Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to flag an issue on the Coast Guard reauthorization. One particular provision in the bill can negatively impact offshore wind. Installing monopiles for offshore wind requires a specialized fleet and planning. The U.S. fleet does not currently include certain offshore wind-specific vessels, which are the linchpins in construction.

With the current bill language mandating exclusive use of domestic crews on a few foreign vessels, it could lead the few vessels that can install offshore wind to exit the U.S. market altogether. Right now, adding these crewing requirements for certain international vessels would freeze offshore wind construction.

Offshore wind is essential to achieving our decarbonization goals, but it is a brand-new industry in the United States. It needs time to build a supply chain from the ground up.

I have been proud of Dominion Energy's recent announcement that the first Jones Act-compliant vessel, Charybdis, is on track to be completed by late 2024.

The offshore wind industry in America is investing in more than 40 American vessels, all of which will be required to have all-American crews, but until we have these vessels, we will be reliant on foreign vessels.

The stipulations in this bill would impede the involvement of the current fleet necessary to kick-start these projects and give the U.S. any viable alternatives.

The absence of these specialized vessels would mean that numerous American ships and mariners would lose employment opportunities, and there would be no offshore wind farms to build or maintain. We can address this and find a fix that avoids job losses for union workers or causes significant delays.

While we all champion American jobs in offshore wind, it is important to recognize that this industry is still in its early stages domestically.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you to address this issue moving forward as this legislation moves toward conference. It is imperative that we do not stumble as we embark on this promising new industry that holds the potential to enhance our energy security and create thousands of American jobs.

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