### §315. Training for congressional affairs personnel

(a) In General.—The Commandant shall develop a training course, which shall be administered in person, on the workings of Congress for any member of the Coast Guard selected for a position as a fellow, liaison, counsel, or administrative staff for the Coast Guard Office of Congressional and Governmental Affairs or as any Coast Guard district or area governmental affairs officer.

(b) Course Subject Matter.—

(1) In general.—The training course required under this section shall provide an overview and introduction to Congress and the Federal legislative process, including—

(A) the congressional budget process;

(B) the congressional appropriations process;

(C) the congressional authorization process;

(D) the Senate advice and consent process for Presidential nominees;

(E) the Senate advice and consent process for treaty ratification;

(F) the roles of Members of Congress and congressional staff in the legislative process;

(G) the concept and underlying purposes of congressional oversight within the governance framework of separation of powers;

(H) the roles of Coast Guard fellows, liaisons, counsels, governmental affairs officers, the Coast Guard Office of Program Review, the Coast Guard Headquarters program offices, and any other entity the Commandant considers relevant; and

(I) the roles and responsibilities of Coast Guard public affairs and external communications personnel with respect to Members of Congress and the staff of such Members necessary to enhance communication between Coast Guard units, sectors, and districts and Member offices and committees of jurisdiction so as to ensure visibility of Coast Guard activities.

(2) Detail within coast guard office of budget and programs.—

(A) In general.—At the written request of a receiving congressional office, the training course required under this section shall include a multi-day detail within the Coast Guard Office of Budget and Programs to ensure adequate exposure to Coast Guard policy, oversight, and requests from Congress.

(B) Nonconsecutive detail permitted.—A detail under this paragraph is not required to be consecutive with the balance of the training.

(c) Completion of Required Training.—A member of the Coast Guard selected for a position described in subsection (a) shall complete the training required by this section before the date on which such member reports for duty for such position.

(Added Pub. L. 114–120, title II, §214(b)(1), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 43, §60; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXV, §3503(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2775; Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, §3532, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2321; renumbered §315, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §104(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4196; Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXII, §11251(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4052.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 315, act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 520, related to dropping for disabilities due to vicious habits, prior to repeal by act Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, §36, 64 Stat. 408. See section 1207 of Title 10.

#### Amendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–263 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to training course on workings of Congress.

2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 60 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) related to completion of required training for then current and newly appointed flag officers and employees.

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted "Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016" for "Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXV, §3503(e), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2775, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section, sections 429, 676a, and 2702 of this title, sections 3104, 4503, and 7510 of Title 46, Shipping, and provisions set out as a note under section 1151 of Title 16, Conservation] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of Public Law 114–120 [Feb. 8, 2016]."