IMPEDIMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES-FLAG REGISTRY.

SEC. 720. IMPEDIMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES-FLAG REGISTRY.(a) Assessment.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of factors 126 STAT. 1585 under the authority of the Coast Guard that impact the ability of vessels documented in the United States to effectively compete in international transportation markets.(b) Content.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall include—(1) a review of differences between Coast Guard policies and regulations governing the inspection of vessels documented in the United States and International Maritime Organization policies and regulations governing the inspection of vessels not documented in the United States;(2) a statement on the impact such differences have on operating costs for vessels documented in the United States; and(3) recommendations on whether to harmonize any such differences.(c) Consultation.—In preparing the assessment under subsection (a), the Commandant may consider the views of representatives of the owners or operators of vessels documented in the United States and the organizations representing the employees employed on such vessels.