14 U.S. Code § 504 - Commandant; general powers
This section grants powers to the Commandant concerning, in general, operations within the Service and the internal functioning of the Service. Many of the powers are contained in existing law, but some are enlarged, and some additional powers are added as explained following.
Subsection (a) is derived from title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 53, and title 34, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 471 (R.S. 1536). The authority to order vessels to cruise along the coasts should be in the operational head of the Service, and not in the President. This section is changed to cover adequately the necessary present day cruising and patrolling.
Subsection (b) is derived from R.S. 4242 and title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 29, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98a (R.S. 4245, 4249; May 4, 1882, ch. 117, §§ 2, 3, 22 Stat. 56; Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 417, 39 Stat. 601; Aug. 6, 1947, ch. 502, 61 Stat. 786; June 6, 1940, ch. 257, § 4, 54 Stat. 247), and specifically grants to the Commandant authority in regard to the establishment, discontinuance, and change of Coast Guard shore establishments other than Coast Guard districts. This power must exist inherently in order for the Service to function efficiently.
Subsection (c) is derived from title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 54, 97, 112 (May 4, 1882, ch. 117, § 3, 22 Stat. 56; May 30, 1908, ch. 231, 35 Stat. 553; Apr. 21, 1910, ch. 182, § 2, 36 Stat. 326), and specifically grants to the Commandant authority in regard to the assignment of vessels, vehicles, aids to navigation, and other equipment. This power is inherent to the proper functioning of any Service.
Subsection (d) is based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 91 (June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 7, 20 Stat. 164; June 10, 1921, ch. 18, § 304, 42 Stat. 24; July 3, 1926, ch. 742, § 9, 44 Stat. 817). Said section has been divided. The part dealing with investigation of plans and inventions is covered in this subsection in broader terms, and the other parts are covered in general terms in section 632 of this title.
Subsection (e) is based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 111 (June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 9, 20 Stat. 164). This section has been rewritten to broaden the authority to include any investigation or study that may be of assistance to the Coast Guard, the limitation as to investigation of shipwrecks having been eliminated.
Subsection (f) is new and is intended to give legislative recognition to the importance of disseminating information by the Coast Guard for the promotion of safety at sea, life-saving techniques, and other Coast Guard activities.
Subsection (g) is new and provides for the training of Coast Guard personnel at other than schools or institutions of the other armed forces. Such training is essential and has been carried on under the authority of appropriation acts for many years.
Subsection (h) is based in part on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 69, 108, 109, (R.S. 2748; June 20, 1874, ch. 344, § 9, 18 Stat. 127; June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 3, 20 Stat. 163), and is intended to complement the authority granted to the Secretary in sec. 92(d) of this title granting similar authority to the Commandant as to smaller craft.
Subsection (i) is based in part on title 14, U.S.C., §§ 108, 109, and on title 33, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 752 (June 20, 1874, ch. 344, § 9, 18 Stat. 127; June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 3, 20 Stat. 163; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 168, 37 Stat. 10183, and grants power to the Commandant to acquire and dispose of various equipment and supplies. The authority with respect to the acceptance of such equipment as a gift is new.
Subsection (j) is new and grants power to the Commandant to operate and maintain shore establishments; previously such authority has been inferred from statutes providing for the establishment of shore stations; again such authority is inherent to the functioning of any Service, and this section will provide no greater authority than has been exercised in the past.
Subsection (k) is based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 31b (June 6, 1941, ch. 177, 55 Stat. 247 [which was originally repealed by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title VI, § 602(a)(28), 63 Stat. 399, renumbered Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 6(a), (b), 64 Stat. 583]). The primary authority is granted to the Commandant as well as to the Secretary inasmuch as such exchange seems to be an operational matter and the items which may be exchanged have been enlarged by the addition of aids to navigation, appliances, equipment, and supplies.
Inasmuch as the act cited above applies to the Navy as well as the Coast Guard it is not scheduled for repeal but is being amended by section 13 of this act to eliminate reference to the Coast Guard.
Subsection (l) is new and is deemed desirable in order to give legislative authority for existing yards, and for the procurement of needed equipment and material in case such is not normally or economically obtainable from private contractors.
Subsection (m) is based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 110, 192 (June 20, 1874, ch. 344, § 6, 18 Stat. 127; June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 10, 20 Stat. 165; July 3, 1926, ch. 742, § 9, 44 Stat. 817). The power to accept volunteer services is enlarged to include all services offered in time of emergency, to save life or protect property, and the restrictive provisions relating to lifeboat stations only have been eliminated.
Subsection (n) is new and grants authority to the Commandant to lease real property under the control of the Coast Guard, when not immediately needed in Coast Guard operations. Such authority will be advantageous to the Government, on the basis of past experience.
Subsection (o) is new and is supplementary to subsection (n) of this section. It grants further authority to the Commandant permitting him to grant minor interests in land which is under control of the Coast Guard. This will avoid the necessity of special acts of Congress in each of such instances.
Subsection (p) is new and is necessary to give proper authority for the maintenance of networks of wires and cables, in some cases over or along private property or public highways. These networks are in existence at the present time and are essential for the Service to carry out its functions.
Subsection (q) is new and is necessary in order to provide clear authority for the maintenance of radio stations which are essential to Coast Guard functions.
Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
Section 4(e) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B), is section 4(e) of Pub. L. 92–340, which was classified to section 1223(e) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, § 402(e), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4264. See Transitional and Savings Provisions note preceding section 101 of Title 46, Shipping, and section 70001 of Title 46.
The date of enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–281, which was approved Oct. 15, 2010.
A prior section 504 was renumbered section 2733 of this title.
Another prior section 504, act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 537, related to disposition of the remains of deceased Coast Guard personnel, prior to repeal by act July 15, 1954, ch. 507, § 14(c)(5), 68 Stat. 481. For provisions relating to recovery, care, and disposition of the remains of deceased personnel of the uniformed services and deceased civilian personnel, see section 1481 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
2018—Pub. L. 115–282, § 105(b)(2), renumbered section 93 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 2904” for “section 542”.
Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 2946” for “section 687”.
Subsec. (a)(21). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “section 30305(b)(7)” for “section 30305(a)”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 305(a)(3)” for “section 50(a)(3)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 522” for “section 89”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 527” for “section 91”.
Subsec. (f)(2)(D). Pub. L. 115–282, § 123(b)(2), substituted “section 2946” for “section 687”.
2016—Subsec. (a)(25). Pub. L. 114–120, § 610(b), added par. (25).
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 114–120, § 209(4), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which related to limitation on leasing of tidelands and submerged lands.
2014—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 113–281, § 206(a), substituted “and investigate” for “, investigate” and struck out “, and cooperate and coordinate such activities with other Government agencies and with private agencies” before semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 113–281, § 214(c), inserted “, and to eligible spouses as defined under section 542,” after “Coast Guard”.
Pub. L. 113–281, § 207, inserted “and the textbooks, manuals, and other materials required as part of such training or course of instruction” after “correspondence courses”.
Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 113–281, § 208(a), substituted “the fund established under section 687” for “the Treasury”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–281, § 222(1), substituted “(a)(13)” for “(a)(14)”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–281, § 209, added subsec. (f).
2012—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–213 added subsec. (e).
2011—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 111–350, which directed amendment of subsec. (h) by substituting “division C (except sections 3302, 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” for “title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.)”, was executed by making the substitution in subsec. (a)(8) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 108–293, § 201. See 2004 Amendment note below.
2010—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–259 substituted “function, including research, development, test, or evaluation related to intelligence systems and capabilities,” for “function”.
Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 111–281 added subsecs. (c) and (d).
2006—Subsec. (a)(19). Pub. L. 109–241, § 901(a), redesignated subpars. (1) and (2) as (A) and (B), respectively.
Subsec. (a)(24). Pub. L. 109–241, § 901(c), redesignated par. (y) as (24).
2004—Pub. L. 108–293, § 201, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), redesignated former subsecs. (a) to (j) and (l) to (w) as pars. (1) to (23), respectively, of subsec. (a), substituted semicolon for comma at end of par. (18), and added subsec. (b).
Pub. L. 108–293, § 217, which directed amendment of this section by striking out “and” after semicolon at end of “paragraph (w)”, substituting “; and” for period at end of “paragraph (x)”, and adding a paragraph designated “(y)” at the end, was executed to this section prior to the amendment by Pub. L. 108–293, § 201, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See above.
2002—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–217 inserted “subtitle I of title 40 and title III of” before “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949” and substituted “(41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.)” for “(40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.)”.
1998—Subsec. (w). Pub. L. 105–383, § 202, added subsec. (w).
Subsec. (x). Pub. L. 105–383, § 203, added subsec. (x).
1996—Subsec. (v). Pub. L. 104–324 added subsec. (v).
1993—Subsec. (t). Pub. L. 103–206, § 202, added subsec. (t).
Subsec. (u). Pub. L. 103–206, § 316, added subsec. (u).
1991—Subsec. (s). Pub. L. 102–241 added subsec. (s).
1982—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “(40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.)” for “, as amended,” after “Act of 1949”.
Subsec. (r). Pub. L. 97–276 and Pub. L. 97–322 made identical amendments adding subsec. (r) relating to medical and dental care for personnel entitled thereto by law or regulation, including care in private facilities.
1981—Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 97–136, inserted “including telephones in residences leased or owned by the Government of the United States when appropriate to assure efficient response to extraordinary operational contingencies of a limited duration,” after “of such lines and cables,”.
1976—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 94–546 substituted “to be deposited in the Treasury” for “to be covered into the Treasury”.
1951—Subsec. (h). Act Oct. 31, 1951, § 2(10), inserted reference to applicable regulations of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, and struck out the requirement that net monies received from the disposition of patrol boats, etc., be covered into the Treasury.
Subsec. (i). Act Oct. 31, 1951, § 4(1), inserted provision permitting discontinuance of aids to navigation, etc., and struck out provision permitting discontinuance or other disposition of obsolete, unsuitable, or unserviceable aids to navigation, etc., and the requirement that the net monies received from such disposition be covered into the Treasury.
Subsec. (k). Act Oct. 31, 1951, § 1(33), repealed subsec. (k) which empowered the Commandant to exchange aircraft, vehicles, and parts thereof, and obsolete, unsuitable, or unserviceable machines, tools, aids to navigation, appliances, equipment, and supplies in part payment for new items of the same or similar character.
1950—Subsec. (o). Act Aug. 3, 1950, struck out “and” after the semicolon.
Subsec. (p). Act Aug. 3, 1950, substituted “; and” for the period at end.
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
Pub. L. 115–282, title III, § 305(c), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4246, provided that:
Pub. L. 115–265, title II, § 210, Oct. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 3748, provided that:
[For definition of “recognized organizations” as used in section 210 of Pub. L. 115–265, set out above, see section 203 of Pub. L. 115–265, set out as a note under section 2101 of Title 46, Shipping.]
Pub. L. 114–120, title II, § 204(c), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 35, as amended by Pub. L. 115–282, title VIII, § 818(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4308, provided that:
Pub. L. 111–281, title II, § 217, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2917, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, § 3521(a)(2), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2314, provided that:
Pub. L. 109–241, title IV, § 405, July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 535, provided that:
Pub. L. 108–293, title II, § 215, Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1038, provided that:
Pub. L. 108–293, title II, § 222, Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1040, provided that:
Pub. L. 109–241, title II, § 210, July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 523, provided that:
Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 429, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2127, provided that:
Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 430, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2128, provided that:
Pub. L. 105–383, title IV, § 416(d), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3437, provided that: