Members of Congress introduced a bill for debate today that increases funding, security authorities, and responsibilities of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Authorization bill would increase funding for the Coast Guard to $8.4 billion - $200 million above the President's budget - and increase the size of the its staff by 1,500 members to 47,000.
Other key provisions of the bill include:
- Authorizing additional maritime security response teams, giving the Coast Guard a rapid force capability; and additional canine detection teams to help it interdict illicit drugs and humans seeking to unlawfully enter the United States.
- Establishing an Assistant Commandant for Port and Waterways Security.
- A requirement for the Department of Homeland Security to analyze the threat, vulnerability and consequences of a terrorist attack on gasoline and chemical cargo shipments and report the findings to Congress.
- Requires the Coast Guard to certify they have the resources needed to protect every new Liquefied Natural Gas facility.
- Creating an Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and establishing qualifications for training and experience for all marine safety personnel.
- An amendment Act that calls for a prison sentence of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $100,000, or both, for anyone convicted of trying to smuggle an immigrant illegally into the United States.