14 U.S.C. § 521: Saving life and property

perform any and all acts necessary to rescue and aid individuals and protect and save property; take charge of and protect all property saved from marine or aircraft disasters, or floods, at which the Coast Guard is present, until such property is claimed by individuals legally authorized to receive it or until otherwise disposed of in accordance with law or applicable regulations, and care for bodies of those who may have perished in such catastrophes; furnish clothing, food, lodging, medicines, and other necessary supplies and services to individuals succored by the Coast Guard; and destroy or tow into port sunken or floating dangers to navigation. Subject to paragraph (2), the Coast Guard may render aid to individuals and protect and save property at any time and at any place at which Coast Guard facilities and personnel are available and can be effectively utilized. The Commandant shall make full use of all available and qualified resources, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and individuals licensed by the Secretary pursuant to section 8904(b) of title 46 , United States Code, in rendering aid under this subsection in nonemergency cases. guilty of a class D felony; subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000; and liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual’s action. The Secretary shall establish a helicopter rescue swimming program for the purpose of training selected Coast Guard personnel in rescue swimming skills, which may include rescue diver training. guilty of a class E felony; and subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day for each violation. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2022 ], the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish a pilot program to improve the issuance of alerts to facilitate cooperation with the public to render aid to distressed individuals under section 521 of title 14 , United States Code. include a voluntary opt-in program under which members of the public, as appropriate, and the entities described in subsection (c), may receive notifications on cellular devices regarding Coast Guard activities to render aid to distressed individuals under section 521 of title 14 , United States Code; cover areas located within the area of responsibility of 3 different Coast Guard sectors in diverse geographic regions; and provide that the dissemination of an alert shall be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the rendering of aid to distressed individuals. the head of any relevant Federal agency; the government of any relevant State; any Tribal Government; the government of any relevant territory or possession of the United States; and any relevant political subdivision of an entity described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2026, 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 implementation of this section. The Commandant shall make the report submitted under paragraph (1) available to the public.”