Larsen celebrates wins for Washington State in Coast Guard Authorization Act

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U .S. REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA) as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

“The Coast Guard Authorization Act invests in Washington state’s Coasties and the communities they serve – from better equipping marine firefighters to preventing and responding to oil spills to extending the whale desk,” said Rep. Larsen. “I have proudly supported this bill to make sure the women and men who keep our seas safe have the resources they need to achieve mission success and protect Washingtonians. I am glad to see it move to the President’s desk and I urge him to sign it into law.”

The CGAA includes key provisions to support Coasties in the Pacific Northwest and keep Washingtonians safe, including:

Extension of the Cetacean Desk

The CGAA provides a two-year extension of the pilot program that established the whale desk at Coast Guard Base Seattle. This program provides real-time whale location data for mariners to prevent ship strikes and noise disturbance while also protecting whale species.

International Oil Spill Contingency Planning

In response to the increased oil tanker traffic entering Canadian waters north of Puget Sound, the CGAA requires the Coast Guard to update and modernize oil spill response plans and agreements with Canada in the event of a cross-jurisdiction spill.

Salvaging and Marine Firefighting (SMFF)

In response to the tragic passing of a community member during the 2022 sinking of the Aleutian Isle off Sunset Point in Rep. Larsen’s district, the CGAA allows for verification of SMFF capacity in vessel response plans to ensure that ships are stocked with the necessary salvage and marine firefighting equipment.

Seattle Property Negotiating

The CGAA broadens the scope of cooperative agreements into which the U.S. Coast Guard can enter, including with Tribal organizations. This will allow the Coast Guard to better negotiate with Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes over land and water use while modernizing Base Seattle.

Tsunami Preparedness

The CGAA requires every Coast Guard base or station located in a high-tsunami-risk area to develop an evacuation plan in coordination with local governments, conduct regular drills and conduct follow-ups with servicemembers and staff.

Rep. Larsen is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard. In that role, Rep. Larsen introduced and secured passage of the CGAA through the Committee by a 60-0 vote and the House by a 399-12 vote.