‘‘(b)(1) The Secretary shall, at least once each year, 
make a computation to determine the number of Reserve 
officers in an active status authorized to be serving in each 
grade. The number in each grade shall be computed by 
applying the applicable percentage to the total number of 
such officers serving in an active status on the date the 
computation is made. The number of Reserve officers in 
an active status below the grade of rear admiral (lower 
half) shall be distributed by pay grade so as not to exceed 
percentages of commissioned officers authorized by section 
42(b) of this title. When the actual number of Reserve 
officers in an active status in a particular pay grade is 
less than the maximum percentage authorized, the dif-
ference may be applied to the number in the next lower 
grade. A Reserve officer may not be reduced in rank or 
grade solely because of a reduction in an authorized num-
ber as provided for in this subsection, or because an excess 
results directly from the operation of law.’’. 
SEC. 208. EXPANSION OF USE OF AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT 
TO SUPPORT COAST GUARD MISSIONS. 
(a) USE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—Section 826 of 
title 14, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by designating the existing undesignated 
text as subsection (a); and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) The Coast Guard may utilize to carry out its 
functions and duties as authorized by the Secretary any 
motorized vehicle placed at its disposition by any member 
of the Auxiliary, by any corporation, partnership, or asso-
ciation, or by any State or political subdivision thereof, 
to tow Federal Government property.’’. 
(b) APPROPRIATIONS
FOR
FACILITIES.—Section 
830(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘or radio station’’ and inserting ‘‘radio station, 
or motorized vehicle’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 209. COAST GUARD HISTORY FELLOWSHIPS. 
(a) FELLOWSHIPS AUTHORIZED.—Chapter 9 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 197. Coast Guard history fellowships 
‘‘(a) FELLOWSHIPS.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall prescribe regulations under which the Com-
mandant may award fellowships in Coast Guard history 
to individuals who are eligible under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—An individual shall be 
eligible under this subsection if the individual is a citizen 
or national of the United States and—
‘‘(1) is a graduate student in United States his-
tory; 
‘‘(2) has completed all requirements for a doc-
toral degree other than preparation of a dissertation; 
and 
‘‘(3) agrees to prepare a dissertation in a sub-
ject area of Coast Guard history determined by the 
Commandant. 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The regulations prescribed 
under this section shall include—
‘‘(1) the criteria for award of fellowships; 
‘‘(2) the procedures for selecting recipients of 
fellowships; 
‘‘(3) the basis for determining the amount of a 
fellowship; and 
‘‘(4) subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the total amount that may be awarded as fel-
lowships during an academic year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
‘‘197. Coast Guard history fellowships.’’.
SEC. 210. ICEBREAKER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 
PLAN. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall—
(1) by not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for 
operation and maintenance of Coast Guard ice-
breakers in the waters of Antarctica after fiscal year 
2006 that does not rely on the transfer of funds to 
the Coast Guard by any other Federal agency; and 
(2) subject to the availability of appropriations, 
implement the plan in fiscal years after fiscal year 
2006. 
SEC. 211. OPERATION AS A SERVICE IN THE NAVY. 
Section 3 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘Upon the declaration of war or when’’ and 
inserting ‘‘When’’. 
SEC. 212. COMMENDATION, RECOGNITION, AND THANKS 
FOR COAST GUARD PERSONNEL. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina 
struck the Gulf of Mexico coastal region of Lou-
isiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, causing the worst 
natural disaster in United States history.
(2) The response to such hurricane by members 
and employees of the Coast Guard has been imme-
diate, invaluable, and courageous. 
(3) Members and employees of the Coast 
Guard—
(A) have shown great leadership in helping 
to coordinate relief efforts with respect to Hur-
ricane Katrina; 
(B) have used their expertise and special-
ized skills to provide immediate assistance to 
victims and survivors of the hurricane; and 
(C) have set up remote assistance oper-
ations in the affected areas in order to best pro-
vide service to Gulf of Mexico coastal region. 
(4) Members of the Coast Guard have volun-
teered their unique resources to assess the situation 
and deliver aid when and where other relief efforts 
could not. 
(5) Members of the Coast Guard have dem-
onstrated their resolve and character by providing 
aid to Hurricane Katrina victims and survivors. 
(6) Members and employees of the Coast Guard 
have worked together to bring clean water, food, and 
resources to victims and survivors in need.
(b) COMMENDATION, RECOGNITION, AND THANKS.—
The Congress—
(1) commends the outstanding efforts in re-
sponse to Hurricane Katrina by members and em-
ployees of the Coast Guard; 
(2) recognizes that the actions of these individ-
uals went above and beyond the call of duty; and 
(3) thanks them for their continued dedication 
and service. 
SEC. 213. HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE FOR COAST GUARD 
PERSONNEL 
AFFECTED 
BY 
HURRICANE 
KATRINA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating may reimburse a person who is 
eligible under subsection (b) for reimbursement under this 
section, for losses of qualified property owned by such per-
son that result from damage caused by Hurricane 
Katrina. 
(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—A person is eligible for re-
imbursement under this section if the person is a civilian 
employee of the Federal Government or member of the 
uniformed services who—
(1) was assigned to, or employed at or in con-
nection with, a Coast Guard facility located in the