Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5069 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5069

              To establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2026

 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Tuberville)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

              To establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coast Guard Leadership Modernization
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.

    (a) Amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.--The Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 103 (6 U.S.C. 113)--
                    (A) by redesignating subsections (c) through (g) as
                subsections (d) through (h), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (b) the
                following:
    ``(c) Secretary of the Coast Guard.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--There is a Secretary of the Coast
        Guard, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and
        with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of the
        Coast Guard shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be
        appointed from among individuals most highly qualified for the
        position by reason of background and experience, including
        individuals with appropriate management and leadership
        experience.
            ``(2) Limitations on appointment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An individual may not be
                appointed as Secretary of the Coast Guard within 7
                years after relief from active duty as a commissioned
                officer of a regular component of an armed force.
                    ``(B) Current service in certain roles.--No officer
                serving in an appointment under subsection (a) may be
                appointed to carry out the duties of the Secretary of
                the Coast Guard.
            ``(3) Powers and duties.--Subject to chapter 6 of title 10,
        United States Code, the Secretary of the Coast Guard shall
        perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary
        may prescribe.
            ``(4) Direct reporting to secretary.--The Secretary of the
        Coast Guard shall report directly to the Secretary without
        intervening authority.
            ``(5) Under secretary of the coast guard.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is an Under Secretary of
                the Coast Guard, appointed from civilian life by the
                President, by and with the advice and consent of the
                Senate.
                    ``(B) Duties and powers.--The Under Secretary of
                the Coast Guard shall perform such duties and exercise
                such powers as the Secretary of the Coast Guard may
                prescribe.''; and
                    (C) by amending subsection (d), as redesignated, to
                read as follows:
    ``(d) Commandant of the Coast Guard.--
            ``(1) In general.--To assist the Secretary of the Coast
        Guard in the performance of the functions of the Secretary of
        the Coast Guard, there is a Commandant of the Coast Guard, who
        shall be appointed as provided in section 302 of title 14,
        United States Code, and who shall report directly to the
        Secretary of the Coast Guard.
            ``(2) Other duties.--The Commandant shall perform such
        military duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as are assigned
        by the Secretary of the Coast Guard.
            ``(3) Military advice and opinions of the commandant.--
        After first informing the Secretary of the Coast Guard, the
        Commandant may provide advice to the President, the National
        Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Secretary
        of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security on a
        particular matter on the judgment of the Commandant.''; and
            (2) in section 888(f) (6 U.S.C. 468(f))--
                    (A) by striking ``Upon the transfer of the Coast
                Guard to the Department, the'' and inserting ``The'';
                and
                    (B) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting
                ``Secretary of the Coast Guard''.
    (b) Amendments to Title 10, United States Code.--Title 10 of the
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 101(a)(9)(D), by striking ``the Secretary of
        Homeland Security'' and inserting ``the Secretary of the Coast
        Guard'';
            (2) in section 822(a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (9) as
                paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
                new paragraph (3):
            ``(3) the Secretary of Homeland Security;''; and
            (3) in section 8013a--
                    (A) by striking ``section 3 of title 14'' and
                inserting ``section 103 of title 14''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the Secretary of Homeland
                Security'' and inserting ``the Secretary of the Coast
                Guard''.
    (c) Amendments to Title 14, United States Code.--Title 14 of the
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 502(a), by striking ``the Commandant'' and
        inserting ``the Secretary of the Coast Guard or the
        Commandant'';
            (2) in section 505, in the first sentence, by striking
        ``general supervision of the Secretary'' and inserting
        ``general supervision of the Secretary of the Coast Guard'';
        and
            (3) in section 507, by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting
        ``Secretary of the Coast Guard''.
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