[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 165 (Friday, November 14, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2003

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                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2443) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 
     2004, to amend various laws administered by the Coast Guard, 
     and for other purposes:
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Chairman, I commend the efforts 
of the Chairman of the Subcommittee and the Ranking Minority Member for 
their leadership in the effort to establish a dedicated West Coast 
Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON).
  As former Ranking Member of Coast Guard Subcommittee, I was deeply 
involved in the creation of the HITRON program. The current HITRON 
squadron is composed of eight leased and armed helicopters and is based 
in my district just outside Jacksonville. I have inspected the squadron 
on several occasions and have been very impressed with the level of 
training they have received and their state of readiness to pursue the 
``go-fast'' boats. The ``go fasts'' have traditionally been a highly 
effective method for smuggling large volumes of drugs into the United 
States. HITRON has posed the first real threat to this mode of 
transportation. In the short life of this program there have been 41 
fast boat chases and 41 drug busts which have prevented nearly $3 
billion in cocaine and other illegal drugs from reaching our kids on 
the streets. Thus the Sting Ray HITRON program has a remarkable success 
rate of 100 percent. Today, HITRON aircrews routinely deploy aboard 
U.S. Coast Guard cutters patrolling the high seas in the Caribbean to 
stem the tide of illegal drugs flowing into the United States. As 
intelligence reports dictate they are diverted to the Pacific. About 50 
percent of the fast boat drug interdiction has now occurred in the 
Eastern Pacific.
  The MH-68A HITRON helicopters have been named the Sting Ray. Since 9-
11, Sting Rays have been pressed into the anti-terrorist mission, 
defending our ports and waterways from waterborne terrorist attack, and 
even providing protection for presidential visits. Not even these 
wonderful pilots with their feisty little aircraft can be in more than 
one place at a time! Two years after 9-11 there are only 8 armed 
Homeland Security helicopters authorized for airborne use of force over 
our tens of thousands of miles of ports and waterways which are dotted 
with strategic facilities such as nuclear plants. Shame, Mr. Speaker! 
Shame!
  I agree with those advocates in Congress who feel it is time to 
acquire a new larger state-of-the-art cutter capable helicopter that 
can perform multiple airborne use of force missions. We could at any 
day be confronted by suicide terrorists headed toward a port or 
critical bridge on a small boat or a container ship. We must have a 
helicopter that can transport and support six-man tactical teams and 
can deliver and retrieve sea marshals as well as engage in port 
coverage and drug interdiction. In other words we should have a bigger 
helicopter with cutter capability in the inventory. The Coast Guard 
should waste no time initiating a competition for a new multi-purpose 
helicopter.
  Under the best circumstances, if a competition were initiated today 
and executed with vigor, we would only have a limited number of such 
helicopters by January, 2006. For the interim period we need more 
Sting-Ray helicopters. In fact, the Sting Rays are the only helicopters 
authorized for airborne use of force over civilian populations. Thus, 
the Sting Rays are the only interim solution available until new Multi-
purpose Cutter Helicopters can be acquired.

  One year ago I worked diligently with our former colleague from 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Borski, the gentleman from North Carolina Mr. Coble, 
and the gentleman from California, Mr. Filner to assure there would be 
no interruption in the HITRON program. At that time HITRON was 
threatened by looming lease expiration on the armed helicopter fleet. 
Thirty-eight Members of Congress joined in this effort. We initially 
pressed for a purchase of the aircraft. However, the Commandant 
informed us that he wanted to hold open the option of acquiring a new 
multi-purpose helicopter. As a result of our efforts, the Coast Guard 
extended the lease for 8 HITRON helicopters currently in the inventory 
for 5 years and made provision to lease additional helicopters. In 
signing that lease, Coast Guard had the foresight to open the lease 
terms in order to permit the addition of as many Sting Rays as may be 
required. The Sting-Rays may be returned to the manufacturer in any 
lease year if new helicopters come on line.
  It is important that we assist the Coast Guard in every way possible 
to carry out their post 9-11 role. With the HITRON Sting-Rays we have 
an ideal interim program until the new helicopters can be acquired. In 
fact I would be surprised if there is not a permanent role for these 
light, fast and aggressive little helicopters. I know for a fact they 
should not be shuttled back and forth between the East Coast and the 
West Coast. Each Coast must have a permanent installation. I know for a 
fact we need more Sting Ray helicopters for East Coast anti-terrorist 
port protection as well as Caribbean fast boat drug interdiction. This 
bill, which authorizes funding for a West Coast fleet, jump starts the 
process and is a good beginning. We have wasted two years with no 
expansion of our assets capable of airborne use of force. Lets roll!

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