An Act to authorize appropriations for the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal year 1978, and for other purposes.
PL 95-61 (H.R.6823), enacted 07/01/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-61—JULY 1, 1977 
91 STAT. 259 
Public Law 95-61 
95th Congress 
An Act 
U.S. Coast Guard. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
To authorize appropriations for the United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 
July 1, 1977 
1978, and for other purposes. 
[H.R. 6823] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That funds are here-
by authorized to be appropriated for neceKsary expenses of the United 
States Coast Guard for fiscal year 1978. as follows: 
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
including expenses related to the Capehart housing debt reduction: 
$887,521,000; 
(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improve-
ment of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, 
including equipment related thereto: $330,300,000, to remain 
available until expended; 
(3) For the alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 
Avaters of the United States, constituting obstructions to naviga-
tion : $19,100,000, to remain available until expended; and 
(4) For research, development, test, and evaluation: $25,600,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
SEC, 2. For fiscal year 1978, the Coast Guard is authorized an end 
strength for active duty personnel of 39,145 : Provided, That the ceil-
ing 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 1978, average military training student loads 
for the Coast Guard are authorized as follows : 
(1) recruit and special training: 3,872 students; 
(2) flight training: 109 students; 
(3) professional training in military and civilian institutions: 
415 students; and 
(4) officer acquisitions: 1,110 students. 
SEC. 4. Title 14, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by adding a new section to chapter 17, after section 658, as 
follows: 
'*§ 659. Merger of obligated balances with current appropriations 14 USC 659. 
"Amounts equal to the obligated balances against appropriations 
for 'Operating expenses' and for 'Reserve training', for the two fiscal 
years ])receding the current fiscal year, shall be transferred to and 
merged with current fiscal year appropriations 
for 
'Operating 
expenses' and 'Reserve training', respectively. The obligated balances 
for the period commencing on July 1, 1976, and ending on Septem-
ber 30,1976, may be merged into the respective accounts for fiscal years 
1977 and 1978. Such merged appropriations shall be available as one 
fund, for the payment of obligations properly incurred against such 
prior year appropriations and against the current fiscal year appro-
priations. Coast Guard accounting shall reflect year identity of the 
merged obligated balances until such obligated balances are trans-
ferred to a consolidated account as prescribed in section 1 of the Act 
of July 25, 1956, as amended (31 U.S.C. 701)." and 
Active duty 
personnel 
strength, 
authorization. 
Military training 
student loads, 
authorization. 
91 STAT. 260 
PUBLIC LAW 95-61—JULY 1, 1977 
Medical 
emergency 
helicopter 
transportation 
services. 
Federal agencies, 
cooperation. 
14 u s e 141 note. 
Limitations. 
(2) by amending the analysis of chapter 17 by inseiting at the 
end thereof the following item: 
"659. Merger of obligated balances with current appropriations.". 
SEC. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, available 
funds appropriated to or for the use of the Coast Guard for "Acquisi-
tion, Construction, and Improvements" may be used to pay for part 
of the construction and other capital costs of a sewage treatment plant 
to be built, operated, and owned by the North Marin County Water 
District (California) and to be used by Coast Guard facilities located 
in the vicinity of Point Reyes Station, California. 
SEC. 6. The Coast Guard is authorized to accept and retain funds 
from the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in payment for Coast Guard 
facilities to be removed by the city incident to the improvement of 
Hawkins Point Road, the funds to be available, until expended, for the 
construction of replacement facilities. Any funds not obligated by the 
end of fiscal year 1980 shall be paid into the Treasury of the United 
States. 
SEC. 7. (a) The last sentence of section 4426 of the Revised Statutes 
of the United States (46 U.S.C. 404), as amended, is further amended 
by striking out "July 11, 1978" and inserting in lieu thereof "Janu-
ary 1, 1983". 
(b) The first section of the Act of June 20,1986 (relating to certain 
seagoing vessels) (46 U.S.C. 367), as amended, is further amended 
by striking out "July 11, 1978" and inserting in lieu thereof "January 
1,1983". 
(c) Subsection (b) of the first section of the Act of August 27, 
1935 (relating to load lines for certain vessels) (46 U.S.C. 88(b)), as 
amended, is further amended by striking out "July 11, 1978" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "January 1, 1983". 
SEC. 8. (a) The Commandant of the Coast Guard is authorized to 
assist the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, in providing 
medical emergency helicopter transportation services to civilians. Any 
resources provided under this section shall be under such terms and 
conditions, including reimbursement, as the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard deems appropriate and shall be subject to the following specific 
limitations: 
(1) Assistance may be provided only in areas where the Coast 
Guard units able to provide such assistance are regularly assigned, 
and Coast Guard units shall not be transferred from one area to 
-* another for the purpose of providing such assistance. 
:' 
(2) Assistance may be provided only to the extent that it does 
not interfere with the performance of the Coast Guard mission. 
(3) The provision of assistance shall not cause any increase in 
funds required for the operation of the Coast Guard. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-61—JULY 1, 1977 
91 STAT. 261 
(b) No individual (or his estate) who is authorized by the Coast Liability. 
Guard to perform services under a program established pursuant to 
subsection (a), and who is acting within the scope of his duties, shall 
be liable for injury to, or loss of property or personal injury or death 
which may be caused incident to providing such services. 
Approved July 1, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-308 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) and No. 
95-418 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 95-200 accompanying S. 1250 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation) and No. 95-272 (Comm. of Confer-
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
May 16, considered and passed House. 
May 25, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1250. 
June 15, Senate agreed to conference report. 
June 21, House agreed to conference report.