TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS.

SEC. 304. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS. (a) In General.—Section 229 (33 U.S.C. 3029) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 229. TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS “(a) Appointments by President.—Temporary appointments in the grade of ensign, lieutenant junior grade, or lieutenant may be made by the President. “(b) Termination.—A temporary appointment to a position under subsection (a) shall terminate upon approval of a permanent appointment for such position made by the President. “(c) Order of Precedence.—Appointees under subsection (a) shall take precedence in the grade to which appointed in accordance with the dates of their appointments as officers in such grade. The order of precedence of appointees who are appointed on the same date shall be determined by the Secretary. “(d) Any One Grade.—When determined by the Secretary to be in the best interest of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration, officers in any permanent grade may be temporarily promoted one grade by the President. Any such temporary promotion terminates upon the transfer of the officer to a new assignment. ” . (b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents in section 1 of the Act entitled “An Act to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes” (Public Law 107-372) is amended by striking the item relating to section 229 and inserting the following: “Sec. 229. Temporary appointments.” .