STUDY OF THE APPLICATION OF TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY TO COAST GUARD MISSIONS.

SEC. 5217. STUDY OF THE APPLICATION OF TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY TO COAST GUARD MISSIONS. (a) Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a study to Congress on the application of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor technology to Coast Guard missions. (b) In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) evaluate the application of tiltrotor technology to Coast Guard missions including— (A) search and rescue at sea; and (B) the enforcement of laws of the United States especially with respect to drug interdiction; (2) determine whether use of the technology in the Coast Guard marine environmental protection program would minimize the damage caused by oil or hazardous substances spills in the waters of the United States; and (3) determine what effect the technology would have on Coast Guard manpower and operating costs, compared to those costs associated with technology currently used by the Coast Guard.