HR 2741 Markup – CG Authorization Act of 2023

Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced a markup hearing for HR 2741, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2023. The Committee will consider substitute language for the bill that adds a number of new sections. The hearing web page currently lists twenty amendments that will be considered during the markup.

I have not done a detailed review of the introduced version of HR 2741, but there is nothing listed in the bill’s Table of Contents that appears to be of specific interest in this blog. The substitute language adds a new §210 that would require the Coast Guard to establish an on-line application that would be used for “notification of an oil discharge or release of a hazardous substance”. It would also add a new TITLE IV -Oil Pollution Incident Liability, that modifies existing requirements for oil spill liability.

Of the twenty proposed amendments listed, three are potentially of interest here:

• Offered by Rep Rouzer (R,NC) Amends 46 USC 70011(b). Would prohibit “a representative of a government of country that the Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism under section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371) from visiting a facility for which a facility [MTSA] security plan is required under section 70103(c).

• Offered by Rep Webster (R,FL) Section 337. Report on establishment of an unmanned systems capabilities office. Includes interesting language authorizing counter UAS operations.

• Offered by Rep Perry (R,PA) 104 Adds: Section 337. Exemption from coastwise laws for vessels transporting liquefied natural gas.

There are some interesting ‘culture wars’ amendments, including one that would prohibit the Coast Guard from purchasing or supporting electric vehicles.