119-s1190

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1190 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

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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