WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined 15 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act, bipartisan legislation to allow the U.S. Coast Guard to collaborate with state and local governments through intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs).
Specifically, this bill will require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delegate to the Commandant of the Coast Guard authority to enter into intergovernmental support agreements relating to installation-support services, and for other purposes.
For over a decade, every branch of the U.S. military has been able to benefit from the authority to enter into IGSA except for the Coast Guard. By requiring DHS to grant IGSA authority to the Coast Guard Commandant, the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act would enable the Coast Guard to secure better contracting agreements in collaboration with local government bodies, deliver lower-cost, higher-quality services to its installations, and strengthen local ties within Coast Guard communities – across Michigan and nationwide.
Full bill text is available here. A one-pager is available here.
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