U.S. House approves $7.1 billion Coast Guard authorization
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $7.1 billion authorization for the U.S. Coast Guard’s activities in fiscal year 2004, funding homeland security and traditional maritime operations.
The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2003 (H.R. 2443) includes just under $5 billion for operating expenses, $1.09 billion for capital acquisitions, and $1.02 billion for retired pay.
The bill raises the limit on active Coast Guard officers from 6,200 to 6,700 in fiscal year 2004, and authorizes the maintaining of 45,500 active duty military personnel.
If the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Homeland Security will be required to report the numbers and types of foreign vessels and containers entering U.S. ports, and the cost of conducting security inspections on those ships.