[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1036-1037]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 433--HONORING THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED 
   STATES COAST GUARD WHOSE TIRELESS WORK, DEDICATION, AND SELFLESS 
  SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES HAVE LED TO MORE THAN 1 MILLION LIVES 
     SAVED OVER THE COURSE OF ITS LONG AND STORIED 217-YEAR HISTORY

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 433

       Whereas, since 1867 the United States Coast Guard has been 
     a vital piece of Alaskan history, providing lifesaving 
     medical treatment to native villages along its coasts, 
     protecting its fisheries resources, and courageously rescuing 
     those who face peril on the seas;
       Whereas, in 2007 the men and women of the United States 
     Coast Guard stationed in Alaska valiantly responded to 696 
     calls for assistance and saved the lives of 463 mariners in 
     distress;
       Whereas, the actions of Petty Officer Willard L. Milam 
     personify the proud history of courage and public service of 
     the United States Coast Guard on the 10th of February, 2007, 
     when, on a pitch-black winter morning, Petty Officer Milam 
     launched aboard a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter in near-zero 
     visibility to locate the source of a distress signal 
     approximately 50 miles southwest in Makushin Bay, Alaska;
       Whereas, Petty Officer Milam bravely deployed into storm 
     tossed, 40-degree seas and swam to a life raft to find four 
     survivors hypothermic and soaked in unprotected clothing;
       Whereas, Petty Officer Milam heroically overcame exhaustion 
     and hypothermia to pull each survivor from a life raft and 
     assist them through the raging seas, placing them into a 
     rescue basket to be hoisted into the rescue helicopter;
       Whereas, Petty Officer Milam's courageous rescue off the 
     coast of Alaska has earned him the 2007 Coast Guard 
     Foundation Award for Heroism and the 2007 Captain Frank 
     Erickson Aviation Rescue Award;
       Whereas, through extraordinary teamwork, airmanship, and 
     courage, the crew of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter saved 
     four lives from the treacherous Bearing Sea: Now, therefore, 
     be it
     Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the heroic accomplishments of Petty Officer 
     Willard Milam, who represented the finest traditions of the 
     United States Coast Guard during the dramatic rescue of four 
     survivors from the treacherous Bering Sea; and
       (2) honors the United States Coast Guard, America's 
     lifesavers and guardians of the sea, for its unflinching 
     determination and proud 217-year history of maritime search 
     and rescue resulting in over 1 million lives saved; and
       (3) recognizes the tireless work, dedication, and 
     commitment of Coast Guard men and women, many of them 
     stationed in Alaska,

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     far away from family and friends, who commit themselves every 
     day to executing this noble mission hundreds of miles from 
     our shores with honor, respect, and devotion to duty.

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