The U.S. House of Representatives on May 14 voted 376-16 to approve a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) to bolster and authorize federal funding for the U.S. Coast Guard.
“This bill provides the Coast Guard with the authorities and resources it needs to carry out [its] many critical missions,” said Rep. Graves, who in March sponsored the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024, H.R. 7659, alongside three original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA).
The House advanced the bill to the U.S. Senate, which on May 15 referred it for consideration to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
If enacted, the measure would reauthorize certain Coast Guard authorities and programs through fiscal year 2026, including extending current levels for active-duty personnel and military training student loans, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“The men and women of the Coast Guard deserve the support of this Congress in their efforts to meet the challenges of their ever-growing mission set,” Rep. Graves said. “Those missions are wide-ranging and include ensuring the safety of maritime trade and a critical part of our supply chain, enforcing U.S. laws at sea, protecting our nation’s borders, helping counter undue Chinese influence in the Pacific, helping to develop the United States’ redefined role in the rapidly changing Arctic, and countering human trafficking and the influx of illicit drugs into the country.”
Among numerous provisions, H.R. 7659 would authorize the Coast Guard to act to protect against damage or destruction resulting from cyber incidents, transnational organized crime, or foreign state threats, states the summary.
H.R. 7659 also would provide the Coast Guard with direct hire authority to appoint Coast Guard Academy civilian faculty, and would expand benefits for individuals who are participating in the Career Intermission Program to include benefits such as disability and death benefits, the summary says.
“Passing our bipartisan bill in the House today is an important step toward ensuring the United States Coast Guard has the resources it needs to take care of its service members, carry out its mission, and safeguard the nation at sea,” Rep. Larsen said. “Critically, it also fights sexual violence by holding the Coast Guard accountable for its sexual assault and harassment mitigation and prevention efforts.”