HR 6865 Passed in House – FY 2022 CG Authorization

Yesterday, the House took up HR 6865, the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, under the suspension of the rules process. The bill passed by a reasonably bipartisan vote of 378 to 46. The version of the bill published in the Congressional Record as part of the record (pgs H3901-19) of yesterday’s debate was not the same version as was reported yesterday by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The most obvious difference is the insertion a new TITLE IV—Federal Maritime Commission. I will be able to tell better what other changes were made to the bill before the vote when Congress.gov publishes the engrossed version of the bill.

The debate was interesting as there was actually some opposition voiced to some of the provisions of the bill. Represenatatives Auchincloss (D,MA), Rouzer (D,MA) and Keating (D,MA) objected (pgs H3921-2) to provisions that would interfere with access to wind turbine installation vessels for current and future development of offshore wind projects. Specifically, they asked to have those provisions revised during conference with the Senate. Rep DeFazio (D,OR) assured them (pg H3922) that he would work with them to see their concerns addressed in Conference.

The one pipeline protection measure that I discussed earlier remains in the bill, but it is now found at §502. Providing requirements for vessels anchored in established Anchorage grounds.