To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.

The bill would direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update overdose-medication policy within one year of enactment, specifically requiring naloxone or a similar opioid-reversal drug to be available on every Coast Guard installation and in each operational environment. The bill would also require the Coast Guard to join the Department of Defense tracking system — created by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 — that monitors naloxone distribution and illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances. A memorandum of understanding between the Coast Guard's parent department and the Defense Department would need to be finalized to enable that access. The Commandant would also brief relevant congressional committees within two years on overdose medication use, opioid prevalence, and substance-abuse mitigation efforts.

Separately, the bill would amend the federal vessel drug-trafficking statute to make clear that prohibitions on manufacturing or distributing controlled substances apply when drugs are intentionally placed on board a vessel — including by someone other than the crew, or on an unmanned vessel. The bill does not itself appropriate funds, and the naloxone availability requirement includes a rule of construction allowing a single facility within a multi-facility installation to satisfy the requirement if access is ensured at all times.

Active-duty and civilian members of the Coast Guard who work on installations or in operational settings, Coast Guard command and medical personnel who would implement the updated policy, the Department of Defense (which operates the shared tracking system), and individuals apprehended under the clarified vessel drug-trafficking statute — including cases involving unmanned or remotely operated vessels.

If enacted, Coast Guard personnel at every installation and in field operations would have on-hand access to naloxone, potentially saving lives in overdose emergencies. The tracking system integration would give the service data on fentanyl exposure trends alongside other military branches. The vessel statute clarification removes an ambiguity that could affect prosecutions of drug smuggling on crewless or drone vessels.

The Commandant would have one year to revise written policy and arrange naloxone supplies across all installations and operational units, with a compliance rule allowing a single stocked facility to cover an entire multi-unit installation if access is guaranteed around the clock. In parallel, the Coast Guard's parent department and the Defense Department must finalize a memorandum of understanding — also within one year — to enable Coast Guard access to the DoD tracking system. Within two years, the Commandant must brief the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senate Commerce Committee, covering policy progress, five years of controlled-substance prevalence data, and the MOU status. All data collection must comply with the Privacy Act and HIPAA.