S. 802 — Pay Our Coast Guard Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) the Coast Guard is a military service and branch of the Armed Forces at all times, regardless of whether it operates in the Department of Homeland Security or the Navy; and (2) Coast Guard members should receive pay and benefits equitable to those of other Armed Forces members, notwithstanding respective appropriations except as otherwise provided by law.

This section establishes a new section 2780 in chapter 27 of title 14, U.S. Code, to appropriate sums as necessary for pay and allowances during a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse—defined as a fiscal year period when no Coast Guard appropriations (or continuing resolution) are enacted by October 1 but Department of Defense appropriations (or continuing resolution) are in effect. The provision covers (1) active service or inactive-duty training pay for Coast Guard military members, including reserves; (2) pay and benefits for qualified civilian employees (i.e., those supporting military members or performing excepted/emergency work); (3) pay and benefits for qualified contract employees (i.e., those supporting military or qualified civilian personnel); and (4) death gratuities, funeral travel, and temporary basic allowance for housing for dependents of deceased members. (Thus, these funds continue at the rate of the pertinent appropriations Act until Coast Guard appropriations are enacted, DoD appropriations terminate, or an applicable resolution provides otherwise; expenditures charge to future appropriations without regard to apportionment timelines under 31 U.S.C. §1513.) This section also makes a conforming amendment to the chapter analysis.