Coast Guard must modernize mariner exams with industry input and public accountability

What it does

This bill modernizes how the U.S. Coast Guard administers the merchant mariner credential exam by requiring a working group of industry experts and recent test-takers to review exam content for relevance and outdatedness, and mandating the Coast Guard develop a plan to update testing procedures and eliminate obsolete material within 270 days. The working group must meet annually, can participate remotely, and must approve new exam questions before they are used.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to update and modernize a federal licensing examination process by introducing structured industry input, transparency requirements, and modernization timelines. It is a procedural and governance reform, not a substantive policy change.

What the text implies

• Requiring recent test-taker participation may create informal feedback loops that could influence exam difficulty or content in ways not fully transparent to the public or other stakeholders.
• The 270-day timeline for plan development and the annual meeting requirement may create resource demands on the Coast Guard that could delay other maritime safety initiatives if not adequately funded.
• Mandatory remote participation could reduce the quality or depth of in-person deliberation if working group members use remote access as a substitute for engagement rather than an accommodation.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill strengthens public accountability by requiring industry and recent test-taker input into exam standards, ensures exam questions reflect current maritime practices and technology, and mandates transparency through briefings to Congress. These changes reduce the risk of outdated or irrelevant licensing exams that could compromise maritime safety or unfairly disadvantage candidates.

Named in the bill

U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination, Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping

Where it stands

2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans.

• May 13, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 13, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure”
• Jun 11, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 11, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 12”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 lobbying clients named this bill on 6 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $200,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 10 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 61% of bills with at least one filing.

Salud Carbajal, the sponsor, reported $631,982 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Consortium of State Maritime Academies — $120,000 on 2 filings
• Seafarers International Union of N.a. - Agliw — $80,000 on 1 filing
• Chamber of Shipping of America — $0 on 3 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.