Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 7659, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024, which supports the Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the Nation’s borders, facilitate maritime commerce, and ensure maritime safety. This legislation also strengthens sexual assault and harassment protections for members of the Coast Guard and ensures greater accountability and transparency in the Coast guard following the Committee’s investigation of the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor.
 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster introduced this bipartisan legislation on March 13th, with T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), T&I Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA). The bill now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives.
 
“The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024 provides the necessary investments and authorities required to maintain the Coast Guard’s critical missions. These investments are especially important to ensure border security given the increase in interdiction and repatriations of those illegally attempting to land on Florida shores. The measure will also help turn the tide on the Service’s recruiting challenges and provides for additional surface and air assets, as well as resources to begin replacing the Service’s crumbling shoreside infrastructure,” said Subcommittee Chairman Webster.  “Following the troubling revelations of Operation Fouled Anchor, this legislation incorporates the Coast Guard Protection and Accountability Act of 2024 that Ranking Member Carbajal and I introduced, along with Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen, which strengthens protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment and increases transparency within the Service.  I appreciate Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal for their work in passing this important bipartisan legislation out of Committee.”
 
 
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