House Committee approves Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 1987) authorizes Coast Guard and Federal Maritime Commission funding levels for two years and includes provisions to improve Coast Guard mission effectiveness, help modernize the Service’s aging vessels and other assets, and reform U.S. maritime transportation laws. The bill was introduced by Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), along with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Ranking Member John Garamendi (D-CA).

In addition to providing operating funds for USCG, the measure contains a key component regulating model years for recreational vessels. The change in regulation, which defines model year as the period beginning June 1 of any year and ending July 31 of the following year, is the result of a successful effort by MRAA and NMMA to provide the marine industry with appropriate discretion to market their product.

http://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398868.