[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. LaLota) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, without the uniformed volunteers of the 
Coast Guard Auxiliary, our Nation's borders and waters would be less 
safe than they are today.
  As the grandson of a coastguardsman and the stepson of a Coast Guard 
auxiliarist, I rise today to recognize the Coast Guard's selfless 
service to our Nation's waters by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and to 
celebrate the 85th anniversary of their valiant service.
  In 1939, as our Nation approached the Second World War, Congress 
established a U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, composed of unpaid, volunteer 
U.S. citizens who owned motorboats and yachts. In 1941, 2 years later, 
Congress created a military reserve and renamed the original volunteer 
reserve to the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
  Since that historic era, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has played an 
ever-increasing role in supporting the growing and evolving missions of 
the Coast Guard, missions that protect the Nation, our waterways, and 
all who operate on them. For 85 years, Coast Guard auxiliarists have 
notably offered their time, efforts, and personal resources to support 
Coast Guard missions, whenever and wherever needed.
  Coast Guard auxiliarists have earned our Nation's profound gratitude 
and admiration by demonstrating extraordinary dedication to advancing 
the National Recreational Boating Safety Program, the welfare of the 
entire Coast Guard family, and in securing the public trust.
  The Auxiliary has also demonstrated unparalleled resilience during 
the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging stronger, ready to accomplish new 
tasks, and determined to achieve new heights.
  In recent years, they have expanded their support activities, 
delivering critical medical and cyber support to Coast Guard operations 
alongside their standard of work of promoting recreational boating 
safety, increasing public education in safe and responsible boating 
practices, and helping to reduce overall boating accidents and fatality 
rates.
  Our Nation has witnessed the Auxiliary's extraordinary dedication 
when its uniformed volunteers provided disaster response and recovery 
support following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022, along with their 
unprecedented contributions to humanitarian missions at our Nation's 
southwest border in Operation Vigilant Sentry.
  I am proud to represent a district full of Coast Guard installations, 
including Eatons Neck, Shinnecock, and Montauk. The dedication of the 
sailors at these stations is crucial for maintaining the safety and 
security of our waters, for which our community is profoundly grateful.
  I am proud to represent our Coasties and their families in Congress 
and serve on the Homeland Security Committee, where I can best serve 
their interests and promote their well-being.
  Mr. Speaker, we can never thank these brave men and women enough for 
all they do to help keep our communities safe. Please join me in paying 
tribute and honoring the Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose 85th anniversary 
is on June 23.

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