Operating Expenses

Operating Expenses For necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger motor vehicles: services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; purchase of not to exceed sixteen passenger motor vehicles, of which fourteen shall81 Stat. 312 be for replacement only; maintenance, operation, and repair of aircraft; recreation and welfare; and uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901; 80 Stat. 299); $342,651,000: Provided, That the number of aircraft on hand at any one time shall not exceed one hundred and seventy-nine exclusive of planes and parts stored to meet future attrition: Provided further, That, without regard to any provisions of law or Executive order prescribing minimum flight requirements, Coast Guard regulations which establish proficiency standards and maximum and minimum flying hours for this purpose may provide for the payment of flight pay at the rates prescribed in section 301 of title 37, United States Code, to certain members of the Coast Guard otherwise entitled to receive flight pay during the current fiscal year (1) who have held aeronautical ratings or designations for not less than fifteen years, or (2) whose particular assignment outside the United States or in Alaska, makes it impractical to participate in regular aerial flights: Provided further, That amounts equal to the obligated balances against the appropriations for “Operating expenses” for the two preceding years, shall be transferred to and merged with this appropriation, and such merged appropriation shall be available as one fund, except for accounting purposes of the Coast Guard, for the payment of obligations properly incurred against such prior year appropriations and against this appropriation: Provided further, That, except as otherwise authorized by the Act of September 30, 1950 (20 U.S.C. 236–244), this appropriation shall be available for expenses of primary and secondary schooling for dependents of Coast Guard personnel stationed outside the continental United States at costs for any given area not in excess of those of the Department of Defense for the same area, when it is determined by the Secretary that the schools, if any, available in the locality are unable to provide adequately for the education of such dependents, and the Coast Guard may provide for the transportation of said dependents between such schools and their places of residence when the schools are not accessible to such dependents by regular means of transportation.