[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-265
115th Congress

An Act


 
To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international
action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. <>  SHORT TITLE.

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

TITLE I--MARINE DEBRIS

SEC. 101. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.

Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) <>  work to develop outreach and
education strategies with other Federal agencies to address
sources of marine debris;
``(7) <>  except for discharges of
marine debris from vessels, in consultation with the Department
of State and other Federal agencies, promote international
action, as appropriate, to reduce the incidence of marine
debris, including providing technical assistance to expand waste
management systems internationally; and
``(8) in the case of an event determined to be a severe
marine debris event under subsection (c)--
``(A) assist in the cleanup and response required by
the severe marine debris event; or
``(B) <>  conduct such other
activity as the Administrator determines is appropriate
in response to the severe marine debris event.'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

``(c) Severe Marine Debris Events.-- <> At the
discretion of the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an
affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether there is a
severe marine debris event.''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), as redesignated--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph
(B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and

[[Page 3743]]

(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Severe marine debris events.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Federal share of the cost of an
activity carried out under a determination made under
subsection (c) shall be--
``(i) 100 percent of the cost of the activity,
for an activity funded wholly by funds made
available by a person, including the government of
a foreign country, to the Federal Government for
the purpose of responding to a severe marine
debris event; or
``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of the activity,
for any activity other than an activity funded as
described in clause (i).''.
SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO RESPOND
TO MARINE DEBRIS.

It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
(1) support research and development on systems and
materials that reduce--
(A) derelict fishing gear; and
(B) the amount of solid waste that is generated from
land-based sources and the amount of such waste that
enters the marine environment;
(2) work with representatives of foreign countries that
discharge the largest amounts of solid waste from land-based
sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to
reduce such discharges;
(3) carry out studies to determine--
(A) the primary means of discharges referred to in
paragraph (2);
(B) the manner in which waste management
infrastructure can be most effective in preventing such
discharges; and
(C) the long-term impacts of marine debris on the
national economies of the countries with which work is
undertaken under paragraph (2) and on the global
economy, including the impacts of reducing the discharge
of such debris;
(4) work with representatives of the countries with which
work is undertaken in paragraph (2) to conclude one or more new
international agreements that include provisions--
(A) to mitigate the discharge of land-based solid
waste into the marine environment; and
(B) to provide technical assistance and investment
in waste management infrastructure to reduce such
discharges, if the President determines such assistance
or investment is appropriate; and
(5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to
consider the impact of discharges of land-based solid waste from
the countries with which work is conducted under paragraph (2)
in relevant future trade agreements.
SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING GREAT LAKES LAND-BASED
MARINE DEBRIS ACTION PLAN.

It is the sense of Congress that the Great Lakes Land-Based Marine
Debris Action Plan (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-49) is vital to
the ongoing efforts to clean up the Great

[[Page 3744]]

Lakes Region and getting rid of harmful debris, such as microplastics,
abandoned vessels, and other forms of pollution that are threatening the
survival of native marine animals and damaging the Great Lakes'
recreation and tourism economy.
SEC. 104. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERAGENCY MARINE DEBRIS COORDINATING
COMMITTEE.

Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) the Department of State;
``(6) the Department of the Interior; and''.
SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

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

TITLE II-- <> MARITIME
SAFETY
SEC. 201. <>  SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of
2018''.
SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) On September 29, 2015, the SS El Faro cargo vessel left
Jacksonville, Florida bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying
391 shipping containers, 294 trailers and cars, and a crew of 33
people, including 28 Americans.
(2) On the morning of October 1, the El Faro sent its final
communication reporting that the engines were disabled and the
ship was listing, leaving the ship directly in the path of
Hurricane Joaquin and resulting in the sinking of the vessel and
the loss of all 33 lives.
(3) The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast
Guard made recommendations to address safety issues, such as
improving weather information and training, improving planning
and response to severe weather, reviewing the Coast Guard's
program delegating vessel inspections to third-party
organizations to assess the effectiveness of the program, and

[[Page 3745]]

improving alerts and equipment on the vessels, among other
recommendations.
(4) Safety issues are not limited to the El Faro. For 2017,
over 21,000 deficiencies were issued to United States commercial
vessels and more than 2,500 U.S. vessels were issued ``no-sail''
requirements.
(5) The maritime industry, particularly the men and women of
the United States merchant marine, play a vital and important
role to the national security and economy of our country, and a
strong safety regime is necessary to ensure the vitality of the
industry and the protection of current and future mariners, and
to honor lost mariners.
SEC. 203. <>  DEFINITIONS.

In this title:
(1) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the
Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(2) Recognized organization.--The term ``recognized
organization'' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1
of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
SEC. 204. <>  DOMESTIC VESSEL COMPLIANCE.

(a) In General.-- <> Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President
submits to the Congress a budget each year pursuant to section 1105 of
title 31, United States Code, the Commandant shall publish on a publicly
accessible Website information documenting domestic vessel compliance
with the requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code.

(b) Content.--The information required under subsection (a) shall--
(1) include flag-State detention rates for each type of
inspected vessel; and
(2) identify any recognized organization that inspected or
surveyed a vessel that was later subject to a Coast Guard-issued
control action attributable to a major nonconformity that the
recognized organization failed to identify in such inspection or
survey.
SEC. 205. <>  SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

(a) In General.-- <> The Comptroller General of the
United States shall conduct an audit regarding the implementation and
effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight and enforcement of safety
management plans required under chapter 32 of title 46, United States
Code.

(b) Scope.-- <> The audit conducted under
subsection (a) shall include an evaluation of--
(1) the effectiveness and implementation of safety
management plans, including such plans for--
(A) a range of vessel types and sizes; and
(B) vessels that operate in a cross-section of
regional operating areas; and
(2) the effectiveness and implementation of safety
management plans in addressing the impact of heavy weather.

(c) Report.-- <> Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the

[[Page 3746]]

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report detailing the results of the audit and
providing recommendations related to such results, including ways to
streamline and focus such plans on ship safety.

(d) Marine Safety Alert.-- <> Not later than 60 days
after the date the report is submitted under subsection (c), the
Commandant shall publish a Marine Safety Alert providing notification of
the completion of the report and including a link to the report on a
publicly accessible website.

(e) Additional Actions.--
(1) In general.--Upon completion of the report under
subsection (c), the Commandant shall consider additional
guidance or a rulemaking to address any deficiencies identified,
and any additional actions recommended, in the report.
(2) Report.-- <> Not later than 1
year after the date the report is submitted under subsection
(c), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has taken
to address any deficiencies identified, and any additional
actions recommended, in the report submitted under subsection
(c).
SEC. 206. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Section 3306 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(l)(1) The Secretary shall require that a freight vessel inspected
under this chapter be outfitted with distress signaling and location
technology for the higher of--
``(A) the minimum complement of officers and crew specified
on the certificate of inspection for such vessel; or
``(B) the number of persons onboard the vessel; and

``(2) the requirement described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to
vessels operating within the baseline from which the territorial sea of
the United States is measured.
``(m)(1) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring
companies to maintain records of all incremental weight changes made to
freight vessels inspected under this chapter, and to track weight
changes over time to facilitate rapid determination of the aggregate
total.
``(2) <>  Records maintained under paragraph
(1) shall be stored, in paper or electronic form, onboard such vessels
for not less than 3 years and shoreside for the life of the vessel.''.
(2) Deadlines.-- <> The Secretary
shall--
(A) begin implementing the requirement under section
3306(l) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by
this subsection, by not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) promulgate the regulations required under
section 3306(m) of title 46, United States Code, as
amended by this subsection, by not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Engagement.-- <> Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant
shall seek to enter into negotiations through the International Maritime
Organization

[[Page 3747]]

to amend regulation 25 of chapter II-1 of the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea to require a high-water alarm sensor in
each cargo hold of a freight vessel (as that term is defined in section
2101 of title 46, United States Code), that connects with audible and
visual alarms on the navigation bridge of the vessel.
SEC. 207. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER; ACCESS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 6309. <> Voyage data recorder access

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

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

SEC. 208. <>  VOYAGE DATA RECORDER;
REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Float-Free and Beacon Requirements.--
(1) In general.-- <> Not later than
1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall seek to enter into negotiations through the
International Maritime Organization to amend regulation 20 of
chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea to require that all voyage data recorders are installed
in a float-free arrangement and contain an integrated emergency
position indicating radio beacon.
(2) Progress update.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives an update on the progress of the
engagement required under paragraph (1).

(b) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a
cost-benefit analysis of requiring that voyage data recorders installed
on commercial vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United
States Code, capture communications on the internal telephone systems of
such vessels, including requiring the capture of both sides of all
communications with the bridge onboard such vessels.
SEC. 209. <>  SURVIVAL AND
LOCATING EQUIPMENT.

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

[[Page 3748]]

SEC. 210. <>  TRAINING OF COAST
GUARD PERSONNEL.

(a) Prospective Sector Commander Training.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall
implement an Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections segment to the sector
commander indoctrination course for prospective sector commanders
without a Coast Guard prevention ashore officer specialty code.
(b) Steamship Inspections.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall implement steam plant
inspection training for Coast Guard marine inspectors and, subject to
availability, recognized organizations to which authority is delegated
under section 3316 of title 46, United States Code.
(c) Advanced Journeyman Inspector Training.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish
advanced training to provide instruction on the oversight of
recognized organizations to which authority is delegated under
section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, auditing
responsibilities, and the inspection of unique vessel types.
(2) Recipients.--The Commandant shall--
(A) require that such training be completed by
senior Coast Guard marine inspectors; and
(B) subject to availability of training capacity,
make such training available to recognized organization
surveyors authorized by the Coast Guard to conduct
inspections.

(d) Coast Guard Inspections Staff; Briefing.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall
provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a briefing detailing--
(1) the estimated time and funding necessary to triple the
current size of the Coast Guard's traveling inspector staff; and
(2) other options available to the Coast Guard to enhance
and maintain marine safety knowledge, including discussion of
increased reliance on--
(A) civilian marine inspectors;
(B) experienced licensed mariners;
(C) retired members of the Coast Guard;
(D) arranging for Coast Guard inspectors to ride
onboard commercial oceangoing vessels documented under
chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, to gain
experience and insight; and
(E) extending tour-lengths for Coast Guard marine
safety officers assigned to inspection billets.

(e) Audits; Coast Guard Attendance and Performance.--Not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant
shall--
(1) <>  update Coast
Guard policy to utilize risk analysis to target the attendance
of Coast Guard personnel during external safety management
certificate and document of compliance audits; and

[[Page 3749]]

(2) perform a quality assurance audit of recognized
organization representation and performance regarding United
States-flagged vessels.
SEC. 211. MAJOR MARINE CASUALTY PROPERTY DAMAGE THRESHOLD.

Section 6101(i)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``$500,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000''.
SEC. 212. <>  REVIEWS, BRIEFINGS, REPORTS, AND
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

(a) Major Conversion Determinations.--
(1) Review of policies and procedures.--The Commandant shall
conduct a review of policies and procedures for making and
documenting major conversion determinations, including an
examination of the deference given to precedent.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a briefing on the findings of the
review required by paragraph (1).

(b) Ventilators, Openings and Stability Standards.--
(1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall complete a review of
the effectiveness of United States regulations, international
conventions, recognized organizations' class rules, and Coast
Guard technical policy regarding--
(A) ventilators and other hull openings;
(B) fire dampers and other closures protecting
openings normally open during operations;
(C) intact and damage stability standards under
subchapter S of chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations; and
(D) lifesaving equipment for mariners, including
survival suits and life jackets.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a briefing on the effectiveness of the
regulations, international conventions, recognized
organizations' class rules, and Coast Guard technical policy
reviewed under paragraph (1).

(c) Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a briefing on the reliability of self-locating datum
marker buoys and other similar technology used during Coast Guard
search-and-rescue operations. The briefing shall include a description
of reasonable steps the Commandant could take to increase the
reliability of such buoys, including the potential to leverage
technology used by the Navy, and how protocols could be developed to
conduct testing of such buoys before using them for operations.
(d) Correction. <> --
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary of Transportation, for purposes of section

[[Page 3750]]

502(f)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform
Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(f)(4)) (as in effect on the day
before the amendments made by section 11607 of Public Law 114-94
(129 Stat. 1698) took effect)--
(A) <>  not later than 30 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, and in
consultation with the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, shall define the term ``cohorts
of loans'';
(B) before the deadline described in paragraph (2),
shall return to the original source, on a pro rata
basis, the credit risk premiums paid for the loans in
the cohort of loans, with interest accrued thereon, that
were not used to mitigate losses; and
(C) shall not treat the repayment of a loan after
the date of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as
precluding, limiting, or negatively affecting the
satisfaction of the obligation of its cohort prior to
the enactment of Public Law 114-94.
(2) Deadline described.--The deadline described in this
paragraph is--
(A) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans
have been satisfied, not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this Act; and
(B) if all obligations attached to a cohort of loans
have not been satisfied, not later than 60 days after
the date on which all obligations attached to the cohort
of loans are satisfied.

(e) Oversight Program; Effectiveness. <> --
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall commission an
assessment of the effectiveness of the Coast Guard's oversight
of recognized organizations and its impact on compliance by and
safety of vessels inspected by such organizations.
(2) Experience.--The assessment commissioned under paragraph
(1) shall be conducted by a research organization with
significant experience in maritime operations and marine safety.
(3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 180 days after
the date that the assessment required under paragraph (1) is
completed, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives the results of such assessment.
SEC. 213. <>  FLAG-STATE GUIDANCE AND
SUPPLEMENTS.

(a) Freight Vessels; Damage Control Information.--
<> Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall issue flag-State guidance for all freight
vessels documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code,
built before January 1, 1992, regarding the inclusion of comprehensive
damage control information in safety management plans required under
chapter 32 of title 46, United States Code.

(b) Recognized Organizations; United States Supplement.--The
Commandant shall--
(1) work with recognized organizations to create a single
United States Supplement to rules of such organizations for
classification of vessels; and

[[Page 3751]]

(2) <>  by not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, provide to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a briefing on whether it is necessary
to revise part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, to
authorize only one United States Supplement to such rules.
SEC. 214. MARINE SAFETY STRATEGY.

Section 2116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``each year of an
annual'' and inserting ``of a triennial'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Annual'' and inserting ``Triennial''; and
(B) by striking ``annual'' each place it appears and
inserting ``triennial'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal
year'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2020 and
triennially''; and
(B) by striking ``annual plan'' and inserting
``triennial plan''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``annually'' and
inserting ``triennially''.
SEC. 215. RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS; OVERSIGHT.

(a) In General.--Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h), and by
inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g)(1) There shall be within the Coast Guard an office that
conducts comprehensive and targeted oversight of all recognized
organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard.
``(2) The staff of the office shall include subject matter experts,
including inspectors, investigators, and auditors, who possess the
capability and authority to audit all aspects of such recognized
organizations.
``(3) <> In this subsection the term `recognized
organization' has the meaning given that term in section 2.45-1 of title
46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the
enactment of the Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018.''.

(b) Deadline for Establishment.-- <> The
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish the office required by the
amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 216. <>  TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTS
AND HAZARD ADVISORIES FOR MERCHANT
MARINERS.

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

[[Page 3752]]

SEC. 217. <>  ANONYMOUS SAFETY ALERT
SYSTEM.

(a) Pilot Program.-- <> Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall establish an
anonymous safety alert pilot program.

(b) Requirements.--The pilot program established under subsection
(a) shall provide an anonymous reporting mechanism to allow crew members
to communicate urgent and dire safety concerns directly and in a timely
manner with the Coast Guard.
SEC. 218. MARINE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS.

(a) In General.-- <> Not later than
December 19 of 2018, and of each of the 2 subsequent years thereafter,
the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on the status
of implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's final
action memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of
the vessel El Faro.

(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shall
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives on the status of the Coast Guard's
implementation of each action outlined in the Commandant's final action
memo dated December 19, 2017, regarding the sinking and loss of the
vessel El Faro.
SEC. 219. <>  DELEGATED
AUTHORITIES.

(a) In General.-- <> Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant
shall review the authorities that have been delegated to recognized
organizations for the alternative compliance program as described in
subpart D of part 8 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, and, if
necessary, revise or establish policies and procedures to ensure those
delegated authorities are being conducted in a manner to ensure safe
maritime transportation.

(b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a
briefing on the implementation of subsection (a).

TITLE III-- <> CENTER OF EXPERTISE
SEC. 301. <>  SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Blue Technology Center
of Expertise Act''.
SEC. 302. <>  COAST GUARD BLUE TECHNOLOGY
CENTER OF EXPERTISE.

(a) Establishment.-- <> Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Commandant may establish under section 58 of title
14, United States Code, a Blue Technology center of expertise.

(b) Missions.--In addition to the missions listed in section 58(b)
of title 14, United States Code, the Center may--

[[Page 3753]]

(1) promote awareness within the Coast Guard of the range
and diversity of Blue Technologies and their potential to
enhance Coast Guard mission readiness, operational performance,
and regulation of such technologies;
(2) function as an interactive conduit to enable the sharing
and dissemination of Blue Technology information between the
Coast Guard and representatives from the private sector,
academia, nonprofit organizations, and other Federal agencies;
(3) increase awareness among Blue Technology manufacturers,
entrepreneurs, and vendors of Coast Guard acquisition policies,
procedures, and business practices;
(4) <>  provide technical support,
coordination, and assistance to Coast Guard districts and the
Coast Guard Research and Development Center, as appropriate; and
(5) <>  subject to the requirements of
the Coast Guard Academy, coordinate with the Academy to develop
appropriate curricula regarding Blue Technology to be offered in
professional courses of study to give Coast Guard cadets and
officer candidates a greater background and understanding of
Blue Technologies.

(c) Blue Technology Exposition; Briefing.-- <> Not
later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the
costs and benefits of hosting a biennial Coast Guard Blue Technology
exposition to further interactions between representatives from the
private sector, academia, and nonprofit organizations, and the Coast
Guard and examine emerging technologies and Coast Guard mission demands.

(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Blue Technology
center of expertise established under this section.
(2) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the
Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(3) Blue technology.--The term ``Blue Technology'' means any
technology, system, or platform that--
(A) is designed for use or application above, on, or
below the sea surface or that is otherwise applicable to
Coast Guard operational needs, including such a
technology, system, or platform that provides continuous
or persistent coverage; and
(B) supports or facilitates--
(i) maritime domain awareness, including--
(I) surveillance and monitoring;
(II) observation, measurement, and
modeling: or
(III) information technology and
communications;
(ii) search and rescue;
(iii) emergency response;
(iv) maritime law enforcement;
(v) marine inspections and investigations; or

[[Page 3754]]

(vi) protection and conservation of the marine
environment.

Approved October 11, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3508:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Sept. 26, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 27, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2018):
Oct. 11, Presidential remarks and statement.