Study on Coast Guard missions

(a) Study (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center with relevant expertise under which such center shall conduct an assessment of the operational capabilities and ability of the Coast Guard to conduct the primary duties of the Coast Guard under section 102 of title 14, United States Code, and missions under section 888 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468). (2) Elements In carrying out the assessment required under paragraph (1), the federally funded research and development center selected under such subsection shall, with respect to the primary duties and missions described in paragraph (1), include the following: (A) An analysis of the extent to which the Coast Guard is able to effectively carry out such duties and missions. (B) An analysis of any budgetary, policy, and manpower factors that may constrain the Coast Guard’s ability to carry out such duties and missions, (C) An analysis of the impacts to safety, national security, and the economy, of any shortfalls in the Coast Guards ability to meet such missions. (D) Recommendations for the Coast Guard to more effectively carry out such duties and missions, in light of manpower and asset constraints. (E) Identification of any duties and missions that are being conducted by the Coast Guard on behalf of other Department of Homeland Security components, the Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies. (F) An analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of the Coast Guard conducting missions on behalf of other agencies identified in subparagraph (E), including— (i) the budgetary impact of the duties and missions identified in such subparagraph; (ii) data on the degree to which the Coast Guard is reimbursed for the costs of such missions; and (iii) recommendations to minimize the impact of the missions identified in such subparagraph to the Coast Guard budget, including improving reimbursements and budget autonomy of the Coast Guard. (b) Assessment to commandant Not later than 1 year after the date on which Commandant enters into an agreement under section (a), the federally funded research and development center selected under such subsection shall submit to the Commandant, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment required under subsection (a). (c) Report to Congress (1) In general Not later than 90 days after receipt of the assessment under subsection (b), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes recommendations included in the assessment to strengthen the ability of the Coast Guard to carry out such duties and missions. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The assessment received by the Commandant under subsection (b). (B) For each recommendation included in the such assessment— (i) an assessment by the Commandant of the feasibility and advisability of implementing such recommendation; and (ii) if the Commandant considers the implementation of such recommendation feasible and advisable, a description of the actions taken, or to be taken, to implement such recommendation.

(a) Study (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center with relevant expertise under which such center shall conduct an assessment of the operational capabilities and ability of the Coast Guard to conduct the primary duties of the Coast Guard under section 102 of title 14, United States Code, and missions under section 888 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 468). (2) Elements In carrying out the assessment required under paragraph (1), the federally funded research and development center selected under such subsection shall, with respect to the primary duties and missions described in paragraph (1), include the following: (A) An analysis of the extent to which the Coast Guard is able to effectively carry out such duties and missions. (B) An analysis of any budgetary, policy, and manpower factors that may constrain the Coast Guard’s ability to carry out such duties and missions, (C) An analysis of the impacts to safety, national security, and the economy, of any shortfalls in the Coast Guards ability to meet such missions. (D) Recommendations for the Coast Guard to more effectively carry out such duties and missions, in light of manpower and asset constraints. (E) Identification of any duties and missions that are being conducted by the Coast Guard on behalf of other Department of Homeland Security components, the Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies. (F) An analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of the Coast Guard conducting missions on behalf of other agencies identified in subparagraph (E), including— (i) the budgetary impact of the duties and missions identified in such subparagraph; (ii) data on the degree to which the Coast Guard is reimbursed for the costs of such missions; and (iii) recommendations to minimize the impact of the missions identified in such subparagraph to the Coast Guard budget, including improving reimbursements and budget autonomy of the Coast Guard. (b) Assessment to commandant Not later than 1 year after the date on which Commandant enters into an agreement under section (a), the federally funded research and development center selected under such subsection shall submit to the Commandant, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment required under subsection (a). (c) Report to Congress (1) In general Not later than 90 days after receipt of the assessment under subsection (b), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes recommendations included in the assessment to strengthen the ability of the Coast Guard to carry out such duties and missions. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The assessment received by the Commandant under subsection (b). (B) For each recommendation included in the such assessment— (i) an assessment by the Commandant of the feasibility and advisability of implementing such recommendation; and (ii) if the Commandant considers the implementation of such recommendation feasible and advisable, a description of the actions taken, or to be taken, to implement such recommendation.