I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2136 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the membership 
of the Commandant of the Coast Guard on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 23, 2021 
Mr. CRIST (for himself and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the 
membership of the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMANDANT OF THE COAST 
GUARD ON THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF. 
(a) MEMBERSHIP
ON
THE
JOINT
CHIEFS
OF 
STAFF.—Section 151(a) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
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‘‘(9) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.’’. 
(b) APPOINTMENT
OF
CHAIRMAN; GRADE
AND 
RANK.—Section 152 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘or the 
Commandant of the Marine Corps’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Commandant of the Marine Corps, or the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Navy’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Navy or Coast Guard’’. 
(c) VICE CHAIRMAN.—Section 154(f) of such title is 
amended by striking ‘‘Navy’’ and inserting ‘‘Navy or 
Coast Guard’’. 
(d) INCLUSION
ON
THE JOINT STAFF.—Section 
155(a) of such title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘(other than the Coast 
Guard)’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) the Coast Guard.’’; and 
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(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
the military department having jurisdiction over that 
armed force’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary concerned’’. 
(e) DUTIES AS MEMBER OF JOINT STAFF.—Section 
302 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The President may’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) The President may’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b)(1) The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
also perform the duties prescribed for the Commandant 
as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under section 
151 of title 10. 
‘‘(2) To the extent that such action does not impair 
the independence of the Commandant in the performance 
of the Commandant’s duties as a member of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, the Commandant shall inform the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating regarding military advice rendered by members of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters affecting such depart-
ment. 
‘‘(3) Subject to the authority, direction, and control 
of the Secretary of Defense, the Commandant shall keep 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
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is operating fully informed of significant military oper-
ations affecting the duties and responsibilities of such Sec-
retary.’’. 
Æ 
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