ALCOAST 301/21 - AUG 2021 CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE PROCEDURES

R 231632Z AUG 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 301/21
SSIC 5216
SUBJ: CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE PROCEDURES
A. Coast Guard Correspondence Manual, COMDTINST M5216.4 (series)
B. COMDT (CG-0921) Congressional Correspondence Handbook
1. The Coast Guard receives approximately 1500 congressional
inquiries from Members of Congress each year. Not all of these
congressionals are addressed to the HQ Office of Congressional and
Governmental Affairs, COMDT (CG-0921). These inquiries cover a broad
range of issues, including contract disputes and awards, status of
merchant mariner licenses/applications, entitlement issues,
personnel management concerns, etc.
2. COMDT (CG-0921) visibility of congressional requests and
inquiries is essential. COMDT (CG-0921) must be notified of all
congressional inquiries upon receipt. Upon receiving a congressional
inquiry, unit(s) must send a copy to COMDT (CG-0921) (to appropriate
POCs in paragraph 6) with an additional copy to the applicable Area
or District. Copies must be sent via email in order to facilitate a
timely response.
3. Congressional inquiries directly addressed to the Commandant or
that involve national-level issues or policies, pending legislation,
budgetary concerns, FOIA requests, or other sensitive subject
matter requiring a Headquarters-level response must be forwarded to
COMDT (CG-0921) (to Logistics POC in paragraph 6) for disposition
through the Commandant's Executive Secretariat.
4. Congressional inquiries directly addressed to Areas, Districts,
USCGA, and HQ units and that involve issues directly related to
operations or issues under their immediate purview may be responded
to by units after receiving clearance from COMDTs (CG-82) and
(CG-0921). REFs (A) and (B) authorize and provide guidance for these
responses. Governmental Affairs Officers must copy COMDT (CG-0921)
on all inquiry responses. All other units must route inquiries to
COMDT (CG-0921) through their respective chain of command in
accordance with paragraph 2.
5. A formal written letter is required in response to all formal
congressional correspondence sent to the Coast Guard in order to
maintain a permanent record within the Service. Responses via email
or phone are not authorized. (However, the formal written response
may be sent by email as an attachment).
6. REF (B) the COMDT (CG-0921) Congressional Correspondence
Handbook is available on CGPortal at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cgportal2.uscg.mil/units/cg0921/Congressional
%20Inquiry%20Tools/Forms/AllItems.aspx

7. POCS:
a. CG Congressional Affairs: COMDT (CG-0921) Office:
202-245-0520, HQS-DG-lst-CG-0921-Logistics@uscg.mil.
House Liaison Office: 202-225-4775, House@uscg.mil.
Senate Liaison Office: 202-224-2930, Senate@uscg.mil.
COMDT Executive Secretariat: 202-372-4400, USCG.EXEC@uscg.mil.
b. A current list of Governmental Affairs Officers can be found
on CGPortal at the following link:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cgportal2.uscg.mil/units/cg0921/contact%20information/forms
/allitems.aspx

8. RDML M.M. Dean, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs
(CG-092), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.