Amata Highlights Final House Passage of Coast Guard Reauthorization with Ports Assessment

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting final House passage of multi-year reauthorization of the United States Coast Guard, which passed the House Wednesday as part of the immense 3,000-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Among numerous priorities, the bill includes congressional directions to conduct a homeport analysis, continue to build out the cutter fleet, and strengthen USCG Pacific presence.

"I welcome the homeports assessment, which dovetails with the Coast Guard's ongoing intention to thoroughly examine where to port cutters and otherwise make the best investment decisions. American Samoa is known for our exceptional harbor, and any Coast Guard decision to make it a homeport would be seen in the region as an important signal of U.S. commitment, and taking a strong stance against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (I.U.U.) fishing. Completion of this multi-year legislative authorization enables Coast Guard planning and certainty of resources that extends beyond the next year, and takes into account the growing role and need for the Coast Guard in Pacific security."

The Coast Guard Authorization bill, major legislation, was then combined into the even larger NDAA. The bill authorizes funding, directs the Coast Guard on congressional priorities, and supports its critical missions. Under these directives, the Coast Guard safeguards the nation's coastal borders, facilitates maritime commerce, ensures maritime safety, prevents illegal drug trafficking, and reduces Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing on the high seas.

In late July, the House passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025. On the Senate side, the Senate's version of Coast Guard authorization was placed within the NDAA, then a House-Senate negotiated conference solved differences between the two bills, and moved the final bill forward that included Coast Guard legislation.

The legislation builds on the $25 billion dollar investment passed in budget reconciliation legislation earlier in 2025, and in tandem with the planning of Coast Guard Force Design 2028, supporting all Coast Guard operations and the need for recapitalization of its cutter fleet, along with aviation assets, shoreside facilities, and technological capabilities.

The bill supports the Coast Guard at more than $15 billion in the next year, takes steps to modernize the Coast Guard's acquisition process, and assess the use of next-generation autonomous technologies. Importantly, it includes stronger statutory protections for members of the Coast Guard to prevent and prosecute any cases of sexual assault and harassment.

The legislation includes U.S.-Build requirements to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry, boosts maritime safety laws, encourages an increase in the pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners through amended credentials, and invests in vessel safety.

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