Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act

HR 4952, the Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act, modifies a rule that generally prohibits building Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards. It allows the President to authorize exceptions only if the foreign shipyard is in a NATO country or a U.S. mutual defense treaty partner in the Indo-Pacific, and the foreign cost is lower than domestic construction. Before any foreign shipyard work begins, the Coast Guard Commandant must certify the shipyard isn’t owned or operated by a Chinese company or a multinational company based in China. The bill also requires the President to notify Congress 30 days before authorizing such exceptions, with contracts only permitted after this review period. This directly affects Coast Guard vessel procurement decisions and foreign shipyard contracts.