Mariner Exam Modernization Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3331
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-11: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 12.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-05T22:00:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Mariner Exam Modernization Act (H.R. 3331) aims to update and improve the process for developing and reviewing examinations used to issue merchant mariner credentials. These credentials are licenses required for individuals working on U.S. commercial vessels. The legislation seeks to make the exams more relevant to modern industry standards, reduce outdated content, and ensure fairer testing practices.
Key Provisions
- Establishment and Composition of Working Group: Creates a working group under the U.S. Coast Guard to review exam questions, content, and relevancy. The group must include at least two individuals who have recently passed the exam (within the last five years), along with other experts like maritime educators, industry representatives, and labor organization members.
- Review Process: The working group must conduct a comprehensive review of the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination within 270 days of the law's enactment. This review covers industry standards, practices, technology, relevancy of topics, and any overlaps with international training standards (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, or STCW).
- Meetings and Approvals: The working group meets annually or whenever new exam questions are developed. Remote participation is allowed for members unable to attend in person. No new exam questions can be used until approved by the working group.
- Development of Modernization Plan: Within 270 days after the review, the Coast Guard Commandant must create a plan to update the exam. This plan includes:
- Removing or revising outdated topics, skills (core competencies), or questions.
- Adopting modern testing methods, similar to standardized tests used elsewhere.
- Creating ways to track pass and fail rates for questions and the overall exam for future improvements.
- Reporting and Briefing: The working group submits a report with recommendations to the Commandant. The Coast Guard must brief relevant congressional committees (House Transportation and Infrastructure, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation) within one year of enactment on the review and plan.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 7510 of Title 46, U.S. Code, which previously governed exam reviews under the 2016 Coast Guard Authorization Act. Key changes include:
- Extending the initial review timeline from 90 days to 180 days for group formation and to 270 days for the full review.
- Renaming the "Exam Review" to "Working Group" and expanding its scope beyond just new questions to include overall content relevancy and redundancies.
- Adding recent exam passers to the group and requiring annual meetings or upon new question creation.
- Mandating pre-approval of all exam questions by the group, which was not previously required.
- Introducing a new requirement for a detailed modernization plan, including data collection on exam performance, and eliminating some outdated reporting provisions from the prior law.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Coast Guard will face increased administrative responsibilities, including forming the working group, conducting reviews, developing a plan, and briefing Congress. This could lead to more efficient credentialing processes but may require additional resources for consultations and data tracking.
- Citizens: Merchant mariners (U.S. citizens or eligible workers seeking maritime jobs) will benefit from more up-to-date and relevant exams, potentially improving job qualifications, safety at sea, and fairness in testing. It may reduce failures due to outdated content.
- International Relations: By aligning exams more closely with international STCW standards, the U.S. maritime workforce could become more competitive globally, supporting smoother operations in international shipping without direct impacts on foreign relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Coast Guard: Primary implementer, responsible for the working group, reviews, plan, and approvals.
- Merchant Mariners: Individuals pursuing or holding credentials, who will take the updated exams.
- Maritime Industry: Employers, training providers, labor unions, and educators involved in shipping, who provide input and benefit from a skilled workforce.
- Congressional Committees: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which receive briefings and oversee implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens administrative procedures under Title 46 by mandating expert consultations and data-driven updates, potentially reducing legal challenges to exam validity (e.g., claims of irrelevancy). No new enforcement powers or penalties are introduced.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate commerce and maritime affairs (Article I, Section 8). It promotes due process in credentialing by ensuring inclusive reviews, but imposes no significant burdens on individual rights.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan effort (introduced by Reps. Carbajal and Ezell) to modernize a niche area of transportation policy. It could enhance maritime safety and economic competitiveness without broad controversy, though implementation costs might draw scrutiny in future budgets.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-11: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 12.
- 2025-06-11: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-06-11: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged
- 2025-05-14: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- 2025-05-13: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-05-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Mariner Exam Modernization Act — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (7 pages)