[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2001

  The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
has under consideration the bill (H.R. 1699) to authorize 
appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2002:
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1699, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for FY 2002. 1 would like to 
commend Chairman Don Young, Ranking Member Jim Oberstar and all my 
colleagues for their hard work on this important legislation.
  As a proud member of the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, I would 
like to point out the hard work and dedication that each guardsmen and 
women gives each day to our nation. The United States Coast Guard is 
the nation's oldest and premier maritime agency.
  H.R. 1699 authorizes $5.3 billion for Coast Guard programs and 
activities for FY 2002, which include a complex but necessary array of 
missions that effect the core of this nation in the areas of national 
defense, commerce, law enforcement, the environment, and lifesaving. 
This authorization outlines an additional $300 million more than the 
President's request which will provide for a robust and fully 
operational Coast Guard. Anything less would seriously undercut the 
Coast Guard's longstanding and distinguished service protecting the 
nation's critical maritime interests.
  I am especially happy that the measure provides at least $338 million 
for the Deepwater modernization program, which is vital toward the 
continuing efforts to restore the Coast Guard's readiness to a level 
appropriate to sustain its missions and reconstitute an aging fleet of 
ships and airplanes.
  My home island of Guam has a special relationship with the Coast 
Guard. The Coast Guard plays a critical role in enforcing the island's 
200-mile zone created by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 
1976, which quadruples the offshore fishing area controlled by the 
United States, by conducting and coordinating search and rescue 
operations and licensing and regulating safety and commercial boating 
rules.
  Over the past several years, Guam has experienced a large influx of 
Chinese illegal immigrants. Chinese crime syndicates organize boatloads 
of poor Chinese citizens to illegally enter the United States for 
exorbitant fees per person. According to the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, in 2000 about 500 illegal Chinese immigrants 
were apprehended by the Coast Guard, INS and Guam officials.
  The Marianas section of the Coast Guard, stationed out in Guam, has 
been tasked to interdict, when possible, these dilapidated Chinese 
vessels that are transporting these illegal immigrants. The local 
command, which is currently undermanned and over extended, is doing the 
impossible under such circumstances. I commend the Coast Guard for 
their tireless efforts to mitigate the influx of illegal immigrants to 
Guam.
  We are all proud of the incredible work that the men and women of the 
Coast Guard do for our nation every day. With that, I strongly urge 
passage of this authorization.

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