← Back to Bills
HR 2204105th CongressSigned into LawHouse

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998

Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
House
Last Updated
Apr 7, 2025
Latest Action Date
Nov 13, 1998

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 105-383.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 is a legislative act passed by the 105th Congress and signed into law on November 13, 1998. It authorizes funding and sets policy directives for the United States Coast Guard, which operates under the Department of Transportation and later the Department of Homeland Security. The Act typically covers operational funding, personnel matters, equipment procurement, and mission priorities related to maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. Although the full text and detailed summary are not provided, the Act represents a routine authorization measure that supports the Coast Guard's ongoing functions and responsibilities within the transportation and public works policy area.

Bottom Line

This law provides the legal authority and funding framework for the U.S. Coast Guard's operations and programs for the fiscal year(s) covered, ensuring continued maritime safety and security activities.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • The Act authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard, enabling it to carry out its missions.
  • It establishes policy guidance relevant to maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
  • The legislation was enacted by the House and became Public Law No: 105-383 on November 13, 1998.
Who Benefits?

['United States Coast Guard', 'Department of Transportation (historically the parent agency at the time)', 'Maritime industry stakeholders including shipping, fishing, and port authorities', 'General public benefiting from maritime safety and security']

Potential Concerns

['The absence of detailed bill text limits assessment of specific funding levels or policy changes.', 'Implementation risks may include ensuring authorized funds are effectively allocated and managed.', 'Oversight mechanisms are not detailed here, which are important for accountability of Coast Guard operations.']

Political Context

The bill was introduced and passed during the 105th Congress, a period when Coast Guard authorization bills were routinely enacted to maintain operational continuity. The legislation reflects ongoing congressional support for maritime safety and security within the transportation and public works policy domain. The bill's passage as Public Law No: 105-383 indicates it completed the legislative process and was signed by the President.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['Continued funding and authorization may support maritime industry stability and safety improvements.', 'The Act may indirectly influence related agencies and sectors involved in maritime commerce and environmental protection.', 'Sustained Coast Guard operations could affect regional economies dependent on maritime transport and security.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

Transparency is limited by the absence of the full bill text and an official summary, which constrains comprehensive public and oversight review. While the bill's enactment indicates congressional approval, detailed provisions, funding amounts, and specific policy directives are not available in the source data, highlighting a gap in accessible legislative documentation.

Passage Likelihood: HighConfidence: 85%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

GovScope Intelligence Roadmap

Future bill intelligence will connect sponsors, committee referrals, related votes, campaign finance, disclosures, and stock trades into one legislative intelligence view.

Enterprise Ready