Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Arctic Focus Act”.
Arctic Focus Act
A BILL
To prioritize icebreaker deployments to the Arctic, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Arctic— The term Arctic has the meaning given such term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
Sec. 3 Statement of policy regarding Arctic activities
In recognition of the Arctic’s strategic importance to the national security interests of the United States, and the need to exert influence through persistent presence in the Arctic, the Coast Guard shall—
prioritize icebreaker deployments to the Arctic so that Antarctic deployments do not occur at the expense of sufficient Arctic presence or operations;
provide sufficient icebreaking activity to keep the Northwest Passage sea lanes open for commerce, national defense, rescue and recovery operations, and scientific exploration by 2030;
permanently station at least 1 icebreaking vessel within the Arctic not later than the earlier of—
the date that is 1 year after the delivery of the first Polar Security Cutter; or
2030; and
continuously patrol the Arctic with at least 1 major Coast Guard cutter that is able to execute search and rescue operations, fisheries enforcement, pollution response, and support for national defense operations.
Sec. 4 Arctic operational implementation report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—
describes the ability and timeline to conduct a transit of the Northern Sea Route and periodic transits of the Northwest Passage; and
includes a plan to implement the activities described in section 3.