The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which provides funding and legislative support for the United States Coast Guard through fiscal year 2029. The measure received strong bipartisan backing with a vote of 399 to 12.
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata expressed her approval of the bill, highlighting its significance for Coast Guard operations and its focus on home ports assessment. “It’s important to complete a multi-year legislative authorization of the Coast Guard, putting in place the needed resources and planning. I especially welcome the widespread home ports assessment, so the Coast Guard does thorough analysis of where to home port cutters and make other important investment decisions,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I’ve been outspoken that home porting in American Samoa’s excellent harbor makes sense and would be a strong signal of U.S. commitment to a broad area of the vast Pacific Ocean.”
The legislation was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA). The bill will likely require further negotiations with the Senate.
The act aligns with a recent $25 billion investment authorized through budget reconciliation measures and supports ongoing initiatives such as Coast Guard Force Design 2028. It aims to strengthen operations, modernize acquisition processes, increase transparency in recapitalization efforts, and encourage adoption of new technologies.
Other provisions include establishing a Secretary of the Coast Guard position for greater parity with other armed services, enhancing protections against sexual assault and harassment within the Service, strengthening requirements for U.S.-built vessels, supporting domestic shipbuilding industries, updating maritime safety laws, expanding credentials for merchant mariners, improving vessel safety standards, and streamlining regulatory processes.
