[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E541-E542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2024

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
brave and selfless members of our nation's Coast Guard. I also rise to 
urge my colleagues to join me in working to develop America's maritime 
and shipbuilding workforce to meet the growing demand of the offshore 
wind industry.
  I am concerned that the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which is a 
critical piece of legislation, includes language that would be 
detrimental to the budding domestic offshore wind industry. If enacted 
without changes, this bill would significantly slow our transition to 
clean, renewable, and domestic energy. We have seen this worrisome 
provision before. Numerous stakeholders, then and now, have expressed 
concern that crewing requirements on globally rare vessels that are 
already in high demand would make it all but impossible for offshore 
wind projects to move forward in the near term.
  While I certainly share the goal of expanding opportunities for 
American mariners in offshore wind farm construction, this jeopardizes 
jobs in offshore wind manufacturing as well as jobs that will last 
decades in offshore wind turbine operations and maintenance. While I 
plan to vote for this legislation due to the important work of our 
nation's Coast Guard, I urge my colleagues to work together and remove 
this shortsighted provision.
  Last spring, in the interest of finding a path to empower American 
workers without threatening progress in the near term, I introduced the 
Offshore Wind American Manufacturing Act. This Act requires the U.S. 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to inform 
public and private investment in shipbuilding and workforce training to 
support the Biden Administration's goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of 
offshore wind energy by 2030. The study would also identify ways that 
current policies could be strengthened to support

[[Page E542]]

American workers, including new opportunities for American mariners 
interested in installing offshore wind on the outer continental shelf.
  This study is a pragmatic approach that balances our responsibility 
to reduce emissions and support American workers and mariners. Thanks 
to momentum generated by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, 
offshore wind has the potential to catalyze major investments in 
American manufacturing and shipbuilding. By studying opportunities to 
maximize the role of American mariners and shipbuilders in meeting 
these goals, we ensure that we do not allow the perfect to become the 
enemy of the good.