S.Amdt. 3131

SA 3131. Mr. SCOTT of Florida submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2026 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 title X, add the following:

Subtitle H--Coast Guard Improvement Act of 2025

SEC. 1091. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Improvement
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 1092. REORGANIZATION.

(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code,
is amended by redesignating sections 302 through 323 as
sections 304 through 325, respectively.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of
title 14, United States Code, is amended by redesignating the
items relating to sections 302 through 323 as the items
relating to sections 305 through 325, respectively.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 305, as redesignated, by striking ``section
306(d)'' each place it appears and inserting ``section
308(d)'';
(2) in section 306, as redesignated, by striking ``section
306(d)'' and inserting ``section 308(d)''; and
(3) in subsection (b)(1) of section 307, as redesignated,
by striking ``section 306(d)'' and inserting ``section
308(d)''.

SEC. 1093. SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.

(a) Appointment.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code,
as amended by this subtitle, is further amended by inserting
after section 301 the following:

``Sec. 302. Secretary of the Coast Guard; appointment

``(1) In general.--There is a Secretary of the Coast Guard,
appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of the
Coast Guard shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be
appointed from among individuals most highly qualified for
the position by reason of background and experience,
including individuals with appropriate management or
leadership experience. Subject to the oversight, direction,
and control of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Coast
Guard is the head of the Coast Guard.
``(2) Limitations on appointment.--
``(A) In general.--An individual may not be appointed as
the Secretary of the Coast Guard during the 5-year period
beginning on the date on which the individual is relieved
from active duty (as defined in section 101(d) of title 10)
as a commissioned officer of a regular component of any of
the armed forces (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10).
``(B) Appointees under homeland security act of 2002.--No
officer serving in an appointment under section 103(a) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(a)) may be
appointed to carry out the duties of Secretary of the Coast
Guard.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of
title 14, United States Code, as amended by this subtitle, is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 301 the following:

``302. Secretary of the Coast Guard; appointment.''.
(3) Technical and conforming amendments.--
(A) Homeland security act of 2002.--The Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended--
(i) in section 103 (6 U.S.C. 113)--

(I) in subsection (c)--

(aa) in the first sentence by striking ``section 44'' and
inserting ``section 304''; and
(bb) in the second sentence, by striking ``section 2'' and
inserting ``section 102'';

(II) by redesignating subsections (c) through (g) as
subsections (d) through (h), respectively; and
(III) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

``(c) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--
``(1) In general.--There is a Secretary of the Coast Guard,
who shall be appointed as provided in section 302 of title
14, United States Code, and who shall report directly to the
Secretary. The duties and functions of the Secretary of the
Coast Guard shall include the duties and functions set forth
in section 501 of title 14, United States Code.
``(2) General powers.--Subject to the authority, direction,
and control of the Secretary, when the Coast Guard is
operating as a service in the Department, the Secretary of
the Coast Guard shall exercise the rights, privileges,
powers, and duties vested in the Secretary under section 501
of title 14, United States Code, except as may be reserved by
the Secretary, and other duties as may be prescribed by law
or by the President or the Secretary, in directing the Coast
Guard.
``(3) Direct reporting to secretary.--At all times, other
than those times when the Coast Guard is operating as a
service in the Navy, the Secretary of the Coast Guard shall
report directly to the Secretary without intervening
authority.''; and
(ii) in section 888(f) (6 U.S.C. 468(f)), by striking ``the
Secretary'' and inserting ``the Secretary of the Coast
Guard''.
(B) Title 10, united states code.--Title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(i) in section 101(a)(9)(D), by striking ``the Secretary of
Homeland Security'' and inserting ``the Secretary of the
Coast Guard'';
(ii) in section 822(a)--

(I) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (9) as
paragraphs (4) through (10); and
(II) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

``(3) the Secretary of Homeland Security;''; and
(iii) in section 8013a(a)--

(I) by striking ``section 3 of title 14'' and inserting
``section 103 of title 14''; and
(II) by striking ``the Secretary of Homeland Security'' and
inserting ``the Secretary of the Coast Guard''.

(b) Powers and Functions.--
(1) In general.--Section 501 of title 14, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (a) through (h) as
paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively, and moving such
paragraphs two ems to the right;
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), as redesignated,
by striking ``For'' and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--For''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--
``(1) Functions.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the authority, direction, and
control of the Secretary and subject to the other provisions
of this title, the Secretary of the Coast Guard is
responsible for, and has the authority necessary to conduct,
all affairs of the Coast Guard, including the following
functions:
``(i) Recruiting.
``(ii) Organizing.
``(iii) Supplying.
``(iv) Equipping, including research and development.
``(v) Training.
``(vi) Servicing.
``(vii) Mobilizing.
``(viii) Demobilizing.
``(ix) Administering, including the morale and welfare of
personnel.
``(x) Maintaining.
``(xi) The construction, outfitting, and repair of military
equipment.
``(xii) The construction, maintenance, and repair of
buildings, structures, and utilities and the acquisition of
real property and interests in real property necessary to
carry out the responsibilities specified in this section.
``(B) Additional responsibilities.--Subject to the
authority, direction, and control of the Secretary, the
Secretary of the Coast Guard is also responsible to the
Secretary for--
``(i) the functioning and efficiency of the Coast Guard;
``(ii) the formulation of policies and programs of the
Coast Guard that are fully consistent with national security
objectives and policies established by the President or the
Secretary;
``(iii) the effective and timely implementation of policy,
program, and budget decisions and instructions of the
President or the Secretary relating to the functions of the
Coast Guard;
``(iv) carrying out the functions of the Coast Guard so as
to fulfill the current and future operational requirements;
``(v) effective cooperation and coordination between the
Coast Guard and the other military departments (as defined in
section 101(a) of title 10) and agencies of the Department of
Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to provide
for more effective, efficient, and economical administration
and to eliminate duplication;
``(vi) the presentation and justification of the positions
of the Coast Guard on the plans, programs, and policies of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating; and
``(vii) the effective supervision and control of the
intelligence activities of the Coast Guard.
``(C) Additional activities.--The Secretary of the Coast
Guard is also responsible for such other activities as may be
prescribed by law or by the President or the Secretary.
``(2) Delegation.--The Secretary of the Coast Guard may
assign the functions, powers, and duties of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard, as the Secretary of the Coast Guard
considers appropriate, to the Commandant.
``(3) Additional powers.--Notwithstanding section 872 of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 452), the
Secretary of the Coast Guard may--
``(A) assign, detail, and prescribe the duties of members
of the Coast Guard and civilian personnel of the Coast Guard;
``(B) change the title of any officer or activity of the
Coast Guard not prescribed by law; and
``(C) prescribe regulations to carry out the functions,
powers, and duties of the Secretary of the Coast Guard under
this title.
``(4) Other officers.--To assist the Secretary of the Coast
Guard in the performance of the functions of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard, the Secretary of the Coast Guard

[[Page S4920]]

may designate Assistant Secretaries, appointed by the
President and subject to the supervision of the Secretary.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 1137(a)
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking
``section 501(d)'' and inserting ``section 501(a)(4)''.

SEC. 1094. UNDER SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.

(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code,
as amended by this subtitle, is further amended by inserting
after section 302 the following:

``Sec. 303. Under Secretary of the Coast Guard; appointment

``There is an Under Secretary of the Coast Guard, to be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice of the
Senate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of
title 14, United States Code, as amended by this subtitle, is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 302 the following:

``303. Under Secretary of the Coast Guard; appointment.''.

SEC. 1095. COMMANDANT.

(a) Appointment.--Section 304 of title 14, United States
Code, as redesignated, is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``The Commandant shall report directly to the
Secretary of the Coast Guard.''.
(b) Functions and Powers Vested in the Commandant.--Section
505 of title 14, United States Code, is amended, in the first
sentence, by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting ``Secretary
of the Coast Guard. In addition to the duties of the
Commandant under this title, the Commandant shall perform
such duties as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the
Coast Guard to assist the Secretary of the Coast Guard in the
performance of the functions of the Secretary of the Coast
Guard.''.

SEC. 1096. DEPARTMENT IN WHICH THE COAST GUARD OPERATES.

Section 103(b) of title 14, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Upon the declaration'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Upon the declaration''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Transfer of secretary of the coast guard.--
Notwithstanding section 103 of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 113), whenever the Coast Guard transfers to,
and operates as a service in, the Navy pursuant to paragraph
(1), the Secretary of the Coast Guard shall transfer to the
Department of the Navy and shall so continue until the
President, by Executive order, transfers the Coast Guard back
to the Department of Homeland Security. While the Coast Guard
is operating as a service in the Department of Navy, the
Secretary of the Coast Guard shall be subordinate to, and
subject to the orders of, the Secretary of the Navy. All
authorities, powers, and responsibilities vested in the
Secretary of the Coast Guard on the date of the transfer
shall, notwithstanding the transfer, continue to vest in the
Secretary of the Coast Guard in the same manner and to the
same extent as if the Secretary of the Coast Guard were an
officer in the Department of Homeland Security.''.

SEC. 1097. REORGANIZATION PLAN.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
reorganization plan with respect to--
(1) the number of military and civilian personnel of the
Coast Guard to be assigned to the Office of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard pursuant to section 302 of title 14, United
States Code; and
(2) any reorganization of the Coast Guard necessary as a
result of the establishment of the Secretary of the Coast
Guard under section 302 of title 14, United States Code.
(b) Elements.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall
include following:
(1) Specification of the steps to be taken by the Secretary
of Homeland Security--
(A) to transfer responsibilities from the Secretary of
Homeland Security or the Commandant of the Coast Guard to the
Secretary of the Coast Guard; and
(B) to organize the Office of the Secretary of the Coast
Guard, including the delegation or assignment of functions to
the Secretary of the Coast Guard, so as to allow the
Secretary of the Coast Guard to carry out the
responsibilities identified under subparagraph (A).
(2) Specification of any proposed disposition of property,
facility, contract, record, or other asset or obligation to
be transferred under the plan.
(3) Specification of the funds available that will be
transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Coast Guard
as a result of transfers under the plan.
(4) A date on which the plan shall become effective.
(5) Any other element the Secretary of Homeland Security
considers appropriate.
(c) Consideration.--The plan required by subsection (a)
shall take into consideration the role of the Secretary of
the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is operating as a
service in the Navy.
(d) Modification.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, may
modify or revise any part of the plan required by this
section until the date on which the plan becomes effective in
accordance with date set forth under subsection (b)(4).
(e) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
______