14 U.S.C. § 504: Commandant; general powers

maintain water, land, and air patrols, and ice-breaking facilities; establish and prescribe the purpose of, change the location of, consolidate, discontinue, re-establish, maintain, operate, and repair Coast Guard shore establishments; assign vessels, aircraft, vehicles, aids to navigation, equipment, appliances, and supplies to Coast Guard districts and shore establishments, and transfer any of the foregoing from one district or shore establishment to another; conduct experiments and investigate, or cause to be investigated, plans, devices, and inventions relating to the performance of any Coast Guard function, including research, development, test, or evaluation related to intelligence systems and capabilities; conduct any investigations or studies that may be of assistance to the Coast Guard in the performance of any of its powers, duties, or functions; collect, publish, and distribute information concerning Coast Guard operations; conduct or make available to personnel of the Coast Guard, and to eligible spouses as defined under section 2904, such specialized training and courses of instruction, including correspondence courses and the textbooks, manuals, and other materials required as part of such training or course of instruction, as may be necessary or desirable for the good of the service; design or cause to be designed, cause to be constructed, accept as gift, or otherwise acquire patrol boats and other small craft, equip, operate, maintain, supply, and repair such patrol boats, other small craft, aircraft, and vehicles, and subject to applicable regulations under subtitle I of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 dispose of them; acquire, accept as gift, maintain, repair, and discontinue aids to navigation, appliances, equipment, and supplies; equip, operate, maintain, supply, and repair Coast Guard districts and shore establishments; establish, equip, operate, and maintain shops, depots, and yards for the manufacture and construction of aids to navigation, equipment, apparatus, vessels, vehicles, and aircraft not normally or economically obtainable from private contractors, and for the maintenance and repair of any property used by the Coast Guard; accept and utilize, in times of emergency in order to save life or protect property, such voluntary services as may be offered to the Coast Guard; rent or lease, under such terms and conditions as are deemed advisable, for a period not exceeding five years, such real property under the control of the Coast Guard as may not be required for immediate use by the Coast Guard, the monies received from any such rental or lease, less amount of expenses incurred (exclusive of governmental personal services), to be deposited in the fund established under section 2946; grant, under such terms and conditions as are deemed advisable, permits, licenses, easements, and rights-of-way over, across, in, and upon lands under the control of the Coast Guard when in the public interest and without substantially injuring the interests of the United States in the property thereby affected; establish, install, abandon, re-establish, reroute, operate, maintain, repair, purchase, or lease such telephone and telegraph lines and cables, together with all facilities, apparatus, equipment, structures, appurtenances, accessories, and supplies used or useful in connection with the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of such lines and cables, including telephones in residences leased or owned by the Government of the United States when appropriate to assure efficient response to extraordinary operational contingencies of a limited duration, and acquire such real property rights of way, easements, or attachment privileges as may be required for the installation, operation, and maintenance of such lines, cables, and equipment; establish, install, abandon, reestablish, change the location of, operate, maintain, and repair radio transmitting and receiving stations; provide medical and dental care for personnel entitled thereto by law or regulation, including care in private facilities; accept, under terms and conditions the Commandant establishes, the service of an individual ordered to perform community service under the order of a Federal, State, or municipal court; the cooperative agreements shall each provide for the parties to contribute funds or services on a matching basis to defray the costs of such programs, projects, and activities under the agreement; and an individual providing voluntary services under this subsection shall not be considered a Federal employee except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to compensation for work-related injuries, and chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, with respect to tort claims; enter into cooperative agreements with other Government agencies and the National Academy of Sciences; require that any member of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve (including a cadet or an applicant for appointment or enlistment to any of the foregoing and any member of a uniformed service who is assigned to the Coast Guard) request that all information contained in the National Driver Register pertaining to the individual, as described in section 30304(a) of title 49 , be made available to the Commandant under section 30305(b)(7) of title 49 , may receive that information, and upon receipt, shall make the information available to the individual; provide for the honorary recognition of individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to Coast Guard programs, missions, or operations, including State and local governments and commercial and nonprofit organizations, and pay for, using any appropriations or funds available to the Coast Guard, plaques, medals, trophies, badges, and similar items to acknowledge such contribution (including reasonable expenses of ceremony and presentation); rent or lease, under such terms and conditions as are considered by the Secretary to be advisable, commercial vehicles to transport the next of kin of eligible retired Coast Guard military personnel to attend funeral services of the service member at a national cemetery; after informing the Secretary, make such recommendations to the Congress relating to the Coast Guard as the Commandant considers appropriate; enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and other agreements with Federal entities and other public or private entities, including academic entities, to develop a positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide redundant capability in the event Global Positioning System signals are disrupted, which may consist of an enhanced LORAN system; and develop data workflows and processes for the leveraging of mission-relevant data by the Coast Guard to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency. Notwithstanding subsection (a)(13), a lease described in paragraph (2) of this subsection may be for a term of up to 20 years. to the United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association for the construction of an Alumni Center on the grounds of the United States Coast Guard Academy; or to an entity with which the Commandant has a cooperative agreement under section 4(e) 1 of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, and for which a term longer than 5 years is necessary to carry out the agreement. 1 See References in Text note below. the operation, regulation, inspection, identification, manning, and measurement of vessels, including plan approval and the application of load lines; approval of materials, equipment, appliances, and associated equipment; the reporting and investigation of marine casualties and accidents; the licensing, certification, documentation, protection and relief of merchant mariners; suspension and revocation of licenses and certificates; enforcement of manning requirements, citizenship requirements, control of log books; documentation and numbering of vessels; State boating safety programs; commercial instruments and maritime liens; the administration of bridge safety; administration of the navigation rules; the prevention of pollution from vessels; ports and waterways safety; waterways management; including regulation for regattas and marine parades; aids to navigation; and other duties and powers of the Secretary related to marine safety and stewardship. the authority of Coast Guard officers and members to enforce marine safety regulations using authority under section 522 of this title ; or the exercise of authority under section 527 of this title and the provisions of law codified at sections 191 through 195 of title 50 on the date of enactment of this paragraph. All authority, including programmatic budget authority, for the operation and maintenance of Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, systems, aids to navigation, infrastructure, and other assets or facilities shall be allocated to and vested in the Coast Guard and the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. The Commandant may lease under subsection (a)(13) submerged lands and tidelands under the control of the Coast Guard without regard to the limitation under that subsection with respect to lease duration. the lease is for cash exclusively; the lease amount is equal to the fair market value of the use of the leased submerged lands or tidelands for the period during which such lands are leased, as determined by the Commandant; the lease does not provide authority to or commit the Coast Guard to use or support any improvements to such submerged lands and tidelands, or obtain goods and services from the lessee; and proceeds from the lease are deposited in the Coast Guard Housing Fund established under section 2946. 140 aircraft for the purpose of meeting minimum operational capabilities until the Commandant submits the report required under this section; and 175 aircraft for the purpose of meeting minimum operational capabilities on any date after September 30, 2030 , until the Commandant submits a determination that the Coast Guard can meet its mission capabilities with fewer aircraft. In the event the operational rotary wing fleet of the Coast Guard falls below the requirements of this subsection, 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 notification not later than 5 business days after the inability of the Commandant to meet the requirement. This report shall be submitted to such committees every 120 days until the Coast Guard meets the requirement of 175 rotary wing aircraft.” Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2025 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard], in consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop a location-specific tsunami preparedness plan for each property concerned. minimizes the loss of human life; maximizes the ability of the Coast Guard to meet the mission of the Coast Guard; is included in the emergency action plan for each Coast Guard unit or sector located within the applicable tsunami inundation zone; designates an evacuation route to an assembly area located outside the tsunami inundation zone; takes into consideration near-shore and distant tsunami inundation of the property concerned; maps of all applicable tsunami inundation zones; evacuation routes and instructions for all individuals located on the property concerned; procedures to begin evacuations as expeditiously as possible upon detection of a seismic or other tsunamigenic event; evacuation plans for Coast Guard aviation and afloat assets; and routes for evacuation on foot from any location within the property concerned; or if an on-foot evacuation is not possible, an assessment of whether there is a need for vertical evacuation refuges that would allow evacuation on foot; in the case of a property concerned that is at risk for a near-shore tsunami, is able to be completely executed within 15 minutes of detection of a seismic event, or if complete execution is not possible within 15 minutes, within a timeframe the Commandant considers reasonable to minimize the loss of life; and exercised by each Coast Guard unit and sector located in the applicable tsunami inundation zone; communicated through an annual in-person training to Coast Guard personnel and dependents located or living on the property concerned; and evaluated by the relevant District Commander for each Coast Guard unit and sector located within the applicable tsunami inundation zone. In developing each preparedness plan under subsection (a), the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall consult relevant State, Tribal, and local government entities, including emergency management officials. Not later than 14 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on each plan developed under subsection (a), including the status of implementation and feasibility of each such plan. The term ‘property concerned’ means any real property owned, operated, or leased by the Coast Guard within a tsunami inundation zone. The term ‘tsunamigenic event’ means any event, such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, submarine landslide, coastal rockfall, or other event, with the magnitude to cause a tsunami. The term ‘vertical evacuation refuge’ means a structure or earthen mound designated as a place of refuge in the event of a tsunami, with sufficient height to elevate evacuees above the tsunami inundation depth, designed and constructed to resist tsunami load effects.” facilitating, at the clinic level, the provision of integrated behavioral health care for members of the Coast Guard; psychological assessment and diagnostic services, as appropriate; behavioral health services, as appropriate; education and training related to promoting positive behavioral health and well-being; and information and resources, including expedited referrals, to assist members of the Coast Guard in dealing with behavioral health concerns; improving resilience and mental health care among members of the Coast Guard who respond to extraordinary calls of duty, with the ultimate goals of preventing crises and addressing mental health concerns before such concerns evolve into more complex issues that require care at a military treatment facility; the number of such members served by behavioral health technicians; and the proportion of such members returning to duty after seeking behavioral health care; and positively impacting the Coast Guard in a cost-effective manner by extending behavioral health services to the workforce and improving access to care. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with a briefing regarding a plan to establish and conduct the Pilot Program. The Commandant shall select, for participation in the Pilot Program, 3 or more Coast Guard clinics that support units that have significantly high operational tempos or other force resiliency risks, as determined by the Commandant. assigned to each selected Coast Guard clinic; and located at a unit with high operational tempo. Before commencing an assignment at a Coast Guard clinic under subparagraph (A), a Coast Guard health services technician shall complete behavioral health technician training and independent duty health services training. To qualify for an assignment at a Coast Guard clinic under subparagraph (A), a civilian behavioral health specialist shall have at least the equivalent behavioral health training as the training required for a Coast Guard behavioral health technician under clause (i). The Commandant, in coordination with the Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety, and Work Life, shall administer the Pilot Program through the Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center. developing and sharing best practices for improving access to behavioral health care; and providing information to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives regarding the implementation of the Pilot Program and related policy issues. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a plan for carrying out subparagraph (A). the number of members of the Coast Guard who received services on site by a behavioral health technician assigned to such clinic; feedback from all members of the Coast Guard empaneled for their medical care under the Pilot Program; an assessment of the deployability and overall readiness of members of the applicable operational unit; and an estimate of potential costs and impacts on other Coast Guard health care services of supporting the Pilot Program at such units and clinics. The data and analysis required under paragraph (5)(A). A list and detailed description of lessons learned from the Pilot Program as of the date of on which the report is submitted. The feasibility, estimated cost, and impacts on other Coast Guard health care services of expanding the Pilot Program to all Coast Guard clinics, and a description of the personnel, fiscal, and administrative resources that would be needed for such an expansion. The Pilot Program shall terminate on September 30, 2028 .” Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2025 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdoses, including the use of drugs or devices approved, cleared, or otherwise legally marketed under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. at each Coast Guard clinic; at each independently located Coast Guard unit; onboard each Coast Guard cutter; and for response to known or suspected opioid overdoses, such as fentanyl, at other appropriate Coast Guard installations and facilities and onboard other Coast Guard assets. Not later than 1 year after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act or the date on which the tracking system established under section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 [ Pub. L. 118–31 ] ( 10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the Commandant shall ensure the participation of the Coast Guard in the such tracking system. Not later than 1 year after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act or the date on which the tracking system established under section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 [ Pub. L. 118–31 ] ( 10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating as a service in the Navy and the Secretary of Defense shall finalize a memorandum of understanding to facilitate Coast Guard access such tracking system. opioid overdose reversal medications; and opioids, including fentanyl. the progress made in the implementation of the updated policy required under subsection (a); the prevalence and incidence of the illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Coast Guard during the 5-year period preceding the briefing; processes of the Coast Guard to mitigate substance abuse in the Coast Guard, particularly with respect to fentanyl; and the status of the memorandum of understanding required under subsection (d). For the 5-year period preceding the briefing, a review of instances in which naloxone or other similar medication was used to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses at a Coast Guard facility, onboard a Coast Guard asset, or during a Coast Guard operation. In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Commandant shall ensure compliance with all applicable privacy law, including section 552a of title 5 , United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Privacy Act’), and the privacy regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [ Pub. L. 104–191 ] ( 42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note). For purposes of the availability requirement under subsection (b), with respect to a Coast Guard installation comprised of multiple Coast Guard facilities or units, opioid overdose reversal medications available at a single Coast Guard facility within the installation shall be considered to be available to all Coast Guard facilities or units on the installation if appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure access, at all times during operations, to the opioid overdose reversal medications contained within such single Coast Guard facility.” Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall conduct a pilot project to enhance cutter readiness and reduce lost patrol days through the deployment of condition-based program standards for cutter maintenance, in accordance with the criteria set forth in subsection (b). select at least 1 class of cutters under construction with respect to which the application of the pilot project would enhance readiness; use condition-based program standards which incorporate artificial, intelligence, prognostic based maintenance planning; create and model a full ship digital twin for the cutters selected under paragraph (1); install or modify instrumentation capable of producing full hull, mechanical, and electrical data necessary to analyze cutter operational conditions with active maintenance alerts; and evaluate and weight efficacy of potential emergent repairs as well as planned depot maintenance activities. Prior to developing the pilot project in this section, the Commandant shall evaluate commercially available products, technology, applications, standards, and technology for development and implementation of the pilot program. an interim report not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act on the progress in carrying out the pilot project described in subsection (a); and options to integrate condition-based program standards with prognostic based maintenance planning to Coast Guard cutters; and plans to deploy condition-based program standards with prognostic based maintenance planning to Coast Guard cutters.” During the 5 ice seasons beginning after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 [ Dec. 18, 2025 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall conduct a pilot program to determine the extent to which the Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutter fleet is capable of maintaining tier one and tier two waterways open 95 percent of the time during an ice season. the results of the pilot program required under subparagraph (A); and any relevant new performance measures implemented by the Coast Guard, including the measures described in pages 5 through 7 of the report of the Coast Guard titled ‘Domestic Icebreaking Operations’ and submitted to Congress on July 26, 2024 , as required by section 11212(a)(3) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 ( Public Law 117–263 ) [ 136 Stat. 4014 ], and the results of the implementation of such measures.” The Commandant shall establish and maintain a database for collecting, archiving, and disseminating data on icebreaking operations and commercial vessel and ferry transit in the Great Lakes during ice season. Attempts by commercial vessels and ferries to transit ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes that are unsuccessful because of inadequate icebreaking. The period of time that each commercial vessel or ferry was unsuccessful at transit described in paragraph (1) due to inadequate icebreaking. The amount of time elapsed before each such commercial vessel or ferry was successfully broken out of the ice and whether it was accomplished by the Coast Guard or by commercial icebreaking assets. Relevant communications of each such commercial vessel or ferry with the Coast Guard and with commercial icebreaking services during such period. A description of any mitigating circumstance, such as Coast Guard icebreaker diversions to higher priority missions, that may have contributed to the amount of time described in paragraph (3). Any reporting by operators of commercial vessels or ferries under this section shall be voluntary. The Commandant shall make the database available to the public on a publicly accessible website of the Coast Guard. With respect to the Great Lakes icebreaking operations of the Coast Guard and the development of the database required under subsection (a), the Commandant shall consult operators of commercial vessels and ferries. Not later than July 1 after the first winter in which the Commandant has submitted the report required by paragraph (3) of section 11212(a) [ 136 Stat. 4014 ], the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible website of the Coast Guard a report on the cost to the Coast Guard of meeting the proposed standards described in paragraph (2) of such section [ 136 Stat. 4014 ]. The term ‘commercial vessel’ means any privately owned cargo vessel operating in the Great Lakes during the winter season of at least 500 tons, as measured under section 14502 of title 46 , United States Code, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of such title, as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of such title. The term ‘Great Lakes’ means the United States waters of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron (including Lake St. Clair), Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, their connecting waterways, and their adjacent harbors, and the connecting channels (including the following rivers and tributaries of such rivers: Saint Mary’s River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, Illinois River, Chicago River, Fox River, Grand River, St. Joseph River, St. Louis River, Menominee River, Muskegon River, Kalamazoo River, and Saint Lawrence River to the Canadian border). The term ‘ice-covered waterway’ means any portion of the Great Lakes in which commercial vessels or ferries operate that is 70 percent or greater covered by ice, but does not include any waters adjacent to piers or docks for which commercial icebreaking services are available and adequate for the ice conditions. extricate vessels and individuals from danger; prevent damage due to flooding; meet the reasonable demands of commerce; minimize delays to passenger ferries; and conduct other Coast Guard missions as required. The term ‘reasonable demands of commerce’ means the safe movement of commercial vessels and ferries transiting ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes, regardless of type of cargo, at a speed consistent with the design capability of Coast Guard icebreakers operating in the Great Lakes and appropriate to the ice capability of the commercial vessel.” The term ‘cyber incident’ means an occurrence that actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of information on an information system, or actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, an information system. The term ‘maritime operators’ means the owners or operators of vessels engaged in commercial service, the owners or operators of facilities, and port authorities. The term ‘facilities’ has the meaning given the term ‘facility’ in section 70101 of title 46 , United States Code. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard], in coordination with the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall identify and make available to the public a list of tools and resources, including the resources of the Coast Guard and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, designed to assist maritime operators in identifying, detecting, protecting against, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents. comply with the cybersecurity framework for improving critical infrastructure established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; or use the guidelines on maritime cyber risk management issued by the International Maritime Organization on July 5, 2017 (or successor guidelines). The Commandant, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology may consult with maritime operators, other Federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and cybersecurity experts to identify tools and resources for purposes of this section.” The Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall coordinate data and artificial intelligence activities relating to identifying, demonstrating and where appropriate transitioning to operational use of artificial intelligence technologies when such technologies enhance mission capability or performance. apply data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning solutions to operational and mission-support problems; and coordinate activities involving artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities within the Coast Guard. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall designate a senior official of the Coast Guard (referred to in this section as the ‘designated official’) with the principal responsibility for the coordination of data and artificial intelligence activities relating to identifying, demonstrating, and, where appropriate, transitioning to operational use artificial intelligence and machine learning for the Coast Guard. to integrate the functional activities of the Coast Guard with respect to data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning; to ensure that there are efficient and effective data, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning capabilities throughout the Coast Guard, where appropriate; and to develop and continuously improve research, innovation, policy, joint processes, and procedures to facilitate the coordination of data and artificial intelligence activities relating to identification, demonstration, and, where appropriate, transition into operational use artificial intelligence and machine learning throughout the Coast Guard. The designated official shall develop a strategic plan to coordinate activities relating to identifying, demonstrating, and transitioning artificial intelligence technologies into operational use where appropriate. A strategic roadmap for the coordination of data and artificial intelligence activities for the identification, demonstration, and transition to operational use, where appropriate, artificial intelligence technologies and key enabling capabilities. The continuous identification, evaluation, and adaptation of relevant artificial intelligence capabilities adopted by the Coast Guard and developed and adopted by other organizations for military missions and business operations. Consideration of the identification, adoption, and procurement of artificial intelligence technologies for use in operational and mission support activities. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the designated official shall submit to the Commandant the plan developed under paragraph (1). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the plan developed under paragraph (1).” intelligence data relevant to Coast Guard missions; internet traffic, topology, and activity data relevant to such missions; and cyber threat information relevant to such missions; and data management and analytic platforms relating to such missions; and evaluate data management platforms referred to in paragraph (1)(B) to ensure that such platforms operate consistently with the Coast Guard Data Strategy. an assessment of the progress on the activities required by subsection (a); and any recommendation with respect to funding or additional authorities necessary, including proposals for legislative change, to improve Coast Guard cyber data management.” women; and racial and ethnic minorities; and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the actions the Commandant has taken, or plans to take, to implement such recommendations. officer accession points, including the Coast Guard Academy and the Leadership Development Center; enlisted member accession at the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey; and the officer, enlisted member, and civilian leadership courses managed by the Leadership Development Center. In this section, the term ‘RAND representation report’ means the report of the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center of the RAND Corporation entitled ‘Improving the Representation of Women and Racial/Ethnic Minorities Among U.S. Coast Guard Active-Duty Members’, issued on August 11, 2021 .” military exercises in the exclusive economic zone (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1802 )); or other military activities that will impact recreational or commercial activities.” Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard], in consultation with the Defense Health Agency and any healthcare expert the Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop medical staffing standards for the Coast Guard that are consistent with the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States set forth in the report titled ‘Coast Guard Health Care: Improvements Needed for Determining Staffing Needs and Monitoring Access to Care’ and published in February 2022. Current and future operations of healthcare personnel in support of Department of Homeland Security missions, including surge deployments for incident response. Staffing standards for specialized providers, including flight surgeons, dentists, behavioral health specialists, and physical therapists. members of the Coast Guard; assigned to the Coast Guard from the Public Health Service; Federal civilian employees; or contractors hired by the Coast Guard to fill vacancies. Staffing levels at medical facilities for Coast Guard units in remote locations. Any discrepancy between medical staffing standards of the Department of Defense and medical staffing standards of the Coast Guard. Not later than 90 days after the Commandant completes the staffing standards required by subsection (a), the Commandant shall submit the standards to the Comptroller General, who shall review the standards and provide recommendations to the Commandant. Not later than 180 days after developing the standards developed under subsection (a), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the standards developed under subsection (a) and the recommendations provided under subsection (c) that includes a plan and a description of the resources and budgetary needs required to implement the standards. modify such standards, as necessary, based on the recommendations under subsection (c); implement the standards; and review and update the standards not less frequently than every 4 years.” Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard], in consultation with the Defense Health Agency and any healthcare expert the Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop, and make publicly available, a policy to require the collection of data regarding access by members of the Coast Guard and their dependents to medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare as recommended by the Comptroller General of the United States in the report entitled ‘Coast Guard Health Care: Improvements Needed for Determining Staffing Needs and Monitoring Access to Care’, published in February 2022. routine annual physical health assessments; flight physicals for aviators or prospective aviators; sick call; injuries; dental health; and behavioral health conditions. Collection of data on access to care for referrals. Collection of data on access to care for members of the Coast Guard stationed at remote units, aboard Coast Guard cutters, and on deployments. Use of the electronic health record system to improve data collection on access to care. Use of data for addressing the standards of care, including time between requests for appointments and actual appointments, including appointments made with referral services. publish the policy on a publicly accessible internet website of the Coast Guard; and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the policy and the manner in which the Commandant plans to address access-to-care deficiencies. Not less frequently than every 5 years, the Commandant shall review and update the policy required under subsection (a).” Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall establish an interim behavioral health policy for members of the Coast Guard that is in parity with section 5.28 (relating to behavioral health) of Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03, volume 2, ‘Medical Standards for Military Service: Retention’. The interim policy established under paragraph (1) shall remain in effect until the date on which the Commandant issues a permanent behavioral health policy for members of the Coast Guard. In developing a permanent policy with respect to retention and behavioral health, the Commandant shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, the policy of the Coast Guard is in parity with section 5.28 (relating to behavioral health) of Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03, volume 2, ‘Medical Standards for Military Service: Retention’.” Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2025 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall hire, train, and deploy not fewer than 5 additional behavioral health specialists, in addition to the personnel required under section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 [ Pub. L. 117–263 ] ( 14 U.S.C. 504 note) [set out below]. behavioral health care related to military sexual trauma; and behavioral health care for the purpose of supporting members of the Coast Guard with needs for mental health care and counseling services for post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders related to military sexual trauma. may include care delivered via telemedicine; and shall be made widely available to members of the Coast Guard. the personnel referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2); and the personnel required under section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 ( 14 U.S.C. 504 note). the date of publication of the hiring opportunity for all such personnel; the General Schedule grade level advertised in the publication of the hiring opportunity for all such personnel; the number of personnel to whom the Coast Guard extended an offer of employment in accordance with the requirements of this section [enacting this note and section 7231(a) of Pub. L. 119–60 , set out as a note above] and section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 ( 14 U.S.C. 504 note), and the number of such personnel who accepted or declined such offer of employment; a summary of the efforts by the Coast Guard to publicize, advertise, or otherwise recruit qualified candidates in accordance with the requirements of this section and section 11412(a) of such Act; and any recommendations and a detailed plan to ensure full compliance with the requirements of this section and section 11412(a) of such Act, which may include special payments discussed in the report of the Government Accountability Office titled ‘Federal Pay: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Strategic Use of Special Payments’, published on December 7, 2017 (GAO–18–91), which may be made available to help ensure full compliance with all such requirements in a timely manner.” Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall hire, train, and deploy not fewer than an additional 5 behavioral health specialists. Through the hiring process required under subsection (a), the Commandant shall ensure that at least 35 percent of behavioral health specialists employed by the Coast Guard have experience in behavioral healthcare for the purpose of supporting members of the Coast Guard with needs for perinatal mental health care and counseling service for miscarriage, child loss, and postpartum depression. may include care delivered via telemedicine; and shall be made widely available to members of the Coast Guard.” determine which recommendations in the RAND gender diversity report can practicably be implemented to promote gender diversity in the Coast Guard; and submit 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 actions the Coast Guard has taken, or plans to take, to implement such recommendations. officer accession points, including the Coast Guard Academy and the Leadership Development Center; enlisted member accession at the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey; and the officer, enlisted member, and civilian leadership courses managed by the Leadership Development Center. “Such updates shall reflect actions the Coast Guard has taken, or plans to take, to carry out the recommendations of the RAND gender diversity report. In this subsection, the term ‘RAND gender diversity report’ means the RAND Corporation’s Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center 2019 report entitled ‘Improving Gender Diversity in the U.S. Coast Guard: Identifying Barriers to Female Retention’.” develop a plan to standardize Coast Guard facility condition assessments; establish shore infrastructure performance goals, measures, and baselines to track the effectiveness of maintenance and repair investments and provide feedback on progress made; develop a process to routinely align the Coast Guard shore infrastructure portfolio with mission needs, including disposing of unneeded assets; establish guidance for planning boards to document inputs, deliberations, and project prioritization decisions for infrastructure maintenance projects; predicting the outcome of investments in shore infrastructure; analyzing tradeoffs; and optimizing decisions among competing investments; include supporting details about competing project alternatives and report tradeoffs in congressional budget requests and related reports; and explore the development of real property management expertise within the Coast Guard workforce, including members of the Senior Executive Service. Not later than December 31, 2020 , the Commandant shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the status of the actions required under subsection (a).” The Commandant [of the Coast Guard], acting through the Blue Technology Center of Expertise, shall regularly assess available unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies for potential use to support missions of the Coast Guard. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Jan. 1, 2021 ], and biennially thereafter, the Commandant shall submit 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 actual and potential effects of the use of then-existing unmanned maritime systems and satellite vessel tracking technologies on the mission effectiveness of the Coast Guard. An inventory of current unmanned maritime systems used by the Coast Guard, an overview of such usage, and a discussion of the mission effectiveness of such systems, including any benefits realized or risks or negative aspects of such usage. An inventory of satellite vessel tracking technologies, and a discussion of the potential mission effectiveness of such technologies, including any benefits or risks or negative aspects of such usage. National Security Cutters; Fast Response Cutters; Offshore Patrol Cutters; Polar Security Cutters; and in-service legacy cutters, including the 210- and 270-foot medium endurance cutters and 225-foot Buoy Tenders. remotely operated or autonomous vehicles produced by the commercial sector designed to travel in the air, on or under the ocean surface, on land, or any combination thereof, and that function without an on-board human presence; and associated components of such vehicles, including control and communications systems, data transmission systems, and processing systems. Unmanned undersea vehicles. Unmanned surface vehicles. Unmanned aerial vehicles. Autonomous underwater vehicles. Autonomous surface vehicles. Autonomous aerial vehicles. The term ‘available unmanned maritime systems’ includes systems that can be purchased commercially or are in use by the Department of Defense or other Federal agencies. The term ‘satellite vessel tracking technologies’ means shipboard broadcast systems that use satellites and terrestrial receivers to continually track vessels.” developing an understanding of how United States commercial space-based radio frequency data products can meet current and future mission requirements; establishing how United States commercial space-based radio frequency data products should integrate into existing work flows; and establishing how United States commercial space-based radio frequency data products could be integrated into analytics platforms. Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Jan. 1, 2021 ], the Commandant shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the testing and evaluation program under subsection (a), including recommendations on how the Coast Guard should fully exploit United States commercial space-based radio frequency data products to meet current and future mission requirements.” has been competitively awarded by the Department of Defense; and ensures full integration with the Department of Defense electronic health record systems. The Commandant is authorized to procure support services for the electronic health record system procured under paragraph (1) necessary to ensure full integration with the Department of Defense electronic health record systems. System integration support. Hosting support. Training, testing, technical, and data migration support. Hardware support. Any other support the Commandant considers appropriate. A task order under the Department of Defense electronic health record contract. A sole source contract award. An agreement made pursuant to sections 1535 and 1536 of title 31, United States Code. A contract or other procurement vehicle otherwise authorized. Procurement of an electronic health record system and support services pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from the competition requirements of section 2304 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.].” Repealed. Pub. L. 115–282, title VIII, § 818(b)(2) , Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4308 .] notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the standard implemented under paragraph (1).” for operation and maintenance after fiscal year 2006 of the Coast Guard polar icebreakers POLAR STAR, POLAR SEA, and HEALY, that does not rely on the transfer of funds to the Coast Guard by any other Federal agency; and for the long-term recapitalization of these assets. The Secretary shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the Coast Guard maintains, at a minimum, its current vessel capacity for carrying out ice breaking in the Arctic and Antarctic, Great Lakes, and New England regions, including the necessary funding for operation and maintenance of such vessels, until it has implemented the long-term recapitalization of the Coast Guard polar icebreakers POLAR STAR, POLAR SEA, and HEALY in accordance with the plan submitted under subsection (a). Nothing in this section shall preclude the Secretary from seeking reimbursement for operation and maintenance costs of such polar icebreakers from other Federal agencies and entities, including foreign countries, that benefit from the use of the icebreakers. There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006 to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating $100,000,000 to carry out this section with respect to the polar icebreakers referred to in subsection (a).” assistance in developing training curricula; use of Coast Guard personnel, including active duty members, members of the Coast Guard Reserve, and members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, as temporary or adjunct instructors; sharing of appropriate Coast Guard informational and safety publications; and participation on applicable fishing vessel safety training advisory panels. In providing support under subsection (a), the Commandant shall ensure that the support does not interfere with any Coast Guard function or operation.”