Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Bill Introduced

Committee leaders today introduced bipartisan legislation that authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to carry out its vital missions, improves USCG mission effectiveness, helps replace and modernize aging Coast Guard assets in a cost effective manner, enhances oversight, and reduces inefficiencies to save taxpayer dollars.  Additionally, the bill strengthens U.S. maritime transportation, reduces regulatory burdens to create jobs and encourage economic growth and improves the Nation’s competitiveness.

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R. 4005) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), T&I Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).

“This bill ensures the men and women of the Coast Guard have the tools they need to carry out their critical missions, enforce our laws on U.S. waters and on the high seas, and safeguard our Nation’s maritime interests around the world,” Shuster said.  “This bill also recognizes how essential a healthy maritime transportation sector is to our economy, our competiveness, and our national security.”

“The Coast Guard is a first line of defense against threats to our shores and this legislation reauthorizes the Coast Guard and the Federal Maritime Commission in a responsible manner that reflects the current budget environment while ensuring these agencies have the resources they need to successfully conduct their missions,” Hunter said.  “This bill improves the effectiveness of Coast Guard missions by reducing inefficient operations and enhancing oversight, places the Coast Guard’s major systems acquisition program on a sustainable track, and encourages job growth in the U.S. maritime industry by cutting regulatory burdens on job creation.”

H.R. 4005 includes provisions that support and strengthen the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. maritime transportation:
•  Authorizes the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 at fiscally responsible levels
•  Supports Coast Guard servicemembers
•  Helps replace and modernize aging Coast Guard assets in a cost effective manner
•  Encourages the Coast Guard to work with the private sector
•  Enhances Congressional oversight
•  Improves Coast Guard acquisition activities
•  Works to reduce the Coast Guard’s excess property inventory
•  Requires development of a National Maritime Strategy
•  Creates opportunities for veterans
•  Supports U.S. flagged and crewed vessels
•  Reduces regulatory burdens to create jobs and encourage economic growth
•  Reforms the Federal Maritime Commission