H.R. 3397 — Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act

This section establishes a Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance within the U.S. Coast Guard, modeled after the International Law Enforcement Academies and Department of Defense Institutes. The Center provides education, training, and research on maritime governance best practices, including building regional state capacity, with assistance from federal agencies (i.e., access to data, resources, and personnel details) and in joint operation with a partner foreign country selected by the Commandant, which furnishes administrative services and facilities either directly, via funding, or through coordination with a local higher education institution.

This section establishes in new 14 U.S.C. §§5116-5117 annual requirements for the Coast Guard Commandant to submit to specified congressional committees (1) a plan for Pacific region operations supporting Department of State and Defense missions and (2) a detailed budget display for such operations. New §5116 requires the first plan by December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter for the following year, including objectives, capabilities assessment, areas needing increased presence, projected demand for one and 10 years, ability to meet demand with limiting factors, required resources (staff, infrastructure, support, technology), and other matters; plans must be unclassified (with possible classified annex) and followed by a briefing by February 15 of the next year. New §5117 requires the first budget display by February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter for the following fiscal year, based on the most recent plan and detailing procurement, research/development/test/evaluation, operation/maintenance, and military personnel accounts by subcategories; displays must be unclassified (with possible classified annex) and followed by an annual briefing.

This section directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report assessing the feasibility of establishing a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group—modeled after the Standing NATO Maritime Groups—to conduct humanitarian and law enforcement missions in the Indo-Pacific region. The report must include (1) findings on how such a group could enable more effective Coast Guard cooperation with Indo-Pacific partner countries on multilateral humanitarian missions, anti-piracy missions, emergency responses, maritime domain awareness, and prevention of unregulated and unreported fishing; and (2) any other matters deemed relevant by the Commandant.

This section directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on establishing forward operating bases in the Indo-Pacific region. The report must include (1) a description of gaps in Coast Guard operations in the region, including logistical problems; (2) a list of selected locations for such bases, including mobile forward operating bases; (3) the rationale for selecting each location; (4) the costs of establishing the bases; (5) non-monetary resources and approvals needed, including authorizations and cooperation agreements; and (6) a timeline for completing establishment by not later than January 1, 2030.

This section directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than six months after enactment, a report on Coast Guard attachés serving in embassies in the Indo-Pacific region. The report must include (1) the number of such attachés actively serving in such embassies, (2) a list of any such embassies where an increased allocation of attachés could better support U.S. objectives in the region, and (3) a plan to increase the number of such attachés, including necessary resources and approvals.

This section defines the term "appropriate congressional committees" to mean (1) the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Appropriations, and Armed Services; and (2) the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Appropriations, and Armed Services.