[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 96 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2602. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2282 submitted by Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. 
McCain) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1052. REPORT ON THE SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES OF 
                   THE ARMED FORCES IN THE ARCTIC REGION.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than 240 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
     report on the capabilities of the Armed Forces (including the 
     Coast Guard) as follows:
       (1) To conduct search and rescue activities in the Arctic 
     Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Beaufort Sea 
     adjacent to the State of Alaska.
       (2) To support search and rescue activities in other areas 
     of the Arctic Region in which such support may be required.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A description and assessment of the current 
     capabilities of the Armed Forces as described in subsection 
     (a).
       (2) A description of current demand for search and rescue 
     activities and support as described in subsection (a).
       (3) An assessment of the likely increase in demand for 
     search and rescue activities and support as described in 
     subsection (a) as a result of increasing use of the waters of 
     the Arctic Region for various activities, including shipping 
     and tourism.
       (4) A description and assessment of the extent to which the 
     United States is prepared to rely upon partner nations to 
     assist in conducting and supporting search and rescue 
     activities in the Arctic Region.
       (5) The adequacy of plans, personnel, equipment, and 
     infrastructure of the Armed Forces to conduct search and 
     rescue and provide support as described in subsection (a), 
     including communications, vessels, rotary wing aircraft, 
     fixed wing aircraft, training and equipment of personnel, and 
     land support infrastructure.
       (6) An assessment whether the current capabilities of the 
     Armed Forces as described in subsection (a) are sufficient to 
     meet present and anticipated demand for such capabilities, 
     including demand that may result from one or more 
     catastrophic incidents.
       (7) A description and assessment of any impediments to the 
     effectiveness of the capabilities of the Armed Forces as 
     described in subsection (a).
       (8) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General 
     considers appropriate for the improvement or expansion of 
     United States capacity to conduct and support search and 
     rescue activities in the Arctic Region.
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