,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #acbf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ac1 #bjae ,mrs4 ,fischer introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend certain maritime programs of the ,department of ,transportation1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,maritime ,administration ,enhancement ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,cadet commitment agreements ,section #eacjf7;a7 of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking must and inserting shall2 7#b7 by amending paragraph 7#b7 to read as follows3 7#b7 obtain a merchant mariner license1 unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage1 issued by the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the ,united ,states1 accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the ,coast ,guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages1 without limitation1 before graduation from the ,academy2 2 7#c7 by amending paragraph 7#c7 to read as follows3 7#c7 for at least #f years after graduation from the ,academy1 maintain-- 7,a7 a valid merchant mariner license1 unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage1 issued by the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the ,united ,states1 accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the ,coast ,guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages1 without limitation2 7,b7 a valid transportation worker identification credential2 and 7,c7 a ,united ,states ,coast ,guard medical certificate2 2 and 7#d7 by amending paragraph 7#d7 to read as follows3 7#d7 apply for1 and accept if tendered1 an appointment as a commissioned officer in the ,navy ,reserve 7including the ,strategic ,sealift ,officer ,program1 ,navy ,reserve71 the ,coast ,guard ,reserve1 or any other reserve component of an armed force of the ,united ,states1 and1 if tendered the appointment1 to serve1 meet the participation requirements1 and maintain active status in good standing1 as determined by the program manager of the appropriate military service1 for at least #h years after the date of commissioning2 4 #c4 ,student incentive payment agreements ,section #eaeji of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by inserting 7#c7 ,authorized uses4-- before the last sentence and indenting accordingly2 7,b7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#c71 by striking ,payments and inserting 7#a7 ,in general4--,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 payments and indenting accordingly2 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#a71 the following3 7#b7 ,exception ,the ,secretary may modify the payments made to an individual under paragraph 7#a71 but the total amount of payments to that individual may not exceed #cb1jjj4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7c71 by striking ,merchant ,marine ,reserve and inserting ,strategic ,sealift ,officer ,program2 7#c7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by amending paragraph 7#b7 to read as follows3 7#b7 obtain a merchant mariner license1 without limitation as to tonnage or horsepower1 from the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the ,united ,states1 accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certification required by the ,coast ,guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages1 without limitation1 within three months of completion of the course of instruction at the academy the individual is attending2 2 7,b7 by amending paragraph 7#c7 to read as follows3 7#c7 for at least #f years after graduation from the academy1 maintain-- 7,a7 a valid merchant mariner license1 unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage1 issued by the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the ,united ,states1 accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the ,coast ,guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages1 without limitation2 7,b7 a valid transportation worker identification credential2 and 7,c7 a ,united ,states ,coast ,guard medical certificate2 and 7,c7 by amending paragraph 7#d7 to read as follows3 7#d7 apply for1 and accept1 if tendered1 an appointment as a commissioned officer in the ,navy ,reserve 7including the ,strategic ,sealift ,officer ,program1 ,navy ,reserve71 the ,coast ,guard ,reserve1 or any other reserve component of an armed force of the ,united ,states1 and1 if tendered the appointment1 to serve and meet the participation requirements and to maintain active status in good standing1 as determined by the program manager of the appropriate military service1 for at least #h years after the date of commissioning2 2 7#d7 by amending subsection 7e77#a7 to read as follows3 7#a7 ,active duty 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,defense may order an individual to serve on active duty in the armed forces of the ,united ,states for a period of not more than #b years if-- 7i7 the individual has attended an academy under this section for more than #b academic years1 but less than #c academic years2 7ii7 the individual has accepted the payments described in subsection 7b7 in an amount totaling at least #h1jjj2 and 7iii7 the ,secretary of ,transportation has determined that the individual has failed to fulfill the part of the agreement described in subsection 7d77#a74 7,b7 #c or more years ,the ,secretary of ,defense may order an individual to serve on active duty in the armed forces of the ,united ,states for a period of not more than #c years if-- 7i7 the individual has attended an academy under this section for #c or more academic years2 7ii7 the individual has accepted the payments described in subsection 7b7 in an amount totaling at least #af1jjj2 and 7iii7 the ,secretary of ,transportation has determined that the individual has failed to fulfill the part of the agreement described in subsection 7d77#a74 7,c7 ,hardship waiver ,in cases of hardship as determined by the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,secretary of ,transportation may waive this paragraph in whole or in part4 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,alternative service 7#a7 ,service as commissioned officer ,an individual who1 for the #e-year period following graduation from an academy1 serves as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed force of the ,united ,states or as a commissioned officer of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration or the ,public ,health ,service shall be excused from the requirements of paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#e7 of subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,modification or waiver ,the ,secretary may modify or waive any of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection 7d7 through the imposition of alternative service requirements4 4 #d4 ,federal ,unemployment ,tax ,act ,section #ccje of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #ccje7 is amended by striking ,secretary of ,commerce each place it appears and inserting ,secretary of ,transportation4 #e4 ,short sea transportation defined ,paragraph 7#a7 of section #eefje of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking or2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually1 palletized1 or unitized for purposes of transportation2 or 7,d7 freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats2 and 4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations for national security aspects of the ,merchant ,marine for fiscal years #bjaf and #bjag 7a7 ,fiscal year #bjaf ,funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjaf1 to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided in appropriations ,acts1 for the use of the ,department of ,transportation for ,maritime ,administration programs associated with maintaining national security aspects of the merchant marine1 as follows3 7#a7 ,for expenses necessary for operations of the ,united ,states ,merchant ,marine ,academy1 #hj1jjj1jjj1 of which-- 7,a7 #fe1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for ,academy operations2 and 7,b7 #ae1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for capital asset management at the ,academy4 7#b7 ,for expenses necessary to support the ,state maritime academies1 #bb1bjj1jjj1 of which-- 7,a7 #b1cjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for student incentive payments2 7,b7 #b1djj1jjj shall remain available until expended for direct payments to such academies2 7,c7 #ae1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of ,state maritime academy training vessels2 and 7,d7 #b1ejj1jjj shall remain available until expended for a ,national ,security ,multi-,mission ,vessel ,design ,program4 7#c7 ,for expenses necessary to support ,maritime ,administration operations and programs1 #ej1djj1jjj4 7#d7 ,for expenses necessary to dispose of vessels in the ,national ,defense ,reserve ,fleet1 #d1jjj1jjj to remain available until expended4 7#e7 ,for expenses to maintain and preserve a ,united ,states-flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the ,united ,states under chapter #eca of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 #ahf1jjj1jjj4 7#f7 ,for administrative expenses of the loan guarantees authorized by chapter #ecg of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 #c1ajj1jjj to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,fiscal year #bjag ,funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjag1 to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided in appropriations ,acts1 for the use of the ,department of ,transportation for ,maritime ,administration programs associated with maintaining national security aspects of the merchant marine1 as follows3 7#a7 ,for expenses necessary for operations of the ,united ,states ,merchant ,marine ,academy1 #hj1jjj1jjj1 of which-- 7,a7 #fe1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for ,academy operations2 and 7,b7 #ae1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for capital asset management at the ,academy4 7#b7 ,for expenses necessary to support the ,state maritime academies1 #bb1bjj1jjj1 of which-- 7,a7 #b1cjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for student incentive payments2 7,b7 #b1djj1jjj shall remain available until expended for direct payments to such academies2 7,c7 #ae1jjj1jjj shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of ,state maritime academy training vessels2 and 7,d7 #b1ejj1jjj shall remain available until expended for a ,national ,security ,multi-,mission ,vessel ,design ,program4 7#c7 ,for expenses necessary to support ,maritime ,administration operations and programs1 #ej1djj1jjj4 7#d7 ,for expenses necessary to dispose of vessels in the ,national ,defense ,reserve ,fleet1 #d1jjj1jjj to remain available until expended4 7#e7 ,for expenses to maintain and preserve a ,united ,states-flag merchant marine to serve the national security needs of the ,united ,states under chapter #eca of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 #ahf1jjj1jjj4 7#f7 ,for administrative expenses of the loan guarantees authorized by chapter #ecg of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 #c1ajj1jjj to remain available until expended4