U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) applauded President Obama’s recent signing of a Coast Guard reauthorization bill that was co-authored by Wicker.
Wicker authored portions of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2015 that address education research grant opportunities, fishing vessel certifications and revised survival craft requirements.
“I am pleased to see that this legislation has now been enacted into law,” Wicker, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said. “This bill includes significant reform for vessels, specifically ones operating in the Gulf of Mexico, which will help save taxpayers millions of dollars. It will also provide support for the Coast Guard to protect America’s coastline, waterways, and ports, as well as execute security operations around the world.”
Under the new law, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can now receive federal, state and additional research grants for which it was previously ineligible.
Another provision authored by Wicker establishes an alternative safety compliance program for fishing vessels that measure between 50 to 79 feet so owners can avoid expensive certification requirements. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on regional trends for marine causalities among vessels beyond 79 feet.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act will also update survival craft requirements for vessels that operate in cold waters and undergo a major conversion.