H. R. 7776—1628 
shall ensure scientific research capacity comparable to the Coast 
Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20), for the purposes of hydrographic, 
bathymetric, oceanographic, weather, atmospheric, climate, fish-
eries, marine mammals, genetic and other data related to the 
Arctic, and other research as the Under Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(d) OPERATIONS AND AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) COAST GUARD.—With respect to any available icebreaker 
acquired or procured under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
be responsible for any acquisition, retrofitting, operation, and 
maintenance costs necessary to achieve full operational capa-
bility, including testing, installation, and acquisition, including 
for 
the 
suite 
of 
hull-mounted, 
ship-provided 
scientific 
instrumentation and equipment for data collection. 
(2) NATIONAL
OCEANIC
AND
ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The Under Secretary shall not be responsible for the 
costs of retrofitting any available icebreaker acquired or pro-
cured under subsection (a), including costs relating to— 
(A) vessel maintenance, construction, operations, and 
crewing other than the science party; and 
(B) making such icebreaker capable of conducting the 
research described in subsection (c), including design, 
procurement of laboratory space and equipment, and modi-
fication of living quarters. 
(3) RESPONSIBILITY OF UNDER SECRETARY.—The Under Sec-
retary shall be responsible for costs related to— 
(A) the science party; 
(B) the scientific mission; and 
(C) other scientific assets and equipment that augment 
such icebreaker beyond full operational capacity as deter-
mined by the Under Secretary and Commandant. 
(4) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.—The Commandant and 
the Under Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of agree-
ment to facilitate science activities, data collection, and other 
procedures necessary to meet the requirements of this section. 
(e) RESTRICTION AND BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief 
the appropriate congressional committees with respect to available 
icebreaker acquired or procured under subsection (a) on— 
(1) a proposed concept of operations of such icebreaker; 
(2) a detailed cost estimate for such icebreaker, including 
estimated costs for acquisition, modification, shoreside infra-
structure, crewing, and maintaining such an icebreaker by year 
for the estimated service life of such icebreaker; and 
(3) the expected capabilities of such icebreaker as compared 
to the capabilities of a fully operational Coast Guard built 
Polar Security Cutter for each year in which such an icebreaker 
is anticipated to serve in lieu of such a cutter and the projected 
annual costs to achieve such anticipated capabilities. 
(f) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and not later than every 90 days thereafter 
until any available icebreaker acquired or procured under sub-
section (a) has reached full operational capability, the Commandant 
shall provide to the appropriate Committees of Congress an interim 
report of the status and progress of all elements under subsection 
(d).
H. R. 7776—1629 
(g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall effect 
acquisitions of vessels by the Under Secretary. 
(h) SAVINGS CLAUSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any operations necessary for the saving 
of life or property at sea, response to environmental pollution, 
national security, defense readiness, or other missions as deter-
mined by the Commandant shall take priority over any sci-
entific or economic missions under subsection (c). 
(2) AUGMENTATION.—Any available icebreaker acquired or 
procured under subsection (a) shall augment the Coast Guard 
mission in the Arctic, including by conducting operations and 
missions that are in addition to missions conducted by the 
Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) in the region. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(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). 
(3) AVAILABLE
ICEBREAKER.—The term ‘‘available ice-
breaker’’ means a vessel that— 
(A) is capable of— 
(i) supplementing United States Coast Guard polar 
icebreaking capabilities in the Arctic region of the 
United States; 
(ii) projecting United States sovereignty; 
(iii) ensuring a continuous operational capability 
in the Arctic region of the United States; 
(iv) carrying out the primary duty of the Coast 
Guard described in section 103(7) of title 14, United 
States Code; and 
(v) collecting hydrographic, environmental, and cli-
mate data; and 
(B) is documented with a coastwise endorsement under 
chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code. 
(4) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means 
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 
(j) SUNSET.—The authority under subsections (a) through (c) 
shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
Subtitle D—Maritime Cyber and Artificial 
Intelligence 
SEC. 11224. ENHANCING MARITIME CYBERSECURITY. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CYBER
INCIDENT.—The term ‘‘cyber incident’’ means 
an occurrence that actually or imminently jeopardizes, without 
lawful authority, the integrity, confidentiality, or availability 
of information on an information system, or actually or 
imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, an informa-
tion system.
H. R. 7776—1630 
(2) MARITIME OPERATORS.—The term ‘‘maritime operators’’ 
means the owners or operators of vessels engaged in commercial 
service, the owners or operators of facilities, and port authori-
ties. 
(3) FACILITIES.—The term ‘‘facilities’’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘‘facility’’ in section 70101 of title 46, United States 
Code. 
(b) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY
OF
CYBERSECURITY
TOOLS
AND 
RESOURCES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in coordination 
with the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, the 
Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
Agency, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, shall identify and make available to the public 
a list of tools and resources, including the resources of the 
Coast Guard and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
Agency, designed to assist maritime operators in identifying, 
detecting, protecting against, mitigating, responding to, and 
recovering from cyber incidents. 
(2) IDENTIFICATION.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
Commandant, the Administrator of the Maritime Administra-
tion, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Secu-
rity Agency, and the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall identify tools and resources that— 
(A) comply with the cybersecurity framework for 
improving 
critical 
infrastructure 
established 
by 
the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology; or 
(B) use the guidelines on maritime cyber risk manage-
ment issued by the International Maritime Organization 
on July 5, 2017 (or successor guidelines). 
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Commandant, the Administrator 
of the Maritime Administration, the Director of the Cybersecu-
rity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology may consult 
with maritime operators, other Federal agencies, industry 
stakeholders, and cybersecurity experts to identify tools and 
resources for purposes of this section. 
SEC. 11225. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNMANNED SYSTEM PROGRAM AND 
AUTONOMOUS CONTROL AND COMPUTER VISION TECH-
NOLOGY PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 319 of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 319. Unmanned system program and autonomous control 
and computer vision technology project 
‘‘(a) UNMANNED SYSTEM PROGRAM.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
establish, under the control of the Commandant, an unmanned 
system program for the use by the Coast Guard of land-based, 
cutter-based, and aircraft-based unmanned systems for the purpose 
of increasing effectiveness and efficiency of mission execution. 
‘‘(b) AUTONOMOUS CONTROL
AND COMPUTER VISION TECH-
NOLOGY PROJECT.—
H. R. 7776—1631 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall conduct a project 
to retrofit 2 or more existing Coast Guard small boats deployed 
at operational units with— 
‘‘(A) commercially available autonomous control and 
computer vision technology; and 
‘‘(B) such sensors and methods of communication as 
are necessary to control, and technology to assist in con-
ducting, search and rescue, surveillance, and interdiction 
missions. 
‘‘(2) DATA COLLECTION.—As part of the project required 
under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall collect and 
evaluate field-collected operational data from the retrofit 
described in such paragraph to inform future requirements. 
‘‘(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the project 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 project that includes an evalua-
tion of the data collected from the project. 
‘‘(c) UNMANNED SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘unmanned system’ means— 
‘‘(1) an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined 
in section 44801 of title 49); 
‘‘(2) an unmanned marine surface system; and 
‘‘(3) an unmanned marine subsurface system.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 3 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 319 and inserting the following: 
‘‘319. Unmanned system program and autonomous control and computer vision tech-
nology project.’’. 
(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall 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 detailed description of the strategy 
of the Coast Guard to implement unmanned systems across mission 
areas, including— 
(1) the steps taken to implement actions recommended 
in the consensus study report of the National Academies of 
Sciences, 
Engineering, 
and 
Medicine 
titled 
‘‘Leveraging 
Unmanned Systems for Coast Guard Missions: A Strategic 
Imperative’’, published on November 12, 2020; 
(2) the strategic goals and acquisition strategies for pro-
posed uses and procurements of unmanned systems; 
(3) a strategy to sustain competition and innovation for 
procurement of unmanned systems and services for the Coast 
Guard, including defining opportunities for new and existing 
technologies; and 
(4) an estimate of the timeline, costs, staff resources, tech-
nology, or other resources necessary to accomplish the strategy. 
(d) COST ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide to 
Congress an estimate of the costs associated with implementing 
the amendments made by this section.
H. R. 7776—1632 
SEC. 11226. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY. 
(a) COORDINATION
OF DATA
AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 
ACTIVITIES RELATING TO IDENTIFYING, DEMONSTRATING, AND WHERE 
APPROPRIATE TRANSITIONING TO OPERATIONAL USE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall coordinate data 
and artificial intelligence activities relating to identifying, dem-
onstrating and where appropriate transitioning to operational 
use of artificial intelligence technologies when such technologies 
enhance mission capability or performance. 
(2) EMPHASIS.—The set of activities established under para-
graph (1) shall— 
(A) apply data analytics, artificial intelligence, and 
machine-learning solutions to operational and mission-sup-
port problems; and 
(B) coordinate activities involving artificial intelligence 
and artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities within the 
Coast Guard. 
(b) DESIGNATED OFFICIAL.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall designate 
a senior official of the Coast Guard (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘designated official’’) with the principal responsibility 
for the coordination of data and artificial intelligence activities 
relating to identifying, demonstrating, and, where appropriate, 
transitioning to operational use artificial intelligence and 
machine learning for the Coast Guard. 
(2) GOVERNANCE
AND
OVERSIGHT
OF
ARTIFICIAL
INTEL-
LIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING POLICY.—The designated offi-
cial shall regularly convene appropriate officials of the Coast 
Guard— 
(A) to integrate the functional activities of the Coast 
Guard with respect to data, artificial intelligence, and 
machine learning; 
(B) to ensure that there are efficient and effective 
data, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning capabili-
ties throughout the Coast Guard, where appropriate; and 
(C) to develop and continuously improve research, 
innovation, policy, joint processes, and procedures to facili-
tate the coordination of data and artificial intelligence 
activities relating to identification, demonstration, and, 
where appropriate, transition into operational use artificial 
intelligence and machine learning throughout the Coast 
Guard. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The designated official shall develop a 
strategic plan to coordinate activities relating to identifying, 
demonstrating, and transitioning artificial intelligence tech-
nologies into operational use where appropriate. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) A strategic roadmap for the coordination of data 
and artificial intelligence activities for the identification, 
demonstration, and transition to operational use, where 
appropriate, artificial intelligence technologies and key 
enabling capabilities. 
(B) The continuous identification, evaluation, and 
adaptation of relevant artificial intelligence capabilities
H. R. 7776—1635 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a 
report that includes— 
(1) an assessment of the progress on the activities required 
by subsection (a); and 
(2) any recommendation with respect to funding or addi-
tional authorities necessary, including proposals for legislative 
change, to improve Coast Guard cyber data management. 
SEC. 11229. DATA MANAGEMENT. 
Section 504(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (24) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (25) by striking the period and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(26) develop data workflows and processes for the 
leveraging of mission-relevant data by the Coast Guard to 
enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.’’. 
SEC. 11230. STUDY ON CYBER THREATS TO UNITED STATES MARINE 
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall commence a study on cyber threats to the United States 
marine transportation system. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required under paragraph (1) shall 
assess the following: 
(1) The extent to which the Coast Guard, in collaboration 
with other Federal agencies, sets standards for the cybersecu-
rity of facilities and vessels regulated under part 104, 105, 
or 106 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect 
on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) The manner in which the Coast Guard ensures cyberse-
curity standards are followed by port, vessel, and facility owners 
and operators. 
(3) The extent to which maritime sector-specific planning 
addresses cybersecurity, particularly for vessels and offshore 
platforms. 
(4) The manner in which the Coast Guard, other Federal 
agencies, and vessel and offshore platform operators exchange 
information regarding cyber risks. 
(5) The extent to which the Coast Guard is developing 
and deploying cybersecurity specialists in port and vessel sys-
tems and collaborating with the private sector to increase the 
expertise of the Coast Guard with respect to cybersecurity. 
(6) The cyber resource and workforce needs of the Coast 
Guard necessary to meet future mission demands. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after commencing the study 
required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the 
study. 
(d) FACILITY DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘facility’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 70101 of title 46, United 
States Code.
H. R. 7776—1636 
Subtitle E—Aviation 
SEC. 11231. SPACE-AVAILABLE TRAVEL ON COAST GUARD AIRCRAFT: 
PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION AND ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 509. Space-available travel on Coast Guard aircraft 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant may establish a pro-
gram to provide transportation on Coast Guard aircraft on 
a space-available basis to the categories of eligible individuals 
described in subsection (c) (in this section referred to as the 
‘program’). 
‘‘(2) POLICY DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the program is established, the Commandant 
shall develop a policy for the operation of the program. 
‘‘(b) OPERATION OF PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall operate the pro-
gram in a budget-neutral manner. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), no additional funds may be used, or flight hours per-
formed, for the purpose of providing transportation under 
the program. 
‘‘(B) DE
MINIMIS
EXPENDITURES.—The Commandant 
may make de minimis expenditures of resources required 
for the administrative aspects of the program. 
‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT NOT REQUIRED.—Eligible individuals 
described in subsection (c) shall not be required to reimburse 
the Coast Guard for travel provided under this section. 
‘‘(c) CATEGORIES
OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—Subject to sub-
section (d), the categories of eligible individuals described in this 
subsection are the following: 
‘‘(1) Members of the armed forces on active duty. 
‘‘(2) Members of the Selected Reserve who hold a valid 
Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card. 
‘‘(3) Retired members of a regular or reserve component 
of the armed forces, including retired members of reserve 
components who, but for being under the eligibility age 
applicable under section 12731 of title 10, would be eligible 
for retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10. 
‘‘(4) Subject to subsection (f), veterans with a permanent 
service-connected disability rated as total. 
‘‘(5) Such categories of dependents of individuals described 
in paragraphs (1) through (3) as the Commandant shall specify 
in the policy under subsection (a)(2), under such conditions 
and circumstances as the Commandant shall specify in such 
policy. 
‘‘(6) Such other categories of individuals as the Com-
mandant considers appropriate. 
‘‘(d) REQUIREMENTS.—In operating the program, the Com-
mandant shall— 
‘‘(1) in the sole discretion of the Commandant, establish 
an order of priority for transportation for categories of eligible
H. R. 7776—1637 
individuals that is based on considerations of military necessity, 
humanitarian concerns, and enhancement of morale; 
‘‘(2) give priority in consideration of transportation to the 
demands of members of the armed forces in the regular compo-
nents and in the reserve components on active duty and to 
the need to provide such members, and their dependents, a 
means of respite from such demands; and 
‘‘(3) implement policies aimed at ensuring cost control (as 
required under subsection (b)) and the safety, security, and 
efficient processing of travelers, including limiting the benefit 
under the program to 1 or more categories of otherwise eligible 
individuals, as the Commandant considers necessary. 
‘‘(e) TRANSPORTATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), in 
establishing space-available transportation priorities under the 
program, the Commandant shall provide transportation for an 
individual described in paragraph (2), and a single dependent 
of the individual if needed to accompany the individual, at 
a priority level in the same category as the priority level for 
an unaccompanied dependent over the age of 18 years traveling 
on environmental and morale leave. 
‘‘(2) INDIVIDUALS COVERED.—Subject to paragraph (3), para-
graph (1) applies with respect to an individual described in 
subsection (c)(3) who— 
‘‘(A) resides in or is located in a Commonwealth or 
possession of the United States; and 
‘‘(B) is referred by a military or civilian primary care 
provider located in that Commonwealth or possession to 
a specialty care provider for services to be provided outside 
of such Commonwealth or possession. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION TO CERTAIN RETIRED INDIVIDUALS.—If an 
individual described in subsection (c)(3) is a retired member 
of a reserve component who is ineligible for retired pay under 
chapter 1223 of title 10 by reason of being under the eligibility 
age applicable under section 12731 of title 10, paragraph (1) 
applies to the individual only if the individual is also enrolled 
in the TRICARE program for certain members of the Retired 
Reserve authorized under section 1076e of title 10. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—The priority for space-available transpor-
tation required by this subsection applies with respect to— 
‘‘(A) the travel from the Commonwealth or possession 
of the United States to receive the specialty care services; 
and 
‘‘(B) the return travel. 
‘‘(5) PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND SPECIALTY CARE PROVIDER 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the terms ‘primary care provider’ 
and ‘specialty care provider’ refer to a medical or dental profes-
sional who provides health care services under chapter 55 of 
title 10. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATIONS ON TRAVEL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Travel may not be provided under this 
section to a veteran eligible for travel pursuant to paragraph 
(4) of subsection (c) in priority over any member eligible for 
travel under paragraph (1) of that subsection or any dependent 
of such a member eligible for travel under this section. 
‘‘(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Subsection (c)(4) may not 
be construed as—
H. R. 7776—1638 
‘‘(A) affecting or in any way imposing on the Coast 
Guard, any armed force, or any commercial entity with 
which the Coast Guard or an armed force contracts, an 
obligation or expectation that the Coast Guard or such 
armed force will retrofit or alter, in any way, military 
aircraft or commercial aircraft, or related equipment or 
facilities, used or leased by the Coast Guard or such armed 
force to accommodate passengers provided travel under 
such authority on account of disability; or 
‘‘(B) preempting the authority of an aircraft commander 
to determine who boards the aircraft and any other matters 
in connection with safe operation of the aircraft. 
‘‘(g) APPLICATION
OF
SECTION.—The authority to provide 
transportation under the program is in addition to any other 
authority under law to provide transportation on Coast Guard air-
craft on a space-available basis.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 5 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 508 the following: 
‘‘509. Space-available travel on Coast Guard aircraft.’’. 
SEC. 11232. REPORT ON COAST GUARD AIR STATION BARBERS POINT 
HANGAR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives a report on facilities require-
ments for constructing a hangar at Coast Guard Air Station Barbers 
Point at Oahu, Hawaii. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) A description of the— 
(A) $45,000,000 phase one design for the hangar at 
Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point funded by the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116– 
260; 134 Stat. 1132); and 
(B) phase two facility improvements referenced in the 
U.S. Coast Guard Unfunded Priority List for fiscal year 
2023. 
(2) An evaluation of the full facilities requirements for 
such hangar and maintenance facility improvements to house, 
maintain, and operate the MH–65 and HC–130J, including— 
(A) storage and provision of fuel; and 
(B) maintenance and parts storage facilities. 
(3) An evaluation of facilities growth requirements for pos-
sible future basing of the MH–60 with the C–130J at Coast 
Guard Air Station Barbers Point. 
(4) A description of and cost estimate for each project 
phase for the construction of such hangar and maintenance 
facility improvements. 
(5) A description of the plan for sheltering in the hangar 
during extreme weather events aircraft of the Coast Guard 
and partner agencies, such as the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.