H. R. 7776—1639 
(6) A description of the risks posed to operations at Coast 
Guard Air Station Barbers Point if future project phases for 
the construction of such hangar are not funded. 
SEC. 11233. STUDY ON OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY OF COAST GUARD 
AIRCRAFT AND STRATEGY FOR COAST GUARD AVIATION. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) 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 operational availability 
of Coast Guard aircraft. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The study required under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of— 
(i) the extent to which the fixed-wing and rotary- 
wing aircraft of the Coast Guard have met annual 
operational availability targets in recent years; 
(ii) the challenges the Coast Guard may face with 
respect to such aircraft meeting operational availability 
targets, and the effects of such challenges on the ability 
of the Coast Guard to meet mission requirements; and 
(iii) the status of Coast Guard efforts to upgrade 
or recapitalize its fleet of such aircraft to meet growth 
in future mission demands globally, such as in the 
Western Hemisphere, the Arctic region, and the 
Western Pacific region. 
(B) Any recommendation with respect to the oper-
ational availability of Coast Guard aircraft. 
(C) The resource and workforce requirements necessary 
for Coast Guard Aviation to meet current and future mis-
sion demands specific to each rotary-wing and fixed-wing 
airframe type in the current inventory of the Coast Guard. 
(3) REPORT.—On completion of the study required under 
paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Commandant a report on the findings of the study. 
(b) COAST GUARD AVIATION STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the study under subsection (a) is completed, the 
Commandant shall develop a comprehensive strategy for Coast 
Guard Aviation that is informed by the relevant recommenda-
tions and findings of the study. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) With respect to aircraft of the Coast Guard— 
(i) an analysis of— 
(I) the current and future operations and 
future resource needs, including the potential need 
for a second rotary wing airframe to carry out 
cutter-based operations and National Capital 
Region air interdiction mission; and 
(II) the manner in which such future needs 
are integrated with the Future Vertical Lift initia-
tives of the Department of Defense; and 
(ii) an estimated timeline with respect to when 
such future needs will arise. 
(B) The projected number of aviation assets, the loca-
tions at which such assets are to be stationed, the cost
H. R. 7776—1640 
of operation and maintenance of such assets, and an assess-
ment of the capabilities of such assets as compared to 
the missions they are expected to execute, at the completion 
of major procurement and modernization plans. 
(C) A procurement plan, including an estimated time-
table and the estimated appropriations necessary for all 
platforms, including unmanned aircraft. 
(D) A training plan for pilots and aircrew that 
addresses— 
(i) the use of simulators owned and operated by 
the Coast Guard, and simulators that are not owned 
or operated by the Coast Guard, including any such 
simulators based outside the United States; and 
(ii) the costs associated with attending training 
courses. 
(E) Current and future requirements for cutter and 
land-based deployment of aviation assets globally, including 
in the Arctic, the Eastern Pacific, the Western Pacific, 
the Caribbean, the Atlantic Basin, and any other area 
the Commandant considers appropriate. 
(F) A description of the feasibility of deploying, and 
the resource requirements necessary to deploy, rotary- 
winged assets onboard all future Arctic cutter patrols. 
(G) An evaluation of current and future facilities needs 
for Coast Guard aviation units. 
(H) An evaluation of pilot and aircrew training and 
retention needs, including aviation career incentive pay, 
retention bonuses, and any other workforce tools the Com-
mandant considers necessary. 
(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date on 
which the strategy required under paragraph (1) is completed, 
the Commandant shall provide 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 briefing on the strategy. 
Subtitle F—Workforce Readiness 
SEC. 11234. AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. 
Section 3702 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary may vary the authorized end strength of 
the Coast Guard Selected Reserves for a fiscal year by a number 
equal to not more than 3 percent of such end strength upon a 
determination by the Secretary that varying such authorized end 
strength is in the national interest. 
‘‘(d) The Commandant may increase the authorized end 
strength of the Coast Guard Selected Reserves by a number equal 
to not more than 2 percent of such authorized end strength upon 
a determination by the Commandant that such increase would 
enhance manning and readiness in essential units or in critical 
specialties or ratings.’’.
H. R. 7776—1641 
SEC. 11235. CONTINUATION OF OFFICERS WITH CERTAIN CRITICAL 
SKILLS ON ACTIVE DUTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 2165 the following: 
‘‘§ 2166. Continuation on active duty; Coast Guard officers 
with certain critical skills 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may authorize an officer 
in a grade above grade O–2 to remain on active duty after the 
date otherwise provided for the retirement of such officer in section 
2154 of this title, if the officer possesses a critical skill, or specialty, 
or is in a career field designated pursuant to subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) CRITICAL SKILLS, SPECIALTY, OR CAREER FIELD.—The Com-
mandant shall designate any critical skill, specialty, or career field 
eligible for continuation on active duty as provided in subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(c) DURATION
OF CONTINUATION.—An officer continued on 
active duty pursuant to this section shall, if not earlier retired, 
be retired on the first day of the month after the month in which 
the officer completes 40 years of active service. 
‘‘(d) POLICY.—The Commandant shall carry out this section 
by prescribing policy which shall specify the criteria to be used 
in designating any critical skill, specialty, or career field for pur-
poses of subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 21 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2165 the following: 
‘‘2166. Continuation on active duty; Coast Guard officers with certain critical 
skills.’’. 
SEC. 11236. NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICERS ON ACTIVE 
DUTY PROMOTION LIST. 
(a) MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OFFICERS.—Section 2103(a) of title 
14, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) MAXIMUM TOTAL NUMBER.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The total number of Coast Guard 
commissioned officers on the active duty promotion list, 
excluding warrant officers, shall not exceed— 
‘‘(A) 7,100 in fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(B) 7,200 in fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(C) 7,300 in fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(D) 7,400 in fiscal year 2025 and each subsequent 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) TEMPORARY
INCREASE.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), the Commandant may temporarily increase the total 
number of commissioned officers permitted under such para-
graph by up to 4 percent for not more than 60 days after 
the date of the commissioning of a Coast Guard Academy 
class. 
‘‘(3) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after exceeding 
the total number of commissioned officers permitted under 
paragraphs (1) and (2), and each 30 days thereafter until the 
total number of commissioned officers no longer exceeds the 
number of such officers permitted under paragraphs (1) and 
(2), the Commandant shall notify the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
H. R. 7776—1642 
the Senate of the number of officers on the active duty pro-
motion list on the last day of the preceding 30-day period.’’. 
(b) OFFICERS NOT ON ACTIVE DUTY PROMOTION LIST.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 5113. Officers not on active duty promotion list 
‘‘Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President 
submits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
the number of Coast Guard officers serving at other Federal entities 
on a reimbursable basis, and the number of Coast Guard officers 
who are serving at other Federal agencies on a non-reimbursable 
basis, but not on the active duty promotion list.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 51 
of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘5113. Officers not on active duty promotion list.’’. 
SEC. 11237. CAREER INCENTIVE PAY FOR MARINE INSPECTORS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSIGNMENT PAY OR SPECIAL DUTY 
PAY.—The Secretary may provide assignment pay or special duty 
pay under section 352 of title 37, United States Code, to a member 
of the Coast Guard serving in a prevention position and assigned 
as a marine inspector or marine investigator pursuant to section 
312 of title 14, United States Code. 
(b) ANNUAL BRIEFING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
briefing on any uses of the authority under subsection (a) 
during the preceding year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing required under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) The number of members of the Coast Guard serving 
as marine inspectors or marine investigators pursuant to 
section 312 of title 14, United States Code, who are 
receiving assignment pay or special duty pay under section 
352 of title 37, United States Code. 
(B) An assessment of the impact of the use of the 
authority under this section on the effectiveness and effi-
ciency of the Coast Guard in administering the laws and 
regulations for the promotion of safety of life and property 
on and under the high seas and waters subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States. 
(C) An assessment of the effects of assignment pay 
and special duty pay on retention of marine inspectors 
and investigators. 
(D) If the authority provided in subsection (a) is not 
exercised, a detailed justification for not exercising such 
authority, including an explanation of the efforts the Sec-
retary is taking to ensure that the Coast Guard workforce