
proud to support our men and women serving in the United States Coast
Guard. They play such a critical role there through rescue and saving
lives and the role that they play also in drug interdiction and in
protecting our territorial waters.
I would also like to recognize the cooperative way in which Chairman
Hunter has worked to address concerns about how this bill would impact
an important lifesaving program under the jurisdiction of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, and that is the Food for Peace program. Over the
past several years, the effort to reform the Food for Peace program so
that we can feed more people in crisis overseas in less time for less
money has been portrayed as a zero-sum game between the intended
beneficiaries of our generosity and the U.S. merchant marine. That is
unfortunate because that is wrong.
What is clear, though, is that we need to fix this problem in the
sense that, after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2013, U.S.
purchase and shipping requirements delayed deliveries of U.S. food for
3 weeks. Now, fortunately, with the Food for Peace program, those needs
were met.
But now in Nepal, it would take 45 days to get U.S. food in country
even though food has been pre-positioned in nearby Sri Lanka. So that
is why this element of the Food for Peace program is so important. If
we had to wait 45 days to respond to every humanitarian disaster, some
people would perish. Certainly many would be on the verge of starvation
over that 45-day period.
I am, therefore, pleased to see that this year the Coast Guard
authorization bill does not raise cargo preference requirements from 50
percent to 75, and further, the bill's cargo preference enforcement
provisions maintain important consultation and public comment
requirements. At the same time, the recently passed national defense
authorization bill will accelerate support for the existing Maritime
Security Program.
{time} 1800
I appreciate Chairman Hunter's work to ensure that U.S. maritime
security needs are fulfilled through a national defense mechanism
rather than relying upon food aid cargos.
Mr. Speaker, preserving U.S. maritime security is essential, but it
need not come at the expense of food aid. I look forward to continuing
to work with Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Garamendi on creative
solutions that enable us to preserve U.S. maritime security while
making Food for Peace more effective, more efficient, and most
importantly, getting it there on time for those that are in need after
a disaster.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
We, obviously, covered all the key points of this legislation, the
important side.
[[Page H3293]]
I would like to briefly highlight the fact that the U.S. Coast
Guard's mission has fundamentally changed over the last several years
in regard to the mission upon mission heaped upon this agency and the
greater role they are now playing in regard to national security,
cooperating with our other defense and Armed Forces.
I want to make note that this legislation ensures that the Coast
Guard is on a path to playing that role and being able to perform their
responsibilities and their duties proficiently.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I first want to echo Chairman Hunter in
stating my strong support for H.R. 1987, the Coast Guard Authorization
Act of 2015, legislation that will tend to the needs of our Nation's
fifth military service, the United States Coast Guard.
I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Chairman Hunter for
his genuine bipartisan collaboration throughout the development of this
important legislation. Not only will this bill improve our oversight of
the Coast Guard, it also will enhance the capabilities and performance
of this indispensable, multi-mission maritime agency.
I also want to thank the Chairman of the Transportation Committee,
Bill Shuster, and the Ranking Democrat Member, Peter DeFazio, and
acknowledge them for their thoughtful contributions.
I am particularly pleased that this legislation will provide
stability in budget authority for the Coast Guard. Erratic budgets and
perpetual continuing resolutions have had a deleterious impact on the
Coast Guard. Perhaps most notable, unpredictable and insufficient
funding has hampered the Coast Guard's ability to keep pace with its
long-term program to recapitalize its offshore fleets of surface and
air assets.
Some of the Coast Guard's legacy cutters are fifty years old. These
vessels are well beyond their estimated service life and have become
increasingly unreliable and much more expensive to maintain and repair.
We can, and we should, do better by our Coast Guard.
The authorized funding levels for the Acquisitions, Construction and
Improvement Account in this legislation will allow the Coast Guard to
keep this recapitalization initiative on track. I am optimistic that
these authorizations will send a strong signal to our colleagues on the
Appropriations Committee.
I also support provisions in the bill that will require the Coast
Guard to initiate long-term capital planning, to require better
assessments of mission performance metrics and personnel needs, and to
assess and test new communication and vessel management technologies.
The bill also contains provisions important to our merchant marine.
Provisions that would harmonize the renewal of different mariner
credentials and allow mariners greater flexibility in acquiring their
medical certifications should improve convenience without sacrificing
compliance with fitness and training standards.
The bill also further advances my strong interest in using the
imminent U.S. LNG export trade as a new economic opportunity for our
shipyards and the U.S. flag in our foreign trade.
This legislation would direct the Secretary of Transportation to
develop guidelines to promote the use of U.S. flag vessels and U.S.
seafarers in the transport of LNG. I urge members to support this
provision that will create maritime jobs here at home.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not perfect, but rarely
is that the case. This legislation is, however, a balanced, responsible
and forward thinking product that will support our Coast Guard and
address important issues raised by maritime stakeholders.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and I urge members on both
sides to support this legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1987, 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.
____________________