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<bill bill-stage="Introduced-in-House" dms-id="H216466462578484E8FD4E6B2666B0CD3" public-private="public" key="H" bill-type="olc"><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
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<dc:title>119 HR 3397 IH: Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. House of Representatives</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2025-05-14</dc:date>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">I</distribution-code><congress display="yes">119th CONGRESS</congress><session display="yes">1st Session</session><legis-num display="yes">H. R. 3397</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES</current-chamber><action display="yes"><action-date date="20250514">May 14, 2025</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="K000388">Mr. Kelly of Mississippi</sponsor> (for himself and <cosponsor name-id="C001055">Mr. Case</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the <committee-name committee-id="HPW00">Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title display="yes">To amend title 14, United States Code, to require the establishment of the Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body id="H3E3754C2852F4857802D1D6353C8C664" style="OLC"> 
<section id="H19583278AA48405AB1816771E3695DC6" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short Title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H198C3D6812584A93A1651F40E5C4DF66"><enum>2.</enum><header>Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance</header> <subsection id="HC046D6939D934051A6EAC292E8499568"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/14/3">Chapter 3</external-xref> of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> 
<quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB015971596A5497FA87D2CD79AD35EE9"> 
<section id="H39499A2FB2474B85A7D2D3E474913819"><enum>324.</enum><header>Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance</header> 
<subsection id="H0DCEF2788D704E25A4595D014364FFFE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish a Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance (in this section referred to as the <quote>Center</quote>). The Commandant shall model the Center after the International Law Enforcement Academies and the Department of Defense Institutes.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H4665748526804F6C80D2A62ABB123BFD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Center shall be used to provide and facilitate education, training, and research in maritime governance best practices, including how to build regional state capacity.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HAC25658F21174E16A58147EE92B74C47"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To assist the Center in carrying out the mission under subsection (b), upon request of the Center, the head of any Federal agency may grant to the Center access to the data, archives, and other resources of that agency, and may detail any personnel of that agency to the Center.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H64D32944632F4A0DA2F0496064E1614F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Joint operation with partner country</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall seek to engage with appropriate representatives of a foreign country selected at the discretion of the Commandant to reach an agreement for the operation of the Center. Any such agreement shall provide for such country to furnish necessary administrative services and facilities for the Center, including by—</text> 
<paragraph id="HB8CE2A276CFC4CAAB196B9984818AE28"><enum>(1)</enum><text>directly providing such services;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4F1ACAE825F34F17847AA61A91585B9D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>providing the funds for such services; or</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HD6D6935C8D4444ABB5406594B9142B20"><enum>(3)</enum><text>coordinating with officials of an institution of higher education located in such foreign country for the provision of such services.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="H747F1E3DA5744390BD514F11F3200646"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text> 
<quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF2D50F1C2B24A87A8DB62839085D412"> 
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> 
<toc-entry level="item">324. Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> 
<section id="H6A10E2DA66544BD684975E3EF596AB8D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>3.</enum><header>Annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific</header> 
<subsection id="H8C25E5E9CA144381A038FBBC0F81730D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/14/51">Chapter 51</external-xref> of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sections:</text> <quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAD800394040E4E6E8E30B3871E3072B4"> <section id="H9AC43AECF23842DB9EBB2A1B20854E85"><enum>5116.</enum><header>Annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific</header> <subsection id="H1E8E0EE0BD724E7E897606EEAB92EFF7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 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 elements:</text> 
<paragraph id="H0AD027D4DABF477A8D76F1B709EA389A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A list of objectives for Coast Guard engagement in the Pacific region in support of Department of State and Department of Defense missions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H04BF5B7BE05F45D5A9BAD0D833A16695"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the capabilities of the Coast Guard to support Department of State and Department of Defense missions in the Pacific region.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H0600CE9D127A45A7A18CEB8F078E8AC8"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A list of any areas in the Pacific region where an increased Coast Guard presence would better support Department of State and Department of Defense missions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H92536D97CD58436EA7FA475391899139"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 the subsequent 10 years.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H4A48901DD58D46DBB6A83337A2B713C3"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H80B761E5974E4A9CB388C481933550A2"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A summary of the resources needed for the Coast Guard to meet such projected demand for the year covered by the plan, including—</text> 
<subparagraph id="H8940132229A148D2BAEE30E7039B3831"><enum>(A)</enum><text>staff;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H09DA56862EB54F19BA8DDC7BC6F1F55F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>infrastructure, including shore infrastructure;</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="HBAE93831BD634E2996B19285CEEFA324"><enum>(C)</enum><text>administrative and logistical support; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H10D47FCF97C94601BEF6BB4CC0CB998B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>technology.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H6C6E6747C36F4446AE1F6705F6211F9F"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any other matter as determined relevant by the Commandant.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HD01328B9513046C69E35C27316615DF6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Form</header><text>Each plan under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HB9AFD34073EB47E880CA6616EB0D7666"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Briefing required</header><text>Not later than February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Commandant shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the annual plan required under subsection (a) submitted during the preceding year.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H30473F4E0F8041E5BD8F2B125DD8CA4D" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> means—</text> 
<paragraph id="H815414C636CD49499884C3BD66299944"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H778279E4567942A4AB5E351904745D36"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H633529B18B584ECB9D905CB3834F00A7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H84F305174400439AA119E0D2956607EF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H1EA45E6290A54A67B7F250200280CD98"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD3F9A89765854A9D9DA177151665B55E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> 
<section id="H9BF5444E701A49C28C3BBEFA8F3CCE4F"><enum>5117.</enum><header>Annual budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific</header> 
<subsection id="H647EFE19B0F94EC6BDE0933A62242D6F" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 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:</text> <paragraph id="H326A5E3EF461418294EA7EEC81C77975"><enum>(1)</enum><text>With respect to procurement accounts, amounts displayed by account, budget activity, line number, line item, and line item title.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H1BB989C6114844269360BA1B18B35FF1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>With respect to research, development, test, and evaluation accounts, amounts displayed by account, budget activity, line number, program element, and program element title.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H320B8B48D2804C41B5912D8F90B3EB0D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>With respect to operation and maintenance accounts, amounts displayed by account title, budget activity title, line number, and subactivity group title.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H5372D4A5FE5C4A54A6AA5DB801D7B409"><enum>(4)</enum><text>With respect to military personnel accounts, amounts displayed by account, budget activity, budget subactivity, and budget subactivity title.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HF6E173AD499142C9B8306EA27BD6D396"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Form</header><text>Each display under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H17AD9BEBC4A84921B3A4E476D9202B5D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Briefing required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HD3E420D144B54F708188907FC02880DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> has the meaning given such term in section 5116 of this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> 
<subsection id="HBA46624F4847475799F5983AF05D2B5F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new items:</text> <quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H849D3DB2AFAB4BFABB24C43AA82ABE72"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="item">5116. Annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="item">5117. Annual budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H2651C3B1C0724ED1BFA238D61A8631F5"><enum>4.</enum><header>Report on feasibility of standing Indo-Pacific maritime group</header> <subsection id="HE7FB9E2CAACB4488A9F9967119BD4D13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of establishing a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, modeled after the Standing NATO Maritime Groups, to conduct humanitarian and law enforcement missions in the Indo-Pacific region.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HC12CA36FC89D45C4A9811CE035691095"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The Commandant shall include in the report required under subsection (a)—</text> <paragraph id="H8C91747E2B5C46E2B3B4D7769616F43B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">findings on how such maritime group could enable the Coast Guard to work more effectively with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region on—</text> 
<subparagraph id="H0879D34541834B73ACFD14A428C4FBCC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>multilateral humanitarian missions;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4F24E93B9BE44F3BB048A68B8AE118E8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>anti-piracy missions;</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="HE3E32B4C133541F3B253E5DD732CEDA1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>emergency responses;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H030FAFDE89EE4F62B7CC77A9A3620CC6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>maritime domain awareness issues; and</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H16C0E93D647F46FCA8E179AE7CA54B44"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the prevention of unregulated and unreported fishing efforts; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H70A400F27D324E8B80CD4D347F4BFD8C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other matters as determined relevant by the Commandant.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> 
<section id="HEA487E6860E946BF93A9686A81622727"><enum>5.</enum><header>Report on establishment of forward operating bases</header> 
<subsection id="H5BC0A927716E4DFFA15F932B245A8F88" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on establishing forward operating bases in the Indo-Pacific region.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H13E13DF245B6413E9DB8A2A21F6A94D5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall include in the report required under subsection (a)—</text> 
<paragraph id="H453AB9F457F44810BE5E7765C3628D84"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of gaps in Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific region, including any logistical problems;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB3B4C64BAEDD4692B265B4A83AD475B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a list of locations selected for the establishment of such forward operating bases, including mobile forward operating bases;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H4BCB531499F64BC6953D455603AD01F0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a description of why each location on such list was selected;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H21C92BABB6564334BFBD2BD47570B5BC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the cost of establishing such forward operating bases;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HF8ED360C1D204A229F97B1EF6EB4A02A">
          <enum>(5)</enum>
 <text>the non-monetary resources and approvals needed to establish such forward operating bases, including authorizations and cooperation agreements; and</text>
        </paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H54D309FE8AFB4073A8EF9E78066F69D9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>a timeline for completing by not later than January 1, 2030, the establishment of such forward operating bases.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H42FAD7182BC546AFA695D74FEC66F565"><enum>6.</enum><header>Report on Coast Guard attachés</header> <subsection id="H6C42F1E59813424F84372BF8282E54E5" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Coast Guard attachés serving in embassies in the Indo-Pacific region.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HA6EACF3196FA4835BB62FE03A2A6CE6D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commandant shall include in the report required under subsection (a)—</text> <paragraph id="H743AD112C8214729B428F315BC7A7C72"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of such attachés actively serving in such embassies;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H0F6DDFB2A98C478FA191DFE3BC3F1637"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a list of any such embassies where an increased allocation of such attachés could better support United States objectives in the Indo-Pacific region; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H07BA7E56625B456BA9FCADE21ADA06A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a plan to increase the number of such attachés actively serving in such embassies, including the resources and approvals necessary to achieve such plan.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> 
<section id="HEEB0B548B89E485EB86D1E3FB8878D9B"><enum>7.</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees defined</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act, the term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> means—</text> <paragraph id="HC51B8186324D4969A7D93D5F4825ECC6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H2FAC676486394E2492256AF47A87CFF8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2BADD54E38404342AF2783DFC4E87591"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HCD61A4EF85824354B9AB0B558C57F58A"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H07CE87A375244D95B384E5B82F35AEBF"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H7B5190E4CAB74666B6617A5296CCE5D7"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.</text></paragraph></section> </legis-body></bill>

