Last week he House passed the FY2013 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which includes appropriations for the Coast Guard.  The bill ( H.R. 5855) would provide $10 billion, over $200 million more than the request. 

Operating expenses totaling $6.8 billion are funded in the bill, only slightly lower than the request.  The 1.6 percent pay raise for Coast Guard military personnel would be fully funded in the bill, while Headquarters Directorate operations costs would be reduced by $35 million.  The committee report criticized the Coast Guard’s failure to submit an “adequate Capital Investment Plan.”

The House bill would add $50 million for automation modernization and recommends that the Coast Guard consolidate information technology program funding in a single account.

The bill would increase funding for acquisition, construction, and improvements by $236 million.  Funding would be increased for the Fast Response Cutter (+$85 million), two MH-60 helicopters (+$28 million), one Long Range Surveillance Aircraft (+$90 million), and shore facilities construction (+$40.5 million).  The bill would reduce funding for the National Security Cutter by $26.5 million.

The House bill would also rescind $25 million in unexpended balances from prior year Coast Guard accounts.