[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2652 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2652
To amend title 14, United States Code, to require an annual plan and
budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Hirono, and Ms. Duckworth)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 14, United States Code, to require an annual plan and
budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Commandant.--The term ``Commandant'' means the
Commandant of the Coast Guard.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL PLAN AND BUDGET DISPLAY FOR COAST GUARD OPERATIONS IN
THE PACIFIC.
(a) In General.--Chapter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 5116. Annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific
``(a) In General.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually
thereafter, the Commandant, in consultation with the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific
region for the year after the year during which the plan is submitted.
Such plan shall include, for the year covered by the plan, each of the
following:
``(1) A list of objectives for Coast Guard engagement in
the Pacific region in support of Department of State and
Department of Defense missions.
``(2) An assessment of the capabilities of the Coast Guard
to support Department of State and Department of Defense
missions in the Pacific region.
``(3) A list of any areas in the Pacific region in which an
increased Coast Guard presence would better support Department
of State and Department of Defense missions.
``(4) The projected demand for Coast Guard engagement in
the Pacific region from the Department of State and the
Department of Defense for the year covered by the plan and
during the subsequent 10-year period.
``(5) An assessment of whether the Coast Guard will be able
to meet such projected demand for the year covered by the plan,
including a list of any factors limiting the ability of the
Coast Guard to meet such projected demand.
``(6) A summary of the resources needed for the Coast Guard
to meet such projected demand for the year covered by the plan,
including--
``(A) staff;
``(B) infrastructure, including shore
infrastructure;
``(C) administrative and logistical support; and
``(D) technology.
``(7) Any other matter the Commandant considers
appropriate.
``(b) Form.--Each plan required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
``(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than February 15, 2026, and
annually thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate
committees of Congress a briefing on the annual plan required by
subsection (a) submitted during the preceding year.
``(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
``(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
``(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives.
``Sec. 5117. Annual budget display for Coast Guard operations in the
Pacific
``(a) In General.--Not later than February 15, 2026, and annually
thereafter, the Commandant shall submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress a detailed budget display for Coast Guard operations in the
Pacific region for the fiscal year after the fiscal year during which
the budget display is submitted. The Commandant shall base such budget
display on the projected demand for Coast Guard engagement in the
Pacific region as identified in the most recent annual plan developed
under section 5116 of this title. Such budget display shall include,
for the year covered by the budget display, the following information:
``(1) With respect to procurement accounts, amounts
displayed by account, budget activity, line number, line item,
and line item title.
``(2) With respect to research, development, test, and
evaluation accounts, amounts displayed by account, budget
activity, line number, program element, and program element
title.
``(3) With respect to operation and maintenance accounts,
amounts displayed by account title, budget activity title, line
number, and subactivity group title.
``(4) With respect to military personnel accounts, amounts
displayed by account, budget activity, budget subactivity, and
budget subactivity title.
``(b) Form.--Each display under subsection (a) shall be submitted
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
``(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than February 15, 2026, and
annually thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate
congressional committees a briefing on the budget display required by
subsection (a) for the fiscal year after the fiscal year during which
the briefing is provided.
``(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
``(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
``(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new items:
``5116. Annual plan for the Coast Guard operations in the Pacific.''.
``5117. Annual budget display for Coast Guard operations in the
Pacific.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF STANDING INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME GROUP.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the feasibility of establishing a
standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, modeled after the standing North
Atlantic Treaty Organization maritime groups, to conduct humanitarian
and law enforcement missions in the Indo-Pacific region.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) Findings on the manner in which a standing Indo-Pacific
maritime group could enable the Coast Guard to work more
effectively with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region
on--
(A) multilateral humanitarian missions;
(B) anti-piracy missions;
(C) emergency responses;
(D) maritime domain awareness issues; and
(E) the prevention of unregulated and unreported
fishing efforts.
(2) Any other matter the Commandant considers appropriate.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FORWARD OPERATING BASES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in consultation with the
Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on establishing forward
operating bases in the Indo-Pacific region.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) A description of gaps in Coast Guard operations in the
Indo-Pacific region, including any logistical problems.
(2) A list of locations selected for the establishment of
forward operating bases in the Indo-Pacific region, including
mobile forward operating bases.
(3) A justification for the selection of each location on
such list.
(4) The cost of establishing such forward operating bases.
(5) The non-monetary resources and approvals needed to
establish such forward operating bases, including
authorizations and cooperation agreements.
(6) A timeline for completing, not later than January 1,
2030, the establishment of such forward operating bases.
SEC. 6. REPORT ON COAST GUARD ATTACHES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on Coast Guard attaches serving in embassies in the
Indo-Pacific region.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) The number of such Coast Guard attaches actively
serving in embassies in the Indo-Pacific region.
(2) A list of such embassies at which an increased
allocation of such attaches could better support United States
objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
(3) A plan to increase the number of such attaches actively
serving in such embassies, including the resources and
approvals necessary to achieve such plan.
SEC. 7. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF STATE CONSULAR OFFICERS JOINING COAST
GUARD AND NAVY MISSIONS TO PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
the Commandant, the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific
Command, and the Chief of Naval Operations, shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report that analyzes the
feasibility of an initiative to attach Department of State consular
officers to Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of the current demand for consular
services from citizens of Pacific Island countries and the
challenges such citizens face in obtaining consular services.
(2) An assessment of the approximate time and resources
citizens of Pacific Island countries that do not host United
States embassies would save by having their United States visas
adjudicated, or by receiving other consular services, through
the initiative described in subsection (a).
(3) An assessment of the cost that would be incurred by the
Department of State, the Coast Guard, the United States Indo-
Pacific Command, and the Navy through the implementation of
such initiative, including potential alternative cost-effective
options and recommendations for providing efficient consular
services to Pacific Island countries.
(4) An assessment of the frequency and duration of Coast
Guard and Navy deployments to Pacific Island countries,
including--
(A) deployment frequency measured against the
desired number of visits;
(B) the amount of time typically spent in port for
such visits; and
(C) disruption to planned Coast Guard and Navy
missions in order to visit locations needing consular
assistance.
(5) An evaluation of the logistical issues needing to be
addressed to implement the initiative, including--
(A) an analysis of spacing requirements to host
Department of State personnel and equipment aboard
Coast Guard and Navy vessels;
(B) an analysis of the information technology and
connectivity requirements to conduct consular affairs
activities;
(C) the feasibility of printing visas aboard Coast
Guard and Navy vessels or alternatives to such
printing, including remote printing and mailing of
passports with visas;
(D) the maintenance of the physical security of
consular officers and relevant adjudication equipment,
including computer systems and visa foils, during such
missions;
(E) the impacts on the operations and security of
Coast Guard and Navy vessels; and
(F) the estimated time consular officers would
spend on board Coast Guard and Navy vessels between
visits to Pacific Island countries.
<all>