HR 3397 IH: Indo-Pacific Maritime Group Establishment Act of 2023

This bill aims to establish a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, modeled after the Standing NATO Maritime Groups, to conduct humanitarian and law enforcement missions in the region.

Section 4. Report on Feasibility of Standing Indo-Pacific Maritime Group

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of establishing a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group.

(1) findings on how such maritime group could enable the Coast Guard to work more effectively with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region on multilateral humanitarian missions, anti-piracy missions, emergency responses, and maritime domain awareness issues;
(2) any other matters as determined relevant by the Commandant.

Section 5. Report on Establishment of Forward Operating Bases

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on establishing forward operating bases in the Indo-Pacific region.

(1) a description of gaps in Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific region, including any logistical problems;
(2) a list of locations selected for the establishment of such forward operating bases, including mobile forward operating bases;
(3) a description of why each location on such list was selected;
(4) the cost of establishing such forward operating bases;
(5) the non-monetary resources and approvals needed to establish such forward operating bases, including authorizations and cooperation agreements;
(6) a timeline for completing by not later than January 1, 2030, the establishment of such forward operating bases.

Section 6. Report on Coast Guard Attaches

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Coast Guard attaches serving in embassies in the Indo-Pacific region.

(1) the number of such attaches actively serving in such embassies;
(2) a list of any such embassies where an increased allocation of such attaches could better support United States objectives in the Indo-Pacific region;
(3) a plan to increase the number of such attaches actively serving in such embassies, including the resources and approvals necessary to achieve such plan.

Section 7. Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined

In this Act, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(1) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(5) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.