[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING U.S. COAST GUARD OPERATIONS POST-HURRICANE KATRINA

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                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice to those applauding 
the outstanding disaster response work of the U.S. Coast Guard.
  My district is fortunate to host one of the Nation's three Coast 
Guard highly trained oil spill and hazmat response teams, the Pacific 
Strike Team located at Hamilton Field in Novato. We are also proud of 
Coast Guard training center Petaluma, located in the rural Two Rock 
area. Men and Women from both bases had important roles in the 
aftermath of Katrina.
  For the Pacific Strike Team, quick response to emergencies is normal 
operating procedure. On the night of August 29, Commander Anthony Lloyd 
and a dozen or so members of the team flew out of California to join 
the two other units of the National Strike Force at the forward 
operating base in Alexandra. In the following weeks they participated 
in the largest oil cleanup spill since the Exxon Valdez, containing oil 
spills from 8 or 9 refineries on the Mississippi and the Gulf. With oil 
spill cleanup almost completed, the Pacific Strike Team has joined the 
Louisiana environmental officials and the U.S. EPA in an effort to 
remove hazmat materials scattered along Lousiana's broad coastal zone. 
To date this unified command, combing the wetlands and bayous, have 
collected about 1 million commercial 55 gallon drums.
  In an emergency, the Coast Guard also relies on its personnel 
stationed at bases and at sea . . . everyone lends a hand.
  Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, commanded by Captain Brian 
Marvin, is no exception. Nine Two Rock coasties have recently returned 
from a 30 day rotation in the Gulf where they performed a variety of 
duties which exemplify the diverse mission of the Coast Guard. Two 
chaplains helped with spiritual support and stress management both for 
hurricane victims and responders; a doctor helped to mend bodies at a 
relief center in New Orleans; an officer was sent to be in charge of a 
relief boat command and control center; another officer was sent as a 
planner; two petty officers served in law enforcement, repairing aids 
to navigation and participating in search and rescue operations; and 
another petty officer conducted incident debriefings and helped develop 
support systems for personnel out in the field.
  All these activities were conducted with the highest professionalism, 
dedication, and compassion--Coast Guard hallmarks. They deserve the 
highest praise and ongoing support for their mission.

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