[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 157 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF THE HEROIC JOB THAT WAS DONE BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD AT 
                     THE TIME OF HURRICANE KATRINA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2005

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, we all witnessed the heroic job that was 
done by the U.S. Coast Guard at the time of Hurricane Katrina. It was 
widely noted in newspapers and on television that while other agencies 
of the Federal Government fell down on the job, the U.S. Coast Guard 
upheld the motto that has been its standard of performance since its 
creation in the 18th Century: Semper Paratus, Always Ready.
  What is less well known is that the Coast Guard is unique among the 
armed services because it has, associated with it, a civilian support 
organization, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Since 1939, these 
volunteer life-savers have backed up the active duty Coast Guard by 
relieving the regulars of a number of tasks related to marine safety, 
search and rescue, and pollution monitoring and control. The 30,000 
members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary serve as a force multiplier in 
these times of threats to our national security and their unpaid 
service enables the Coast Guard to fulfill its missions in this time of 
fiscal constraint.
  I would like to call special attention to the work of the 14 active 
members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 014-05-05 of Edison, 
New Jersey.
  In the past year, these auxiliary members have conducted safety 
checks on 123 vessels, visited marine dealers and boatyards to 
distribute safety materials, conducted 3 dozen boating safety courses, 
and attended boat shows to stress to boat owners and prospective owners 
the importance of marine safety and the need to take safety courses to 
prevent accidents on the water. The Auxiliary helps maintain aids to 
navigation and conducts patrols using their own vessels.
  I ask my colleagues to recognize the contribution of Flotilla 014-05-
05 of Edison, New Jersey to the mission of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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