,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #gdfd  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #a1 #bjbj,mr4  
,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york   
7for himself1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,mr4      
,graves of ,missouri1 and ,mr4 ,gibbs7  
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on          
,transportation and ,infrastructure  ,a 
,,bill  ,to amend title #df1 ,united    
,states ,code1 to direct the ,secretary 
of ,transportation to establish a       
merchant mariner education loan program1
 and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short    
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,elijah ,e4 ,cummings ,merchant ,mariner
 ,workforce ,development ,act4  #b4     
,centers of excellence for domestic     
maritime workforce training and         
education3 technical amendments  7a7    
,redesignation and transfer of section  
,section #edajb of title #df1 ,united   
,states ,code1 is redesignated as       
section #eagjf of such title and        
transferred to appear after section     

#eagje of such title4  7b7 ,clerical    
amendments ,title #df1 ,united ,states  
,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the analysis
 for chapter #eda1 by striking the item 
relating to section #edajb2 and  7#b7 in
 the analysis for chapter #eag1 by      
striking the item relating to section   
#eagje and inserting the following3     
#eagje4 ,training for use of force      
against piracy4 #eagjf4 ,center of      
excellence for domestic maritime        
workforce training and education  4  #c4
 ,merchant mariner education loan       
program  7a7 ,in general ,chapter #eag  
of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 as 
amended by section #b of this ,act1 is  
further amended by adding at the end the
 following3  #eagjg4 ,merchant mariner  
career training loan program  7a7       
,establishment ,the ,secretary of       
,transportation shall establish the     
,elijah ,e4 ,cummings ,merchant ,mariner
 ,career ,training ,loan ,program 7in   
this section referred to as the program7
 in accordance with the requirements of 

this section4  7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose
 of the program shall be to make        
merchant mariner career training loans  
available to eligible students to       
provide for the training of ,united     
,states merchant mariners1 including    
those working to receive a ,standards of
 ,training1 ,certification and          
,watchkeeping endorsement under         
subchapter ,b of chapter ,i of title    
#df1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4    
7c7 ,administration ,the program shall  
be carried out by the ,secretary1 acting
 through the ,administrator of the      
,maritime ,administration4  7d7 ,duties 
,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 allocate1  
on an annual basis1 the award of loans  
under the program based on the needs of 
students2  7#b7 develop an application  
process and eligibility criteria for the
 award of loans under the program2  7#c7
 approve applications for loans under   
the program based on the eligibility    
criteria and allocations made under     
paragraph 7#a72 and  7#d7 designate     

maritime training institutions at which 
loans made under the program may be     
used4  7e7 ,designation of maritime     
training institutions  7#a7 ,in general 
,in designating maritime training       
institutions under subsection 7d77#d71  
the ,secretary-- 7,a7 may include       
,federal1 ,state1 and commercial        
training institutions and nonprofit     
training organizations1 including       
centers of excellence designated under  
section #eagjf2  7,b7 shall designate   
institutions based on geographic        
diversity and scope of classes offered2 
7,c7 shall ensure that designated       
institutions have the ability to        
administer the program2 and  7,d7 shall 
ensure that designated institutions meet
 requirements to provide training       
instruction for appropriate ,coast      
,guard-approved training instruction4   
7#b7 ,exclusions ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 
may exclude from participation in the   
program a maritime training institution 
that has had severe performance         

deficiencies1 including deficiencies    
demonstrated by audits or program       
reviews conducted during the #e calendar
 years immediately preceding the present
 year2  7,b7 shall exclude from         
participation in the program a maritime 
training institution that has delinquent
 or outstanding debts to the ,united    
,states1 unless such debts are being    
repaid under or in accordance with a    
repayment arrangement satisfactory to   
the ,united ,states1 or the ,secretary  
in the ,secretary's discretion          
determines that the existence or amount 
of any such debts has not been finally  
determined by the appropriate ,federal  
agency2  7,c7 may exclude from          
participation in the program a maritime 
training institution that has failed to 
comply with quality standards           
established by the ,department of       
,labor1 the ,coast ,guard1 or a ,state2 
and  7,d7 may establish such other      
criteria as the ,secretary determines   
will protect the financial interest of  

the ,united ,states and promote the     
purposes of this section4  7f7 ,state   
maritime academies  7#a7 ,use of funds  
for loans to students attending ,state  
maritime academies ,the ,secretary may  
obligate not more than #ej percent of   
the amounts appropriated to carry out   
this section for a fiscal year for loans
 to undergraduate students attending    
,state maritime academies receiving     
assistance under chapter #eae of this   
title4  7#b7 ,academic standards for    
students ,students at ,state maritime   
academies receiving loans under the     
program shall maintain satisfactory     
progress toward the completion of their 
course of study as evidenced by the     
maintenance of a cumulative ,c average1 
or its equivalent1 or academic standing 
consistent with the requirements for    
graduation1 as determined by the        
institution4  7g7 ,loan amounts and use 
7#a7 ,maximum amounts  7,a7 ,in general 
,the ,secretary may not make loans to a 
student under the program in an amount  

that exceeds #cj1jjj in a calendar year 
or #abj1jjj in the aggregate4  7,b7     
,adjustment for inflation ,the          
,secretary shall1 every #e years for the
 life of a loan under the program1      
adjust the maximum amounts described in 
subparagraph 7,a7 in accordance with any
 change in the ,consumer ,price ,index  
for ,all ,urban ,consumers published by 
the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the
 ,department of ,labor that occurs since
 the previous adjustment4  7#b7 ,use of 
loan proceeds ,a student who receives a 
loan under the program may use the      
proceeds of the loan only for           
postsecondary expenses incurred at an   
institution designated by the ,secretary
 under subsection 7d77#d7 for books1    
tuition1 required fees1 travel to and   
from training facilities1 and room and  
board4  7h7 ,student eligibility  7#a7  
,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 
to be eligible to receive a loan under  
the program1 a student shall-- 7,a7 be  
eligible to hold a license or merchant  

mariner document issued by the ,coast   
,guard2  7,b7 provide to the ,secretary 
such information as the ,secretary may  
require1 including all current ,coast   
,guard documents1 certifications1 proof 
of ,united ,states citizenship or       
permanent legal status1 and a statement 
of intent to enter a maritime career2   
7,c7 meet the enrollment requirements of
 a maritime training institution        
designated by the ,secretary under      
subsection 7d77#d72 and  7,d7 sign an   
agreement to-- 7i7 complete a course of 
instruction at such a maritime training 
institution2 and  7ii7 maintain a       
license or document and work under the  
authority of the license or document and
 any associated endorsements for at     
least #ah months following the date of  
graduation from the maritime program for
 which the loan proceeds will be used4  
7#b7 ,limitation ,an undergraduate      
student at the ,united ,states ,merchant
 ,marine ,academy shall not be eligible 
for a loan under the program4  7i7      

,administration of loans  7#a7 ,contents
 of loan agreements ,any agreement      
between the ,secretary and a student    
borrower for a loan under the program   
shall-- 7,a7 be evidenced by a note or  
other written instrument that provides  
for the repayment of the principal      
amount of the loan and any origination  
fee1 together with interest thereon1 in 
equal installments 7or1 if the student  
borrower so requests1 in graduated      
periodic installments determined in     
accordance with such schedules as may be
 approved by the ,secretary7 payable    
quarterly1 bimonthly1 or monthly1 at the
 option of the student borrower1 over a 
period beginning #i months from the date
 on which the student borrower completes
 study or discontinues attendance at the
 maritime program for which the loans   
are used at the institution approved by 
the ,secretary and not exceeding #aj    
years2  7,b7 include provision for      
acceleration of repayment of the whole1 
or any part1 of such loan1 at the option

 of the student borrower2  7,c7 provide 
the loan without security and without   
endorsement2  7,d7 provide that the     
liability to repay the loan shall be    
canceled upon the death of the student  
borrower1 or if the student borrower    
becomes permanently and totally         
disabled1 as determined in accordance   
with regulations to be issued by the    
,secretary2  7,e7 contain a notice of   
the system of disclosure of information 
concerning default on such loan to      
credit bureau organizations2 and  7,f7  
include provisions for deferral of      
repayment1 as determined by the         
,secretary4  7#b7 ,rate of interest ,a  
student borrower who receives a loan    
under the program shall be obligated to 
repay the loan amount to the ,secretary1
 together with interest beginning in the
 period referred to in paragraph        
7#a77;,a71 at a rate of interest        
determined by the ,secretary1 in        
consultation with the ,secretary of     
,education1 in accordance with section  

#dee of the ,higher ,education ,act of  
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;e74  7#c7    
,disclosure required prior to           
disbursement  7,a7 ,in general ,the     
,secretary shall at or prior to the time
 the ,secretary makes a loan to a       
student borrower under the program1     
provide thorough and adequate loan      
information on such loan to the student 
borrower4 ,the disclosures required by  
this paragraph may be made as part of   
the written application material        
provided to the student borrower1 as    
part of the promissory note evidencing  
the loan1 or on a separate written form 
provided to the student borrower4  7,b7 
,contents ,the disclosures shall        
include-- 7i7 the address to which      
communications and payments should be   
sent2  7ii7 the principal amount of the 
loan2  7iii7 the amount of any charges  
collected at or prior to the disbursal  
of the loan and whether such charges are
 to be deducted from the proceeds of the
 loan or paid separately by the student 

borrower2  7iv7 the stated interest rate
 on the loan2  7v7 the yearly and       
cumulative maximum amounts that may be  
borrowed2  7vi7 an explanation of when  
repayment of the loan will be required  
and when the student borrower will be   
obligated to pay interest that accrues  
on the loan2  7vii7 a statement as to   
the minimum and maximum repayment term  
that the ,secretary may impose1 and the 
minimum monthly payment required by law 
and a description of any penalty imposed
 as a consequence of default1 such as   
liability for expenses reasonably       
incurred in attempts by the ,secretary  
to collect on a loan2  7viii7 a         
statement of the total cumulative       
balance1 including the loan applied for1
 owed by the student borrower to the    
,secretary1 and an estimate of the      
projected monthly payment1 given such   
cumulative balance2  7ix7 an explanation
 of any special options the student     
borrower may have for loan consolidation
 or other refinancing of the loan2  7x7 

a statement that the student borrower   
has the right to prepay all or part of  
the loan1 at any time1 without penalty2 
7xi7 a statement summarizing            
circumstances in which repayment of the 
loan or interest that accrues on the    
loan may be deferred1 and a brief notice
 of the program for repayment of loans1 
on the basis of military service1       
pursuant to the ,department of ,defense 
educational loan repayment program 7#aj 
,u4,s4,c4 #afcjb72  7xii7 a definition  
of default and the consequences to the  
student borrower if the student borrower
 defaults1 together with a statement    
that the disbursement of1 and the       
default on1 a loan under this part shall
 be reported to a credit bureau or      
credit reporting agency2  7xiii7 to the 
extent practicable1 the effect of       
accepting the loan on the eligibility of
 the student borrower for other forms of
 student assistance2 and  7xiv7 an      
explanation of any cost the student     
borrower may incur in the making or     

collection of the loan4  7,c7           
,information to be provided without cost
 ,the information provided under this   
paragraph shall be available to the     
,secretary without cost to the student  
borrower4  7#d7 ,repayment after default
 ,the ,secretary may require any student
 borrower who has defaulted on a loan   
made under the program to-- 7,a7 pay all
 reasonable collection costs associated 
with such loan2 and  7,b7 repay the loan
 pursuant to an income contingent       
repayment plan4  7#e7 ,authorization to 
reduce rates and fees ,notwithstanding  
any other provision of this section1 the
 ,secretary may prescribe by regulation 
any reductions in the interest rate or  
origination fee paid by a student       
borrower of a loan made under the       
program as the ,secretary determines    
appropriate to encourage ontime         
repayment of the loan4 ,such reductions 
may be offered only if the ,secretary   
determines the reductions are cost      
neutral and in the best financial       

interest of the ,united ,states4  7#f7  
,collection of repayments ,the          
,secretary shall collect repayments made
 under the program and exercise due     
diligence in such collection1 including 
maintenance of all necessary records to 
ensure that maximum repayments are made4
 ,collection and servicing of repayments
 under the program shall be pursued to  
the full extent of the law1 including   
wage garnishment if necessary4 ,the     
,secretary of the ,department in which  
the ,coast ,guard is operating shall    
provide the ,secretary of               
,transportation with any information    
regarding a merchant mariner that may   
aid in the collection of repayments     
under this section4  7#g7 ,repayment    
schedule ,a student borrower who        
receives a loan under the program shall 
repay the loan quarterly1 bimonthly1 or 
monthly1 at the option of the student   
borrower1 over a period beginning #i    
months from the date the student        
borrower completes study or discontinues

 attendance at the maritime program for 
which the loan proceeds are used and    
ending not more than #aj years after the
 date repayment begins4 ,provisions for 
deferral of repayment shall be          
determined by the ,secretary4  7#h7     
,contracts for servicing and collection 
of loans ,the ,secretary may-- 7,a7     
enter into a contract or other          
arrangement with ,state or nonprofit    
agencies and1 on a competitive basis1   
with collection agencies for servicing  
and collection of loans under this      
section2 and  7,b7 conduct litigation   
necessary to carry out this section4    
7j7 ,revolving loan fund  7#a7          
,establishment ,the ,secretary shall    
establish a revolving loan fund         
consisting of amounts deposited in the  
fund under paragraph 7#b74  7#b7        
,deposits ,the ,secretary shall deposit 
in the fund-- 7,a7 receipts from the    
payment of principal and interest on    
loans made under the program2 and  7,b7 
any other monies paid to the ,secretary 

by or on behalf of individuals under the
 program4  7#c7 ,availability of amounts
 ,amounts in the fund shall be available
 to the ,secretary1 without further     
appropriation-- 7,a7 to cover the       
administrative costs of the program1    
including the maintenance of records and
 making collections under this section2 
and  7,b7 to the extent that amounts    
remain available after paying such      
administrative costs1 to make loans     
under the program4  7#d7 ,maintenance of
 records ,the ,secretary shall maintain 
accurate records of the administrative  
costs referred to in paragraph          
7#c77;,a74  7k7 ,annual report ,the     
,secretary1 on an annual basis1 shall   
submit to the ,committee on             
,transportation and ,infrastructure of  
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and  
,transportation of the ,senate a report 
on the program1 including-- 7#a7 the    
total amount of loans made under the    
program in the preceding year2  7#b7 the

 number of students receiving loans     
under the program in the preceding year2
 and  7#c7 the total amount of loans    
made under program that are in default  
as of the date of the report4  7l7      
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
are authorized to be appropriated for   
each of fiscal years #bjba through      
#bjbf-- 7#a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for making     
loans under the program2 and  7#b7      
#a1jjj1jjj for administrative expenses  
of the ,secretary in carrying out the   
program4  #eagjh4 ,merchant mariner     
recruitment1 training1 and retention    
program  7a7 ,strategic plan  7#a7 ,in  
general ,not later than one year after  
the date of enactment of this section1  
and at least once every #c years        
thereafter1 the ,secretary of           
,transportation1 acting through the     
,administrator of the ,maritime         
,administration1 shall publish in the   
,federal ,register a plan to recruit1   
train1 and retain merchant mariners for 
the #e-year period following the date of

 publication of the most recently       
published plan under this paragraph4    
7#b7 ,contents ,a plan published under  
paragraph 7#a7 shall contain-- 7,a7 a   
strategy to address merchant mariner    
recruitment1 training1 and retention    
issues in the ,united ,states2 and  7,b7
 demonstration and research priorities  
concerning merchant mariner recruitment1
 training1 and retention4  7#c7 ,factors
 ,in developing a plan under paragraph  
7#a71 the ,secretary shall take into    
account1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 the        
availability of existing research 7as of
 the date of publication of the plan72  
and  7,b7 the need to ensure results    
that have broad applicability4  7#d7    
,consultation ,in developing a plan     
under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary    
shall consult with representatives of   
the maritime industry1 labor            
organizations1 including the ,commander 
of the ,transportation ,command and the 
,commander of the ,military ,sealift    
,command1 and other governmental        

entities and persons with an interest in
 the maritime industry4  7#e7           
,transmittal to ,congress ,the          
,secretary shall transmit copies of a   
plan published under paragraph 7#a7 to  
the ,committee on ,transportation and   
,infrastructure of the ,house of        
,representatives and the ,committee on  
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
 of the ,senate4  7b7 ,demonstration and
 research projects  7#a7 ,in general    
,the ,secretary may award grants to1 or 
enter into contracts or cooperative     
agreements with1 a maritime training    
institutions designated under section   
#eafjg7;e7 or a consortium such         
institutions1 to carry out demonstration
 and research projects that implement   
the priorities identified in the plan   
prepared under subsection 7a77#a71 for  
the purpose of recruiting1 training1 or 
retaining ,united ,states merchant      
mariners4  7#b7 ,competitive awards     
,grants shall be awarded4 and contracts 
and cooperative agreements shall be     

entered into1 under this subsection on a
 competitive basis under guidelines and 
requirements to be established by the   
,secretary4  7#c7 ,applications ,to be  
eligible to receive a grant or enter    
into a contract or cooperative agreement
 under this section for a project under 
this subsection1 a maritime training    
institution shall submit to the         
,secretary a proposal that includes1 at 
a minimum-- 7,a7 a description of the   
project2 and  7,b7 a method for         
evaluating the effectiveness of the     
project4  7#d7 ,eligible projects       
,projects eligible for grants1          
contracts1 and cooperative agreements   
under this subsection-- 7,a7 shall carry
 out the demonstration and research     
priorities included in the plan         
published under subsection 7a77#a72 and 
7,b7 may-- 7i7 provide training to      
upgrade the skills of ,united ,states   
merchant mariners1 including training to
 acquire a ,standards of ,training1     
,certification and ,watchkeeping        

endorsement under subchapter ,b of      
chapter ,i of title #df1 ,code of       
,federal ,regulations2  7ii7 promote the
 use of distance learning that enables  
students to take courses through the use
 of teleconferencing1 the ,internet1 and
 other media technology2  7iii7 assist  
in providing services to address        
merchant mariner recruitment and        
training of youth residing in targeted  
high poverty areas within empowerment   
zones and enterprise communities2  7iv7 
implement partnerships with national and
 regional organizations with special    
expertise in developing1 organizing1 and
 administering merchant mariner         
recruitment and training services2  7v7 
design1 develop1 and test an array of   
approaches to providing recruitment1    
training1 or retention services1        
including to one or more targeted       
populations2  7vi7 in conjunction with  
employers1 organized labor1 other groups
 7such as community coalitions71 and    
,federal1 ,state1 or local agencies1    

design1 develop1 and test various       
training approaches in order to         
determine effective practices2 or  7vii7
 assist in the development and          
replication of effective service        
delivery strategies for the national    
maritime industry as a whole4  #eagji4  
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
are authorized to be appropriated for   
each of fiscal years #bjba through      
#bjbf-- 7#a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for making     
grants and entering into cooperative    
agreements under sections #eagjg and    
#eagjh2 and  7#b7 #a1jjj1jjj for        
administrative expenses of the          
,secretary in carrying out such         
sections4  4  7b7 ,conforming amendment 
,the analysis for such chapter is       
amended by adding at the end the        
following3  #eagjg4 ,merchant mariner   
career training loan program4 #eagjh4   
,merchant mariner recruitment1 training1
 and retention program4 #eagji4         
,authorization of appropriations4  4