A bill to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 1980 and 1981, and for other purposes.
PL 96-23 (S.709), enacted 06/13/1979

93 STAT. 68 
PUBLIC LAW 96-23—JUNE 13, 1979 
Public Law 96-23 
96th Congress 
An Act 
June 13,1979 
TQ authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 1980 and 
[S. 709] 
1981, and for other purposes. 
U.S. Coast 
Guard. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Active duty 
personnel 
strength, 
authorization. 
MiUtary 
training student 
loads, 
authorization. 
Number of 
commissioned 
officers. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That funds are 
hereby authorized to be appropriated for necessary expenses of the 
Coast Guard for fiscal year 1980, as follows: 
(1) for the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
including expenses related to the Capehart housing debt reduc-
tion: $1,058,857,000; 
(2) for the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improve-
ment of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, 
including equipment related thereto: $292,811,000, to remain 
available until expended; 
(3) for the alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 
waters of the United States, constituting obstructions to naviga-
tion: $14,900,000, to remain available until expended; and 
(4) for research, development, test, and evaluation: $25,525,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 2. For fiscal year 1980, the Coast Guard is authorized an end of 
year strength for active duty personnel of 39,578: Provided, That the 
ceiling shall not include members of the Ready Reserve called to 
active duty under the authority of section 764 of title 14, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 3. For fiscal year 1980, average military training student loads 
for the Coast Guard are authorized as follows: 
(1) recruit and special training: 3,940 students; 
(2) flight training: 110 students; 
(3) professional training in military and civilian institutions: 
438 students; and 
(4) officer acquisitions: 940 students. 
SEC. 4. Subsection 42(a) of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
"(a) The total number of commissioned officers, excluding commis-
sioned warrant officers, on active duty in the Coast Guard shall not 
exceed 6,000.". 
SEC. 5. (a) Subsection 432(g) of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking out "$7,500" in the fourth sentence and insert-
ing "$15,000" in its place so that, in pertinent part, it reads as follows: 
*
*
. . . In no case shall basic compensation exceed $15,000 per annum, 
except. . . .". 
PUBLIC LAW 96-23—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 69 
(b) The Coast Guard may issue retroactive pay to its remaining 1
4 use 432 note. 
civilian lighthouse keepers in an amount equal to the difference 
between what the keeper actually received and what he would have 
received under the General Schedule salary rates had there not been 
a statutory limitation of $7,500 on his annual salary. This amount is 
to be calculated from the time at which his salary reached the 
statutory limitation to the date of enactment of this Act. 
Approved June 13, 1979. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-118 accompanying H.R. 2295 (Coram, on Merchant Marine 
and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-134 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 125 (1979): 
May 17, considered and passed Senate. 
May 31, H.R. 2295 considered and passed House; passage vacated and S. 709 
passed in lieu.