Reactivation of expired license

(a) In General Chapter 75 of subtitle II of part E, of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 7512. Authority for reactivation of United States Merchant Mariner credentials (a) Licenses and certificates of registry Notwithstanding sections 7106 and 7107, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may renew for not more than 2 years an expired license or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary determines that the renewal is in response to a national emergency declared by Congress or declared under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621), as deemed necessary by the Secretary. (b) Merchant mariner documents Notwithstanding section 7302(g), the Secretary may renew for not more than 2 years an expiring merchant mariner's document issued for an individual under chapter 73 if the Secretary determines that the renewal is in response to a national emergency proclaimed by the President or declared by Congress, as deemed necessary by the Secretary. (c) Manner of renewal Any renewal granted under this section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 7512. Authority for reactivation of United States Merchant Mariner credentials..