H.R. 3331

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to merchant mariner credential examination working groups, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 13, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Carbajal · Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Table of contents

• H.R. 3331
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Mariner Exam Modernization Act.

SEC. 2. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials

• Section 7510 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
  • in subsection (c)—
    • in the subsection heading by striking and inserting ;
    • in paragraph (1)—
      • (i) by striking 90 daysand inserting 180 days;
      • (ii) by striking and insert ;
      • (iii) by striking new questions for inclusion inand inserting questions, content, and relevancy of;
      • (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), respectively; and
      • (v) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
        • at least 2 individuals that have taken and passed the examination in the 5 years before the commissioning of the working group;
    • in paragraph (4)—
      • (i) in the paragraph heading by striking and inserting ;
      • (ii) in subparagraph (A)—
      • by striking Within 1 yearand inserting Not later than 270 days;
      • by striking and inserting ;
      • by striking Secretaryand inserting Commandant;
      • by redesignating clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) as clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (vii), respectively;
      • in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking and inserting a semicolon;
        • (i) industry standards, practices, and technology to be considered in the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination;
      • by inserting before clause (ii) the following:
        • (v) the relevancy of examination topics and contents;
        • (vi) any redundancy of core competencies between the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination and Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchingkeeping competencies; and
      • by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
      • (iii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
        • (B) Report to Commandant
          • Upon completion of the review under this paragraph, a report shall be provided to the Commandant which shall include findings of the review with recommendations for updates to the Merchant Marine Credentialling Examination.
    • by striking paragraphs (3), (5), and (8);
    • by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (9) as paragraphs (5) and (8), respectively; and
      • (3) Meeting of working group
        • (A) In general
          • The Commandant shall convene the working group annually or at the creation of new examination questions, whichever occurs sooner.
        • (B) Remote participation
          • The Commandant shall allow any member of the working group to participate remotely if the member of the working group does not have the means to participate in person.
      • (4) Use of questions
        • The Commandant may not use questions developed for use in the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination until such questions are reviewed and approved by the working group.
    • by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
  • by redsignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
    • (d) Plan
      • (1) Requirement
        • Not later than 270 days after the completion of the review under paragraph (4) of subsection (c), the Commandant shall develop a plan to update and modernize the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination and implement the recommendations developed by the review under such paragraph.
      • (2) Contents
        • The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall include—
          • the elimination or updating of outdated topics, contents, core competencies, or questions covered by the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination;
          • the modernization of testing procedures consistent with contemporary procedures for standardized testing administration and evaluation; and
          • the development of methods to collect examination data on pass and fail rates for questions and the overall examination for future analysis and comparison uses.
      • (3) Coordination
        • In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall develop such plan in consultation with the working group and individuals with expertise in modern best practices for relevant standardized testing.
      • (4) Briefing required
        • Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the , the Coast Guard 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 review and plan developed under this subsection.
  • by inserting after subsection (c) the following: