Bill Summary
The "Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025" establishes the position of the Secretary of the Coast Guard, a role appointed by the President with Senate approval. This legislation amends Title 14 of the United States Code by adding a new section that defines the Secretary's responsibilities, powers, and reporting structure. The Secretary will oversee the Coast Guard directly, without requiring approval from other departmental officials, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard will also report directly to the Secretary. This act aims to clarify the leadership structure and enhance the operational efficiency of the Coast Guard.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Enhanced Maritime Safety and Security**: The establishment of a dedicated Secretary of the Coast Guard could lead to more focused leadership and improved coordination in maritime safety and security operations. This could result in better response times to emergencies, increased enforcement of maritime laws, and enhanced protection of coastal communities from threats such as illegal fishing, smuggling, and potential terrorist activities. Citizens living in coastal areas may feel safer knowing there is a higher level of oversight and responsiveness.
2. **Streamlined Command Structure**: With the Commandant of the Coast Guard reporting directly to the Secretary of the Coast Guard, there could be a more efficient command structure. This change could improve decision-making processes within the Coast Guard, allowing for quicker implementation of policies and responses to incidents. For Coast Guard personnel, this means clearer directives and potentially better resource allocation, which can improve their operational effectiveness and morale.
3. **Increased Accountability and Transparency**: The direct reporting line of the Secretary of the Coast Guard to the President could enhance accountability in the Coast Guard's operations. This increased visibility may lead to more public scrutiny and transparency regarding Coast Guard activities, budgeting, and performance. For the general public, this means that citizens could have better access to information about how their safety is being managed, as well as the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at protecting the nation's waters and coastlines.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2546 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2546
To establish the position of Secretary of the Coast Guard, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2025
Mr. Ezell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the position of Secretary of the Coast Guard, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.
(a) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--Subtitle I of title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 106 as section 107;
(2) by inserting after section 105 the following:
``Sec. 106. Secretary of the Coast Guard defined
``In this title, the term `Secretary of the Coast Guard' means the
Secretary of the Coast Guard established in section 201.''; and
(3) by inserting after section 107, as so redesignated, the
following:
``CHAPTER 2--SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD
``201. Secretary of the Coast Guard.
``Sec. 201. Secretary of the Coast Guard
``(a) In General.--There is a Secretary of the Coast Guard,
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
``(b) Powers.--Subject to the authority, direction, and control of
the Secretary, the Secretary of the Coast Guard shall exercise the
powers of the Secretary in section 501, and other duties as may be
prescribed by law or by the President or Secretary, in directing the
Coast Guard.
``(c) Reporting.--The Secretary of the Coast Guard shall report
directly to the Secretary without being required to report through any
other official of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
``(d) Commandant Reporting.--The Commandment shall report directly
to the Secretary of the Coast Guard.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section
106 and inserting the following:
``106. Secretary of the Coast Guard defined.
``107. Commandant defined.''.
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