II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 3272 

To prioritize icebreaker deployments to the Arctic, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 

Mr. SULLIVAN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To prioritize icebreaker deployments to the Arctic, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Arctic Focus Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

6 In this Act: 

7 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT8 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com9 mittees’’ means— 

10 (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

11 and Transportation of the Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 3272 IS

1 (B) the Committee on Armed Services of 

2 the Senate; 

3 (C) the Committee on Appropriations of 

4 the Senate; 

5 (D) the Committee on Transportation and 

6 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; 

7 (E) the Committee on Armed Services of 

8 the House of Representatives; and 

9 (F) the Committee on Appropriations of 

10 the House of Representatives. 

11 (2) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the mean12 ing given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Re13 search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 

14 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING ARCTIC AC15 TIVITIES. 

16 In recognition of the Arctic’s strategic importance to 

17 the national security interests of the United States, and 

18 the need to exert influence through persistent presence in 

19 the Arctic, the Coast Guard shall— 

20 (1) prioritize icebreaker deployments to the 

21 Arctic so that Antarctic deployments do not occur at 

22 the expense of sufficient Arctic presence or oper23 ations; 

24 (2) provide sufficient icebreaking activity to 

25 keep the Northwest Passage sea lanes open for comVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:17 Dec 01, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3272.IS S3272

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 3272 IS

1 merce, national defense, rescue and recovery oper2 ations, and scientific exploration by 2030; 

3 (3) permanently station at least 1 icebreaking 

4 vessel within the Arctic not later than the earlier 

5 of— 

6 (A) the date that is 1 year after the deliv7 ery of the first Polar Security Cutter; or 

8 (B) 2030; and 

9 (4) continuously patrol the Arctic with at least 

10 1 major Coast Guard cutter that is able to execute 

11 search and rescue operations, fisheries enforcement, 

12 pollution response, and support for national defense 

13 operations. 

14 SEC. 4. ARCTIC OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORT. 

15 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 

16 of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 

17 Coast Guard is operating shall submit a report to the ap18 propriate congressional committees that— 

19 (1) describes the ability and timeline to conduct 

20 a transit of the Northern Sea Route and periodic 

21 transits of the Northwest Passage; and 

22 (2) includes a plan to implement the activities 

23 described in section 3. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS