02.09.16

Sullivan Applauds Signing of Coast Guard Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today thanked President Obama for signing the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which supports the U.S. Coast Guard, and includes an important provision transferring federal land at Point Spencer to the State of Alaska and Bering Straits Native Corporation.

"The signing of the Coast Guard Authorization Act is a big win for improving America’s focus on the crucial Arctic region, and includes several important provisions for Alaska,” Senator Sullivan said. “With the transfer of land at Point Spencer, Alaskans are witnessing a major step toward expanding our nation’s Arctic infrastructure, including the prospect of our nation’s first-ever deep-draft Arctic port. Similarly, the Act includes other important land transfers and lays the groundwork for the Coast Guard to grow our Arctic icebreaker fleet, which for too long has lagged behind other nations. Alaskans should know their congressional delegation—Senator Murkowski, Congressman Young and I—worked together and in our respective committees to ensure these land transfers and important Arctic measures became a reality.”

Background:

The Coast Guard Authorization Act includes: 

  • The Point 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 allows the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to continue operating the Tok Area Counseling Center, the only behavioral health center in the region.
  • A provision that will 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 paving 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 also requires 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 included in the final bill: 

  • The Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015, finalizing 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), extending 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), authorizing $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.

###