S.Amdt. 2602

SA 2602. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2282 submitted by Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr.
McCain) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1052. REPORT ON THE SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES OF
THE ARMED FORCES IN THE ARCTIC REGION.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 240 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report on the capabilities of the Armed Forces (including the
Coast Guard) as follows:
(1) To conduct search and rescue activities in the Arctic
Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Beaufort Sea
adjacent to the State of Alaska.
(2) To support search and rescue activities in other areas
of the Arctic Region in which such support may be required.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) A description and assessment of the current
capabilities of the Armed Forces as described in subsection
(a).
(2) A description of current demand for search and rescue
activities and support as described in subsection (a).
(3) An assessment of the likely increase in demand for
search and rescue activities and support as described in
subsection (a) as a result of increasing use of the waters of
the Arctic Region for various activities, including shipping
and tourism.
(4) A description and assessment of the extent to which the
United States is prepared to rely upon partner nations to
assist in conducting and supporting search and rescue
activities in the Arctic Region.
(5) The adequacy of plans, personnel, equipment, and
infrastructure of the Armed Forces to conduct search and
rescue and provide support as described in subsection (a),
including communications, vessels, rotary wing aircraft,
fixed wing aircraft, training and equipment of personnel, and
land support infrastructure.
(6) An assessment whether the current capabilities of the
Armed Forces as described in subsection (a) are sufficient to
meet present and anticipated demand for such capabilities,
including demand that may result from one or more
catastrophic incidents.
(7) A description and assessment of any impediments to the
effectiveness of the capabilities of the Armed Forces as
described in subsection (a).
(8) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General
considers appropriate for the improvement or expansion of
United States capacity to conduct and support search and
rescue activities in the Arctic Region.
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