[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 98 (Monday, June 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2547-H2548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2351) to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the
policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug
overdose, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2351
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS.
Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking
``While on board a covered vessel, an'' and inserting ``An'';
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) manufacture or distribute, possess with intent to
manufacture or distribute, or place or cause to be placed
with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled
substance on board a covered vessel;'';
(3) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``on board a covered
vessel'' before the semicolon; and
(4) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``while on board a
covered vessel'' after ``such individual''.
SEC. 2. POLICY AND BRIEFING ON AVAILABILITY OF NALOXONE TO
TREAT OPIOID OVERDOSES.
(a) Policy.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard
shall update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use
of medication to treat drug overdoses, including the use of
naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid,
including fentanyl, overdoses.
(b) Availability.--The updated policy required under
subsection (a) shall require naloxone or other similar
medication be available for members of the Coast Guard--
(1) on all Coast Guard installations; and
(2) in each operational environment.
(c) Participation in Tracking System.--Not later than 1
year after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act
or the date on which the tracking system established under
section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the
Commandant shall ensure the participation of the Coast Guard
in the such tracking system.
(d) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 1 year
after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act or the
date on which the tracking system established under section
706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2024 (10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not
operating as a service in the Navy and the Secretary of
Defense shall finalize a memorandum of understanding to
facilitate Coast Guard access such tracking system.
(e) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the use, by
members and personnel of the Coast Guard at Coast Guard
facilities, onboard Coast Guard assets, and during Coast
Guard operations, of--
[[Page H2548]]
(A) naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid,
including fentanyl, overdoses; and
(B) opioids, including fentanyl.
(2) Elements.--The briefing required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A description of--
(i) the progress made in the implementation of the updated
policy required under subsection (a);
(ii) the prevalence and incidence of the illegal use of
fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Coast Guard
during the 5-year period preceding the briefing;
(iii) processes of the Coast Guard to mitigate substance
abuse in the Coast Guard, particularly with respect to
fentanyl; and
(iv) the status of the memorandum of understanding required
under subsection (d).
(B) For the 5-year period preceding the briefing, a review
of instances in which naloxone or other similar medication
was used to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses at a
Coast Guard facility, onboard a Coast Guard asset, or during
a Coast Guard operation.
(f) Privacy.--In carrying out the requirements of this
section, the Commandant shall ensure compliance with all
applicable privacy law, including section 552a of title 5,
United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Privacy
Act''), and the privacy regulations promulgated under section
264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note).
(g) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of the availability
requirement under subsection (b), with respect to a Coast
Guard installation comprised of multiple Coast Guard
facilities or units, naloxone or other similar medication
available at a single Coast Guard facility within the
installation shall be considered to be available to all Coast
Guard facilities or units on the installation if appropriate
arrangements are in place to ensure access, at all times
during operations, to the naloxone or other similar
medication contained within such single Coast Guard facility.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Carbajal) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.
General Leave
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material in the Record for H.R. 2351.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2351 directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to
update the services policy regarding use of medication to treat drug
overdoses.
This bill also strengthens the Coast Guard's ability to go after drug
traffickers and respond to opioid overdoses. H.R. 2351 amends the
Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, removing ambiguities in the current
law which prohibits the prosecution of cases involving unmanned or
autonomous vessels. This bill will therefore ensure that drug
traffickers responsible can be charged, tried, and convicted.
Mr. Speaker, I thank T&I Committee member, Representative McDowell,
for his leadership on this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 2351, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2351, a bill requiring the
Coast Guard to have a substantive policy on treating drug overdoses
onboard vessels and also ensuring that the Coast Guard has the legal
authority to prosecute certain drug smuggling cases.
I would also like to express my thanks for the bipartisan leadership
of Chair Sam Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and Subcommittee Chair
Ezell.
This bill will strengthen the Coast Guard's ability to meet a core
mission, saving lives. As we all know, the Coast Guard is involved in
high-risk drug interdiction missions, as well as recreational boating
oversight where drugs may also be present.
This bill requires the Coast Guard to update its policy on carrying
and utilizing medications to treat drug overdoses such as naloxone.
Further, the bill ensures access to these medications at every
installation and operational unit. As we all understand, handling drugs
like cocaine and fentanyl is an exceptionally risky endeavor, and
ensuring the Coast Guard has the necessary medication to prevent
someone from losing a life is critical.
In addition, this bill also provides the Coast Guard with the ability
to prosecute drug smuggling cases when the vessel operator is not
physically onboard.
As technology continues to evolve and transnational criminal
organizations get savvier and more sophisticated with their operations,
this levels the playing field and helps the United States hold these
unmanned vessel operators accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support my colleagues who have worked on
this important bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing it
passed into law.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. McDowell).
Mr. McDOWELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Ezell for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2351, which
will strengthen the ability of the United States Coast Guard to respond
effectively to opioid overdose situations.
The Coast Guard is on the front lines of the fight against fentanyl,
working to stop traffickers at sea and saving lives in the process.
This bill will ensure that they have the tools needed to do just that,
because when an overdose happens, there is no time to wait.
This bill will give the Coast Guard broader authority to prosecute
cases where illicit drugs are discovered on unmanned vessels or
smuggled onboard without the knowledge of the crew.
This bill also ensures that Coast Guard facilities have naloxone and
other similar medications on hand to treat overdoses, bringing the
Coast Guard in line with other branches of the military.
By giving our coastguardsmen and -women access to naloxone, we are
giving them the ability to save lives at sea and protect themselves
should they come into contact with these deadly drugs. Put simply, we
have their backs, and they have ours.
This commonsense bill will make it easier and safer for our
servicemembers to protect our maritime borders with confidence when
intercepting these poisons before they reach our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2351, I encourage my
colleagues to do the same, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure drug traffickers face justice as
they employ new technology and methods to flood our country with
dangerous drugs. It will also give the Coast Guard the parity to police
other armed services with regard to rapid treatment of drug overdoses,
keeping guardsmen safe from accidental exposure.
H.R. 2351 implements changes that will help secure our maritime
border and increase safety on our seas.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2351.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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