II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1186 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2017 Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Kennedy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to designate certain entities as centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence Act of 2017 . 2. Domestic maritime centers of excellence (a) Designation authority The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to designate community and technical colleges with a maritime training program and maritime training centers operated by or under the supervision of a State, if located in the United States along the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, or Great Lakes, as centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education. (b) Assistance (1) Types The Secretary may provide to an entity designated as a center of excellence under subsection (a)— (A) technical assistance; and (B) surplus Federal equipment and assets. (2) Technical assistance The Secretary may provide technical assistance under paragraph (1) to assist an entity designated as a center of excellence under subsection (a) to expand the capacity of the entity to train the domestic maritime workforce of the United States, including by— (A) admitting additional students; (B) recruiting and training faculty; (C) expanding facilities; (D) creating new maritime career pathways; and (E) awarding students credit for prior experience, including military service.