To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.
To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.
Plain Language Summary
# HR 2351 Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill requires the U.S. Coast Guard to make naloxone—a medication that reverses opioid overdoses—available at all Coast Guard facilities and during operations. The Coast Guard would also need to track how the medication is distributed and work with the Department of Defense to monitor illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances. The bill essentially updates Coast Guard policy to prioritize overdose response and ensure personnel have access to life-saving medication. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects Coast Guard members and facilities. It also involves the Department of Defense, since the Coast Guard would need to join DOD's existing tracking system for naloxone distribution and controlled substance monitoring.
Indirectly, it affects Coast Guard operations and any civilians who interact with the Coast Guard during emergencies. **Current Status** The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is sponsored by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC). The bill is now awaiting action in the Senate. The underlying motivation appears to be improving emergency response capabilities and addressing substance abuse within military/government organizations, consistent with broader federal efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
CRS Official Summary
This bill requires the Coast Guard to provide access to naloxone (a medication to reverse opioid overdoses) at its facilities, track distribution of the medication, and monitor the illegal use of of controlled substances. The bill directs the Coast Guard to update its policy regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdoses to require naloxone or a similar medication to be made available to members on all Coast Guard installations and in each operational environment. Further, the Coast Guard must participate in the Department of Defense (DOD) tracking system for naloxone distribution and the illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances. (The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 directed DOD to establish the tracking system.) The bill requires the Coast Guard to finalize a memorandum of understanding with DOD to facilitate Coast Guard access to the tracking system.The bill also specifies that laws that prohibit manufacturing or distributing controlled substances on vessels apply when controlled substances are intentionally or knowingly placed or caused to be placed on board a vessel (e.g., without the crew's knowledge or on board an unmanned vessel). Further, the bill requires the Coast Guard to brief Congress within two years after the bill's enactment about the use of opioids and overdose medication at Coast Guard facilities by members and personnel. The briefing must describe the Coast Guard's progress in implementing its updated policy, the prevalence and incidence of the illegal use of controlled substances, and its processes to mitigate substance abuse.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.