[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7099-7108]
[From the U.S. 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
       ``(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.

[[Page 7100]]

       ``(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;''.
       (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

[[Page 7101]]

     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
       (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

[[Page 7102]]

     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

[[Page 7103]]

     30-year period, by vessel type and area of operation;
       (B) the risks to individuals with disabilities, children, 
     and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, by 
     passenger vessel type and area of operation;
       (C) the effect that carriage of survival craft that ensure 
     that no part of an individual is immersed in water has on--
       (i) passenger vessel safety, including stability and safe 
     navigation;
       (ii) improving the survivability of individuals, including 
     individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; and
       (iii) the costs, the incremental cost difference to vessel 
     operators, and the cost effectiveness of requiring the 
     carriage of such survival craft to address the risks to 
     individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly;
       (D) the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices, or 
     measures in improving survivability of individuals with 
     disabilities, children, and the elderly; and
       (E) the number of small businesses and nonprofit vessel 
     operators that would be affected by requiring the carriage of 
     such survival craft on passenger vessels to address the risks 
     to individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly.
       (2) Revision.--Based on the review conducted under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regulations 
     concerning the carriage of survival craft pursuant to section 
     3104(c) of title 46, United States Code.

     SEC. 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--

[[Page 7104]]

       (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 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.

[[Page 7105]]



                 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--
       (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:


[[Page 7106]]


``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;
       (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

[[Page 7107]]

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.
  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 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

[[Page 7108]]

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.
  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.

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