[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DON YOUNG COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 29, 2022

  Ms JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6865 the Don 
Young Coast Guard Authorization Act to authorize appropriations for the 
Coast Guard.
  For the last 230 years, the Coast Guard has played a vital role in 
protecting the marine environment, guarding our nations extensive 
coastline, and has performed crucial life saving missions.
  Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see the Coast Guard in 
action leading up to and following hurricanes like Ike and Harvey that 
impacted the Houston area.
  I convey thanks and appreciation from Houstonians to the members of 
the Coast Guard for their service to our great Nation.
  The history of the United States Coast Guard can be traced to the 
United States Revenue Cutter Service, which was founded on August 4, 
1790, as part of the Department of the Treasury.
  The Coast Guard has protected the United States throughout its long 
history and served proudly in every one of the Nation's conflicts.
  The Coast Guard served as the nation's only armed force on the sea 
until Congress launched the Navy Department in 1798.
  On January 28, 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service and the United States 
Life-Saving Service were merged to become the Coast Guard.
  The U.S. Coast Guard conducts operations that ensure the safety of 
our nation's waterways and provides humanitarian assistance during 
national disasters.
  The Coast Guard conducted critical search and rescue missions in 
response to Hurricane Harvey, which devasted my home district in 
Houston, Texas.
  The Coast Guard's response included 2,600 active duty, reserve, civil 
servant, and auxiliary personnel: 50 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, 75 
shallow-water boats, and 29 coast guard cutters.
  The efforts from the Coast Guard resulted in the rescue of over 
11,000 people along the Texas and Louisiana cost during and after 
Hurricane Harvey.
  During and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey 51 members of the 
Coast Guard suffered catastrophic property loss and 124 others reported 
property damage in the impacted areas of Texas during Harvey.
  This authorization will ensure that our country's devoted naval 
personnel have the means to effectively protect and defend our borders 
as well as expand our sea and land capabilities.
  Authorizing funding for the Coast Guard is essential to sustaining 
our place in the international system as the world's most powerful 
naval force.
  Donald Edwin Young was a dear colleague of mine. For the past 49 
years, he represented Alaska's at-large congressional district and made 
a significant impact on his constituency,
  I urge all my colleagues to support the Don Young Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2022.

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