Senate passes Coast Guard authorization bill

The Senate passed a two-year Coast Guard Authorization Act on Wednesday.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) got a unanimous consent agreement to pass S. 2444, which authorizes spending on Coast Guard programs for 2015 and 2016. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) introduced the bill.

{mosads}Boxer wanted to add an amendment to permanently end requirements that small fishing vessels have permits. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) objected but offered a three-year moratorium instead.

“I’m going to agree to this three-year moratorium but I’m a little stunned as to why we’re doing this again,” Boxer said. “But it’s better than nothing.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowksi (R-Alaska) said she agreed with Boxer that a permanent fix is needed so fishermen don’t have to deal with uncertainty in the future.

Boxer said the reason a permanent solution wasn’t reach was political. She said some lawmakers want to attach “bad” legislation as leverage.

“Whatever someone has in their mind they want to connect to this baby, it isn’t going to happen,” Boxer said.