Vessel Response Plan Improvement Act
This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to require the vessel response plans of Coast Guard-approved commercial vessels to include certain notification requirements with regard to search and rescue missions. Such requirements include developing a procedure for the immediate notification of next of kin in the event that search and rescue teams save or recover crew members during the missions.
To require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to modify regulations 
relating to vessel response plans to include notifications with respect 
                     to search and rescue missions.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Vessel Response Plan Improvement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SEARCH AND RESCUE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VESSEL RESPONSE 
              PLANS OF COAST GUARD-APPROVED COMMERCIAL VESSELS.

    (a) In General.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall modify 
subparts I and J of part 155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, 
to require the vessel response plans of Coast Guard-approved tank and 
nontank commercial vessels to include the procedures described in 
subsection (b) for use by the Coast Guard in the case of a search and 
rescue mission.
    (b) Procedures.--The procedures described in this subsection are as 
follows:
            (1) A procedure for providing, not less frequently than 
        twice daily for the duration of a search and rescue mission, 
        notifications to family members of the crew of the vessel with 
        respect to the status of the search and rescue mission, any 
        injured crew member, and salvage.
            (2) A procedure for the immediate notification of the next 
        of kin or family members in the case of--
                    (A) a deceased crew member; or
                    (B) the recovery of a survivor or the body of a 
                crew member during such a search and rescue mission.
                                 <all>
Vessel Response Plan Improvement Act
To require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to modify regulations relating to vessel response plans to include notifications with respect to search and rescue missions.
Vessel Response Plan Improvement Act
Rep. Higgins, Clay