PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL ICEBREAKER VESSELS.

SEC. 151. PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL ICEBREAKER VESSELS. (a) Procurement Authority.— (1) In general.—In addition to the icebreaker vessel authorized to be procured under section 122(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91), the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of up to five additional polar-class icebreaker vessels. (2) Condition for out-year contract payments.—A contract entered into under paragraph (1) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2019 is subject to the availability of appropriations or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the Coast Guard should maintain an inventory of not fewer than six polar-class icebreaker vessels beginning not later than fiscal year 2029 and, to achieve such inventory, should— (1) award a contract for the first new polar-class icebreaker not later than fiscal year 2019; (2) deliver the first new polar-class icebreaker not later than fiscal year 2023; (3) start construction on the second through sixth new polar-class icebreakers at a rate of one vessel per year in fiscal years 2022 through 2026; and (4) accept delivery of the second through sixth new polar-class icebreakers at a rate of one vessel per year in fiscal years 2025 through 2029.