§352 Assignment pay or special duty pay

Determination of Cold Weather Location for Purposes of Special Duty Pay Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 615, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 292, “For purposes of special duty pay under section 352 of title 37, United States Code, the Secretary concerned shall determine that a duty station is a cold weather location if, at such duty station, the temperature is expected to drop below −20 °F according to the 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map published by the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture.” Career Incentive Pay for Marine Inspectors Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXII, § 11237, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4036, as amended by Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, §§ 7201(i)(1), 7312(b), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1686, 1761, provided that: “(a) Authority to Provide Assignment Pay or Special Duty Pay.—For the purposes of addressing an identified shortage of marine inspectors, the Secretary may provide assignment pay or special duty pay under section 352 of title 37, United States Code, to a member of the Coast Guard serving in a prevention position that—“(1) is assigned in support of or is serving as a marine inspector pursuant to section 312 [now section 339] of title 14, United States Code; and “(2) is assigned to a billet that is difficult to fill due to geographic location, requisite experience or certifications, or lack of sufficient candidates, as determined by the Commandant, in an effort to address inspector workforce gaps. “(b) Annual Briefing.—“(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on any uses of the authority under subsection (a) during the preceding year. “(2) Elements.—Each briefing required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:“(A) The number of members of the Coast Guard serving as marine inspectors or marine investigators pursuant to section 339 of title 14, United States Code, who are receiving assignment pay or special duty pay under section 352 of title 37, United States Code. “(B) An assessment of the impact of the use of the authority under this section on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Coast Guard in administering the laws and

for the promotion of safety of life and property on and under the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. “(C) An assessment of the effects of assignment pay and special duty pay on retention of marine inspectors and investigators. “(D) If the authority provided in subsection (a) is not exercised, a detailed justification for not exercising such authority, including an explanation of the efforts the Secretary is taking to ensure that the Coast Guard workforce contains an adequate number of qualified marine inspectors. “(c) Study.—“(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall conduct a study on the health of marine inspectors and marine investigators who have served as such inspectors or investigators for a period of not less than 10 years. “(2) Elements.—The study required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:“(A) An evaluation of—“(i) the daily vessel inspection duties of marine inspectors and marine investigators, including the examination of internal cargo tanks and voids and new