Pontiac Times

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) expressed her satisfaction with the bipartisan approval of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025. The legislation features a provision she advocated for, granting the U.S. Coast Guard asset forfeiture authority.

“Michigan relies on the Coast Guard every day to patrol the Great Lakes, respond to emergencies, and protect our borders,” Chairwoman McClain stated. “The Coast Guard is on the front lines of fighting drug smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal fishing, yet until now, they had to hand over the fruits of their operations to a general fund. I am proud to secure this new provision that will allow them to directly reinvest those resources into their own mission.”

This new authority permits the Coast Guard to keep funds and assets seized during law enforcement activities. Previously, these proceeds were deposited into the Department of the Treasury’s general forfeiture fund and could be redistributed across various agencies without assurance that the Coast Guard would benefit from its efforts.

The act also addresses operational needs and modernization goals for the service, including vessel procurement, personnel readiness, and Arctic mission capabilities.