[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7963-H7965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 889, COAST GUARD AND MARITIME 
                       TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2005

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 440 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 440

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 889) to authorize appropriations for the Coast 
     Guard for fiscal year 2006, to make technical corrections to 
     various laws administered by the Coast Guard, and for other 
     purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed 
     with. All points of order against consideration of the bill 
     are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and 
     shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by 
     the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure. After general debate the 
     bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute 
     rule. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill 
     for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in 
     the bill. The committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute shall be considered by title rather than by 
     section. Each title shall be considered as read. All points 
     of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule 
     XVIII, no amendment to the committee amendment in the nature 
     of a substitute shall be in order except those printed in the 
     portion of the Congressional Record designated for that 
     purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII and except pro forma 
     amendments for the purpose of debate. Each amendment so 
     printed may be offered only by the Member who caused it to be 
     printed or his designee and shall be considered as read. At 
     the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may 
     demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted 
     in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.
       Sec. 2. It shall be in order at any time on the legislative 
     day of Thursday, September 15, 2005, for the Speaker to 
     entertain a motion that the House suspend the rules relating 
     to the bill H.R. 3768.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. 
Capito) is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), 
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose 
of debate only.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 440 is a modified open rule that 
provides for full consideration of H.R. 889, the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Security Act of 2005.
  The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill and makes in order only those 
amendments that are preprinted in the Congressional Record or are pro 
forma amendments for the purpose of debate.
  H.R. 889 was reported by voice vote from the Committee on 
Transportation on May 17, 2005. The bill provides for the 
reauthorization of Coast Guard activities for the coming fiscal year.
  H.R. 889 has the strong bipartisan support from members of the 
Transportation Committee, and I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska 
(Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for again 
bringing legislation to the floor that has support from both sides of 
the aisle.
  The Coast Guard is critical to our defense against terrorism and our 
response to natural disasters. Along the gulf coast, the Coast Guard 
rescued thousands of people from flooded areas in the aftermath of 
Hurricane Katrina. Many of these people were saved in daring rescue 
attempts from rooftops or trees.
  We all mourn the loss of life caused by Hurricane Katrina, and we do 
not yet know what the final death toll will be. It is clear, however, 
that the loss of life would have been much greater without the heroic 
efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard.
  The U.S. Coast Guard has the primary responsibility of securing ports 
from our oceans to inland rivers and has the job of providing maritime 
security across the country. Given the added responsibility of the 
Coast Guard in the post-September-11 world, we must ensure that the 
agency has the adequate personnel to maintain their readiness for both 
homeland security and for response to natural disasters.
  It is clear that the Coast Guard faces many challenges in the 
homeland security and rescue missions. The GAO noted earlier this year 
that some stations need additional boats or staff to meet Coast Guard 
readiness standards and goals.

[[Page H7964]]

  This legislation maintains a force of 45,500 personnel and authorizes 
funding for Integrated Deepwater Systems and for sustaining legacy 
vessels. The bill also requires a report to Congress on the 
implementation of the Integrated Deepwater Program that is modernizing 
the Coast Guard's fleet. These actions will allow the Coast Guard to 
continue to meet its mission to protect the public and our economic 
interests in the Nation's ports and waterways.
  I would like to thank the Coast Guard and all of the many members of 
the Coast Guard, retirees and volunteers who have worked with the Coast 
Guard in heroic efforts surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Their ongoing 
efforts and their ongoing energy that is providing the ability to 
rebuild and refortify that wonderful part of our country are to be 
congratulated.
  I would like to thank the leaders of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee for bringing this legislation to the floor and 
hope that my colleagues will join me in support for the rule and the 
underlying bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) for yielding me the time, and I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of the Coast Guard reauthorizion bill. As my 
colleague previously noted, the rule permits Members who preprinted 
their amendments in the Congressional Record to offer those amendments. 
I appreciate that this opportunity was afforded to Members.
  I am, nevertheless, disappointed that the preprinting of amendments 
was even required. Despite the majority's claims, this legislative 
procedure which they call open is actually restricted. It is not an 
open rule because every Member is not permitted to offer any germane 
amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, first established in 1915, the Coast Guard is 
responsible for patrolling the more than 12,400 miles of coastline in 
the United States. Nearly 2,000 of these miles are located in my home 
State of Florida.
  Today, the more than 100,000 active personnel, reservists, civilian 
and volunteer members of the Coast Guard auxiliary are America's front 
line guarding our seas, shores, ports and borders. In South Florida, 
the auxiliary volunteers play a critical role in promoting boating 
safety and awareness in our communities. They assist in search and 
rescue operations and work every day to make South Florida the 
recreation hotspot that it is.
  The underlying legislation authorizes $8.7 billion for the programs 
of the Coast Guard in fiscal year 2006. This includes some $1.6 billion 
for its Integrated Deepwater System to assist the Coast Guard to 
upgrade an aging fleet of ships and aircraft and improve the 
technologies it utilizes.
  With three major international shipping and cruise ports located 
within just miles of my district, the Deepwater System is critically 
important to Coast Guard operations in Florida and elsewhere.
  The Coast Guard works tirelessly to protect the ships and individuals 
who utilize our ports in this Nation and in my district, Port 
Everglades, Palm Beach and Miami and Dania.
  I am pleased that the committee has determined this program worthy of 
such critical funding, and I express my hope that the Committee on 
Appropriations will fund IDS at its authorized level.
  The authorization bill also permits the Coast Guard to establish 
Naval Vessel Protection Zones offshore, and it increases the number of 
active duty personnel in the Coast Guard to 45,500. The bill also 
doubles the duration of time that Coast Guard Reservists may be called 
up to active duty from 60 to 120 days over a 1-year period.
  While the increase in active personnel is certainly needed so that 
the Coast Guard can continue to accomplish its mission, the change 
highlights a growing problem facing our Armed Forces. That is, 
America's all-volunteer military has become increasingly dependent upon 
the extended call-ups of Reserves.
  The war in Iraq has indeed made recruiting more difficult for our 
armed services, but so have the diminishing benefits and pay we offer 
to our soldiers and the health care services we extend to our veterans. 
This Congress, so quick to wrap itself in the American flag, continues 
to underpay our soldiers and shortchange our veterans. With a track 
record like this, who can blame a soldier for not re-enlisting and a 
veteran who questions her country's commitment to her well-being now 
that she is out of the military?

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body, I thank the Coast Guard, as I am 
sure all of our colleagues do, for its service and commitment to the 
security of our great Nation. I am proud to offer my support for the 
Coast Guard and the underlying legislation.
  Before ending, Mr. Speaker, I do want to make mention that during 
this time of great division and nastiness in Congress, it is 
commendable that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was 
able to work in a truly bipartisan fashion. While our fellow citizens 
in the gulf States begin to rebuild their lives, they should take note 
of the bipartisanship and cooperation that went into crafting the 
underlying legislation.
  As the author of legislation establishing an independent commission 
to evaluate the Federal, State and local governments' responses to 
Hurricane Katrina and with the support of more than 150 Members of this 
body and 75 percent of the American people, at least in one poll, it 
had been my hope that a similar willingness would have existed amongst 
my majority colleagues to address that issue. Unfortunately, as the 
American people have learned in the past 2 weeks and will find out 
again later this morning, no such willingness exists.
  We can come together today and create an independent, bipartisan 
Katrina Commission with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats on 
it who will not be subject to political influence and partisanship. I 
implore my Republican colleagues to rise above the rancor in this body, 
follow the example set today by the chairman and ranking member of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and establish an 
independent Katrina Commission.
  The majority's unwillingness to establish such a commission will 
leave us woefully incapable of reforming our current disaster 
preparedness and response programs. If the last 5 years have taught us 
anything, it is that this Congress is unwilling to police itself or 
this administration. The only viable option is an independent 
commission.
  In support of the Coast Guard, I ask that all of us look at the 
extraordinary work that they are doing and have done in the gulf coast 
region. We must know that every time one of those helicopters lifts and 
rescues victims from this awful tragedy that the time for that 
propeller is running out and these are already aging crafts. It is 
critical that we allow the Coast Guard the sufficient funding in order 
that they may revamp, restore, rehabilitate, and purchase the 
appropriate equipment to patrol our Nation's shores.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Delahunt).
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, in the course of a normal year, the Coast Guard rescues 
5,000 people. In the last 16 days they have saved more than 33,000 
lives. We have all marveled at the daring rooftop rescues, the heroism, 
the professionalism that they have demonstrated.
  Since Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, the men and women of the 
Coast Guard have been working backbreaking long hours, pushing 
themselves and their equipment to operational limits. In some cases 
they have used sledge hammers and axes to break through rooftops to 
rescue trapped residents. They have been delivering food, water, and 
medicine to those in need. They have responded to 284 fuel spills. And 
the Coast Guard's chief of staff, Thad Allen, has brought much needed 
order and structure to the relief efforts. It has truly been one of the 
Coast Guard's finest hours, and all America is profoundly grateful.
  What Americans do not know is that even before the destructive power 
of Katrina hit the gulf coast, the Coast Guard had pre-positioned a 
number of aircraft and ships in the area ready to launch search and 
rescue efforts as soon as the weather cleared. In fact,

[[Page H7965]]

the very first rescue occurred when the eye of the storm passed over 
the region, and it happens that that first rescue was from a helicopter 
based at Air Station Cape Cod in my district, and I am proud.
  The Coast Guard was ready. But also what most Americans do not 
realize is that the Coast Guard operates the second oldest naval fleet 
in the world. Their ships and planes are so old they are 
euphemistically described as ``legacy assets.'' Many of these legacy 
assets are riddled with structural defects, putting Coast Guard 
personnel and the people who call on them for help at risk, like the 
nine crew members aboard the cutter Storis that was built in 1942 who 
were nearly killed when the davit lowering their lifeboat ripped away 
from the steel superstructure, crashing them into the frigid Bering 
Sea. The rescuers, in fact, had to be rescued.
  Remember last year the Coast Guard's main search and rescue 
helicopter, the Jayhawk, experienced in-flight engine failures at a 
rate of 329 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours. The FAA-acceptable 
standards is one per 100,000 flight hours. These failures limit the 
Jayhawk's ability to hover and place the lives of its crew, passengers, 
and those below in grave danger. The same helicopters are flying over 
the skies of the gulf coast right now.
  The indisputable fact is that the demands on the Coast Guard have 
vastly outpaced its resources, and that is why it is incredibly 
important that we accelerate the Deepwater program and encourage the 
purchase of additional cutters and aircraft, as my friend from Florida 
has indicated.
  As negotiations on the conference report for the homeland security 
appropriations bill continue, I implore our colleagues to bear this in 
mind and do all that they can do to give the Coast Guard the financial 
resources it needs to speed up, accelerate the Deepwater program.
  It is essential if the Coast Guard is to continue to honor their 
motto of ``Semper Paratus.''
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) put it 
so well when he indicated that the Coast Guard is overburdened and 
underprepared. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do better.
  On the scale of our armed services, the Coast Guard is always an 
afterthought, it seems, when it comes to resources. But in terms of 
what they do immediately with reference to the 12,000 miles of shores 
that they patrol, it is critical that we have clear understanding of 
their needs.
  I have been on Coast Guard cutters, as have many of my colleagues. I 
have seen them in their rescue operations for persons who are not even 
American citizens, risking their lives and sometimes suffering loss 
themselves trying to ensure that others are protected in a proper 
manner. They do an outstanding job and their Deepwater program will 
help them to do an even better job than they are doing. It is not fair 
to send people up in aircraft that are legend related in terms of their 
age and usage.
  It is critical that we pass this measure, and I believe that it will 
pass overwhelmingly; and I hope that the future of the Deepwater 
program will be appropriately funded by this Congress so that the Coast 
Guard will have in its possession the necessary personnel and material 
in order to do the job to keep this Nation safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this fair rule 
and the bipartisan legislation which provides critical funding to 
improve our Nation's coasts and ports.
  I think it is very timely that we are addressing this legislation 
today because the Coast Guard has done an exemplary job in rescuing the 
many victims of Hurricane Katrina; and we need to ensure, as my 
colleague has said, that they have the necessary resources to continue 
their mission.
  I believe all Members should be able to support this rule and the 
underlying legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________