# 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 119-s-524, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status passed_senate; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-524 - Congress: 119 - Title: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 - Status: passed_senate - Introduced: 2025-02-11 - Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX) - Cosponsors: 3 - Policy area: Transportation and Public Works - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **Coast Guard modernization and readiness** is the bill's central aim. It would fund new ships and systems, raise personnel and training authorities, and pair acquisition changes with broad reforms for member support and accountability. - Coast Guard members and families would get expanded "Family leave," a maternity uniform allowance, new housing and Alaska travel flexibilities, command sponsorship for Unalaska dependents, and added behavioral health support including at least 5 new specialists and an Embedded Behavioral Health Technician pilot. - Operations and assets would get new funding authority for FY2025–FY2026, higher authorized end‑strengths in several categories (to about 3,000 in some cases), a Service Life Extension Program, required life‑cycle cost estimates, and reporting on Polar Security Cutter and Great Lakes icebreaking needs. - Oversight, safety, and victim care would be strengthened with Safe‑to‑Report rules, long evidence‑retention standards including 50‑year retention for sexual assault records, expedited transfer and temporary separation options for victims, and new Academy oversight and annual covered‑misconduct reporting. ## Cosponsors (3) - Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - College aid and tuition boost for members: benefit, high. If enacted, eligible college students who enlist in the Coast Guard Reserve would be able to get up to $25,000 per school year for tuition, fees, books, and labs, for up to 5 straight years. You would sign a service agreement and serve at least 3 years on active duty; breaking the deal could lead t… - More money and staffing for Coast Guard: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would authorize $11.29 billion for FY2025 and $11.85 billion for FY2026 for Coast Guard operations. It would raise two program amounts to $25.57 million and $26.85 million. It would authorize $1.21 billion for retired pay in FY2025. It would also raise several authorized person… - More mental health care at units: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard would embed behavioral health technicians in at least three clinics within 270 days and run the pilot through September 30, 2028. It would hire at least five more behavioral health specialists within 180 days, with at least 35% experienced in military sexual trauma and P… - Stronger support for Coast Guard victims: benefit, medium. If enacted, members who reported a sex‑related offense within the last five years would be able to request a temporary separation under updated rules within 180 days. The Coast Guard would have to give victims timely care and support, including in‑person introductions to providers when local care i… - Hiring, pay, and family support upgrades: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard could directly hire certain civilian staff (like medical, childcare, housing, CGIS agents, prevention specialists, and some Academy roles) through September 30, 2030, with yearly briefings to Congress. Marine inspectors in hard‑to‑fill billets could get extra assignment… - More leave and travel help for Coast Guard families: benefit, medium. If enacted, family leave would also cover placing a child for adoption or long-term foster care. Selected Reserve and some Individual Ready Reserve members would be eligible. The Secretary could let you use family leave after one year if missions or schooling delayed it. Members assigned in Alaska… - Stronger protections and voice for cadets: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard Academy would have to review and update its sexual harassment and violence policy. The Superintendent would need to start the review within 60 days and finish updates within 180 days, with clear roles, prevention steps, and anti‑retaliation rules. The Academy would asses… - Stronger victim care and misconduct prevention: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard would have to apply Special Victim rules, report to Congress on progress, and file an annual March 1 report on incidents and retaliation. The Secretary would need to issue an evidence‑retention policy within one year, and the Coast Guard would keep investigative work pro… - More small projects and Alaska towing relief: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard’s minor construction limit would rise from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000, letting more jobs use simpler procurement. In Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound, certain fishing and tender vessels under 200 gross tons could get temporary waivers from towing‑vessel rules when… - New coastal surveillance in border sectors: benefit, medium. If enacted, DHS would be able to buy tactical maritime surveillance for Sectors San Diego, San Juan, and Key West, and Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, if funds are available and a need is found. Systems would have to share data with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, and pas… - New resource deals near Coast Guard bases: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard could make cooperative agreements with states, Tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and landowners to preserve and manage natural or cultural resources on or near its installations. Deals must remove limits that hinder training, testing, maintenance, or operations and… - Plan to fight maritime drug trafficking: benefit, medium. If enacted, within 1 year the Coast Guard would set a policy with DEA, State, and Defense to cut illicit maritime trafficking of drugs and chemical precursors. The plan would, where lawful, include seizing or disposing of vessels used for smuggling. It would target multiple regions, including the E… - Safer San Pedro Bay anchorage plan: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard would have to put the November 2021 Los Angeles–Long Beach anchorage plan in place within 1 year. It would study anchorages within 2 years to find any less than 1 mile from pipelines and recommend moves. Within 1 year, it would add alarms to warn when anchored ships encr… - Stronger Great Lakes icebreaking and traffic rules: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard would give Congress a plan within 90 days to design and build a Great Lakes icebreaker as capable as the cutter Mackinaw, with costs and delivery timeline. A five‑season pilot would test keeping Tier I and II waterways open 95% of each ice season, with reports due within… - Stronger oversight of Coast Guard misconduct: benefit, medium. If enacted, a new policy within 90 days would require that any senior‑leader misconduct allegation be sent to the department Inspector General within 72 hours. The IG would have first right to investigate and can take exclusive control to protect a case. The Coast Guard would join DoD’s CATCH seria… - Surprise cyber drills at U.S. ports: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Secretary could run no‑notice cyber incident exercises in Captain of the Port zones. Drills could include any facility or vessel that must keep a security plan. These surprise tests would check cyber readiness and help close gaps before real attacks. - More Coast Guard housing and base services: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard could buy existing family housing, including HUD‑held homes, instead of building new ones. For five years, the Commandant could waive certain floor‑area limits for units acquired. The Coast Guard could accept non‑Federal funds to cover admin costs for property deals. It… - Tighter oversight of ship buys and bases: benefit, medium. If enacted, acquisitions would have to consider life‑cycle costs for ships and aircraft during design and evaluation. Within 120 days, the Coast Guard and Navy would report on Polar Security Cutter timelines, costs, funds spent, and risks, and then brief Congress within 90 days and every 90 days af… - NOAA fleet plan and $93 million: benefit, medium. If enacted, NOAA would submit a fleet replacement and modernization plan within 180 days and every two years after. Procuring vessels over 65 feet would need approval from the Assistant Administrator. The bill would provide $93 million for FY2025–FY2026 to carry out fleet work under this title. - Easier to avoid an abandoned‑vessel tag: benefit, low. A covered vessel would not be labeled abandoned if it is in an approved mooring, on private land with permission, the owner alerts the Coast Guard with location and proof, or the Coast Guard finds a label is not in the public interest. - Behavioral health rooms and notices at Academy: benefit, low. If enacted, two private behavioral health rooms would be added at the Coast Guard Academy within two years, with a phone, computer, and private Wi‑Fi. The Academy would post, on dorm floors, clear steps to report crimes and how to reach support services. Within 120 days, the Coast Guard would repor… - Keep at least 20 Coast Guard JROTCs: benefit, low. If enacted, starting December 31, 2026, the government would have to keep at least 20 Coast Guard JROTC programs running at all times. Within one year after enactment, the Secretary would need to give Congress a cost estimate for this requirement. - New training courses for Coast Guard staff: benefit, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard would offer a yearly course on how Congress works, using mostly outside experts. Senior leaders who finished similar training within the past three years would not need to repeat it. For three years after enactment, the Coast Guard would also offer a yearly course on sma… - Safer rooms and move rights for cadets: benefit, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard Academy would add electronic locks to every cadet room within 2 years. Locks would be tested at least every 6 months, and entry logs would be kept for at least 5 years. Access would be limited to assigned cadets and approved staff. A room‑access policy would be set withi… - Coast Guard Academy safety and facility rules: benefit, low. If enacted, the Secretary could allow shared federal‑state criminal jurisdiction at the Coast Guard Academy so Connecticut and New London can prosecute crimes on campus. Eligible nonprofit foundations that support the Academy could use Academy facilities or equipment under strict safeguards. Uses c… - Local waterway studies and keep markers: benefit, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard would complete an independent boat‑traffic study at mile 7.4 of the St. Lucie River before any final rule under docket USCG–2022–0222. It would also report within 270 days on the condition and service dates of dayboards and buoys on the Missouri River and provide a maint… - More public data on spills and stops: benefit, low. If enacted, the National Response Center would send Congress a plan in 1 year to build a web app for oil and hazardous‑substance reports, then finish the app within 2 years of that plan. Online reporting would be allowed but not required. Coast Guard public interdiction reports would add counts and… - New rules and council for uncrewed vessels: benefit, low. If enacted, this would set clear definitions for uncrewed and counter‑uncrewed systems, including a "small uncrewed maritime system" no longer than 35 feet used only for ocean research. It would create a two‑year pilot letting certain NOAA uncrewed vessels skip some inspection and credentialing rul… - Plans for Pacific ops and Taiwan training: benefit, low. If enacted, within 180 days the Secretary would study supporting more Coast Guard port visits and deployments for Operation Blue Pacific and send findings to Congress. Within 180 days, the Coast Guard would plan to expand joint training with Taiwan, including cost estimates for FY2024–2029 and stra… - Reviews of health and training facilities: benefit, low. If enacted, GAO would start a review within 60 days on behavioral‑health care for Coast Guard recruits and trainees at sites like Cape May and the Academy. Within 180 days, GAO would begin a study of training‑facility infrastructure across a listed set of schools, covering capital needs, equipment… - Stronger Tribal engagement and oversight: benefit, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard would create a Special Advisor for Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs to give independent advice and improve consultation. The Commandant would notify key committees at least 3 business days before certain cooperative agreements and share copies within 5 business days on… - Update Great Lakes vessel traffic rules: benefit, low. Within 2 years, the Secretary would issue or amend rules for vessel‑traffic cooperation and data sharing with the Canadian Coast Guard in the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. This would support safer, better‑coordinated shipping. - Year-end Coast Guard funding notice: benefit, low. If enacted, the Commandant would notify key committees at least 10 days before each fiscal year ends about Coast Guard funding for the next year. If a continuing resolution lasts more than 10 days, the notice would come 10 days before it ends. The notice would list funding status, Coast Guard’s Arm… - More health supplies on passenger ships: benefit, low. If enacted, when deciding STD‑prevention supplies for passenger vessels, officials would consider voyage length and the number of passengers and crew. Longer or larger trips would be expected to carry more supplies. - Tsunami plans for Coast Guard sites: benefit, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard would have one year to make site‑specific tsunami plans for each property in an inundation zone. Plans would include maps, evacuation routes, and procedures for aviation and afloat assets. Near‑shore risk sites would need plans executable within 15 minutes, unless the Co… - Better sharing of Coast Guard medical records: benefit, low. Within 1 year of enactment, GAO would review Coast Guard efforts to fix missing medical records and share data with VA. The study would check shipboard electronic records, how private‑doctor records are added, and whether authorized users can search records easily. GAO would report findings to Cong… - Review of Coast Guard housing allowance: benefit, low. GAO would study whether Basic Allowance for Housing covers at least 95% of local housing costs at listed Coast Guard duty spots. The study would start within 90 days after DoD issues its Fourteenth QRMC report. The Commandant would brief Congress within 180 days after GAO reports on actions to addr… - Coast Guard personnel chief role required: benefit, low. If enacted, a Vice Admiral post would be required and focused on personnel management, dependent support, and training, rather than serving as Chief of Staff. This change would formalize leadership over people and family programs. - Higher cap in vessel rule: benefit, low. A numeric vessel limit in a 2023 law would rise from 3 to 5. This would let more vessels qualify under that rule. - Maritime Administration to lead port reviews: benefit, low. The Maritime Administration would be the federal lead for environmental reviews of deepwater port applications. Its NEPA work would meet the Deepwater Port Act’s requirement. If enacted, this would aim to streamline permitting for applicants. - More flexibility for NOAA research vessels: benefit, low. NOAA would be able to authorize more fishery survey vessels by linking to its fleet modernization law and removing a prior text cap. For two years after enactment, NOAA could sell covered vessels and keep the proceeds to buy or fix vessels and related equipment. - Tougher penalties and security on vessels: cost, medium. Grossly negligent boat operation would be a crime. If it causes serious bodily injury, it would be a felony and could bring a civil fine up to $35,000. Making, distributing, or placing controlled drugs on a covered vessel would be a federal crime. A person who likely broke company policy and poses… - Limits on foreign ship classing deals: cost, medium. Foreign governments would need to delegate classification authority to the American Bureau of Shipping or not delegate at all. Delegations to classification societies based in the People’s Republic of China would not be allowed. This would change how ships are classed for some operators. - National list and fines for abandoned boats: cost, low. If enacted, the Coast Guard would post a national list of abandoned non‑barge vessels within 1 year. A boat left unattended more than 45 days could be deemed abandoned. Owners could face a civil fine up to $500 and in rem liability, unless there are major extenuating circumstances like long‑term me… - Tighter oversight for senior Coast Guard leaders: cost, low. If enacted, Coast Guard flag officers and Senior Executive Service employees with clearances would face continuous vetting. The Secretary would write regulations for involuntary separation and repeal boards of review; boards of inquiry would recommend directly to the Secretary on whether to retain… - New anchoring limits on Hudson River: cost, low. Anchoring on the named Hudson River reach would be barred except in anchorages that existed before January 1, 2021. This would limit where vessels can anchor on that reach. - Faster paths to mariner credentials: mixed, medium. If enacted, some sea‑service time would drop (for example, 3 years to 18 months) and approved training could count for up to half of required sea time. A training day would equal 2 sea days (classroom), 4 (lab), 6 (simulator), or 1.5 (underway, if approved). The Secretary would build an electronic… - Tighter checks and faster license review: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Secretary would forward vessel license applications that follow required procedures. But the Secretary would not forward an application if it breaks the Treaty or rules, if the owner is in U.S. bankruptcy without financial assurance, if insurance is lacking, or if final penalties ar… - Safety zones at sea for launches, energy: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Coast Guard could set safety zones in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone for special activities. These include space launches and reentries and offshore energy work near fixed platforms. Zones could be fixed or move with vessels and would limit entry to authorized people and ships. Th… - Stronger Coast Guard rules on sexual misconduct: mixed, medium. The bill would define which crimes count as covered misconduct. It would require a Safe‑to‑Report policy within 90 days and keep key sexual‑assault forms for at least 50 years with confidentiality and victim access. Within 180 days, victims would get a faster transfer option and updated protective‑… - New Coast Guard drydock and property rules: mixed, medium. The Coast Guard would generally get floating drydocks only by three methods, and they must be U.S.‑built, able to lift vessels at least 418 feet and 4,500 gross tons, and used at the Baltimore Yard. Enhanced‑use property deals could run up to 30 years. Money from those deals would be kept and used… - Performance-based checks for foreign ships: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Secretary could use a performance‑based exam schedule for foreign vessels once GAO confirms it is as safe as annual exams. Safety history would control eligibility. Ships with a Coast Guard detention, a proved owner/operator violation, or a recent marine casualty in the last 36 mont… - Mixed changes to mariner credentials: mixed, low. Credentials could be denied for convictions under UCMJ articles 120 or 120b and for Federal convictions. If you renew an active credential, the new one would start the day after the old one expires. Noncitizen national status could be noted on mariner documents. One statute would be repealed and a… - New expert track for Coast Guard officers: mixed, low. The Secretary would be able to name a limited number of officers as experts in military justice or healthcare. These officers would be off the regular promotion list and could not be promoted above captain. - NOAA officer career and hiring updates: mixed, low. If enacted, NOAA would drop a prior limit on education assistance and soften separation language for ensigns found not fully qualified. Some appointments would require at least one year as a captain, and promotions to rear admiral (upper half) and above would need Presidential appointment and Senat… - New Pacific tuna fishing rules: mixed, low. U.S.‑documented vessels with a Treaty license would be allowed to fish in listed Pacific areas. They would not be allowed to encircle dolphins or other marine mammals with purse‑seine nets. It would be unlawful to break regional terms or authorized catch and effort limits. A prior exceptions sectio… - Fisheries rules, data privacy, and treaty fixes: mixed, low. If enacted, the North Pacific Research Board would add an Alaska Native representative. The NOAA Administrator could raise or waive the 15% administrative cap in some years, and the cap would be waived for five years starting at enactment. The Secretary would have to keep certain fisheries data con… - Local pilotage and boat traffic changes: mixed, low. If enacted, the Straits of Mackinac would be added to waters that require pilotage, with listed coordinates and passages. Before finalizing a bridge‑related rule at mile 7.4 on the St. Lucie River, the Coast Guard would have to complete an independent boat traffic study. A Coast Guard small‑boat te… - Updates to maritime safety and response: mixed, low. If enacted, money the Coast Guard collects for the International Ice Patrol and for Coast Guard property damage reimbursements would stay available until spent. Legal challenges to on‑scene coordinator cleanup decisions would be delayed until after the cleanup is finished. The Puget Sound cetacean… - Clearer use of marine casualty investigations: mixed, low. Marine casualty investigations that are conducted could be used in U.S. administrative proceedings and in Oil Pollution Act claims. This would clarify how these investigations apply in such cases. - Changes to port and upgrade rules: mixed, low. If enacted, authority for certain deepwater port processes would move to the Secretary of Transportation within 18 months, while the Coast Guard would keep design, operations, and navigation safety roles. The change would not apply to applications submitted before enactment. The bill would also def… ## Related bills - 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 - 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 - 119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025 - 119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025 - 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act ## Sources - [119-s-524 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/524) ## Related - [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071) - [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923) - [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241) - [119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-410) - [119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-306) - [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524 (as of 2026-09-10).