[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2351 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2351
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the
Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 26, 2025
Mr. McDowell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the
Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS.
Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking
``While on board a covered vessel, an'' and inserting ``An'';
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) manufacture or distribute, possess with intent to
manufacture or distribute, or place or cause to be placed with
intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance on
board a covered vessel;'';
(3) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``on board a covered
vessel'' before the semicolon; and
(4) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``while on board a
covered vessel'' after ``such individual''.
SEC. 2. POLICY AND BRIEFING ON AVAILABILITY OF NALOXONE TO TREAT OPIOID
OVERDOSES.
(a) Policy.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, 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 naloxone or other similar medication to
treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses.
(b) Availability.--The updated policy required under subsection (a)
shall require naloxone or other similar medication be available for
members of the Coast Guard--
(1) on all Coast Guard installations; and
(2) in each operational environment.
(c) Participation in 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 (10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is
established, the Commandant shall ensure the participation of the Coast
Guard in the such tracking system.
(d) Memorandum of Understanding.--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 (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.
(e) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the use, by members
and personnel of the Coast Guard at Coast Guard facilities,
onboard Coast Guard assets, and during Coast Guard operations,
of--
(A) naloxone or other similar medication to treat
opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses; and
(B) opioids, including fentanyl.
(2) Elements.--The briefing required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A description of--
(i) the progress made in the implementation
of the updated policy required under subsection
(a);
(ii) 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;
(iii) processes of the Coast Guard to
mitigate substance abuse in the Coast Guard,
particularly with respect to fentanyl; and
(iv) the status of the memorandum of
understanding required under subsection (d).
(B) 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.
(f) Privacy.--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 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note).
(g) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of the availability
requirement under subsection (b), with respect to a Coast Guard
installation comprised of multiple Coast Guard facilities or units,
naloxone or other similar medication 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 naloxone or other similar medication contained
within such single Coast Guard facility.
<all>