(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.