Committee approves Mariner Exam Modernization Act to update merchant mariner testing
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Summary
The committee approved HR 3331 to modernize the merchant mariner credentialing exam and formed a working group to review examination content and procedures.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted and favorably reported HR 3331, the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, which requires a continuous review of the merchant mariner examination to ensure it reflects modern technology and industry practice.
Supporters, including Representative (Carbajal) and Representative (Zell), said the exam contains outdated questions and that modernized testing will help grow and retain a skilled U.S. merchant mariner workforce. Representative Carbajal offered an amendment to add one representative from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to the working group; that amendment was agreed to.
Representative Perry opposed the bill, warning that collecting pass/fail data question‑by‑question could be used to lower standards and cited historical examples he said illustrate the risks of easing exam standards. Other members said industry and maritime training centers have asked for the modernization and the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably; a later recorded vote on the bill produced a tally of 52 yays and 12 nays.
The working group named in the bill will review exam content, recommend updates and collect examination data for future analysis; supporters said the group will include industry and academy representatives to ensure relevancy.