[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1190 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1190
To establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mrs. Capito) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Improvement Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) Homeland security act of 2002.--The Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended--
(A) in section 103 (6 U.S.C. 113)--
(i) by redesignating subsections (c)
through (g) as subsections (d) through (h),
respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subsection (b) the
following:
``(c) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--
``(1) In general.--There is a Secretary of the Coast Guard,
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate.
``(2) General powers.--Subject to the authority, direction,
and control of the Secretary, when the Coast Guard is operating
as a service in the Department, the Secretary of the Coast
Guard shall exercise the powers of the Secretary under section
501(a) of title 14, United States Code, and other duties as may
be prescribed by law or by the President or the Secretary, in
directing the Coast Guard.
``(3) Direct reporting to secretary.--At all times, the
Secretary of the Coast Guard shall report directly to the
Secretary without intervening authority.
``(4) Consultation with secretary of the navy.--When the
Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy, the
Secretary of the Coast Guard may advise the Secretary of the
Navy on matters relating to the Coast Guard.
``(5) Limitation on appointment.--No officer serving in an
appointment under subsection (a) may be appointed to carry out
the duties of Secretary of the Coast Guard.''; and
(iii) by amending subsection (d), as
redesignated, to read as follows:
``(d) Commandant of the Coast Guard.--To assist the Secretary of
the Coast Guard in the performance of the functions of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard, there is a Commandant of the Coast Guard, who shall be
appointed as provided in section 302 of title 14, United States Code,
and who shall report directly to the Secretary of the Coast Guard. In
addition to such duties as may be provided in this Act and as assigned
to the Commandant by the Secretary of the Coast Guard, the duties of
the Commandant shall include those required by section 102 of title 14,
United States Code.''; and
(B) in section 888(f) (6 U.S.C. 468(f))--
(i) by striking ``Upon the transfer'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Upon the transfer'';
(ii) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by
striking ``the Secretary'' and inserting ``the
Secretary of the Coast Guard''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Exception.--When the Coast Guard is operating as a
service in the Navy, the Commandant shall report directly to
the Secretary of the Navy.''.
(2) Title 10, united states code.--Title 10 of the United
States Code, is amended--
(A) in section 101(a)(9)(D), by striking ``the
Secretary of Homeland Security'' and inserting ``the
Secretary of the Coast Guard''; and
(B) in section 8013a--
(i) by striking ``section 3 of title 14''
and inserting ``section 103 of title 14''; and
(ii) by striking ``the Secretary of
Homeland Security'' and inserting ``the
Secretary of the Coast Guard''.
(3) Title 14, united states code.--Title 14 of the United
States Code, is amended--
(A) in section 501--
(i) by redesignating subsections (a)
through (h) as paragraphs (1) through (8),
respectively, and moving such paragraphs two
ems to the right;
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
as redesignated, by striking ``For'' and
inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--For''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--
``(1) In general.--There is a Secretary of the Coast Guard,
appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of the Coast
Guard shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be appointed
from among individuals most highly qualified for the position
by reason of background and experience, including individuals
with appropriate management or leadership experience. The
Secretary of the Coast Guard is the head of the Coast Guard.
``(2) Limitation on appointment.--An individual may not be
appointed as the Secretary of the Coast Guard during the 5-year
period beginning on the date on which the individual is
relieved from active duty (as defined in section 101(a) of
title 10) as a commissioned officer of a regular component of
any of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a) of title
10).
``(3) Functions.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the authority,
direction, and control of the Secretary of Homeland
Security and subject to the other provisions of this
title, Secretary of the Coast Guard is responsible for,
and has the authority necessary to conduct, all affairs
of the Coast Guard, including the following functions:
``(i) Recruiting.
``(ii) Organizing.
``(iii) Supplying.
``(iv) Equipping, including research and
development.
``(v) Training.
``(vi) Servicing.
``(vii) Mobilizing.
``(viii) Demobilizing.
``(ix) Administering, including the morale
and welfare of personnel.
``(x) Maintaining.
``(xi) The construction, outfitting, and
repair of military equipment.
``(xii) The construction, maintenance, and
repair of buildings, structures, and utilities
and the acquisition of real property and
interests in real property necessary to carry
out the responsibilities specified in this
section.
``(B) Additional responsibilities.--Subject to the
authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Coast Guard is
also responsible to the Secretary of Homeland Security
for--
``(i) the functioning and efficiency of the
Coast Guard;
``(ii) the formulation of policies and
programs of the Coast Guard that are fully
consistent with national security objectives
and policies established by the President or
the Secretary of Homeland Security;
``(iii) the effective and timely
implementation of policy, program, and budget
decisions and instructions of the President or
the Secretary of Homeland Security relating to
the functions of the Coast Guard; and
``(iv) carrying out the functions of the
Coast Guard so as to fulfill the current and
future operational requirements;
``(v) effective cooperation and
coordination between the Coast Guard and the
other military departments (as defined in
section 101(a) of title 10) and agencies of the
Department of Defense and the Department of
Homeland Security to provide for more
effective, efficient, and economical
administration and to eliminate duplication;
``(vi) the presentation and justification
of the positions of the Coast Guard on the
plans, programs, and policies of the Department
of Homeland Security; and
``(vii) the effective supervision and
control of the intelligence activities of the
Coast Guard.
``(C) Additional activities.--The Secretary of the
Coast Guard is also responsible for such other
activities as may be prescribed by law or by the
President or Secretary of Homeland Security.
``(4) Recommendations to congress.--After first informing
the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Coast
Guard may make such recommendations to Congress relating to the
Department of Homeland Security as the Secretary of the Coast
Guard considers appropriate.
``(5) Delegation.--The Secretary of the Coast Guard may
assign the functions, powers, and duties of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard, as the Secretary of the Coast Guard considers
appropriate, to any Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary that
has been established and has the advice and consent of the
Senate.
``(6) Additional powers.--The Secretary of the Coast Guard
may--
``(A) assign, detail, and prescribe the duties of
members of the Coast Guard and civilian personnel of
the Coast Guard;
``(B) change the title of any officer or activity
of the Coast Guard not prescribed by law; and
``(C) prescribe regulations to carry out his
functions, powers, and duties under this title.''; and
(B) by amending section 505 to read as follows:
``Sec. 505. Functions and powers vested in the Commandant
``(a) In General.--The function of the Commandant is to assist the
Secretary of the Coast Guard in carrying out the responsibilities of
the Coast Guard. Except as otherwise specifically prescribed by law,
the Commandant shall perform such duties and have such titles, as the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may
prescribe.
``(b) Duties.--Under the authority, direction, and control of the
Secretary of the Coast Guard, the Commandant shall--
``(1) prepare for such employment of the Coast Guard, and
for such recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping
(including aspects of research and development assigned by the
Secretary of the Coast Guard), training, servicing, mobilizing,
demobilizing, administering, and maintaining of the Coast
Guard, as will assist in the execution of any power, duty, or
function of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating;
``(2) investigate and report upon the efficiency of the
Coast Guard and its preparation to support all operations
pursuant to the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating;
``(3) prepare detailed instructions for the execution of
approved plans and supervise the execution of such plans and
instructions;
``(4) as directed by the Secretary of the Coast Guard,
coordinate the action of organizations of the Coast Guard; and
``(5) perform such other duties, not otherwise assigned by
law, as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating.''.
(4) Conforming amendment.--Section 1137(a) of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 501(d)''
and inserting ``section 501(a)(4)''.
(b) Reorganization Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
reorganization plan with respect to--
(A) the number of military and civilian personnel
of the Coast Guard to be assigned to the Office of the
Secretary of the Coast Guard pursuant to subsection (c)
of section 103 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 113); and
(B) any reorganization of the Department of
Homeland Security necessary as a result of the
establishment of the Secretary of the Coast Guard under
subsection (c) of section 103 of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113), consistent with sections
101(b) and 888 of that Act (6 U.S.C. 111(b), 468).
(2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
include following:
(A) Recommendations with respect to legislative
changes necessary to transfer responsibilities from the
Commandant to the Secretary of the Coast Guard,
including with respect to such responsibilities under--
(i) title 10 of the United States Code;
(ii) title 14 of the United States Code;
and
(iii) any law relating to navigation or
navigable waters applicable to the Coast Guard.
(B) Specification of the steps to be taken by the
Secretary of Homeland Security--
(i) to transfer responsibilities from the
Secretary of Homeland Security or the
Commandant of the Coast Guard to the Secretary
of the Coast Guard; and
(ii) to organize the Office of the
Secretary of the Coast Guard, including the
delegation or assignment of functions to the
Secretary of the Coast Guard, so as to allow
the Secretary of the Coast Guard to carry out
the responsibilities identified under clause
(i).
(C) Specification of any proposed disposition of
property, facility, contract, record, or other asset or
obligation to be transferred under the plan.
(D) Specification of the funds available that will
be transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the
Coast Guard as a result of transfers under the plan.
(E) A date on which the plan shall become
effective.
(F) Any other element the Secretary of Homeland
Security considers appropriate.
(3) Consideration.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall take into consideration the role of the Secretary of the
Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is operating as a service in
the Navy.
(4) Modification.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, may
modify or revise any part of the plan required by this
subsection until the date on which the plan becomes effective
in accordance with date set forth under paragraph (2)(E).
(5) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, the Committee on Homeland Security, and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
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