When the Defense Department formalized its policy in 2011 to allow service members who believe they are victims of sexual harassment to request expedited transfers, confusion arose as to whether the Coast Guard was included. The relevant law applied only to Department of Defense service branches; the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security except in cases of national emergency. To allay concerns, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp expressed the service’s commitment to implement the rule as well. However, some lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained uncomfortable with the possibility that a future commandant someday would revoke the informal agreement. During an Oct. 29 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee, Rear Adm. Frederick J. Kenney, the Coast Guard Judge Advocate General, expressed willingness to see the law adopted formally by the service. "We have no objection to codifying it," Kenney told Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., in response to a related question. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the subcommittee chairman, also expressed support. Thus, a provision is likely headed for inclusion into the 2014 Coast Guard authorization bill now pending before the full committee. Both the House and Senate are considering comparable separate pieces of legislation – H.R. 2059 and S. 1050 – as well.
