Civilian mariner education and development payments

(a) Mariner education and development payments Chapter 515 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 51512. Mariner education development payments (a) In general If a State maritime academy has an agreement with the Secretary of Transportation under section 51505 of this title, the Secretary may make an agreement with a student at the academy who is a citizen of the United States to make mariner education development payments to the State Maritime Academy on behalf of the individual. (b) Payments (1) In general Payments under an agreement under this section shall be— (A) based on the in-state annual cost of in-state tuition, on-campus room and board, fees, books, and uniforms at the State maritime academy the individual is attending; (B) paid in amounts as determined by the Secretary; (C) paid in such installments as the Secretary shall determine while the individual is attending the academy; and (D) allocated among the State maritime academies as prescribed by the Secretary. (2) Authorized uses The payments shall be used for the cost of tuition, room and board, fees, books, and uniforms at the academy. (c) Agreement requirements An agreement under this section— (1) may provide for payments for the cost of tuition, room and board, fees, books, and uniforms for not more than 4 academic years; and (2) shall require the individual to— (A) complete the course of instruction at the academy the individual is attending within 6 years of the date of enrollment; (B) obtain a merchant mariner credential, without limitation as to tonnage or horsepower, from the Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation, within 3 months of completion of the course of instruction at the academy the individual is attending; (C) for at least 6 years after graduation from the academy, maintain— (i) a valid merchant mariner credential, unlimited as to horsepower or tonnage, issued by the Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages, without limitation; (ii) a valid transportation worker identification credential; and (iii) a Coast Guard medical certificate; (D) apply for, and accept if tendered, a position commensurate with the obtained merchant mariner credential, for a period of not less than 1 year but not more than 5 years, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation based on the amount of payments provided under this section, as— (i) a civil service mariner aboard a vessel owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Coast Guard, United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other Federal agency; (ii) a merchant marine officer aboard a Federal vessel owned by the Military Sealift Command or the Maritime Administration, if the Secretary determines that employment under clause (i) is not available to the individual; (iii) a merchant marine officer on a vessel owned and operated by the United States Federal Government or by a State government of the United States if the Secretary determines that employment under clauses (i) and (ii) is not available to the individual; (iv) a merchant marine officer on a U.S.-documented commercial oceangoing vessel if the Secretary determines that employment under clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) is not available to the individual; (v) a merchant marine officer on a U.S.-documented commercial vessel that is not an oceangoing vessel if the Secretary determines that employment under clauses (i) through (iv) is not available to the individual; (vi) an employee in a United States maritime-related industry, profession, or marine science (as determined by the Secretary), if the Secretary determines that service under clauses (i) through (v) is not available to the individual; or (vii) a merchant marine officer on a foreign-documented commercial oceangoing vessel that employs mariners through a U.S.-based labor union, if the Secretary determines that employment under clauses (i) through (vi) is not available to the individual or in the best interests of the United States; and (E) report to the State maritime academy of graduation, or to the Secretary if directed, on compliance with subparagraphs (A) through (D) of this subsection. (d) Failure to complete agreement requirements If the individual is unable or unwilling to meet the agreement requirements under subsection (c), the Secretary of Transportation may recover from the individual the amount paid under the commitment agreement, plus interest and attorney fees. The Secretary may reduce the amount to be recovered based on factors the Secretary determines merit a reduction. (e) Actions to recover cost To aid in the recovery of the amount paid by the Government under a commitment agreement under this section, the Secretary of Transportation may— (1) request the Attorney General to bring a civil action against the individual; and (2) make use of the Federal debt collection procedures in chapter 176 of title 28 or other applicable administrative remedies. (f) Modification or waiver The Secretary may waive any of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection (c) or modify such terms and conditions through the imposition of alternative service requirements. (g) Eligibility for additional payments An individual who receives a payment pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for payments under section 51708 of this title until the individual has fulfilled the obligated years of service under subsection (c)(2)(D) of this section. (h) Funding availability Not to exceed 10 percent of the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for payments authorized under this section may be transferred or reprogrammed and made available for the purpose of making payments authorized under sections 51509, 51513, and 51708, as determined by the Secretary..