[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2838) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 
     2012 through 2015, and for other purposes:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise regarding H.R. 2838, the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act.
  H.R. 2838 reauthorizes the activities of the U.S. Coast Guard and 
authorizes funding for the resources necessary to support the men and 
women who put their lives at risk every day to promote the safety and 
livelihoods of the people who use our country's waterways. The bill 
provides these resources in a fiscally responsible manner that advances 
the mission of the Guard while improving administration and reducing 
costs.
  Our nation's waterways are the recreational and commercial arteries 
of the country. The safe and reliable movement of goods and people on 
our lakes, rivers and along our coastlines, helped to build the United 
States into the country it is today. Since its creation, the Coast 
Guard has played a vital role in America's economic and national 
security. The investments authorized by this bill will help to ensure 
the continued availability of the critical resources necessary for the 
Coast Guard to continue serving and protecting the people of the United 
States.
  Despite its benefits, the bill has a major flaw. While the underlying 
bill enjoys bipartisan support, I share the Administration's concern 
about the Majority's insistence on attaching controversial ``ballast 
water'' language to the measure, whose effect would be to undermine the 
Clean Water Act and hinder states' efforts to control invasive species. 
For that reason, I will support the Dingell-Slaughter and Bishop 
amendments addressing this issue and will oppose final passage if they 
are not adopted.

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