b'LEGISLATIVE REPORTLEGISLATIVE A Busy and Important Legislative Season Lies AheadRICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORA ssummerwindsdownandandreliabilityofphysicalbuoysinfederalfunctionswillshutdown. CongressreturnsfromitstheNortheastCoastGuardDistrictAlternatively,lawmakersmayopt traditional August recess, the(First), the Missouri River, and the Pa- foraContinuingResolution(CR), fall legislative calendar promises to becific Northwest District (Thirteenth).keepingagenciesfundedatpri-animportantoneforthemaritimeThis provision ensures that stakehold- or-year levels until a longer-term deal industry. Several key bills and regula- ersareconsultedandthatrisksandis struck. These CR agreements can tory developments will directly affectbenefits are carefully weighed beforerangeinlengthfrommeredaysto passenger vessel operators, and PVA isphysicalaidstonavigation(AtoNs)many months. fully engaged to ensure your interestsare removed. The amendment calls for are represented. a study and report to Congress before any buoys are removed. PVAs advocacy COAST GUARDAUTHORIZATION ACT PVA strongly supports this amend- promotes safety, The Coast Guard Authorization Act,ment.PVAPresidentSteveJonespracticality, and typicallyenactedeverytwoyears,sentalettertotheSenateCom- fairness. We support providesCongressionaldirectionmerce,Science,andTransportation for U.S. Coast Guard programs andCommitteeurgingthemtoadoptmodernization when funding.TheSenatepasseditsver- the House language. Our letter alsoit improves safety sion of the bill in March of this year;recommendedexpandingthisre-theHousefollowedwithitsownquirementsothatallCoastGuardwithout imposing version in July. Congressional negoti- Districts undergo the same level ofimpractical burdens. ators must now reconcile differencesscrutinybeforeanymodernization And we continue to between the two bills. plan begins removing buoys.press for fair treatment OneissuePVAiscloselyfollowingAPPROPRIATIONS AND of passenger vessels involvestheCoastGuardsproposalTHE FALL DEADLINEto eliminate more than 350 buoys inSeptember30markstheendofthein federal funding the Northeast, including two dozen infiscalyear,andCongressmuststilland regulatory Congressman Seth Moultons districtpasstheappropriationsbillsthat inMassachusetts.WhiletheCoastkeepthegovernmentfunded.Bothframeworks.Guard describes this as a moderniza- the House and Senate are working on tion effort, harbormasters and vesselFY26spendingprioritiesacrossthe operatorswarnthatitcouldreduce12appropriationssubcommittees,DRUG TESTING POLICY: safety on the water. including those that fund the CoastORAL FLUID TESTINGGuard,ArmyCorpsofEngineers,Anothermajorregulatorydevelop-Duringcommitteeconsideration,Maritime Administration, and otherment is the stalled implementation of CongressmanMoultonsuccessfullymaritime-related agencies. oral fluid drug testing. The U.S. De-offered an amendment requiring thepartmentofTransportation(DOT) CoastGuardtoconductacompre- If agreement cannot be reached andfinalized rules in 2023 allowing oral hensive, data-driven study on the usegovernmentfundingexpires,manyfluid testing in safety-sensitive indus-FOGHORN 40'