[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               UNITED STATES COAST GUARD IS ALWAYS READY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the United States Coast Guard has made 
America a better place to live for 208 years. As members of this 
country's oldest seagoing service, the men and women of our Coast Guard 
continue to do what they have always done; save lives and property at 
sea; ensure a safe, efficient maritime transportation system; protect 
and preserve our precious marine resources and environment; enforce 
laws and treaties in the maritime region; and defend our national 
security.
  With a force smaller than the New York City Police Department, or 
Coast Guard carries out these vital missions in this country's ports 
and waterways, along its 47,000 miles of coastline, lakes and rivers, 
on international waters or in any maritime region as required to 
support national security.
  On August 4, 1790, the Congress authorized 10 revenue cutters 
requested by Alexander Hamilton, our country's first Secretary of the 
Treasury, for the purpose of interdicting violators of U.S. customs 
laws. This was the birth of the essential and fiercely proud service 
that continues its 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week vigilance against a 
host of transnational dangers, including pollution, illegal migration, 
international drug trafficking and terrorism.
  From Medal of Honor winner Douglas Munro, who while manning the 
machine gun on his Higgins Boat, gave his life after saving more than 
500 Marines off the beach at Guadalcanal, to Lieutenant Jack 
Rittichier, who received the Silver Star posthumously after his rescue 
helicopter was shot down by North Vietnamese automatic weapons fire 
during his attempts to rescue a downed American fighter pilot, to 
today's elite force ready to deploy on a moment's notice in support of 
our Unified Commanders-in-Chief; from 18th Century heroine Ida Lewis, 
who saved countless lives during nearly 50 years of keeping the lamp 
lit at Lime Rock lighthouse, to what is unquestionably the world's 
premier maritime life-saving and life-protecting service; from Hell 
Roarin' Mike Healy who patrolled Territorial Alaskan waters as Captain 
of the legendary Coast Guard Cutter Bear, stopping fur seal poachers 
and breaking arctic ice in order to survey unchartered waters, to 
cutters and aircraft pioneering the fight against water pollution and 
engaged in protecting the vital living marine resources within our 
country's 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, acts of heroism, courage 
and commitment symbolize what the U.S. Coast Guard is all about--and 
what the brave young men and women of this armed service mean to our 
freedom and security.
  This essential government agency, which has ably served the American 
people in war as well as peacetime, will observe its 208th birthday on 
August 4, 1998. The Coast Guard's motto rings just as true today as it 
did in 1790, SEMPER PARATUS, ALWAYS READY!
  Let us all share in the pride and satisfaction enjoyed by its 
dedicated members on this important occasion.

                          ____________________