[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONCURRENCE WITH AMENDMENTS IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 
              3619, COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 1665, which provides for concurrence by the House in the Senate 
Amendments to H.R. 3619, with amendments.
  The Coast Guard reauthorization before us is the product of four 
years of work. I commend Chairman Oberstar for his leadership and 
Ranking Members Mica and LoBiondo on the Transportation Committee for 
working so closely with us.
  I also thank Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member King of the 
Homeland Security Committee--and I thank all of our Senate counterparts 
for their commitment to completing this authorization.
  I have often described the Coast Guard as our ``thin blue line'' at 
sea. That line has rarely been stretched as thin as it was this past 
year as the service responded to the Gulf oil spill and the earthquake 
in Haiti while carrying out its other daily missions.
  H.R. 3619 authorizes $10.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 for the Coast 
Guard and increases the authorized end-strength for military personnel 
by 1,500 members to 47,000 total personnel.
  This is a small down-payment on what we owe our Coast Guardsmen and 
women--and it is long overdue.
  This legislation also includes a number of finely tuned provisions 
strengthening the Coast Guard's implementation and management of its 
many missions.
  Title IV of this legislation, which includes provisions I authored 
and that previously passed the House as H.R. 1665, will modernize the 
Coast Guard's management of its billion dollar annual acquisition 
program by imposing requirements that complement reforms the Coast 
Guard has already enacted and ensure full accountability for taxpayer 
funds.
  Specifically, Title IV will require the appointment of a chief 
acquisition officer who can be a senior military officer or member of 
the senior executive service but who must be a trained acquisition 
professional with the highest available acquisition certification.
  It will also eliminate the use of private sector lead systems 
integrators and require the Coast Guard to develop independent life-
cycle cost estimates for its largest procurements.
  Further, Title IV requires the Coast Guard to complete a thorough 
mission needs analysis and a preliminary affordability assessment 
before initiating a large acquisition; it requires the Coast Guard to 
consider trade-offs among cost, schedule, and performance when 
establishing operational requirements; and it requires thorough testing 
of new assets.
  Finally, this legislation applies strict cost and schedule breach 
standards to Coast Guard acquisitions so that Congress will be alerted 
when cost overruns or schedule delays occur.
  H.R. 3619 will also reorganize the service's senior leadership, 
strengthen its marine safety program, establish safety equipment and 
construction standards for certain fishing vessels, and strengthen the 
service's homeland security missions.
  I am disappointed that a number of provisions in the House-passed 
legislation were dropped in the final bill, including provisions I 
authored that would have created a student loan program for maritime 
workers and provisions strengthening diversity at the Coast Guard 
Academy.
  I will continue to work on these critical issues, including working 
to move legislation that I believe addresses significant current 
challenges.
  That said, H.R. 3619 is an urgently needed authorization for the 
Coast Guard and I urge its passage in the House today.
  Finally, I also join Chairman Oberstar in commending the outstanding 
service of the Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation, John Cullather.
  John is one of the true professionals on the Hill--and he will be 
sorely missed.
  His knowledge of maritime issues and of the history and missions of 
the Coast Guard is truly unparalleled--as is his knowledge of House 
procedures and his passion of service to those who work, travel, and 
recreate on our nation's waterways.
  John is also an exceptional man--a profoundly generous and caring 
individual who has the respect of every single person on the 
Transportation Committee and of everyone throughout our maritime 
industry.
  I wish John the very best as he begins his new adventures.

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