Derived from title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 29, 53, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 104, and title 34, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 471 (R.S. 1536, R.S. 2759; June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 4, 20 Stat. 163; Apr. 19, 1906, ch. 1640, §§ 1–3, 34 Stat. 123; May 12, 1906, ch. 2454, 34 Stat. 190; June 24, 1914, ch. 124, 38 Stat. 387; Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 417, 39 Stat. 601; Aug. 6, 1947, ch. 502, 61 Stat. 786).
This section broadens existing law in that it authorizes the Coast Guard to engage in saving life and property in the broadest possible terms, without limitation as to place. This section reflects existing sentiment as to Coast Guard functions in relation to saving life and property. There is no intention to supersede or conflict with the present authority of the Civil Aeronautics Board to investigate certain aircraft wrecks. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
2021—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “individuals” for “persons” wherever appearing.
2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 88 of this title as this section.
2014—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 113–281 substituted “$10,000” for “$5,000”.
2012—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–213 added subsec. (e).
1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–324 added subsec. (d).
1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–595 added subsec. (c).
1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–448 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Subject to paragraph (2), the Coast Guard” for “The Coast Guard”, and added par. (2).
1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–278 substituted “on and under the high seas and on and under the waters” for “on the high seas and on waters” in introductory text.
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of
Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXII, § 11207, “(a) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [“(b) In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Commandant shall, to the maximum extent possible—“(1) include a voluntary opt-in program under which members of the public, as appropriate, and the entities described in subsection (c), may receive notifications on cellular devices regarding Coast Guard activities to render aid to distressed individuals under section 521 of title 14, United States Code;“(2) cover areas located within the area of responsibility of 3 different Coast Guard sectors in diverse geographic regions; and“(3) provide that the dissemination of an alert shall be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the rendering of aid to distressed individuals.“(c) In developing the pilot program under subsection (a), the Commandant shall consult—“(1) the head of any relevant Federal agency;“(2) the government of any relevant State;“(3) any Tribal Government;“(4) the government of any relevant territory or possession of the United States; and“(5) any relevant political subdivision of an entity described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4).“(d) “(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2026, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section.“(2) The Commandant shall make the report submitted under paragraph (1) available to the public.”
[Nothing in amendment made by Pub. L. 117–263 to be construed to satisfy any requirement for government-to-government consultation with Tribal governments or to affect or modify any treaty or other right of any Tribal government, see section 11003 of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 245 of Title 6, Domestic Security.]
Pub. L. 115–265, title II, § 209,
Pub. L. 97–322, title I, § 113,