Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Climate Change and Coast Guard Report Act", requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to submit a report to Congress within a year of its enactment. The report will focus on the vulnerabilities of Coast Guard installations caused by climate change and the actions that can be taken to mitigate these effects over a 20-year period. This includes identifying the ten most vulnerable installations and discussing the potential effects of climate change on the Coast Guard's operations and mission. The report must be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex for sensitive information. The purpose of this legislation is to inform Congress on the impacts of climate change on the Coast Guard and to develop strategies for protecting the Coast Guard's resources and operations in the face of these effects.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially affect members of the Coast Guard, as they may be required to undergo additional training or take on new responsibilities in order to mitigate the effects of climate change on their installations and operations.
2. The report required by this legislation could also impact taxpayers, as they may be responsible for funding the mitigations necessary to ensure the continued operational viability and resiliency of Coast Guard installations.
3. Vulnerable communities and individuals living in areas prone to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and increased flooding, may also be affected by this legislation as it could potentially lead to increased humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions by the Coast Guard.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2153 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2153
To require a report on the effects of climate change on the Coast
Guard, and for other purposes.
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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2019
Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a report on the effects of climate change on 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. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COAST GUARD.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on vulnerabilities of installations of the
Coast Guard resulting from climate change and requirements for
mitigating climate change-related effects on the Coast Guard over the
20-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) A list of the ten most vulnerable installations of the
Coast Guard based on the effects of climate change, including
rising sea tides, increased flooding, drought, desertification,
wildfires, thawing permafrost, and any other effects the
Commandant considers necessary.
(2) An overview of mitigations that may be necessary to
ensure the continued operational viability and to increase the
resiliency of the installations listed under paragraph (1) and
the cost of such mitigations.
(3) A discussion of the climate change-related effects on
the Coast Guard, including--
(A) the increase in the frequency of humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief missions; and
(B) the campaign plans, contingency plans, and
operational posture of the Coast Guard.
(4) An overview of mitigations that may be necessary to
ensure mission resiliency and the cost of such mitigations.
(c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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