02.01.16

Coast Guard Bill Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today heralded the U.S. House of Representative’s unanimous passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which included several key provisions vital to Alaskans’ interests.  The legislation, which heads to the President’s desk for signature, authorizes funding to support the mission and needs of the U.S. Coast Guard through 2017.

"The members of the U.S. Coast Guard are always ready to rescue Alaskans in moments of crisis and defend our nation when threats emerge,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Coast Guard Authorization Act provides vital support to the Coast Guard so that its brave men and women can fulfill their mission. The final bill also has some big wins for Alaska, including reducing the cost of building new fishing vessels for commercial fishermen, laying the groundwork for more icebreakers in the Arctic, and transferring several pieces of federal land into Alaskan hands for new development. I’m glad to see this bill heading to the President’s desk."

Specifically, the Coast Guard Authorization Act includes: 

  • The Port Spencer Land Conveyance Act, which conveys land at Point Spencer to the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska for potential infrastructure development.
  • A land conveyance in Tok, which will allow the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to continue operating the Tok Area Counseling Center, the only behavioral health center in the region.
  • A provision that would reduce the cost of building a new fishing vessel, thereby encouraging new construction by providing a safe alternative to requiring costly certification by classification societies. 
  • Language that would pave the way for growing America’s polar icebreaker fleet by allowing the Coast Guard to pay for a polar icebreaker incrementally, rather than requiring full funding in a single year. The bill would also require the Coast Guard to determine the feasibility of refurbishing the icebreaker, “Polar Sea,” which has been laid up since suffering a catastrophic engine failure in 2010.

Senator Sullivan also championed the following three amendments that were included in the final bill:

  • The Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015, which would finalize land transfers and conveyances owed to the people of St. Paul under the Fur Seal Act Amendments of 1983 and the Pribilof Transition Act of 2000.
  • Cosponsored an amendment sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), which extends combat-related special compensation to members of the Coast Guard, commensurate with other branches of the military. 
  • Cosponsored an amendment sponsored by Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), which authorizes $4 million in FY 2016, and $10 million FY 2017 for a feasibility study, specification development, and any other pre-acquisition activities necessary for procuring a polar icebreaker. 

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