REPORT ON RESTRICTIONS ON UNITED STATES-FLAGGED COMMERCIAL VESSEL SECURITY.

SEC. 3506. REPORT ON RESTRICTIONS ON UNITED STATES-FLAGGED COMMERCIAL VESSEL SECURITY.(a) Report Required.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit a joint report to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act on actions within their respective departments to—(1) eliminate or reduce restrictions under any regulation or provision of law on the carriage of arms and use of armed security teams on United States-flagged commercial vessels for purpose of self defense in areas that are designated as being at a high risk of piracy;(2) negotiate bilateral agreements with coastal states to allow United States-flagged commercial vessels carrying United States Government cargos, such as food aid, that must transit areas designated as being at high risk of piracy, to enter the ports of those coastal states while carrying arms or embarked armed security teams for the purpose of self-defense; and(3) establish common standards, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, for the training and professional qualifications of armed security teams.(b) Definitions.—In this section:(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—123 STAT. 2721(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.(2) Armed security teams.—The term “armed security teams” means security guards employed from the private sector for the purpose of self-defense of the vessel.