; and (iv) serving the Armed Forces; and (B) while so serving, was licensed or otherwise documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel by an officer or employee of the United States authorized to license or document the person for such service. (3) In determining the information and assurances required in the application pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall accept a DD–214 form as proof of qualified service. (c) Amount of Payment The Secretary shall make one payment out of the compensation fund in the amount of $25,000 to an eligible individual. The Secretary shall make such a payment to eligible individuals in the order in which the Secretary receives the applications of the eligible individuals. (d) Authorization of Appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2017 $125,000,000 for the compensation fund. Such amount shall remain available until expended. (e) Reports The Secretary shall include, in documents submitted to Congress by the Secretary in support of the President's budget for each fiscal year, detailed information on the operation of the compensation fund, including the number of applicants, the number of eligible individuals receiving benefits, the amounts paid out of the compensation fund, the administration of the compensation fund, and an estimate of the amounts necessary to fully fund the compensation fund for that fiscal year and each of the three subsequent fiscal years. (f) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. . (b) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe the regulations required under section 532(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (c) Clerical Amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 532 the following new item: 533. Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund. .