AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.

SEC. 306. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. (a) In General.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “SEC. 7508. Authority to extend the duration of medical certificates “(a) Granting of Extensions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may extend for not more than one year a medical certificate issued to an individual holding a license, merchant mariner’s document, or certificate of registry issued under chapter 71 or 73 if the Secretary determines that the extension is required to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for medical certificates or is in response to a national emergency or natural disaster. “(b) Manner of Extension. An extension under this section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen.” . (b) Clerical Amendment.—The analysis for chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:“7508. Authority to extend the duration of medical certificates.”.