Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2652
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-19T18:42:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act (S. 2652) aims to strengthen U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Pacific region by mandating detailed annual planning, budgeting, and reporting requirements. It focuses on improving coordination with the Departments of State and Defense to support missions like humanitarian aid, law enforcement, and maritime security, while addressing logistical and resource needs in the Indo-Pacific area.
Key Provisions
- Short Title and Definitions: The bill is titled the "Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act." It defines "appropriate committees of Congress" as specific Senate and House committees (e.g., Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Appropriations; Armed Services; Foreign Relations/Affairs) and "Commandant" as the head of the Coast Guard.
- Annual Plan for Pacific Operations (New Section 5116):
- The Commandant must submit an annual plan by December 31 (starting in 2025) to Congress, developed in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense.
- The plan covers the following year and includes:
- Objectives for Coast Guard activities supporting State and Defense missions.
- Assessment of Coast Guard capabilities in the Pacific.
- Areas needing increased Coast Guard presence.
- Projected demand from State and Defense for the next year and 10 years ahead.
- Evaluation of whether the Coast Guard can meet that demand, including limiting factors.
- Resources needed (e.g., staff, infrastructure, support, technology).
- Any other relevant matters.
- Plans are unclassified but may include a classified annex; annual briefings to Congress are required by February 15 (starting in 2026).
- Annual Budget Display for Pacific Operations (New Section 5117):
- The Commandant must submit a detailed budget display by February 15 (starting in 2026), based on the latest annual plan.
- It breaks down funding for the next fiscal year across categories like procurement, research and development, operations and maintenance, and military personnel (e.g., by account, budget activity, line items).
- Displays are unclassified but may include a classified annex; annual briefings to Congress are required.
- Report on Standing Indo-Pacific Maritime Group (Section 4):
- Due 120 days after enactment, this report assesses the feasibility of a permanent Coast Guard-led group (similar to NATO's maritime units) for humanitarian and law enforcement missions.
- Covers benefits for cooperation on issues like multilateral aid, anti-piracy, emergency response, maritime awareness, and preventing illegal fishing.
- Report on Forward Operating Bases (Section 5):
- Due 1 year after enactment, prepared with input from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
- Includes gaps in current operations, proposed base locations (including mobile ones), justifications, costs, required resources/approvals, and a timeline to complete bases by January 1, 2030.
- Report on Coast Guard Attaches (Section 6):
- Due 180 days after enactment, in consultation with the Secretary of State.
- Details current number of Coast Guard personnel at Indo-Pacific embassies, recommendations for increasing them, and needed resources/approvals.
- Report on Consular Officers on Missions (Section 7):
- Due 120 days after enactment, led by the Secretary of Defense with input from the Coast Guard, Indo-Pacific Command, and Navy.
- Analyzes attaching State Department consular officers (who handle visas and citizen services) to Coast Guard and Navy visits to Pacific Island countries without U.S. embassies.
- Assesses demand for services, time/cost savings for citizens, implementation costs/logistics (e.g., space on ships, IT needs, security), and impacts on missions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Chapter 51 of Title 14, United States Code (which governs Coast Guard money and finances) by adding two new sections (5116 and 5117) requiring annual plans, budget displays, and briefings specifically for Pacific operations.
- Updates the chapter's table of contents to include these new sections.
- Introduces one-time reports on strategic enhancements (e.g., maritime groups, bases, attaches, consular attachments), which do not exist in current law.
- No changes to overall Coast Guard authority or funding mechanisms, but adds mandatory transparency and interagency coordination for Pacific-focused activities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances planning and resource allocation for the Coast Guard, requiring closer collaboration with the Departments of State and Defense. This could improve efficiency in Pacific missions but increase administrative workload for reporting and briefings. The Navy and Indo-Pacific Command may face minor operational adjustments for consular attachments.
- Citizens: Pacific Island residents without nearby U.S. embassies could gain easier access to consular services (e.g., visas, passports) via ship visits, reducing travel burdens. U.S. citizens in the region might indirectly benefit from stronger humanitarian and security responses.
- International Relations: Boosts U.S. engagement with Indo-Pacific partners through increased Coast Guard presence, joint missions, and infrastructure, potentially strengthening alliances on issues like illegal fishing and disaster response. Could signal U.S. commitment to countering regional challenges (e.g., from China) without escalating military tensions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Entities: Coast Guard (primary implementer), Departments of State and Defense (consultation and missions), and congressional committees (oversight and funding).
- International Partners: Governments and citizens of Pacific Island countries and Indo-Pacific nations, benefiting from enhanced cooperation on security, aid, and services.
- U.S. Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through budgeted resources for Pacific operations and infrastructure.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear mandates for reporting and planning without altering core Coast Guard powers under Title 14; allows classified annexes to protect sensitive information, aligning with existing national security practices. Reports must be submitted to Congress, reinforcing congressional oversight of executive branch activities.
- Constitutional: Supports Congress's constitutional role in funding and regulating armed forces (via appropriations committees) and foreign affairs, without infringing on executive foreign policy authority.
- Political: Promotes strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific, a high-priority region amid geopolitical competition. Bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., Senators Schatz, Wicker, Hirono, Duckworth) suggests broad support for bolstering non-military tools like the Coast Guard, potentially influencing future budgets and alliances without major controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-08-01: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act — issued 2025-08-01 — PDF (12 pages)