Sens. Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville Introduce Bill to Create Secretary of the Coast Guard Position

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senators Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan, and Tommy Tuberville introduced the Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act. This bill would create a Secretary of the U.S. Coast Guard, mirroring a position across all other branches of the U.S Armed Forces. Currently, the Coast Guard lacks a dedicated civilian leadership position, and it defaults to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Senator Rick Scott said, "The Coast Guard has a unique and highly specialized mission to protect our country from threats posed by smugglers, drug traffickers, terrorists, and other lawbreakers, and it deserves a service secretary to oversee and coordinate its operations, just like every other branch of the military. This bill creates a Secretary of the Coast Guard in federal law to ensure the Service has the leadership it needs to take on the challenges of the 21^st century and beyond. This is a matter of readiness and national security; Congress should pass this immediately so President Trump can make his nomination, and the Senate can get to work on confirmation."

Senator Tommy Tuberville said, "The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard are critical to our national defense and security, which is why they deserve the same strategic organization as other branches of our military. Having a permanent Coast Guard Secretary will make the organization even more effective and enhance our national security. I'm proud to join this legislation with Sen. Rick Scott to give President Trump full authority to nominate a Secretary of the Coast Guard and further his mission of Peace Through Strength."

Senator Dan Sullivan said, "I'm glad to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to provide even greater support and advocacy to our Coast Guard with a dedicated civilian Secretary who can represent the needs and perspective of the Coast Guard at the highest levels of our federal government. We rely on our brave Coast Guardsmen to monitor and defend vast maritime borders, execute life-saving search-and-rescue operations, respond to international crises, and support Department of War missions. No state is more aware of the important service of the Coast Guard than Alaska-home to more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined-which is why I spearheaded the largest investment in the Coast Guard in history in last year's Working Families Tax Cuts Act."

SCOOP:

Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Create Service Secretary for the Coast Guard

BACKGROUND:

Currently, all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have a dedicated Secretary overseeing operations and representing the branch. However, the Coast Guard lacks an executive leader, creating confusion or delays in an organization responsible for protecting 95,000 miles of coastline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of the U.S. exclusive economic zone.

This legislation creates, in statute, a Secretary of the Coast Guard to run as the leader of the branch. Upon this bill becoming law, the President would have the authority to nominate a Secretary of the Coast Guard subject to Senate confirmation.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

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