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Non-unique link—congress is pushing for increased icebreakers

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today successfully inserted several provisions to support increased Coast Guard activity in the Arctic including Arctic research, polar icebreaking capability, infrastructure and response capabilities. The provisions are included in a subcommittee version of the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill is $493 million less than the Fiscal Year 2013 amount. Sen. Begich has been consistent in his call for eliminating unnecessary spending and setting priorities during this time of fiscal restraint. As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, the Atmosphere, Fisheries, and the Coast Guard, Sen. Begich has been vocal in his support for greater icebreaking capabilities for the Coast Guard in order to accommodate increased shipping activity and oil and gas development in the Arctic. "The shrinking Arctic sea ice is opening up a new frontier of maritime commerce and development. The U.S. must make sure we are prepared for the increased traffic and that is why I worked to secure critical resources to support Coast Guard activities in our Arctic waters," Sen. Begich said. "I have long called for stronger icebreaking capabilities and today's bill is an important step in that direction while still keeping our spending in check." Sen. Begich also was successful in requesting additional positions to address sexual assault in the Armed Forces. Sen. Begich has been vocal in his concern about sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military and has been a consistent supporter of legislation to prevent sexual assault and to help victims of sexual assault. "Sexual assault has no place in our military or in society as a whole. The current situation is entirely unacceptable," said Sen. Begich. "I'm pleased my colleagues recognized the importance of combatting this problem and included provisions in today's bill to make sure our military men and women are protected." At Sen. Begich's request, several other provisions were included to support the Coast Guard and the growing opportunities in the Arctic: Icebreaking Capability - Includes language stating the importance of acquiring a new icebreaker to assist with Arctic shipping, fishing, and energy development. The provision states the Coast Guard must accelerate development of operational requirements for the vessel and ensure the capacity and viability of the industrial base.

No link—new icebreaker projects share compromise even during fiscal fights

Marine Log 12

(“Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea could get second life” pg online at http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-315920596.html//sd)

While most of the talk in Washington centers around the "fiscal cliff," the House was able to pass by voice vote H.R. 2838, The Coast and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012. The bill now heads to the Democratcontrolled Senate for approval. H.R. 2838 represents a compromise between a bill passed by the House last year and another passed by the Senate this past September. The bill authorizes $8.6 billion in FY2013 and $8.7 billion in FY2014 for the activities of the Coast Guard, including new construction and fleet maintenance. REACTIVATING THE POLAR SEA One of the provisions in the bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an analysis of the options for and costs of reactivating and extending the service life of the Polar Sea until at least September 30, 2022 in order to maintain the U.S. polar icebreaking capabilities. Built in 1977, the Polar Sea was deactivated in 2010 and was saved from scrapping this year. The analysis would have to determine the current condition of the Polar Sea, determine its capabilities in fulfilling the Coast Guard's icebreaking needs, detail the costs of reactivation and life service extension; estimate the lifecycle cost of maintaining the Polar Sea during the rest of its extended life; and determine whether the reactivation is cost effective. The report would have to be submitted to the House's Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation no later than 270 days after the enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012. The cost to build a new icebreaker is estimated at $1 billion.

And, the recently introduced bipartisan Coast Guard Act proves Congress shields an increase of icebreakers

US Official News 6/11/14

(“Cantwell Cosponsors Bill to Refurbish Seattle-based Icebreaker, Enhance Coast Guard Oil Spill Readiness” pg online at lexis//sd)

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that she’s cosponsoring legislation with Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) that would modernize the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet with state-of-the-art cutters and aircraft and bolster the nation’s icebreaking capabilities by refurbishing the Seattle-based Polar Sea icebreaker. The bipartisan Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA), introduced last week by Begich, would authorize the Coast Guard to overhaul the heavy icebreaker Polar Sea -- now idle at Seattle’s Pier 36 -- and return it to service. The Coast Guard had tried to scrap the 36-year-old Polar Sea in previous years. Senator Cantwell and Senator Begich previously have introduced legislation to save the Polar Sea because the ship’s specialized hull is in excellent condition. Without the Polar Sea, the United States only has two operational polar icebreakers: the Polar Star and the Healy. “This bill ensures the Coast Guard has the tools it needs to protect our economic interests in the Arctic and better prepare to respond to oil spills, which is an increasing concern in the Northwest,” said Cantwell, who serves on the Senate subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard. “This bill would also be good news for jobs in Washington state. Refurbishing a large icebreaking vessel like the Polar Sea can mean hundreds of Washington shipbuilding jobs. The Coast Guard’s icebreaking fleet also needs new vessels, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get that accomplished.” “We owe it to the men and women of the Coast Guard and their families to make sure the Service has enough resources to do everything that we ask and expect,” Begich said. “As Chairman of the Senate Oceans Subcommittee, I will continue to do everything I can to keep the Coast Guard strong and agile, so they can live up to their motto of being ‘Always Ready’ in Alaska and around the country.” The bill combines parts of legislation that Begich and Cantwell previously cosponsored, including the Coast Guard Arctic Preparedness Act, which was introduced earlier in 2014, and the Coast Guard Quality of Life Act, which was introduced last year. Overall, the CGAA (S. 2444) would authorize $8.72 billion for the Coast Guard for 2015 and 2016. That includes just under $7 billion each year for Coast Guard operating expenses and roughly $1.5 billion each year for the Coast Guard’s ongoing replacement program. The CGAA also would enhance the Coast Guard’s prevention and response capabilities in the Arctic and establish services to improve the quality of life for Coast Guard personnel and their families. The bill would: Specify that the Coast Guard’s mission includes icebreaking and extend service of the Polar Sea, the second of the Nation’s only two heavy polar icebreakers. Enhance vessel safety regarding ice and weather conditions, and require that oil spill response plans developed by offshore oil and gas companies are updated every five years. Create educational and portable career opportunities for active duty Coast Guard spouses, and ease the transition of Coast Guard personnel into post-service life. Increase competition in the design and construction of new heavy icebreakers. In April, Admiral Paul Zukunft, now the new Coast Guard Commandant, told Cantwell during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing that increased shipping of tar sands oil is a concern, and that there is a lack of adequate technology to handle a large-scale tar sands oil spill in Northwest waterways. Zukunft also acknowledged the United States is lagging behind other Arctic nations in developing and maintaining polar icebreaking capabilities. The Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet is based and serviced in Seattle. In 2012, Congress passed legislation with an amendment sponsored by Cantwell that saved the Polar Sea from the scrapyard. Cantwell and U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) have repeatedly made the case for strengthening the nation’s fleet of polar icebreakers and for protecting the Polar Sea.

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