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clines to implement and a justification for such de-
cision. 
(C) A review of, and a proposed implementa-
tion plan for, the results of the fleet mix analysis 
under paragraph (1)(B)(iv). 
(D) Any proposed modifications to the stand-
ards for icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMERCIAL VESSEL.—The term ‘‘commercial 
vessel’’ means any privately owned cargo vessel operating 
in the Great Lakes during the winter season of at least 
500 tons, as measured under section 14502 of title 46, 
or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 
of such title, as prescribed by the Secretary under sec-
tion 14104 of such title. 
(2) GREAT
LAKES.—The term ‘‘Great Lakes’’ 
means the United States waters of Lake Superior, Lake 
Michigan, Lake Huron (including Lake St. Clair), Lake 
Erie, and Lake Ontario, their connecting waterways, and 
their adjacent harbors, and the connecting channels (in-
cluding the following rivers and tributaries of such riv-
ers: Saint Mary’s River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, 
Niagara River, Illinois River, Chicago River, Fox River, 
Grand River, St. Joseph River, St. Louis River, Menom-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
inee River, Muskegon River, Kalamazoo River, and Saint 
Lawrence River to the Canadian border). 
(3) ICE-COVERED WATERWAY.—The term ‘‘ice-cov-
ered waterway’’ means any portion of the Great Lakes 
in which commercial vessels or ferries operate that is 70 
percent or greater covered by ice, but does not include 
any waters adjacent to piers or docks for which commer-
cial icebreaking services are available and adequate for 
the ice conditions. 
(4) OPEN
TO
NAVIGATION.—The term ‘‘open to 
navigation’’ means navigable to the extent necessary, in 
no particular order of priority, to meet the reasonable 
demands of commerce, minimize delays to passenger fer-
ries, extricate vessels and individuals from danger, pre-
vent damage due to flooding, and conduct other Coast 
Guard missions (as required). 
(5) REASONABLE DEMANDS OF COMMERCE.—The 
term ‘‘reasonable demands of commerce’’ means the safe 
movement of commercial vessels and ferries transiting 
ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes, regardless of 
type of cargo, at a speed consistent with the design ca-
pability of Coast Guard icebreakers operating in the 
Great Lakes and appropriate to the ice capability of the 
commercial vessel.
3761 
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SEC. 11213. DATABASE ON ICEBREAKING OPERATIONS IN 
GREAT LAKES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall establish and 
maintain a database for collecting, archiving, and dissemi-
nating data on icebreaking operations and commercial vessel 
and ferry transit in the Great Lakes during ice season. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The database required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Attempts by commercial vessels and ferries to 
transit ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes that 
are unsuccessful because of inadequate icebreaking. 
(2) The period of time that each commercial vessel 
or ferry was unsuccessful at transit described in para-
graph (1) due to inadequate icebreaking. 
(3) The amount of time elapsed before each such 
commercial vessel or ferry was successfully broken out of 
the ice and whether it was accomplished by the Coast 
Guard or by commercial icebreaking assets. 
(4) Relevant communications of each such commer-
cial vessel or ferry with the Coast Guard and with com-
mercial icebreaking services during such period. 
(5) A description of any mitigating circumstance, 
such as Coast Guard icebreaker diversions to higher pri-
ority missions, that may have contributed to the amount 
of time described in paragraph (3).
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(c) VOLUNTARY REPORTING.—Any reporting by opera-
tors of commercial vessels or ferries under this section shall 
be voluntary. 
(d) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The Commandant shall 
make the database available to the public on a publicly acces-
sible website of the Coast Guard. 
(e) CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY.—With respect to 
the Great Lakes icebreaking operations of the Coast Guard 
and the development of the database required under sub-
section (a), the Commandant shall consult operators of com-
mercial vessels and ferries. 
(f) PUBLIC REPORT.—Not later than July 1 after the 
first winter in which the Commandant is subject to the re-
quirements of section 564 of title 14, United States Code, the 
Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible website of 
the Coast Guard a report on the cost to the Coast Guard of 
meeting the requirements of such section. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMERCIAL VESSEL.—The term ‘‘commercial 
vessel’’ means any privately owned cargo vessel operating 
in the Great Lakes during the winter season of at least 
500 tons, as measured under section 14502 of title 46, 
United States Code, or an alternate tonnage measured 
under section 14302 of such title, as prescribed by the 
Secretary under section 14104 of such title.
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(2) GREAT
LAKES.—The term ‘‘Great Lakes’’ 
means the United States waters of Lake Superior, Lake 
Michigan, Lake Huron (including Lake St. Clair), Lake 
Erie, and Lake Ontario, their connecting waterways, and 
their adjacent harbors, and the connecting channels (in-
cluding the following rivers and tributaries of such riv-
ers: Saint Mary’s River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, 
Niagara River, Illinois River, Chicago River, Fox River, 
Grand River, St. Joseph River, St. Louis River, Menom-
inee River, Muskegon River, Kalamazoo River, and Saint 
Lawrence River to the Canadian border). 
(3) ICE-COVERED WATERWAY.—The term ‘‘ice-cov-
ered waterway’’ means any portion of the Great Lakes 
in which commercial vessels or ferries operate that is 70 
percent or greater covered by ice, but does not include 
any waters adjacent to piers or docks for which commer-
cial icebreaking services are available and adequate for 
the ice conditions. 
(4) OPEN
TO
NAVIGATION.—The term ‘‘open to 
navigation’’ means navigable to the extent necessary 
to— 
(A) extricate vessels and individuals from dan-
ger; 
(B) prevent damage due to flooding; 
(C) meet the reasonable demands of commerce;
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(D) minimize delays to passenger ferries; and 
(E) conduct other Coast Guard missions as re-
quired. 
(5) REASONABLE DEMANDS OF COMMERCE.—The 
term ‘‘reasonable demands of commerce’’ means the safe 
movement of commercial vessels and ferries transiting 
ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes, regardless of 
type of cargo, at a speed consistent with the design ca-
pability of Coast Guard icebreakers operating in the 
Great Lakes and appropriate to the ice capability of the 
commercial vessel. 
SEC. 11214. CENTER OF EXPERTISE FOR GREAT LAKES OIL 
SPILL SEARCH AND RESPONSE. 
Section 807(d) of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 2018 (14 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘Great 
Lakes’ means— 
‘‘(1) Lake Ontario; 
‘‘(2) Lake Erie; 
‘‘(3) Lake Huron (including Lake St. Clair); 
‘‘(4) Lake Michigan; 
‘‘(5) Lake Superior; and 
‘‘(6) the connecting channels (including the fol-
lowing rivers and tributaries of such rivers: Saint Mary’s
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River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, 
Illinois River, Chicago River, Fox River, Grand River, 
St. Joseph River, St. Louis River, Menominee River, 
Muskegon River, Kalamazoo River, and Saint Lawrence 
River to the Canadian border).’’. 
SEC. 11215. GREAT LAKES SNOWMOBILE ACQUISITION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall develop a 
plan to expand snowmobile procurement for Coast Guard 
units for which snowmobiles may improve ice rescue response 
times while maintaining the safety of Coast Guard personnel 
engaged in ice search and rescue. The plan shall include con-
sideration of input from Officers in Charge, commanding offi-
cers, and commanders of such units. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The plan required under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) a consideration of input from Officers in 
Charge, commanding officers, and commanders of Coast 
Guard units described in subsection (a); 
(2) a detailed description of the estimated costs of 
procuring, maintaining, and training members of the 
Coast Guard at such units to use snowmobiles; and 
(3) an assessment of— 
(A) the degree to which snowmobiles may im-
prove ice rescue response times while maintaining
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the safety of Coast Guard personnel engaged in ice 
search and rescue; 
(B) the operational capabilities of a snow-
mobile, as compared to an airboat, and a force 
laydown assessment with respect to the assets need-
ed for effective operations at Coast Guard units 
conducting ice search and rescue activities; and 
(C) the potential risks to members of the Coast 
Guard and members of the public posed by the use 
of snowmobiles by members of the Coast Guard for 
ice search and rescue activities. 
(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall fi-
nalize the plan required under subsection (a) and make the 
plan available on a publicly accessible website of the Coast 
Guard. 
SEC. 11216. GREAT LAKES BARGE INSPECTION EXEMPTION. 
Section 3302(m) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by insert-
ing ‘‘or a Great Lakes barge’’ after ‘‘seagoing barge’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘section 3301(6) of this title’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (6) or (13) of section 3301 of this 
title’’.
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SEC. 11217. STUDY ON SUFFICIENCY OF COAST GUARD AVIA-
TION ASSETS TO MEET MISSION DEMANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives a report on— 
(1) the force laydown of Coast Guard aviation as-
sets; and 
(2) any geographic gaps in coverage by Coast 
Guard assets in areas in which the Coast Guard has 
search and rescue responsibilities. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) The distance, time, and weather challenges that 
MH–65 and MH–60 units may face in reaching the out-
ermost limits of the area of operation of Coast Guard 
District 8 and Coast Guard District 9 for which such 
units are responsible. 
(2) An assessment of the advantages that Coast 
Guard fixed-wing assets, or an alternate rotary wing 
asset, would offer to the outermost limits of any area of 
operation for purposes of search and rescue, law enforce-
ment, ice operations, and logistical missions. 
(3) A comparison of advantages and disadvantages 
of the manner in which each of the Coast Guard fixed-
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wing aircraft would operate in the outermost limits of 
any area of operation. 
(4) A specific assessment of the coverage gaps, in-
cluding gaps in fixed-wing coverage, and potential solu-
tions to address such gaps in the area of operation of 
Coast Guard District 8 and Coast Guard District 9, in-
cluding the eastern region of such area of operation with 
regard to Coast Guard District 9 and the southern re-
gion of such area of operation with regard to Coast 
Guard District 8. 
Subtitle C—Arctic 
SEC. 11218. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDIUM ICEBREAKER PRO-
GRAM OFFICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in consulta-
tion with the heads of the other Federal agencies as appro-
priate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report to establish a fleet mix analysis with re-
spect to polar icebreakers and icebreaking tugs. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include—
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(1) a full fleet mix of heavy and medium icebreaker 
and 140-foot icebreaking tug replacements, including 
cost and timelines for the acquisition of such vessels; 
(2) a revised time table showing the construction, 
commissioning, and acceptance of planned Polar Secu-
rity Cutters 1 through 3, as of the date of report; 
(3) a comparison and alternatives analysis of the 
costs and timeline of constructing 2 Polar Security Cut-
ters beyond the construction of 3 such vessels rather 
than constructing 3 Arctic Security Cutters, including 
the cost of planning, design, and engineering of a new 
class of ships, which shall include the increased costs re-
sulting from the delays in building a new class of cutters 
rather than building 2 additional cutters from an ongo-
ing production line; 
(4) the operational benefits, limitations, and risks of 
a common hull design for polar icebreaking cutters for 
operation in the polar regions; 
(5) the operational benefits, limitations, and risks of 
a common hull design for icebreaking tugs for operation 
in the Northeastern United States; and 
(6) the cost and timetable for replacing the Coast 
Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) as— 
(A) a Polar Security Cutter; 
(B) an Arctic Security Cutter; or
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) other platform as determined by the Com-
mandant. 
(c) QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS.—As part of quarterly ac-
quisition briefings provided by the Commandant to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives, the Commandant shall in-
clude an update on the status of— 
(1) all acquisition activities related to the Polar Se-
curity Cutter; 
(2) the performance of the entity which the Coast 
Guard has contracted with for detailed design and con-
struction of the Polar Security Cutter; and 
(3) the requirements for the planning, detailed de-
sign, engineering, and construction of the— 
(A) Arctic Security Cutter; and 
(B) Great Lakes Icebreaker. 
(d) LIMITATION.—The report required to be submitted 
under subsection (a) shall not include an analysis of the 
Great Lakes Icebreaker authorized under section 11104. 
(e) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC SECURITY CUTTER 
PROGRAM OFFICE.— 
(1) DETERMINATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
the submission of the report under subsection (a), the 
Commandant shall determine if constructing additional
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Polar Security Cutters is more cost effective and effi-
cient than constructing 3 Arctic Security Cutters. 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—If the Commandant deter-
mines under paragraph (1) that it is more cost effective 
to build 3 Arctic Security Cutters than to build addi-
tional Polar Security Cutters or if the Commandant fails 
to make a determination under paragraph (1) by June 
1, 2024, the Commandant shall establish a program of-
fice for the acquisition of the Arctic Security Cutter not 
later than January 1, 2025. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN PHASE.—Not later 
than 270 days after the date on which the Commandant 
establishes a program office under paragraph (2), the 
Commandant shall complete the evaluation of require-
ments for the Arctic Security Cutter and initiate the de-
sign phase of the Arctic Security Cutter vessel class. 
(f) QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS.—Not less frequently than 
quarterly until the date on which a contract for acquisition 
of the Arctic Security Cutter is awarded under chapter 11 of 
title 14, United States Code, the Commandant shall provide 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on the 
status of requirements evaluations, design of the vessel, and 
schedule of the program.
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SEC. 11219. ARCTIC ACTIVITIES. 
(a) ARCTIC OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report that describes the ability and timeline to 
conduct a transit of the Northern Sea Route and periodic 
transits of the Northwest Passage. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CONGRESS.— 
The 
term 
‘‘appropriate 
committees 
of 
Congress’’ 
means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives. 
(2) ARCTIC.—The term ‘‘Arctic’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Research 
and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
SEC. 11220. STUDY ON ARCTIC OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUC-
TURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall commence a study on the Arctic oper-
ations and infrastructure of the Coast Guard. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under subsection 
(a) shall assess the following: