# § 15104. National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee
**(a)** **Establishment.—** There is established a National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”).
**(b)** **Function.—** 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)** **Membership.—**
**(1)** **In general.—** The Committee shall consist of 14 members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with this section and section 15109 of this chapter.
**(2)** **Expertise.—** Each member of the Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Committee.
**(3)** **Representation.—** 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.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 115–282, title VI, § 601(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4283.)