2008 Coast Guard Authorization Act
H.R. 2830 Creates Both Praise and Condemnation in Marine Community
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 2830) has significant effects on the maritime community and deserves the attention of mariners and boaters.
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 2830) seeks to authorize about $8.2 billion in Coast Guard program expenditures for fiscal year 2008. This legislation touches many on the waterfront with new programs and authorities that will impact commercial fishing, homeland security, marine safety, and environmental protection.
In a Coast Guard budget and oversight hearing held on 6 March 2008 in the United States Senate, Hawaii's Senator Daniel K. Inouye said of the agency, "I would like to commend the men and the women of the Coast Guard for their diligent and tireless efforts. Their many accomplishments only begin to illustrate the extent to which the American people rely on the Coast Guard. From protecting the American people to protecting our natural resources, the Coast Guard is tasked with eleven critical missions. The Congress must work to ensure that the Coast Guard has sufficient resources to carry out all of these critical missions."
Key Provisions of H.R. 2830 - Senators Marina Cantwell of Washington and Olympia Snowe of Maine introduced H.R. 2830. Cosponsors include Alaska's Senator Ted Stevens and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. A few of the provisions found in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 include:
- An increase in penalties for smuggling illegal aliens in the marine environment
- Intensifying protection of vessels and facilities handling hazardous cargoes
- Alignment of senior command structure to better match other branches of the armed services
- Improve protection of foreign mariners that become abandoned in United States ports
- Construction of two new polar class icebreakers
- Increasing the efficiency of oil spill response efforts
- Preservation of the installed LORAN-C equipment as a backup to the global positioning system
Concerns Expressed by the Commandant - The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 is not without controversy. On 24 April 2008, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen released a statement that says in part, "I am deeply concerned about a number of provisions contained in H.R. 2830 that I believe would have a detrimental effect on the Coast Guard's ability to carry out our many vital maritime safety, security and environmental protection missions. As the commandant, I have an obligation to the public and our Coast Guard men and women to ensure the Coast Guard retains the necessary discretion and flexibility to meet our mission demands in an often-changing, dangerous operating environment. This bill, in its current form, does not do that…"
Administration Concerns - The Bush Administration expressed its concerns publicly about H.R. 2830 and the President has threatened to veto the measure. Changes suggested by the President include:
- Elimination of a requirement that the Coast Guard provide security around natural gas terminal and vessels
- Adoption of an proposal to introduce organizational flexibility into the Coast Guard command structure
- Substitute language addressing the treatment of vessel ballast water that would alleviate problems faced by recreational boaters from a decision made by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Delete provisions that diminish the authority of the Commandant, reduce authority to adjudicate mariner licenses or circumvent security provisions in place for maritime workers
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 is sure to strengthen the operation of the Coast Guard if the concerns of stakeholders can adequately be addressed in the legislation. Boaters and those involved with life on the waterfront will benefit from following the progress of H.R. 2830.
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