The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday approved its portion of a Republican reconciliation bill that includes more than $22 billion in funding for the Coast Guard, most of it for shipbuilding.
The committee on Tuesday released its reconciliation funding plans for the Coast Guard, with $15 billion recommended for various surface ship accounts (Defense Daily, April 29). Of that, $5 billion would cover the Coast Guard’s future medium polar icebreaker, the Arctic Security Cutter, and domestic icebreakers. The reference to domestic icebreakers may cover icebreaking vessels for the Great Lakes.
The bill would also provide $4.3 billion for the heavy icebreaker program, the Polar Security Cutter, which is under contract to Bollinger Shipyards. Another $4.3 billion is for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, and $1 billion is for the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program.
“The funding will build out our nation’s icebreaker fleet, complete the first two stages of [the] Offshore Patrol Cutter program, and procure additional Fast Response Cutters, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters,” Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), chairman of the committee’s panel that oversees the Coast Guard, said during the markup. “The funding will also help the service build out its fleet of air and surface autonomous systems to target traffickers and better surveil the maritime border.”
The Coast Guard has said it wants a mix of eight to nine medium and heavy polar icebreakers. The service currently has one of each and both are aging. The service recently acquired a commercial icebreaking vessel to help close operational gaps.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group is building the first four OPCs in Stage 1, and Austal USA the next 11 ships in Stage 2. The Coast Guard plans to compete construction of the remaining vessels to reach its 25-ship program of record for the medium endurance vessels. Bollinger also builds the FRC.
The committee is also recommending $180 million for maritime domain awareness equipment and services, including $75 million for autonomous maritime systems or services. Nearly $3 billion is provided for helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and related equipment.
The bill would also provide $3.3 billion for shoreside infrastructure investments.
The bill was approved along party lines by a 36 to 30 vote.