[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST GUARD TRAINING CENTER 
                                PETALUMA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2011

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great pride today to honor 
Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma on the occasion of its 40th 
anniversary.
  Originally known as Two Rock Ranch Station, the 876-acre site was 
purchased by the U.S. Army for $97,377 in 1942 and used as an 
electronic intercept station in World War II. There were two officers 
and 45 enlisted men assigned to it. Two Rock's use was expanded during 
the Vietnam War to include training, with a re-created Vietnamese 
village.
  The Coast Guard took ownership of the facility in 1971, renaming it 
``Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma'' and transferring the 
Subsistence Specialist School, Storekeeper School, and Radioman School 
from New York. Since that time, two barracks have been built (Steadman 
Hall and Horsley Hall) as well as 15 duplex housing units to provide 
affordable housing to the workforce. Several other buildings for use in 
training were also constructed (Bauer Building, Juliet-Nichols 
Building, and Haley Hall). The current replacement value of the 
facility is close to $245 million.
  During the 1990s, Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma was threatened 
with closure twice as the U.S. reevaluated its bases. The local 
community rallied in support, and I was able to work with them and with 
Coast Guard officials to keep this important facility open.
  Today, the Center is home to seven ``A'' schools for electronics, 
technician, food service specialist, health service technician, 
information system technician, operation specialist, storekeeper and 
Yeoman. There are also 40 ``C'' schools and a Chief Petty Officer 
Academy. With a permanently assigned cadre of 500 active duty, 
civilian, and contractor staff, the facility supports more than 15,000 
students per year.
  Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma truly embodies its vision: To be 
a world leader in valid and reliable performance-based training; to be 
the best place to live and work in the Coast Guard; to be the best and 
most efficient steward of resources (money and property) in the Coast 
Guard training system; and to be the most environmentally-friendly 
Coast Guard base in the world. Having recently attended an event to 
throw the switch on solar panels that now provide much of the Center's 
electricity, I have seen first-hand how serious this vision is.
  Mr. Speaker, Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma is important to the 
local community and important to our country. Please join me in 
congratulating the Coast Guard on the facility's 40th anniversary and 
wishing it many more years of service.

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