S. 1577 — A bill to amend section 1151 of title 14, United States Code, to modify the restriction on construction of Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards.

This section revises the exceptions to the prohibition on constructing Coast Guard vessels or major hull or superstructure components in foreign shipyards. It requires the President, for any national security exception, to certify to Congress that the foreign shipyard (1) is a NATO member or party to a U.S. defense treaty in the Indo-Pacific region; (2) offers lower construction costs and at least an 18-month faster timeline than a domestic shipyard; and (3) has demonstrated such cost and timeline advantages for comparable vessels (i.e., those capable of missions under sec. 888(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002) during the prior five years. It further authorizes the Secretary to acquire a completed vessel from a qualifying foreign shipyard (NATO member or Indo-Pacific treaty party) if the host government provides a warranty agreement.