On October 23, the House passed, 385-11, H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the legislation on October 16.
Sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), the bill would, among other provisions, require the commandant of the Coast Guard to report annually on the number of sexual assaults against and by members of the Coast Guard that were reported, as well as the number of reports substantiated; disciplinary actions taken in each case; policies and procedures implemented during that year in response to such incidents; and a plan for the following year to reduce incidents of sexual assault involving members of the Coast Guard.
According to the committee report, the measure also would establish a new section within the United States shipping statute (P.L. 98-89) to address cruise vessel safety. Among other provisions, the new section would require owners of cruise vessels to maintain adequate, in-date supplies of antiretroviral medications and medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases for use after an alleged sexual assault; maintain the materials necessary to evaluate the patient, provide medical care, and preserve relevant medical evidence in sexual assault cases; and make available certified medical staff who can assist in the event of an alleged sexual assault, have training in forensic sexual assault exams, and can promptly perform such an examination and provide proper medical treatment, including the administration of medications.
The owner of the vessel also must prepare and provide to the patient documentation of the findings of the medical examination, as well as provide free, immediate, and confidential access to local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Coast Guard, the nearest consulate or embassy, the National Sexual Assault Hotline, or a similar third party victims advocacy hotline.
During consideration of the bill, the House adopted, by voice vote, an amendment by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Howard Coble (R-NC) to, among other provisions, require the Department of Homeland Security to study military family housing and military unaccompanied housing available to members and officers of the Coast Guard and authorize the Coast Guard to spend funds on child development services.
