{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://ezell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1856", "T&I Leaders Introduce Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025", "2025-07-07", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Mike Ezell", "E000235", "ezell.house.gov", "ezell", "https://ezell.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Last week, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding through 2029 for the United States Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the nation\u2019s borders, facilitate maritime commerce, ensure maritime safety, and more.\n\n\u201cThe Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 marks a critical step forward in bolstering our national security, modernizing maritime infrastructure, and supporting the dedicated men and women of the United States Coast Guard. I commend Chairman Graves for his vision in shaping this important legislation. Our bipartisan bill equips our service members with the tools, training, and advanced technologies needed to counter emerging threats, secure our borders, and promote safe, efficient maritime commerce. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, I\u2019m proud of the collaborative effort that brought this bill to life and of our shared commitment to ensuring the Coast Guard remains mission-ready. This legislation builds on the Administration\u2019s Force Design 2028 strategy, laying the foundation for a stronger, more agile maritime force,\u201dsaid Subcommittee Chairman Ezell.\n\n\u201cThe Coast Guard is one of our nation\u2019s six armed services, and Congress must provide these brave men and women the support they need to carry out their many missions. That\u2019s exactly what this bill does,\u201d said T&I Committee Chairman Graves. \u201cFrom protecting our maritime borders, to stemming the tide of illegal migrants and drugs into the country, to ensuring the safety of mariners and much more, this bill supports the important security, safety, and economically critical work of the Coast Guard.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe women and men who keep our seas and coastlines safe from my home state of Washington to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut deserve our full support, and that\u2019s what this bipartisan bill delivers,\u201d said T&I Committee Ranking Member Larsen. \u201cFrom preventing oil spills on the U.S.-Canada border near the Puget Sound to ensuring the Coast Guard is prepared for tsunamis to cracking down on the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the service, this bill will improve the quality of life for Coasties, increase maritime safety and strengthen our national security. I look forward to its swift passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery single day, the Coast Guard goes to work to protect seafarers and beachgoers, and reinforce our national defense,\u201d said Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal. \u201cThis bipartisan bill delivers critical resources for the Coast Guard to carry out its missions, modernize infrastructure and safety systems, and enhance quality of life for our Coasties. Just as importantly, it renews our shared commitment to holding the service accountable for meaningful reforms to root out sexual assault and harassment from its ranks.\u201d\n\nThe Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2029. These authorizations will support Coast Guard operations and the continued recapitalization of its historically underfunded cutter fleet, aviation assets, shoreside facilities, and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard\u2019s acquisition process, increases transparency and accountability in the Service\u2019s recapitalization efforts, and opens a pathway to the adoption of next-generation autonomous technologies.\n\nThe bill, with a provision led by Ezell, also creates greater parity with the other armed services, including the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard and stronger protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment, based on legislation the T&I Committee introduced last Congress following the Service\u2019s Operation Fouled Anchor.\n\nFurthermore, the legislation strengthens U.S.-Build requirements and improves accountability to better ensure a healthy, robust U.S. shipbuilding industry, while also making changes to maritime safety laws, amending requirements for merchant mariner credentials to facilitate an increase in the pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners, increasing vessel safety, and improving regulatory processes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://ezell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1856"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5689481515437365, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}