[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 5, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H5345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO THE COAST GUARD

  (Mr. ISRAEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, as a new Member of this body, let me 
extend my condolences to the majority leader on the loss that he has 
suffered.
  Madam Speaker, during the August recess, I joined the United States 
Coast Guard Fire Island Station for a tour of erosion areas on the 
south shore of my district. As we returned to the station, the Coast 
Guard received a report of a swimmer in distress. Coast Guard personnel 
risked their lives that day, despite turbulent waters and an incoming 
storm to save another life.
  Imagine my surprise, Madam Speaker, to learn that many of those same 
courageous men and women are forced to take part-time jobs because 
their rate of pay is too low and the cost of housing and health care on 
Long Island is too high. Some of those people go from saving lives and 
property during the day to serving pizza and waiting on tables at 
night.

                              {time}  1415

  Madam Speaker, it is not sufficient merely to pay tribute to the men 
and women of the Coast Guard. We have to pay them living wages for 
protecting our shores and saving our lives.
  As a new Member of the House Coast Guard Caucus, I am honored to join 
my colleagues in our efforts to keep our promises to those who protect 
our lives and our shores with fair pay, decent housing, and affordable 
health care.

                          ____________________