Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act
The Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act would create a new Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance within the U.S. Coast Guard and require the Coast Guard to develop detailed, forward-looking plans and budgets for its operations in the Pacific. The Center would be modeled on established training institutes (International Law Enforcement Academies and DoD Institutes) and would focus on education, training, and research on maritime governance and building regional state capacity. The Act also imposes new reporting and planning requirements—annual Pacific-focused operation plans, annual budget disclosures, and several feasibility and implementation studies (standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, forward operating bases, and Coast Guard attaches in embassies)—to enhance U.S. coordination with the State Department, Department of Defense, and Congress. In short, the bill broadens Coast Guard international engagement, transparency, and long-range planning for Indo-Pacific missions.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance within the Coast Guard, modeled after International Law Enforcement Academies and DoD Institutes, to educate, train, and research maritime governance and regional capacity-building.
- 2Requires an annual Pacific operations plan (beginning with a plan due by December 31, 2025) developed by the Coast Guard Commandant in consultation with the State and Defense Secretaries, covering objectives, capabilities, expanded presence needs, projected demand (10-year horizon), resources, and other relevant matters; plan submitted to Congress in unclassified form (with possible classified annex) and accompanied by a briefing by February 15 each year.
- 3Requires an annual budget display for Coast Guard Pacific operations (due by February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter), detailing specific accounts and line items for procurement, R&D, operations and maintenance, military personnel, etc., in unclassified form (classified annex allowed) with a required briefing to Congress.
- 4Adds a report on the feasibility of standing Indo-Pacific maritime group(s) to conduct humanitarian and law enforcement missions, modeled after Standing NATO Maritime Groups, including how such a group could improve cooperation on multilateral humanitarian missions, anti-piracy, emergency responses, maritime domain awareness, and unregulated/unreported fishing.
- 5Requires a report on establishing forward operating bases (FOBs) in the Indo-Pacific within one year, detailing gaps, locations (including mobile FOBs), rationale, costs, non-monetary requirements, and a timeline aiming to complete FOB establishment by January 1, 2030.
- 6Requires a separate report on Coast Guard attaches in Indo-Pacific embassies within six months, outlining current counts, potential increases, and a plan to expand embedding requirements and approvals.
- 7Defines “appropriate congressional committees” to include relevant House and Senate committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Appropriations, and Armed Services, ensuring cross-cutting oversight.