S. 2652 — Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "appropriate committees of Congress" as the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Appropriations; Armed Services; and Foreign Relations, and the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure; Appropriations; Armed Services; and Foreign Affairs; and (2) "Commandant" as the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

This section establishes two new annual reporting requirements in chapter 51 of title 14, United States Code, for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific region in support of Department of State and Department of Defense missions. First, it directs the Commandant, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees by December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, an unclassified plan (with possible classified annex) for the following year that includes (1) objectives for Coast Guard engagement; (2) an assessment of Coast Guard capabilities; (3) areas needing increased Coast Guard presence; (4) projected demand from the Departments of State and Defense for that year and the subsequent 10-year period; (5) an assessment of the Coast Guard's ability to meet such demand, including limiting factors; (6) a summary of required resources, including staff, infrastructure, administrative and logistical support, and technology; and (7) other matters deemed appropriate by the Commandant. The Commandant must provide a briefing on each plan to the committees by February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter. Second, it requires the Commandant to submit to the committees by February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, an unclassified detailed budget display (with possible classified annex) for the following fiscal year—based on the most recent plan—that breaks out funding by specified accounts and subaccounts for procurement, research, development, test, and evaluation, operation and maintenance, and military personnel. The Commandant must provide a briefing on each budget display by February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter. "Appropriate committees of Congress" are defined as the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Appropriations, and Armed Services; and the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Appropriations, and Armed Services. The section also makes conforming changes to the chapter's table of sections.

This section directs the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 120 days after enactment, a report assessing the feasibility of establishing a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group—modeled on NATO standing maritime groups—to conduct humanitarian and law enforcement missions in the region. The report must include findings on how such a group could enhance Coast Guard cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners on (1) multilateral humanitarian missions, (2) anti-piracy missions, (3) emergency responses, (4) maritime domain awareness, and (5) prevention of unregulated and unreported fishing, as well as any other matters the Commandant considers appropriate.

This section directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after 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) justification for each location; (4) costs of establishment; (5) non-monetary resources and approvals needed, including authorizations and cooperation agreements; and (6) a timeline for completion by 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 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 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 those embassies, (2) a list of such embassies at which an increased allocation of attachés could better support U.S. objectives in the Indo-Pacific region, and (3) a plan to increase the number of such attachés in those embassies, including the resources and approvals necessary to implement the plan.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and the Chief of Naval Operations, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report analyzing the feasibility of attaching Department of State consular officers to Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries. The report must include the following elements: (1) an assessment of demand for consular services by citizens of such countries and challenges they face in obtaining those services; (2) estimated time and resource savings for citizens of countries without U.S. embassies through visa adjudications or other services via the initiative; (3) projected costs to the Department of State, Coast Guard, Indo-Pacific Command, and Navy, including alternative cost-effective options and recommendations; (4) frequency and duration of Coast Guard and Navy deployments to such countries, including frequency relative to desired visits, typical port time, and potential mission disruptions; and (5) logistical issues, including vessel spacing and equipment needs, information technology and connectivity requirements, visa printing options, physical security of personnel and equipment, vessel operational and security impacts, and time consular officers would spend aboard between visits.