POLAR ICEBREAKERS.

SEC. 821. POLAR ICEBREAKERS.(a) Enhanced Maintenance Program for the Polar Star.—(1) In general.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall conduct an enhanced maintenance program on Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10) to extend the service life of such vessel until at least December 31, 2025.(2) Requirement for report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation with Naval Sea Systems Command, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a detailed report describing a plan to extend the service life of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10) until at least December 31, 2025, through an enhanced maintenance program.(3) Content.—The report required by paragraph (2) shall include the following:(A) An assessment and discussion of the enhanced maintenance program recommended by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Polar Icebreaker Cost Assessment in the letter report “Acquisition and Operation of Polar Icebreakers: Fulfilling the Nation’s Needs”.(B) An assessment and discussion of the Government Accountability Office’s concerns and recommendations regarding service life extension work on Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10) in the report “Status of the Coast Guard’s Polar Icebreaking Fleet Capability and Recapitalization Plan”.(C) Based upon a materiel condition assessment of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB–10)—(i) a description of the service life extension needs of the vessel;(ii) detailed information regarding planned shipyard work for each fiscal year to meet such needs; and(iii) an estimate of the amount needed to be appropriated to complete the enhanced maintenance program.(D) A plan to ensure the vessel will maintain seasonally operational status during the enhanced maintenance program.(4) Authorization of appropriations.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard may use funds made available pursuant to section 4902 of title 14, United States Code, as amended 132 STAT. 4310 by section 202 of this Act, for the enhanced maintenance program described in the report required by subsection (a).(b) Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012; Amendment.—Section 222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213), as amended, is further amended as follows:(1) by striking subsections (a) through (d);(2) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as subsections (a) through (c), respectively;(3) in subsection (a), as redesignated—(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “Except as provided in subsection (c), the Commandant” and inserting “The Commandant”;(B) in paragraph (1) by striking “Polar Sea or”;(C) in paragraph (2) by striking “either of the vessels” and inserting “the Polar Star or the Polar Sea”; and(D) in paragraph (3) by striking “either of the vessels” each place it appears and inserting “the Polar Star”.