Definitions .—
Non-homeland security missions .—
Homeland security missions .—
Primary Duties .—
Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 496 Pub. L. 87–396, § 175 Stat. 827 Pub. L. 91–278, § 1(1)84 Stat. 304 Pub. L. 93–51988 Stat. 1659 Pub. L. 99–640, § 6100 Stat. 3547 Pub. L. 100–448, § 17102 Stat. 1845 Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7403102 Stat. 4484 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 217(1)126 Stat. 1556 Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 103(b)132 Stat. 4195 Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7201(j)139 Stat. 1686 (, , § 2; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 102 and amended , title III, § 302, , , 4243; , , .)
Historical and Revision Notes
oJune 23, 1874, ch. 455, § 1 18 Stat. 220 June 18, 1878, ch. 265, § 4 20 Stat. 163 July 5, 1884, ch. 221, § 2 23 Stat. 118 Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, § 10 32 Stat. 829 Apr. 19, 1906, ch. 1640 34 Stat. 123 May 12, 1906, ch. 2454 34 Stat. 190 June 17, 1910, ch. 301 36 Stat. 538 Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, § 1 37 Stat. 736 June 24, 1914, ch. 124 38 Stat. 387 Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 81, § 5 38 Stat. 927 Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 417 39 Stat. 1820 May 22, 1926, ch. 371, § 6 44 Stat. 626 June 30, 1932, ch. 314, § 501 47 Stat. 415 May 27, 1936, ch. 463, § 1 49 Stat. 1380 Aug. 16, 1937, ch. 665, § 3 50 Stat. 667 Feb. 19, 1941, ch. 8 55 Stat. 9 July 11, 1941, ch. 290, § 7 55 Stat. 585 Nov. 23, 1942, ch. 639, § 2(2) 56 Stat. 102 Sept. 30, 1944, ch. 453, § 1 58 Stat. 759 June 22, 1948, ch. 600 62 Stat. 574 June 26, 1948, ch. 672 62 Stat. 1050 This section defines in general terms, for the first time in any statute, all the primary duties of the Coast Guard. It is derived from title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 45, 50k–50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 98a, 104, 261, 301, title 33, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 720, 720a, 740, 740a, 740b, title 46, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 1 (footnote), 2 (R.S. 1536, 2747, 2758, 2759, 4249; , ; , ; , ; , ; , §§ 1–3, ; , ; , §§ 6, 7, ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , §§ 2, 201, , 11; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ).
This section contains a codification of functions. It sets forth in general language the primary responsibilities of the Coast Guard: enforcement of all Federal laws on waters to which they have application, safety of life and property at sea, aiding navigation, and readiness to function with the Navy. Having been created in 1915 by the consolidation of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life Saving Service, the Coast Guard has gradually been given additional duties and responsibilities, such as the assignment of law enforcement powers on the high seas and navigable waters in 1936, the transfer of the Lighthouse Service in 1939, and the transfer of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation in 1942. Existing along with these other duties has been that of maintaining a state of readiness as a specialized service prepared for active participation with the Navy in time of war. These various interdependent functions of the Service have not been expressed collectively in any statute heretofore, but it is believed desirable to do so in this revision in order to have outlined in general terms in one section the broad scope of the functions of the Coast Guard. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
Editorial Notes
Codification
section 468(a) of Title 6Pub. L. 119–60, § 7201(j)(2)Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 888(a)116 Stat. 2249 The text of , Domestic Security, which was transferred to subsec. (a) of this section by , is based on , , .
Prior Provisions
section 717 of this titleA prior section 102 was renumbered .
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–60section 888(a) of Pub. L. 107–2962025— designated existing provisions as subsec. (b), inserted heading, and transferred to this section to appear before subsec. (b). See Codification note above.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 103(b)section 2 of this title2018—, renumbered as this section.
Pub. L. 115–282, § 302Par. (7). , amended par. (7) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows: “maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized service in the Navy in time of war, including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone command responsibilities.”
Pub. L. 112–2132012— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to primary duties of the Coast Guard.
Pub. L. 100–6901988— substituted “United States; shall engage in maritime air surveillance or interdiction to enforce or assist in the enforcement of the laws of the United States; shall administer” for first reference to “United States;”.
Pub. L. 100–448 substituted “Federal laws on, under, and over” for “Federal laws on and under”.
Pub. L. 99–6401986— inserted “, including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone command responsibilities.”
Pub. L. 93–5191974— inserted provision requiring Coast Guard to develop, establish, maintain and operate, pursuant to international agreements, icebreaking facilities in waters other than those subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Pub. L. 91–2781970— improved and clarified text, substituting “on and under” for “upon” in clause preceding first semicolon; inserting “and under” after “life and property on” and striking out “on” after “the high seas and” in clause preceding second semicolon; and substituting “icebreaking” for “ice-breaking” and inserting “, under,” after “promotion of safety on” in clause preceding third semicolon, respectively.
Pub. L. 87–3961961— required Coast Guard to engage in oceanographic research on high seas and in waters subject to jurisdiction of the United States.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
section 542 of Title 6For 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 , as modified, set out as a note under .