S 2444 – Introduced – FY 2015 CG Authorization

As I noted earlier this month, Sen. Begich (D,AK) introduced S 2444, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016. As has been common for a number of years now, there is no mention of chemical security issues or operations under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA).

The only mention of chemical transportation safety issues is a revision for vessel oil spill response plans that provides for worst case scenario planning oil drilling rigs {§508}.

As I mentioned earlier today, there will be a markup of this bill this week. I doubt that we will see any language on chemical security issues.

Congressional Hearings – Week of 6-22-14

Both the Senate and House will be in town this week. The House has a fair number of hearings scheduled, but none of specific interest to readers of this blog. The Senate, however will be having three separate mark-up hearings that will be of interest; one spending bill, one authorization bill, and a trio of bills that have not yet been introduced.

DHS Spending

The Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will be meeting on Tuesday to mark up the FY 2015 DHS spending bill. A draft copy of that bill is not yet available.

Coast Guard Authorization

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will meet on Tuesday to mark-up 8 bills including S 2444, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016.

Three Homeland Security Bills

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday to address one nomination and mark-up 11 bills. Three of those bills have yet to be introduced and those are the ones of specific interest here. They are:

• The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014;

• The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014; and

• The Protecting American Chemical Facilities From Attack Act of 2014.

The first may possibly contain language that affects control system security (not too likely) but the second has a better chance.

The third bill will be the long awaited Senate plan for the longer term reauthorization of the CFATS program. This will certainly contain provisions not seen in HR 4007 that has not yet made it to the floor of the House. I would not be surprised to see IST or worker participation language in this bill, both of significantly absent from the House bill. If they do show up here in strongly worded language, then that might signal that the House bill would not be considered in the Senate; that would be the death of comprehensive chemical security legislation for another session of Congress.

Bills Introduced – 06-05-14

The House met yesterday in pro forma session (so most members were still back home) and the Senate was in full session. Between the two there were 25 bills introduced; three of which may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

S2437 Latest Title: An original bill making appropriations for Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. (D,MD)

S 2438 Latest Title: An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty (D,WA)

S 2444 Latest Title: A bill to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 through 2016, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark (D,AK)

The CJS spending bill might contain cybersecurity provisions. The THUD spending bill will address chemical transportation issues. The CG Authorization bill might contain chemical security provisions. We will just have to wait and see when they are printed. As always with these types of bills, the Committee Reports will be almost as important as the actual bills.

HR 4005 Markup Hearing Scheduled

The problem with doing a hearing post as early as I did it this last weekend is that I might miss late posted hearing. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a markup hearing tomorrow that will address HR 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. At least two other bills will also be considered (HR 3676 and HR 1378) as well as some GSA related resolutions. Apparently the Committee leadership does not expect there to be much discussion about HR 4005, a sure sign that the bill was appropriately vetted by the Staff.

I noted this weekend that HR 4005 was on the fast track for consideration and this quick markup certainly supports that conclusion.

HR 4005 Introduced – FY 2015 CG Authorization

As I noted earlier this week Rep. Duncan (R,CA) introduced HR 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. As we have seen in recent years there is no specific mention of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) or the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) in the bill. There is, however, a move to formally recognize the work of port and facility safety and security specialists in the USC.

Safety and Security Specialists

Section 202 of the bill makes modifications to 14 CFR §57, Prevention and Response Workforces. It {§202(1)(c)} adds ‘port and facility safety and security specialist’ to the list of jobs in §57(b) requiring certain qualifications and describes those qualifications:

Port and facility safety and security specialist shall have knowledge, skill, and practical experience with respect to the safety, security, and environmental protection responsibilities associated with maritime ports and facilities. {§57(b)(5)}

It {§202(2)} then goes on to add “port and facility safety and security specialist” to the list of jobs that requires a 1 year apprenticeship {§57(f)}. Then it {§202(3)} adds “port and facility safety and security specialist” to the list of potentially qualifying specialties for the position Sector Chief of Protection.

These provisions should help to increase the professionalism of the current safety and security specialist workforce by recognizing their place within the Coast Guard hierarchy and making the specialty a viable part of the career progression for Coast Guard officers.

Moving Forward

This is one of a relatively small list of must pass authorization bills. It is being introduced fairly early in the year (2^nd quarter) so it should have time to wend its way through the legislative process, even in an election year, before the start of FY 2015. The fact that it has already been published by the GPO indicates the level of priority assigned to its consideration.

I expect that we may see the initial markup hearing on this bill by the end of the month even with the Valentine’s Day recess the week of the 17^th.