Press Releases

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA), which includes Transportation and Infrastructure Committee legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding through fiscal year 2027 for the United States Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the nation’s borders, facilitate maritime commerce, ensure maritime safety, protect the maritime domain, increase transparency within the Service, and confront Chinese expansion in the Pacific.

The provisions included in the NDAA are based on the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4275), which was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA) and previously approved by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2025.

The legislative text included in Division G (the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025) of the NDAA reflects changes made to the House passed, H.R. 4275 Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 during bicameral negotiations.

“I’m grateful that the Coast Guard Authorization Act was included in this year’s NDAA. This legislation provides the men and women of the Coast Guard – one of our nation’s six armed services – with the resources they need to carry out their many missions vital to national security, the safety of Americans and mariners, and our economy,” said T&I Committee Chairman Graves.  “The legislation also builds on the historic investments in modernizing the Coast Guard’s air and sea assets provided through the budget reconciliation process, and it supports the Administration’s vision to strengthen America’s maritime and shipbuilding capabilities.”

“Today's passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 through the NDAA ensures the Coast Guard has the resources it needs to remain mission ready—preventing and responding to oil spills in the Puget Sound and beyond, preventing sexual assault and harassment and more—and improve its shoreside infrastructure while investing in the women and men who keep our seas safe,” said T&I Committee Ranking Member Larsen. “I hope we can continue this bipartisan momentum into next year.”

“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud to see this year’s NDAA include the Coast Guard Authorization Act,” said Subcommittee Chairman Ezell. “This legislation gives our Coasties the tools, assets, and support they need to protect our shores, strengthen maritime safety, and keep our economy moving. From the Gulf Coast to the Pacific, the Coast Guard is on the front lines every day, and this bill ensures they have what they need to meet rising threats and continue their vital missions.”

“The Coast Guard is on the front lines every day protecting lives at sea, keeping our shores safe, and contributing to our national defense,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal. “This bipartisan legislation will deliver critical resources for the Coast Guard to carry out its missions, modernize infrastructure and safety systems, and enhance quality of life for our Coasties. Just as importantly, it reinforces our shared responsibility to ensure the Coast Guard follows through on reforms to eliminate sexual assault and harassment from its ranks.”

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2027.  These authorizations will support Coast Guard operations and the continued recapitalization of its historically underfunded cutter fleet, aviation assets, shoreside facilities, and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard’s acquisition process, increases transparency and accountability in the Service’s recapitalization efforts, and opens a pathway to the adoption of next-generation autonomous technologies. The bill also requires the Coast Guard to develop a spend plan for the $24.6 billion investment provided under H.R. 1.

In addition, the bill creates greater parity with the other armed services, including stronger protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment, based on legislation the T&I Committee approved last Congress following the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor. 

Furthermore, the legislation strengthens U.S.-Build requirements and improves accountability to better ensure a healthy, robust U.S. shipbuilding industry, while also making changes to maritime safety laws, amending requirements for merchant mariner credentials to facilitate an increase in the pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners, increasing vessel safety, and improving regulatory processes. The legislation also provides resources for increased oil spill response and prevention capacity in Alaska.