RELEASE: Murphy, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Coast Guard Installations, Allow Cost-Saving Community Partnerships
Press (Murphy)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2026
CONTACT
Maddy Mundy
MURPHY, MURKOWSKI INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO SUPPORT COAST GUARD INSTALLATIONS, ALLOW COST-SAVING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced 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).
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 the Department of Homeland Security (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 Connecticut and nationwide.
In December 2024, Senator Murphy led a letter to the DHS Secretary calling on the Department to finalize IGSA authority for the Coast Guard. In August 2025, he led a CT delegation letter calling for serious investments by the Coast Guard to modernize the Coast Guard Academy campus infrastructure in New London and support the Academy in meeting its full potential in educating the leaders of America’s multi-mission, maritime military force.
“This long-overdue step will save millions in taxpayer dollars, cut red tape, and support economic development by allowing better collaboration between the Coast Guard and its surrounding communities – in places like New London, Connecticut, home of the Coast Guard Academy,” said Senator Murphy. “By taking advantage of IGSAs to contract for local services – from waste management to snowplowing to transportation – the Coast Guard can save money while delivering the improved support and quality of life that Coasties, and their neighbors, deserve.”
“In Alaska, supporting our military services takes an all-hands-on-deck approach. We’ve seen firsthand how IGSAs benefit both military installations and local communities by combining resources for critical functions: everything from infrastructure maintenance to emergency dispatch systems. However, DHS has yet to issue the guidance necessary for the Coast Guard to do the same,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation would allow the Coast Guard to partner with local communities to address essential functions like childcare, utility services, and housing needs. It is important that we give the Coast Guard cost-effective tools to efficiently build operational capacity in communities like Kodiak and Seward, where the service will homeport the first of the new coming to Alaska.”
“The U.S. Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay in Baltimore is the Coast Guard's only major ship-repair facility. We are so proud of the work our Coast Guardsmen do protecting our nation, and the Marylanders working every day at Curtis Bay to keep our Coast Guard on the water,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues on this legislation, which would enable the Coast Guard to secure better contracting agreements in collaboration with local governments to deliver lower-cost, higher-quality services to its installations. This legislation will help provide savings for the Coast Guard and Maryland communities.”
"The Coast Guard is one of Maine's most important federal partners, protecting our maritime economy, conducting lifesaving search and rescue missions, and safeguarding our national security," said Senator King. "Giving the Coast Guard the same authority already available to every other military service branch is simply common sense. These partnerships are already saving the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines millions of dollars a year, and I know the Coast Guard installations in Maine are ready to advance projects, cut red tape, and save American taxpayer dollars.”
“All branches of our Armed Forces deserve our enduring support and gratitude for their honorable service to our country, including access to high-quality services that improve their efficiency — anything short of that is unacceptable,” said Senator Padilla. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will ensure the U.S. Coast Guard can access the same cost-saving benefits as the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. This is a simple step Congress can take to make it easier for the Coast Guard to work with state and local governments to acquire services that benefit both the Coast Guard and the communities that host them.”
“All U.S. military services are encouraged to collaborate with local communities for infrastructure and development, except for the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s an oversight that slows modernization efforts and makes it harder for the Coast Guard to meet their mission,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries. “I’m proud to support the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act to streamline the Coast Guard’s partnership with local governments and enable USCG to better support Coasties and the communities they serve.”
“By allowing the Coast Guard to enter intergovernmental support agreements, this bill will unlock millions of dollars in savings, create jobs for military spouses, provide expanded services for Coast Guard members, and deliver opportunities for local small business,” said Senator Schiff. “It’s time to finally extend the same IGSA authority other military services have enjoyed for decades to the Coast Guard.”
“Because of President Trump’s leadership on revitalizing the Coast Guard through Force Design 2028, this is the most exciting time to be in the Coast Guard since it was founded,” said Senator Scott. “However, Congress needs to do our part to help in that revitalization. The Coast Guard’s broad, and highly specialized mission set is critical to our national security, and these intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) will benefit personnel, Coast Guard families, local communities, and overall mission success. I’m proud to join in this bipartisan effort to get our coasties in Florida – and around the world – what they need.”
“From search and rescue to securing U.S. coasts and waters to ensuring marine environmental protection, the Coast Guard is critical to making New England’s shores and waterways safer,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort that will cut administrative red tape, save money and make it easier for the Coast Guard to effectively collaborate with the coastal communities it protects.”
Full bill text is available here. A one-pager is available here.
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