I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2351 
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of 
the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2025 
Mr. MCDOWELL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update 
the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medi-
cation to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONBOARD VESSELS. 
Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
striking ‘‘While on board a covered vessel, an’’ and 
inserting ‘‘An’’; 
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(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) manufacture or distribute, possess with in-
tent to manufacture or distribute, or place or cause 
to be placed with intent to manufacture or distribute 
a controlled substance on board a covered vessel;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘on board a 
covered vessel’’ before the semicolon; and 
(4) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘while on 
board a covered vessel’’ after ‘‘such individual’’. 
SEC. 2. POLICY AND BRIEFING ON AVAILABILITY OF 
NALOXONE TO TREAT OPIOID OVERDOSES. 
(a) POLICY.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall update the policy of the Coast Guard regard-
ing the use of medication to treat drug overdoses, includ-
ing the use of naloxone or other similar medication to treat 
opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—The updated policy required 
under subsection (a) shall require naloxone or other simi-
lar medication be available for members of the Coast 
Guard— 
(1) on all Coast Guard installations; and 
(2) in each operational environment. 
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Guard facilities, onboard Coast Guard assets, and 
during Coast Guard operations, of— 
(A) naloxone or other similar medication to 
treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses; and 
(B) opioids, including fentanyl. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The briefing required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of— 
(i) the progress made in the imple-
mentation of the updated policy required 
under subsection (a); 
(ii) the prevalence and incidence of 
the illegal use of fentanyl and other con-
trolled substances in the Coast Guard dur-
ing the 5-year period preceding the brief-
ing; 
(iii) processes of the Coast Guard to 
mitigate substance abuse in the Coast 
Guard, 
particularly 
with 
respect 
to 
fentanyl; and 
(iv) the status of the memorandum of 
understanding required under subsection 
(d). 
(B) For the 5-year period preceding the 
briefing, a review of instances in which 
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naloxone or other similar medication was used 
to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses at 
a Coast Guard facility, onboard a Coast Guard 
asset, or during a Coast Guard operation. 
(f) PRIVACY.—In carrying out the requirements of 
this section, the Commandant shall ensure compliance 
with all applicable privacy law, including section 552a of 
title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
‘‘Privacy Act’’), and the privacy regulations promulgated 
under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note). 
(g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of the 
availability requirement under subsection (b), with respect 
to a Coast Guard installation comprised of multiple Coast 
Guard facilities or units, naloxone or other similar medica-
tion available at a single Coast Guard facility within the 
installation shall be considered to be available to all Coast 
Guard facilities or units on the installation if appropriate 
arrangements are in place to ensure access, at all times 
during operations, to the naloxone or other similar medica-
tion contained within such single Coast Guard facility. 
Æ 
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