,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbdg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ad1 #bjag,mr4 ,bera introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,foreign ,affairs1 ,energy and ,commerce1 ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 and ,natural ,resources1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,president to develop and submit to ,congress a strategy to protect ,united ,states interests in the ,arctic region1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protect ,united ,states ,security in the ,arctic ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states has important economic1 security1 and national defense interests in the ,arctic region4 7#b7 ,the ,united ,states ,government has issued several key reports and strategies on the ,arctic region over the last four years1 including-- 7,a7 the ,department of ,defense ,report to ,congress on ,strategy to ,protect ,united ,states ,national ,security ,interests in the ,arctic ,region 7,december #bjaf72 7,b7 the #bjae ,year ,in ,review3 ,progress ,report on the ,implementation of the ,national ,strategy for the ,arctic ,region 7,march #bjaf72 7,c7 the ,implementation ,plan for the ,national ,strategy for the ,arctic ,region 7,january #cj1 #bjad72 and 7,d7 the ,national ,strategy for the ,arctic ,region 7,may #bjac71 which set forth the ,united ,states ,government's strategic priorities for the ,arctic region4 7#c7 ,according to the ,council on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,arctic region is warming at double the rate of the rest of the world1 opening new routes for ships and development of natural resources throughout the ,arctic region4 7#d7 ,the rapidly warming ,arctic region threatens fisheries and wildlife habitat1 existing infrastructure and communities throughout ,alaska1 including increased vulnerability to coastal erosion4 ,alaska native communities are particularly vulnerable to the changing climate4 7#e7 ,given these developments1 the ,united ,states needs to bolster its infrastructure and assets in the ,arctic region to safeguard its strategic interests1 defend its national borders1 protect the environment1 and maintain its scientific and technological leadership4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,president should continue to convene the ,arctic ,executive ,steering ,committee established on ,january #ba1 #bjae1 pursuant to ,executive ,order #acfhi 7#hj ,fed4 ,reg4 #fdbe2 relating to enhancing coordination of national efforts in the ,arctic72 and 7#b7 the ,united ,states should ratify the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea in order to allow the ,united ,states to secure its claim to offshore resources present along the ,arctic's extended continental shelf4 #d4 ,strategy to protect ,united ,states interests in the ,arctic region 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall develop and submit to ,congress a strategy to protect ,united ,states interests in the ,arctic region4 7b7 ,goals ,the strategy required under subsection 7a7 shall include the following goals3 7#a7 ,improve telecommunications1 navigation1 ocean and coastal mapping1 and ,coast ,guard and other infrastructure to support a sustained security and emergency response presence for the ,state of ,alaska4 7#b7 ,direct the ,united ,states representative to the ,arctic ,council to use the voice and vote of the ,united ,states to conduct increased confidence-building and cooperative security measures with the other member countries of the ,arctic ,council4 7#c7 ,support climate resilience efforts across the ,arctic region4 7#d7 ,sustain robust research funding to understand the ongoing climate changes in the ,arctic region and the global impact of such changes4 7c7 ,use of prior reports and strategies ,the strategy required under subsection 7a7 shall be informed by the reports and strategies described in section #b7b7 and other relevant ,united ,states ,government reports and strategies regarding the ,arctic region4 7d7 ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #de days after the date of the enactment of the this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the ,committees on ,armed ,services of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a report assessing the cost and procurement schedule for new ,united ,states icebreakers4 7#b7 ,elements ,the report required in paragraph 7#a7 shall include an analysis of the following3 7,a7 ,the current status of the efforts of the ,coast ,guard to acquire new icebreaking capability1 including coordination through the ,integrated ,program ,office4 7,b7 ,actions being taken by the ,coast ,guard to incorporate key practices from other nations that procure icebreakers to increase knowledge and reduce costs and risks4 7,c7 ,the extent by which the cost and schedule for building ,coast ,guard icebreakers differs from those in other countries1 if known4 7,d7 ,the extent that innovative acquisition practices 7such as multiyear funding and block buys7 may be applied to icebreaker acquisition to reduce the cost and accelerate the schedule4 7,e7 ,a capacity replacement plan to mitigate a potential icebreaker capability gap if the ,polar ,star cannot remain in service4 7,f7 ,any other matters the ,comptroller ,general considers appropriate4 #e4 ,authorization to procure ,coast ,guard icebreakers 7a7 ,authorization ,consistent with the plan required by section #cebc of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbh71 the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating may enter into a contract to procure up to three ,coast ,guard heavy icebreakers to defend ,united ,states interests in the ,arctic ,region1 beginning in fiscal year #bjah4 7b7 ,liability subject to appropriations ,any contract entered into under subsection 7a7 shall provide that-- 7#a7 any obligation of the ,united ,states to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose2 and 7#b7 the total liability to the ,government for termination of such contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated under such contract at the time of termination4 7c7 ,report ,consistent with such section1 the ,secretary shall report to the relevant congressional committees on plans of such department to-- 7#a7 procure and sustain icebreakers in addition to the vessels authorized by subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 ensure that at least three ,coast ,guard icebreakers are operational at all times4