Legislation enabling the Coast Guard to move forward with vessel capitalization and infrastructure development, particularly in the Arctic and Alaska, and support a wide range of missions has passed the U.S. Senate and now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, part of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed the Senate on Thursday, Dec. 15. It also provides significant support for Coast Guardsmen and their families with pay and benefits improvements, adjustments to basic housing allowances and increased support for those serving in remote locations, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
The act includes major authorizations for commissioned vessels, including $300 million for the acquisition of a 12th National Security Cutter, $650 million for the continued acquisition of Offshore Patrol Cutters, $167 million for a third Polar Security Cutter, $150 million for the procurement of a commercially available icebreaker and $420 million for six additional Fast Response Cutters.
The legislation includes a number of Alaska-focused provisions authored by Sullivan, including requiring the Coast Guard to work with the Defense and State departments and the fishing community to improve how U.S. mariners are notified of military exercises and activities within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This provision comes in response to a dangerous encounter between Russian warships and Alaska fishermen in the U.S. EEZ in August of 2020.
Also included in the legislation is a requirement that the Coast Guard achieve 98% operational availability of remote Alaska Rescue 21 communications systems no later than August 30, 2023. This provision will improve how the public, particularly the North Pacific maritime and fishing industry, is made aware of certain outages and activities.
