[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 433 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

  2d Session
S. RES. 433

Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose 
 tireless work, dedication, and selfless service to the United States 
have led to more than 1 million lives saved over the course of its long 
                     and storied 217-year history.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 2008

  Mr. Stevens (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose 
 tireless work, dedication, and selfless service to the United States 
have led to more than 1 million lives saved over the course of its long 
                     and storied 217-year history.

    Whereas, since 1867, the United States Coast Guard has been a vital 
            piece of Alaskan history, providing lifesaving medical 
            treatment to native villages along its coasts, protecting 
            its fisheries resources, and courageously rescuing those 
            who face peril on the seas;
    Whereas, in 2007, the men and women of the United States Coast 
            Guard stationed in Alaska valiantly responded to 696 calls 
            for assistance and saved the lives of 463 mariners in 
            distress;
    Whereas the actions of Petty Officer Willard L. Milam personify the 
            proud history of courage and public service of the United 
            States Coast Guard on the 10th of February, 2007, when, on 
            a pitch-black winter morning, Petty Officer Milam launched 
            aboard a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter in near-zero 
            visibility to locate the source of a distress signal 
            approximately 50 miles southwest in Makushin Bay, Alaska;
    Whereas Petty Officer Milam bravely deployed into storm tossed, 40-
            degree seas and swam to a life raft to find four survivors 
            hypothermic and soaked in unprotected clothing;
    Whereas Petty Officer Milam heroically overcame exhaustion and 
            hypothermia to pull each survivor from a life raft and 
            assist them through the raging seas, placing them into a 
            rescue basket to be hoisted into the rescue helicopter;
    Whereas Petty Officer Milam's courageous rescue off the coast of 
            Alaska has earned him the 2007 Coast Guard Foundation Award 
            for Heroism and the 2007 Captain Frank Erickson Aviation 
            Rescue Award; and
    Whereas, through extraordinary teamwork, airmanship, and courage, 
            the crew of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter saved four 
            lives from the treacherous Bearing Sea: Now, therefore, be 
            it
Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the heroic accomplishments of Petty Officer 
        Willard Milam, who represented the finest traditions of the 
        United States Coast Guard during the dramatic rescue of four 
        survivors from the treacherous Bering Sea;
            (2) honors the United States Coast Guard, America's 
        lifesavers and guardians of the sea, for its unflinching 
        determination and proud 217-year history of maritime search and 
        rescue resulting in over 1 million lives saved; and
            (3) recognizes the tireless work, dedication, and 
        commitment of Coast Guard men and women, many of them stationed 
        in Alaska, far away from family and friends, who commit 
        themselves every day to executing this noble mission hundreds 
        of miles from our shores with honor, respect, and devotion to 
        duty.
                                 <all>