§ 15104. National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

• (a) There is established a National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”).
• (b) The Committee shall advise the Secretary on matters relating to—
  • (1) medical certification determinations for the issuance of licenses, certification of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents with respect to merchant mariners;
  • (2) medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels;
  • (3) medical examiner education; and
  • (4) medical research.
• (c)
  • (1) The Committee shall consist of 14 members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with this section and section 15109 of this chapter.
  • (2) Each member of the Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Committee.
  • (3) Members of the Committee shall be appointed as follows:
    • (A) 9 shall represent health-care professionals and have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience regarding the medical examinations of merchant mariners or occupational medicine.
    • (B) 5 shall represent professional mariners and have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in occupational requirements for mariners.