[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4275 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4275
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, to establish the
Secretary of the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Commandant defined.
TITLE I--COAST GUARD
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Authorized levels of military strength and training.
Subtitle B--Accountability
Sec. 111. Annual report on progress of certain homeporting projects.
Sec. 112. Major acquisitions.
Sec. 113. Quarterly acquisition brief requirements.
Sec. 114. Overdue reports.
Sec. 115. Requirement for Coast Guard to provide analysis of
alternatives for aircraft.
Sec. 116. Oversight of funds provided pursuant to Public Law 119-21.
Sec. 117. Regular polar security cutter updates.
Sec. 118. Annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific.
TITLE II--ORGANIZATION, AUTHORITIES, ACQUISITION, AND PERSONNEL OF THE
COAST GUARD
Subtitle A--Organization
Sec. 201. Secretary of the Coast Guard.
Sec. 202. Reappointment of Commandant.
Sec. 203. Special Advisor to Commandant for Tribal and Native Hawaiian
Affairs.
Sec. 204. Reinstatement of training course on workings of Congress.
Sec. 205. Services and use of funds for, and leasing of, the National
Coast Guard Museum.
Subtitle B--Authorities
Sec. 211. Public availability of information.
Sec. 212. Cyber coordination and support in foreign territories.
Sec. 213. Modification of treatment of minor construction and
improvement project management.
Sec. 214. Preparedness plans for Coast Guard properties located in
tsunami inundation zones.
Sec. 215. Additional Pribilof Island transition completion actions.
Sec. 216. Scientific mission for USCGC Storis.
Sec. 217. Coast Guard access to Department of the Treasury fund.
Subtitle C--Acquisition
Sec. 231. Modification of prohibition on use of lead systems
integrators.
Sec. 232. Acquisition improvements.
Sec. 233. Restriction on acquisition, procurement, or construction of
vessels in foreign shipyards.
Sec. 234. Great Lakes icebreaking.
Sec. 235. Entity other than the Coast Guard.
Subtitle D--Personnel
Sec. 241. Family leave policies for Coast Guard.
Sec. 242. Modifications to career flexibility program.
Sec. 243. Direct hire authority for certain personnel.
Sec. 244. Command sponsorship for dependents of members of Coast Guard
assigned to Unalaska, Alaska.
Sec. 245. Authorization for maternity uniform allowance for officers.
Sec. 246. Consolidation of authorities for college student
precommissioning initiative.
Sec. 247. Additional available guidance and considerations for reserve
selection boards.
Sec. 248. Behavioral health.
Sec. 249. Travel allowance for members of Coast Guard assigned to
Alaska.
Sec. 250. Tuition Assistance and Advanced Education Assistance Pilot
Program.
Sec. 251. Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentive program for
civilian firefighters employed by Coast
Guard in remote locations.
Sec. 252. Notification.
Subtitle E--Coast Guard Academy
Sec. 261. Modification of Board of Visitors.
Sec. 262. Study on Coast Guard Academy oversight.
Sec. 263. Electronic locking mechanisms to ensure Coast Guard Academy
cadet room security.
Sec. 264. Report on existing behavioral health and wellness support
services facilities at Coast Guard Academy.
Sec. 265. Required posting of information.
Sec. 266. Installation of multipurpose medical privacy rooms.
Sec. 267. Coast Guard Academy room reassignment.
Sec. 268. Authorization for use of Coast Guard Academy facilities and
equipment by covered foundations.
Sec. 269. Concurrent jurisdiction at Coast Guard Academy.
Subtitle F--Reports and Policies
Sec. 271. Policy and briefing on availability of naloxone to treat
opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses.
Sec. 272. Policy on methods to reduce incentives for illicit maritime
drug trafficking.
Sec. 273. Report on condition of aids to navigation.
Sec. 274. Feasibility study on supporting additional port visits and
deployments in support of Operation Blue
Pacific.
Sec. 275. Study and gap analysis with respect to Coast Guard Air
Station Corpus Christi aviation hangar.
Sec. 276. Report on impacts of joint travel regulations on members of
Coast Guard who rely on ferry systems.
Sec. 277. Report on Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.
Sec. 278. Report and briefings on implementing section 564 of title 14.
Sec. 279. Report on role of Coast Guard.
Sec. 280. Report on Coast Guard personnel skills.
Sec. 281. Report on Coast Guard search and rescue operations.
Sec. 282. Report on alternative sites for the location of Station St.
Thomas.
Sec. 283. Report on East Rockaway inlet navigation.
TITLE III--SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION
Subtitle A--Merchant Mariner Credentials
Sec. 301. Merchant mariner credentialing.
Sec. 302. Nonoperating individual.
Subtitle B--Vessel Safety
Sec. 311. Grossly negligent operations of a vessel.
Sec. 312. Performance driven examination schedule.
Sec. 313. Fishing vessel and fisherman training safety.
Sec. 314. Designating pilotage waters for the Straits of Mackinac.
Sec. 315. Study of amphibious vessels.
Sec. 316. St. Lucie River railroad bridge.
Sec. 317. Large recreational vessel regulations.
Subtitle C--Ports
Sec. 321. Ports and waterways safety.
Sec. 322. Study on Bering Strait vessel traffic projections and
emergency response posture at ports of the
United States.
Sec. 323. Improving Vessel Traffic Service monitoring.
Sec. 324. Controlled substance onboard vessels.
Sec. 325. Cyber-incident training.
Sec. 326. Navigational protocols.
Sec. 327. Anchorages.
Subtitle D--Matters Involving Autonomous Systems
Sec. 331. Establishment of National Advisory Committee on Autonomous
Maritime Systems.
Sec. 332. Pilot program for governance and oversight of small uncrewed
maritime systems.
Sec. 333. Coast Guard training course.
Sec. 334. NOAA membership on Autonomous Vessel Policy Council.
Sec. 335. Technology pilot program.
Sec. 336. Uncrewed systems capabilities report.
Sec. 337. Medium unmanned aircraft systems capabilities study.
Sec. 338. Comptroller General report on Coast Guard acquisition and
deployment of unmanned systems.
Sec. 339. National Academies of Sciences report on unmanned systems and
use of data.
Sec. 340. Unmanned aircraft systems.
Subtitle E--Other Matters
Sec. 341. Information on type approval certificates.
Sec. 342. Clarification of authorities.
Sec. 343. Amendments to passenger vessel security and safety
requirements.
Sec. 344. Extension of pilot program to establish a cetacean desk for
Puget Sound region.
Sec. 345. Suspension of enforcement of use of devices broadcasting on
AIS for purposes of marking fishing gear.
Sec. 346. Classification societies.
Sec. 347. Abandoned and derelict vessel removals.
Sec. 348. Offshore operations.
Sec. 349. Administrative costs.
Sec. 350. Briefing on deployment of Special Purpose Craft - Heavy
Weather second generation (SPC-HWX II)
vessels in Pacific Northwest.
TITLE IV--OIL POLLUTION RESPONSE
Sec. 401. Vessel response plans.
Sec. 402. Use of marine casualty investigations.
Sec. 403. Timing of review.
Sec. 404. Online incident reporting system.
Sec. 405. Investment of Exxon Valdez oil spill court recovery in high
yield investments and marine research.
Sec. 406. Additional response assets.
Sec. 407. International maritime oil spill response.
TITLE V--SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT RESPONSE
Sec. 501. Independent review of Coast Guard reforms.
Sec. 502. Comprehensive policy and procedures on retention and access
to evidence and records relating to sexual
misconduct and other misconduct.
Sec. 503. Consideration of request for transfer of a cadet at the Coast
Guard Academy who is the victim of a sexual
assault or related offense.
Sec. 504. Designation of officers with particular expertise in military
justice or healthcare.
Sec. 505. Safe-to-Report policy for Coast Guard.
Sec. 506. Modification of reporting requirements on covered misconduct
in Coast Guard.
Sec. 507. Modifications to the officer involuntary separation process.
Sec. 508. Review of discharge characterization.
Sec. 509. Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial.
Sec. 510. Definition of covered misconduct.
Sec. 511. Notification of changes to Uniform Code of Military Justice
or Manual for Courts Martial relating to
covered misconduct.
Sec. 512. Complaints of retaliation by victims of sexual assault or
sexual harassment and related persons.
Sec. 513. Development of policies on military protective orders.
Sec. 514. Coast Guard implementation of independent review commission
recommendations on addressing sexual
assault and sexual harassment in the
military.
Sec. 515. Policy relating to care and support of victims of covered
misconduct.
Sec. 516. Establishment of special victim capabilities to respond to
allegations of certain special victim
offenses.
Sec. 517. Members asserting post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual
assault, or traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 518. Participation in CATCH a Serial Offender program.
Sec. 519. Accountability and transparency relating to allegations of
misconduct against senior leaders.
Sec. 520. Confidential reporting of sexual harassment.
Sec. 521. Report on policy on whistleblower protections.
Sec. 522. Review and modification of Coast Guard Academy policy on
sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Sec. 523. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Academy access to defense sexual
assault incident database.
Sec. 524. Director of Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Sec. 525. Modifications and revisions relating to reopening retired
grade determinations.
Sec. 526. Inclusion and command review of information on covered
misconduct in personnel service records.
Sec. 527. Flag officer review of, and concurrence in, separation of
members who have reported sexual
misconduct.
Sec. 528. Expedited transfer in cases of sexual misconduct or domestic
violence.
Sec. 529. Access to temporary separation program for victims of alleged
sex-related offenses.
Sec. 530. Policy and program to expand prevention of sexual misconduct.
Sec. 531. Continuous vetting of security clearances.
Sec. 532. Training and education programs for covered misconduct
prevention and response.
Sec. 533. Requirement to report sexual offenses.
TITLE VI--COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORTS
Sec. 601. Comptroller General report on Coast Guard research,
development, and innovation program.
Sec. 602. Comptroller General review of quality and availability of
Coast Guard behavioral health care and
resources for personnel wellness.
Sec. 603. Comptroller General study on Coast Guard efforts to reduce
prevalence of missing or incomplete medical
records and sharing of medical data with
Department of Veterans Affairs and other
entities.
Sec. 604. Comptroller General study on Coast Guard training facility
infrastructure.
Sec. 605. Comptroller General study on Coast Guard basic allowance for
housing.
Sec. 606. Comptroller General report on safety and security
infrastructure at Coast Guard Academy.
Sec. 607. Comptroller General study and report on permanent change of
station process.
TITLE VII--AMENDMENTS
Sec. 701. Amendments.
SECTION 2. COMMANDANT DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``Commandant'' means the Commandant of the
Coast Guard.
TITLE I--COAST GUARD
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking
``fiscal years 2022 and 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal years
2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking clauses (i) and
(ii) and inserting the following:
``(i) $11,287,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(ii) $11,851,875,000 for fiscal year
2026;
``(iii) $13,500,000,000 for fiscal year
2027;
``(iv) $14,500,000,000 for fiscal year
2028; and
``(v) $15,500,000,000 for fiscal year
2029.'';
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$23,456,000''
and inserting ``$25,570,000''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``subparagraph
(A)(ii), $24,353,000'' and inserting ``clauses (ii),
(iii), (iv), and (v) of subparagraph (A), respectively,
$26,848,500'';
(3) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clauses (i) and (ii)
and inserting the following:
``(i) $3,627,600,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(ii) $3,651,480,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(iii) $3,700,000,000 for fiscal year
2027;
``(iv) $3,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
and
``(v) $3,800,000,000 for fiscal year
2029.'';
(4) in paragraph (3) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B)
and inserting the following:
``(A) $15,415,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(B) $67,701,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(C) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(D) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
``(E) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''; and
(5) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) For retired pay, including the payment of obligations
otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for purposes of
retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family
Protection and Survivor Benefits Plans, payment for career
status bonuses, payment of continuation pay under section 356
of title 37, concurrent receipts, combat-related special
compensation, and payments for medical care of retired
personnel and their dependents under chapter 55 of title 10--
``(A) $1,147,244,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(B) $1,057,929,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(C) $1,215,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(D) $1,380,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
``(E) $1,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZED LEVELS OF MILITARY STRENGTH AND TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Section 4904 of title 14, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ``44,500 for each of
fiscal years 2022 and 2023'' and inserting ``50,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 and 2026, 55,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
60,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 and 2029''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by
striking ``for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023'';
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``2,500 student
years'' and inserting ``4,000 student years for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029'';
(C) in paragraph (2) by striking ``165 student
years'' and inserting ``250 student years for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029'';
(D) in paragraph (3) by striking ``385 student
years'' and inserting ``700 student years for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029''; and
(E) in paragraph (4) by striking ``1,200 student
years'' and inserting ``1,600 student years for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
(b) Reporting Requirement.--In any fiscal year in which the
submission required under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code,
does not include a proportional increase in the Operations and Support
funding under section 4902(1)(A) of title 14, United States Code, to
support the end strengths authorized under the amendments made by
subsection (a)--
(1) the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report on the plan of the Coast
Guard to achieve growth in the Coast Guard's military strength
to 60,000, which shall include--
(A) proposed missions and purposes for the growth