Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.
President Donald Trump signed a bill reopening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, without new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Republicans plan to provide that funding using the reconciliation process that will require only a simple majority in both houses of Congress instead of the 60 votes usually needed in the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said ICE and CBP will be funded for three years via that measure, which will be taken up in the coming days.
|H.R. 7147 does include current funding for the Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and DHS’s other components.
Trump received the bill after an about-face by the House, which had been holding out on measure that had passed by the Senate earlier.
With funding restored, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are resuming normal operations in a phased approach to prioritize the most critical functions and address the backlog of applications and examinations.
Key takeaways:
• The Application Submission Portal (ASAP) for submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active.
• Applications for merchant mariner credentials (MMCs), medical certificates and course approvals and related requests will be processed on a first-in/first-out basis.
• Only applications that demonstrate a clear and documented nexus to national defense will be considered for expedited processing. Marine employers with national defense-related requests are advised to contact the NMC Customer Service Center (CSC).
• All extension policies and mitigation measures outlined in Update No. 3: Mitigation Efforts – Extensions, dated April 22, remain in effect through their stated expiration dates.
• During the prolonged lapse, the NMC has accumulated a significant backlog of applications, currently more than 19,000 submissions and growing. Processing timelines are expected to extend 8-12 months from the date a completed application is received. To avoid potential delays and disruptions to employment and operations, mariners are strongly encouraged to apply at least 8-12 months in advance of expiration.
• RECs will resume operations. However, counter (walk-in) services will remain suspended until further notice to allow staff to focus on backlog reduction and examination scheduling.
• Examination scheduling will be conducted in the following order of priority:
1. For mariners with previously scheduled examinations on or after May 1, appointments will be honored as scheduled.
2. Mariners whose examinations were scheduled and canceled between February 17 and May 1 will be contacted by REC staff to reschedule at the earliest available opportunity.
3. For all other applicants, scheduling will open once priority groups have been accommodated. During the initial resumption period, the CSC will not schedule examinations. After the period to reschedule for mariners whose examinations were canceled during the furlough is completed, the opportunity to schedule an exam for all mariners will be available through the CSC. Course approvals will continue to be processed on a first-in, first-out basis.
Mariners are encouraged to monitor the NMC website for updates regarding processing times, REC operations and policy adjustments as operations stabilize.
For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, e-mailing at IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
Water Resource Development Proposals Sought
The assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works is soliciting proposals from non-federal interests for the 2027 Annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development.
According to the notice, the proposals cover new feasibility studies, proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects or feasibility studies and proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities.
Proposals must be submitted by September 1 by emailing the form to WRRDA7001Proposal@usace.army.mil.
For additional information about the annual report, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/ Missions/Civil-Works/Project-Planning/ WRRDA-7001-Proposals/), email WRRDA7001Proposal@usace.army.mil or call Jerica Richardson at 213-259-5661.
