Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017
This bill authorizes: (1) appropriations for the Coast Guard for FY2018-FY2019, and (2) a specified level of end-of-year strength for active duty personnel and military training student loads for such fiscal years.
The bill addresses: (1) training for public safety personnel, (2) service member benefits for Coast Guard personnel, (3) unmanned aircraft systems, and (4) ports and waterways safety.
The bill revises or sets forth policies relating to the Coast Guard, including Coast Guard health care professionals; incentive contracts for Coast Guard Yard or Coast Guard industrial establishments; contracting for major acquisition programs; National Security Cutters; Fast Response Cutters; ice trials of icebreaker vessels; vessel operations; numbering for undocumented barges; drawbridges; the alternate safety compliance program; visual distress signals; vessel certification; the land-based enhanced LORAN, positioning, navigation, and timing system; the installation and use of engine cut-off switches on recreational vessels; commercial fishing vessel classification requirements; aids to navigation; maritime domain awareness technologies; towing vessel inspections; and vessel response plans in the Arctic.