Obama signs Coast Guard reauthorization bill

President Obama has signed into law the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act, which allows the Coast Guard to consider the future acquisition of a polar icebreaker and maintains current funding levels for the Federal Maritime Commission.    President Obama has signed into law the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act, which allows the Coast Guard to consider the future acquisition of a polar icebreaker and maintains current funding levels for the Federal Maritime Commission.
   As modified by the Senate, the bill passed the House by voice vote on May 18, 2015, and was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee on June 25, 2015. The bill passed the full Senate by voice vote on Dec. 18, 2015. The bill reauthorizes the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 at $9.1 billion.
   In addition to supporting the Coast Guard’s future polar icebreaker program, the legislation provides the agency with new authorities to combat illicit trafficking and smuggling and transnational criminal organizations. It also criminalizes concealment of bulk cash proceeds of $100,000 or more on smugglers’ vessels that are subject to U.S. maritime law.
   “This legislation will enable the Coast Guard to begin bringing new vessels on line, thereby ensuring the service is properly equipped to safeguard lives and property at sea, and to protect U.S. national and homeland security interests,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, in a statement.
   The legislation provides the FMC $24.7 million annually for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 to cover the commission’s activities.