The House on Tuesday evening approved by voice vote a two-year authorization bill for the Coast Guard, sending the legislation to President Trump to be signed into law.
The bill gives the Coast Guard multi-year contracting authorities for major acquisition programs, allowing the service to acquire assets more efficiently and at lower costs. The bill also establishes a land-based unmanned aircraft system, something the Coast Guard wants for long-range, long-endurance patrols in the drug transit zones, although a potential program remains largely undefined.
The two-year policy bill authorizes the appropriations of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2018 and $7.9 billion in fiscal year 2019 for operations and maintenance. The bill also allows for the appropriation of $2.7 billion in both years for acquisition programs.
“This bill provides critical support for the Coast Guard’s personnel and asset acquisition programs, and modifies Coast Guard authorities to bring them in line with Department of Defense authorities,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Coast Guard panel, said in a statement following passage by the House. “The bill also includes a number of safety measures for commercial and recreational vessels, and updates the authorities of the Federal Maritime Commission to allow for better enforcement agreements under the commission’s jurisdiction.”
The Senate passed the bill earlier this month.