[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE FINE WORK OF U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR BUFFALO AND 
              NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK (MAY 17-23, 2008)

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2008

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today during National Safe Boating 
Week to recognize the fine work of the men and women in the United 
States Coast Guard and particularly the many contributions of those in 
USCG Sector Buffalo.
  Commissioned on July 22, 2005 as a merger of the Group Buffalo, 
Marine Safety Office Buffalo and Marine Safety Office Cleveland 
commands, Sector Buffalo covers a large area of responsibility 
including Lake Erie from Lorain, Ohio to Buffalo, New York, the Niagara 
River, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, the Erie Canal, and the St. 
Lawrence Seaway to Massena, New York.
  Sector Buffalo provides many services to our region including: Search 
and rescue, homeland security, law enforcement, aids-to-navigation, 
recreational boating safety, marine environmental response, and 
Immigrations and Customs.
  On Saturday, May 17, 2008, under the direction of Coast Guard 
Commander Captain Scott J. Ferguson, Sector Buffalo held their first 
annual East Great Lakes Water Safety Expo. According to national 
statistics, 700 people drown each year from recreational boating 
accidents--10 percent of these victims fail to wear a life jacket. 
Through Sector Buffalo's public outreach event, the Coast Guard spread 
the message about boating safety and the importance of life jackets to 
hundreds of Western New York residents.
  The Coast Guard has been a presence in Western New York since 1818, 
beginning with the construction of the Buffalo Lighthouse.
  Sector Buffalo currently occupies approximately 31 acres on the City 
of Buffalo's Outer Harbor. The Coast Guard has indicated that Sector 
Buffalo occupies a site that is too large for its needs and drew up a 
preliminary plan to upgrade facilities--some of which are over 70 years 
old--and consolidate them in a way that would meet its operational 
needs, allow for future growth and open up public access to the 
historic lighthouse and valuable waterfront land.
  For the last 90 years the U.S. Coast Guard has honorably served our 
waterfront community. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity to 
recognize Sector Buffalo's efforts to raise public awareness this week, 
National Safe Boating Week, and their many contributions protecting 
people along our waterways and serving as a committed community partner 
each and every week for the last ten decades.

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