By Ron Thaniel
March 15, 2004

Legislation to authorize more than $7.9 billion for the Coast Guard for FY05 was unanimously approved by the U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on March 10.

Introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (AK), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member James Oberstar (MN), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (NJ) and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Filner (CA), The Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (HR 3879) authorizes a total of $7,958,845,000 including $1.1 billion for the controversial Deepwater program.

Deepwater is the Coast Guard's program to replace and modernize its aging fleet that operates more than 50 miles offshore.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) has criticized Deepwater for mismanagement dealing with contractors- performance. GAO recommends that the Secretary of Homeland Security direct the Coast Guard to take actions to improve Deepwater management and contractor oversight.

HR 3879 would authorize $800 million more than was included in the FY04 House-passed bill. The Senate did not act on a Coast Guard authorization for FY04. Under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY04 budget the Coast Guard received $6.7 billion. Of note, the Administrations FY05 budget request is $7.5 billion.

Additional highlights of the HR 3879 include:

• $1.28 billion for Acquisitions, Construction and Improvements (AC&I)
• The AC&I authorization level also includes $75,000,000 to continue equipping C130J aircraft already purchased by the Service.
• Authorizes Reserve Training at $117,000,000 equal to the Administration's request.
• Authorizes Environmental Compliance and Restoration at the level requested in the Administration's FY 2005 budget, $17,000,000.
• Authorizes Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation at the level requested by the Administration, $18,500,000, but assumes the funds will be provided directly to the Coast Guard rather than to the DHS Science & Technology Directorate.
• Authorizes the Coast Guard to operate at a level of 45,500 active duty personnel as of September 30, 2005.