Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Authorizations

Title II: Personnel Management

Title III: Financial and Property Management

Title IV: Reports and Investigations

Title V: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection

Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Title I: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, testing, and evaluation; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; and (5) environmental compliance and restoration at Coast Guard facilities.

(Sec. 102) Authorizes Coast Guard end-of-year strength and military training student loads.

Title II: Personnel Management - Amends Federal law relating to the Coast Guard to remove the dollar limit on severance pay for regular warrant officers.

(Sec. 202) Authorizes the Coast Guard Commandant to: (1) obtain research on personnel resource and training needs; and (2) employ special programs for recruiting minorities, including using grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. Terminates those authorities on a specified date.

Title III: Financial and Property Management - Authorizes the Commandant to rent or lease commercial vehicles to transport the next of kin of eligible retired Coast Guard military personnel to attend funeral services of the service member at a national cemetery.

(Sec. 302) Authorizes the use of up to $25,000 to provide economic adjustment assistance for the City of Novato, California, for the cost of revising the Hamilton Reuse Planning Authority's reuse plan as a result of the Coast Guard's request for housing at Hamilton Air Force Base (or to reimburse the Department of Defense for providing that assistance).

(Sec. 303) Requires, when the Coast Guard supply fund is reduced to delete items stocked, that the existing capital of the fund be reduced by the value of the materials transferred to other Coast Guard accounts.

(Sec. 304) Authorizes honorary recognition of individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to Coast Guard programs, missions, or operations, including State and local governments and commercial and nonprofit organizations. Allows payment for plaques, medals, and similar items.

Title IV: Reports and Investigations - Removes provisions requiring that reports be made public.

(Sec. 402) Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to remove a requirement of a biennial report to the Congress.

Title V: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection - Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to define "navigable waters of the United States" to include all waters of the U.S. territorial sea as described in a specified Presidential Proclamation. Makes changes relating to U.S. navigable waters in provisions relating to the operation of vessels, uninspected vessel safety equipment, recreational vessels, uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels, and vessel pilots. Amends the Act of June 15, 1917 (relating to foreign relations, neutrality, foreign commerce, espionage, and enforcement of criminal laws) to define "navigable waters of the United States" to include all waters of the U.S. territorial sea as described in a specified Presidential Proclamation.

(Sec. 502) Amends Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to revise the bases for suspension or revocation of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document.