(MEDMAC)

Original Status:  Discretionary Committee (Beginning May 26, 2009)

Current Status:  Statutory Committee (Beginning October 15, 2010)

Current Authority:  Section 210 of the Coast Guard Act of 2010 (Codified as 46 USC 7115)

Function:  Acts solely in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the Coast Guard on matters related to: 

(a) medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents.

(b) medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels.

(c) medical examiner education; and

(d) medical research.

Meetings:  Meets not less than twice each year, usually once in the D.C. area, once throughout the country to provide access to the public.

Composition:  14 Members (Term Length 5 years)

• Ten who are health-care professionals with particular expertise, knowledge, or experience regarding the medical examinations of merchant mariners or occupational medicine; and
• Four who are professional mariners with knowledge and experience in mariner occupational requirements.