Garamendi Secures Wins in Coast Guard Reauthorization Act

Washington, DC- Today Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, applauded passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019 (H.R.3409) in the Committee. The bipartisan legislation authorizes the United States Coast Guard – our nation's fifth military service branch – for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The authorization includes the full text of the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2019 (H.R.367), of which Congressman Garamendi is an original cosponsor, as well as four amendments that Garamendi successfully added to the legislation.

"I'm pleased that several of my proposals were included in this crucial legislation to support the Coast Guard. My provisions will strengthen ‘Buy American' requirements in shipyards, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used to support local economies and create new middle-class jobs for Americans," said Garamendi. "It will also ensure that the 41,000 active-duty Coast Guard members, 6,200 reservists, and 8,500 civilian personnel will never again have to worry about going without a paycheck because of a government shutdown. The brave men and women who serve in our Coast Guard should never become casualties of a petty partisan fight in Washington," Garamendi concluded.

Earlier this year, members of the Coast Guard were forced to go weeks without receiving a paycheck over the holidays as a result of the longest Federal government shutdown in U.S. history (35 days). This was the first time in more than 140 years that members of the Armed Services were not paid during a lapse in government appropriations. According to the Coast Guard, nearly one third of all active-duty Coast Guard members do not have enough savings to cover one month's worth of expenses.

The Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act ensures that if the Armed Services are paid during any lapse in appropriations, the Coast Guard will also be paid. Unlike other service branches, the Coast Guard is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and not funded under the Defense Department. The legislation provides for:

• Pay and allowances for active duty and reserve members of the Coast Guard;
• Pay and allowances for civilian employees of the Coast Guard;
• Pay and allowances for contractors of the Coast Guard;
• Payment of death gratuities with respect to members of the Coast Guard;
• Payment or reimbursement of authorized funeral travel and travel related to the dignified transfer of remains and unit memorial services with respect to members of the Coast Guard;
• Temporary continuation of a basic housing allowance for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying while on active duty; and
• Coast Guard retired pay and benefits.

Additionally, Garamendi successfully added four amendments to the Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R.3409). A summary of each amendment is included below:

• Garamendi #065:
  • Directing the National Academy of Public Administration to complete an independent study on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point, New York.
  • "Congress needs to continue to invest in our service academies, and that includes the only service academy graduating the next generation of American mariners to support and re-supply our military around the world. This study will guide that important work for our United States Merchant Marine," Garamendi said.

• Garamendi #066:
  • Designating each State maritime academy or college, including the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), as a "center of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education," ensuring closer cooperation and sharing of resources with the Maritime Administration (MARAD).
  • "Collaboration and the sharing of resources are critically important for our domestic maritime industry. This amendment will ensure that the incredible work and training that's conducted at State maritime academies can be closely shared with the federal Maritime Administration to provide good-paying jobs in our domestic maritime industry," Garamendi said.
• Garamendi #067:
  • Implementing "Buy American" requirements for grant funds awarded under the MARAD Small Shipyard Grant Program.
  • "Thankfully, Congress continues to reject the Trump Administration's annual budget requests misguided proposals to eliminate this successful program. As we seek to fully fund the Small Shipyard Grant Program, Congress must also ensure that these federal grants are used to purchase materials and equipment made in the USA by American workers, whenever possible," Garamendi said.
• Garamendi #068:
  • Directing the Coast Guard to issue Merchant Mariner credentials on the day after the expiration of an applicant's existing credential. This will ensure that Merchant Mariners get the full 5-year duration of work from their credentials and removes a current penalty for early renewals. Right now, many Merchant Mariners lose out on countless months of work over their careers due to this oversight by the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center.
  • "Our Merchant Mariners, who strengthen the nation's vital sealift capacity during war and provide a vital stimulus to our economy during peacetime, have been shortchanged out of months of work due to an administrative oversight. This amendment will resolve this issue and ensure that Merchant Mariners can work full time and support their families," said Garamendi.