[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6330-S6334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SAVE OUR SEAS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I have the happy occasion to actually 
pass a law. It is one that I have been working on for some time. So I 
have taken the opportunity to come to the floor to actually move it 
through myself. Yet, before I do that, there are a considerable number 
of thank yous that are in order.
  The first and foremost thank you is to Senator Dan Sullivan of 
Alaska, who chaired the subcommittee hearing that first moved this 
issue before the Senate in a bipartisan fashion within the Environment 
and Public Works Committee. It was a really important thing for Senator 
Sullivan to have done. In part, it solved the problem between the 
Environment and Public Works Committee and the Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation Committee over jurisdiction in this area. We are very 
fortunate that Senator Sullivan served both as the chairman of the 
relevant Environment and Public Works Committee and also of the 
Fisheries Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee so that he was in a 
position to negotiate with himself over jurisdiction and, obviously, 
come to a happy conclusion.
  I thank Senator Inhofe, who was an early sponsor of this legislation. 
He attended the hearing. I will confess that when Senator Inhofe came 
to our hearing on the Environment and Public Works Committee on an 
environmental matter, I was not convinced that it was a positive turn 
of events for the bill, but Senator Inhofe could not have been more 
gracious and took a very strong interest in this piece of legislation. 
He was an original cosponsor, so I thank him as well.
  I thank Senator Murkowski. In her being from Alaska, she joined 
Senator Sullivan. Alaska has a terrific problem with the issue that we 
are addressing. The issue at hand is marine plastic debris--the plastic 
waste with which we are filling the ocean. In Rhode Island, we do beach 
cleanups whereby people go up and down the beach and pick up the 
plastic trash that has washed ashore. We do those with trash bags. In 
Alaska, they do those with front-end loaders, dumpsters, and barges, 
because Alaska faces the Pacific, and there is far more plastic waste 
and trash in the Pacific. The worst sources for plastic waste and trash 
are Asian countries, which have

[[Page S6331]]

terrible upland waste disposal infrastructure. It ends up in the creek, 
and it ends up in the river, and it ends up in the sea. So Alaska has 
had a terrific role.
  Senator Murkowski's role was as my coordinate on the Oceans Caucus. 
She helped to make sure that the Oceans Caucus--a group of 38 
Senators--supported this. It was a very bipartisan group, so that 
provided some added oomph to all of this, if that is not too informal a 
word to use on the Senate floor.
  I also thank my original Democratic cosponsor, Senator Booker.
  A lot of people have had a hand in this, and there were a great 
number of sponsors. I appreciate all of them for their support in all 
of this.
  We have had an interesting time because the bill actually passed the 
Senate before, but when colleagues saw something moving, they wanted to 
put things on it. So a few pieces have been added from the House side 
that relate to maritime safety and a Coast Guard Center of Excellence, 
which we welcome onto the bill and appreciate now that we have the 
chance to finally pass it.
  I also thank Adena Leibman, of my staff, who has just been very 
persistent and thorough about making this happen and has worked very 
well with staff members from the offices involved in having helped to 
coordinate all of my activities with the Oceans Caucus. She has done a 
really exemplary staff job. As the Presiding Officer knows, the common 
description of Senators around here is that we are walking 
constitutional impediments to the smooth and orderly operation of 
staff. While Senators may disagree with that from time to time, Adena 
Leibman certainly does a smooth and orderly operation of staff, and I 
appreciate her.
  Senator Sullivan could not be here. We had hoped to be able to do 
this together, but I do express to him my very, very strong 
appreciation for what a really wonderful partner he has been in all of 
this. Not only are we excited to pass the Save Our Seas Act, but we are 
already working on SOS 2.0. Just today, in the Environment and Public 
Works Committee, we held another hearing on marine plastics--this one 
at the full committee level, led by Senator Barrasso. So I owe Senator 
Barrasso a thank you.
  I find it interesting that at today's hearing, the two leading 
Republicans on the committee who were there, at the top--Dan and I are 
more junior--were Senator Barrasso and Senator Inhofe, both of whom 
were present, both of whom were productive and helpful, and both who 
suffer this terrible disability of living in landlocked States. They 
don't actually have a coast. Yet they have been helpful in moving this 
forward. We also had a terrific coalition of business and other 
interests.
  You have seen the reaction around the world to know how this problem 
has suddenly emerged onto the national and international stages, and I 
think we are really in a terrific position, after we pass this bill, to 
move on, I hope, with equal bipartisanship and alacrity, and pass our 
Save Our Seas 2.0.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 3508, introduced earlier today by Senator 
Sullivan and me.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3508) to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris 
     Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered 
read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3508) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3508

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas Act of 2018''.

                         TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS

     SEC. 101. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.

       Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) work to develop outreach and education strategies 
     with other Federal agencies to address sources of marine 
     debris;
       ``(7) except for discharges of marine debris from vessels, 
     in consultation with the Department of State and other 
     Federal agencies, promote international action, as 
     appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine debris, 
     including providing technical assistance to expand waste 
     management systems internationally; and
       ``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe 
     marine debris event under subsection (c)--
       ``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by the 
     severe marine debris event; or
       ``(B) conduct such other activity as the Administrator 
     determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine 
     debris event.'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
       (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Severe Marine Debris Events.--At the discretion of 
     the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an 
     affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether 
     there is a severe marine debris event.''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' 
     and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding 
     subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an 
     activity carried out under a determination made under 
     subsection (c) shall be--
       ``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity, for an 
     activity funded wholly by funds made available by a person, 
     including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal 
     Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine 
     debris event; or
       ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity, for any 
     activity other than an activity funded as described in clause 
     (i).''.

     SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO 
                   RESPOND TO MARINE DEBRIS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
       (1) support research and development on systems and 
     materials that reduce--
       (A) derelict fishing gear; and
       (B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from land-
     based sources and the amount of such waste that enters the 
     marine environment;
       (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that 
     discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based 
     sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to 
     reduce such discharges;
       (3) carry out studies to determine--
       (A) the primary means of discharges referred to in 
     paragraph (2);
       (B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can 
     be most effective in preventing such discharges; and
       (C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the national 
     economies of the countries with which work is undertaken 
     under paragraph (2) and on the global economy, including the 
     impacts of reducing the discharge of such debris;
       (4) work with representatives of the countries with which 
     work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more 
     new international agreements that include provisions--
       (A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid waste 
     into the marine environment; and
       (B) to provide technical assistance and investment in waste 
     management infrastructure to reduce such discharges, if the 
     President determines such assistance or investment is 
     appropriate; and
       (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to 
     consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste 
     from the countries with which work is conducted under 
     paragraph (2) in relevant future trade agreements.

     SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING GREAT LAKES LAND-BASED 
                   MARINE DEBRIS ACTION PLAN.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based 
     Marine Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-
     OR&R-49) is vital to the ongoing efforts to clean up the 
     Great Lakes Region and getting rid of harmful debris, such as 
     microplastics, abandoned vessels, and other forms of 
     pollution that are threatening the survival of native marine 
     animals and damaging the Great Lakes' recreation and tourism 
     economy.

     SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS 
                   COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

       Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
       ``(5) the Department of State;
       ``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''.

[[Page S6332]]

  


     SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2018 through 2022 for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, of 
     which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal 
     year for administrative costs.
       ``(b) Amounts Authorized for Coast Guard.--Of the amounts 
     authorized for each fiscal year under section 2702(1) of 
     title 14, United States Code, up to $2,000,000 is authorized 
     for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
     is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to 
     carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 5 
     percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative 
     costs.''.

                       TITLE II--MARITIME SAFETY

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Hamm Alert Maritime Safety 
     Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left 
     Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, 
     carrying 391 shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and 
     a crew of 33 people, including 28 Americans.
       (2) On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final 
     communication reporting that the engines were disabled and 
     the ship was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path 
     of Hurricane Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the 
     vessel and the loss of all 33 lives.
       (3) The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast 
     Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as 
     improving weather information and training, improving 
     planning and response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast 
     Guard's program delegating vessel inspections to third-party 
     organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program, and 
     improving alerts and equipment on the vessels, among other 
     recommendations.
       (4) Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017, 
     over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States 
     commercial vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were 
     issued ``no-sail'' requirements.
       (5) The maritime industry, particularly the men and women 
     of the United States merchant marine, play a vital and 
     important role to the national security and economy of our 
     country, and a strong safety regime is necessary to ensure 
     the vitality of the industry and the protection of current 
     and future mariners, and to honor lost mariners.

     SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the 
     Commandant of the Coast Guard.
       (2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized 
     organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 
     2.45-1 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

     SEC. 204. DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
     which the President submits to the Congress a budget each 
     year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States 
     Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible 
     Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance 
     with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United 
     States Code.
       (b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of 
     inspected vessel; and
       (2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or 
     surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-
     issued control action attributable to a major nonconformity 
     that the recognized organization failed to identify in such 
     inspection or survey.

     SEC. 205. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation 
     and effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight and 
     enforcement of safety management plans required under chapter 
     32 of title 46, United States Code.
       (b) Scope.--The audit conducted under subsection (a) shall 
     include an evaluation of--
       (1) the effectiveness and implementation of safety 
     management plans, including such plans for--
       (A) a range of vessel types and sizes; and
       (B) vessels that operate in a cross-section of regional 
     operating areas; and
       (2) the effectiveness and implementation of safety 
     management plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report 
     detailing the results of the audit and providing 
     recommendations related to such results, including ways to 
     streamline and focus such plans on ship safety.
       (d) Marine Safety Alert.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     date the report is submitted under subsection (c), the 
     Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing 
     notification of the completion of the report and including a 
     link to the report on a publicly accessible website.
       (e) Additional Actions.--
       (1) In general.--Upon completion of the report under 
     subsection (c), the Commandant shall consider additional 
     guidance or a rulemaking to address any deficiencies 
     identified, and any additional actions recommended, in the 
     report.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the 
     report is submitted under subsection (c), the Commandant 
     shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has 
     taken to address any deficiencies identified, and any 
     additional actions recommended, in the report submitted under 
     subsection (c).

     SEC. 206. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel 
     inspected under this chapter be outfitted with distress 
     signaling and location technology for the higher of--
       ``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified 
     on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or
       ``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and
       ``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not 
     apply to vessels operating within the baseline from which the 
     territorial sea of the United States is measured.
       ``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations 
     requiring companies to maintain records of all incremental 
     weight changes made to freight vessels inspected under this 
     chapter, and to track weight changes over time to facilitate 
     rapid determination of the aggregate total.
       ``(2) Records maintained under paragraph (1) shall be 
     stored, in paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels for 
     not less than 3 years and shoreside for the life of the 
     vessel.''.
       (2) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) begin implementing the requirement under section 
     3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this 
     subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (B) promulgate the regulations required under section 
     3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this 
     subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (b) Engagement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter 
     into negotiations through the International Maritime 
     Organization to amend regulation 25 of chapter II-1 of the 
     International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to 
     require a high-water alarm sensor in each cargo hold of a 
     freight vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 of 
     title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and 
     visual alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.

     SEC. 207. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; ACCESS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 46, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 6309. Voyage data recorder access

       ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast 
     Guard shall have full, concurrent, and timely access to and 
     ability to use voyage data recorder data and audio held by 
     any Federal agency in all marine casualty investigations, 
     regardless of which agency is the investigative lead.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``6309. Voyage data recorder access.''.

     SEC. 208. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Float-Free and Beacon Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter 
     into negotiations through the International Maritime 
     Organization to amend regulation 20 of chapter V of the 
     International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to 
     require that all voyage data recorders are installed in a 
     float-free arrangement and contain an integrated emergency 
     position indicating radio beacon.
       (2) Progress update.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     of the House of Representatives an update on the progress of 
     the engagement required under paragraph (1).
       (b) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
     submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a cost-benefit analysis of requiring that 
     voyage data recorders installed on commercial vessels 
     documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, 
     capture communications on the internal telephone systems of 
     such vessels, including requiring the capture of both sides 
     of all communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.

[[Page S6333]]

  


     SEC. 209. SURVIVAL AND LOCATING EQUIPMENT.

       Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Commandant shall, subject to the availability 
     of appropriations, identify and procure equipment that will 
     provide search-and-rescue units the ability to attach a radio 
     or Automated Identification System strobe or beacon to an 
     object that is not immediately retrievable.

     SEC. 210. TRAINING OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL.

       (a) Prospective Sector Commander Training.--Not later than 
     1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Commandant shall implement an Officer in Charge, Marine 
     Inspections segment to the sector commander indoctrination 
     course for prospective sector commanders without a Coast 
     Guard prevention ashore officer specialty code.
       (b) Steamship Inspections.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 
     implement steam plant inspection training for Coast Guard 
     marine inspectors and, subject to availability, recognized 
     organizations to which authority is delegated under section 
     3316 of title 46, United States Code.
       (c) Advanced Journeyman Inspector Training.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish 
     advanced training to provide instruction on the oversight of 
     recognized organizations to which authority is delegated 
     under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, auditing 
     responsibilities, and the inspection of unique vessel types.
       (2) Recipients.--The Commandant shall--
       (A) require that such training be completed by senior Coast 
     Guard marine inspectors; and
       (B) subject to availability of training capacity, make such 
     training available to recognized organization surveyors 
     authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct inspections.
       (d) Coast Guard Inspections Staff; Briefing.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a briefing detailing--
       (1) the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the 
     current size of the Coast Guard's traveling inspector staff; 
     and
       (2) other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance 
     and maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of 
     increased reliance on--
       (A) civilian marine inspectors;
       (B) experienced licensed mariners;
       (C) retired members of the Coast Guard;
       (D) arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride onboard 
     commercial oceangoing vessels documented under chapter 121 of 
     title 46, United States Code, to gain experience and insight; 
     and
       (E) extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine safety 
     officers assigned to inspection billets.
       (e) Audits; Coast Guard Attendance and Performance.--Not 
     later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Commandant shall--
       (1) update Coast Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to 
     target the attendance of Coast Guard personnel during 
     external safety management certificate and document of 
     compliance audits; and
       (2) perform a quality assurance audit of recognized 
     organization representation and performance regarding United 
     States-flagged vessels.

     SEC. 211. MAJOR MARINE CASUALTY PROPERTY DAMAGE THRESHOLD.

       Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``$500,000'' and inserting 
     ``$2,000,000''.

     SEC. 212. REVIEWS, BRIEFINGS, REPORTS, AND TECHNICAL 
                   CORRECTIONS.

       (a) Major Conversion Determinations.--
       (1) Review of policies and procedures.--The Commandant 
     shall conduct a review of policies and procedures for making 
     and documenting major conversion determinations, including an 
     examination of the deference given to precedent.
       (2) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     of the House of Representatives a briefing on the findings of 
     the review required by paragraph (1).
       (b) Ventilators, Openings and Stability Standards.--
       (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review 
     of the effectiveness of United States regulations, 
     international conventions, recognized organizations' class 
     rules, and Coast Guard technical policy regarding--
       (A) ventilators and other hull openings;
       (B) fire dampers and other closures protecting openings 
     normally open during operations;
       (C) intact and damage stability standards under subchapter 
     S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and
       (D) lifesaving equipment for mariners, including survival 
     suits and life jackets.
       (2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     of the House of Representatives a briefing on the 
     effectiveness of the regulations, international conventions, 
     recognized organizations' class rules, and Coast Guard 
     technical policy reviewed under paragraph (1).
       (c) Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys.--Not later than 6 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a briefing on the reliability of self-
     locating datum marker buoys and other similar technology used 
     during Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations. The briefing 
     shall include a description of reasonable steps the 
     Commandant could take to increase the reliability of such 
     buoys, including the potential to leverage technology used by 
     the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to conduct 
     testing of such buoys before using them for operations.
       (d) Correction.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section 
     502(f)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
     Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)) (as in effect on the 
     day before the amendments made by section 11607 of Public Law 
     114-94 (129 Stat. 1698) took effect)--
       (A) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, and in consultation with the Director of the Office 
     of Management and Budget, shall define the term ``cohorts of 
     loans'';
       (B) before the deadline described in paragraph (2), shall 
     return to the original source, on a pro rata basis, the 
     credit risk premiums paid for the loans in the cohort of 
     loans, with interest accrued thereon, that were not used to 
     mitigate losses; and
       (C) shall not treat the repayment of a loan after the date 
     of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as precluding, limiting, or 
     negatively affecting the satisfaction of the obligation of 
     its cohort prior to the enactment of Public Law 114-94.
       (2) Deadline described.--The deadline described in this 
     paragraph is--
       (A) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have 
     been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (B) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have 
     not been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the date on 
     which all obligations attached to the cohort of loans are 
     satisfied.
       (e) Oversight Program; Effectiveness.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an 
     assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard's 
     oversight of recognized organizations and its impact on 
     compliance by and safety of vessels inspected by such 
     organizations.
       (2) Experience.--The assessment commissioned under 
     paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a research organization 
     with significant experience in maritime operations and marine 
     safety.
       (3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is 
     completed, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives the results of such assessment.

     SEC. 213. FLAG-STATE GUIDANCE AND SUPPLEMENTS.

       (a) Freight Vessels; Damage Control Information.--Within 1 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall issue flag-State guidance for all freight 
     vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United 
     States Code, built before January 1, 1992, regarding the 
     inclusion of comprehensive damage control information in 
     safety management plans required under chapter 32 of title 
     46, United States Code.
       (b) Recognized Organizations; United States Supplement.--
     The Commandant shall--
       (1) work with recognized organizations to create a single 
     United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for 
     classification of vessels; and
       (2) by not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, provide to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a briefing on whether it is necessary to 
     revise part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
     authorize only one United States Supplement to such rules.

     SEC. 214. MARINE SAFETY STRATEGY.

       Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``each year of an 
     annual'' and inserting ``of a triennial'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Annual'' and 
     inserting ``Triennial''; and
       (B) by striking ``annual'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``triennial'';
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year'' 
     and inserting ``fiscal year 2020 and triennially''; and
       (B) by striking ``annual plan'' and inserting ``triennial 
     plan''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``annually'' and 
     inserting ``triennially''.

[[Page S6334]]

  


     SEC. 215. RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS; OVERSIGHT.

       (a) In General.--Section 3316 of title 46, United States 
     Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as 
     subsection (h), and by inserting after subsection (f) the 
     following:
       ``(g)(1) There shall be within the Coast Guard an office 
     that conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all 
     recognized organizations that act on behalf of the Coast 
     Guard.
       ``(2) The staff of the office shall include subject matter 
     experts, including inspectors, investigators, and auditors, 
     who possess the capability and authority to audit all aspects 
     of such recognized organizations.
       ``(3) In this subsection the term `recognized organization' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title 
     46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
     the enactment of the Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 
     2018.''.
       (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Commandant of the 
     Coast Guard shall establish the office required by the 
     amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 2 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 216. TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTS AND HAZARD ADVISORIES FOR 
                   MERCHANT MARINERS.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations 
     through the International Maritime Organization to amend the 
     International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to 
     require that vessels subject to the requirements of such 
     Convention receive--
       (1) timely synoptic and graphical chart weather forecasts; 
     and
       (2) where available, timely hazard advisories for merchant 
     mariners, including broadcasts of tropical cyclone forecasts 
     and advisories, intermediate public advisories, and tropical 
     cyclone updates to mariners via appropriate technologies.

     SEC. 217. ANONYMOUS SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM.

       (a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an 
     anonymous safety alert pilot program.
       (b) Requirements.--The pilot program established under 
     subsection (a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism 
     to allow crew members to communicate urgent and dire safety 
     concerns directly and in a timely manner with the Coast 
     Guard.

     SEC. 218. MARINE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than December 19 of 2018, and of 
     each of the 2 subsequent years thereafter, the Commandant 
     shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives a briefing on the status of implementation of 
     each action outlined in the Commandant's final action memo 
     dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of 
     the vessel El Faro.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Department of Homeland Security 
     Inspector General shall report to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives on the status of the Coast Guard's 
     implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's 
     final action memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the 
     sinking and loss of the vessel El Faro.

     SEC. 219. DELEGATED AUTHORITIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall review the 
     authorities that have been delegated to recognized 
     organizations for the alternative compliance program as 
     described in subpart D of part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, and, if necessary, revise or establish policies 
     and procedures to ensure those delegated authorities are 
     being conducted in a manner to ensure safe maritime 
     transportation.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     of the House of Representatives a briefing on the 
     implementation of subsection (a).

                     TITLE III--CENTER OF EXPERTISE

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Blue 
     Technology Center of Expertise Act''.

     SEC. 302. COAST GUARD BLUE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF EXPERTISE.

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

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

       (ii) search and rescue;
       (iii) emergency response;
       (iv) maritime law enforcement;
       (v) marine inspections and investigations; or
       (vi) protection and conservation of the marine environment.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I thank the Presiding Officer. Bravo to all who 
participated in making this possible.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Wicker). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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