Washington (July 31, 2019) – The Senate Commerce Committee today passed the 2019 Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, including several provisions authored by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security. The overall legislative package reauthorizes the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, including procurement of much-needed new vessels and unprecedented support for women and families in the Coast Guard.

Senator Markey’s provisions include two studies: one to bring the Coast Guard to parity with the Department of Defense by reporting the vulnerabilities of their infrastructure to the effects of climate change, and another to improve the Coast Guard’s drug interdiction capacity. The final legislative package also includes Senator Markey’s Funding Instruction for Safety, Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies (FISH SAFE) Act, which restores the federal share of fishing safety training grants from 50 to 75 percent. Senator Markey also included an amendment to restore funding for grants already in the application cycle.  

“This bill makes tremendous progress toward meeting the Coast Guard’s needs to remain Semper Paratus for 21^st century challenges,” said Senator Markey. “I want to thank Chairman Sullivan for working closely with me to include our fishing safety legislation, and to Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell for their leadership on this bipartisan bill.”

More information Senator Markey’s amendments can be found HERE.

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