[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5478-5480]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE COAST GUARD GROUP ASTORIA

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1062) recognizing the Coast Guard Group 
Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1062

       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria was established in 1948;
       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria units are responsible for 
     safeguarding mariners in the often treacherous waters of the 
     Pacific Northwest;
       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria's area of responsibility 
     covers more than 140 miles of coastline between Queets, 
     Washington, and Pacific City, Oregon;
       Whereas helicopters from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria 
     regularly patrol and respond to offshore missions from the 
     Canadian border to northern California;
       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria is comprised of Station 
     Grays Harbor in Westport, Washington; Station Cape 
     Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington; Station Tillamook Bay 
     in Garibaldi, Oregon; Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, 
     Oregon; and Aids to Navigation Team Astoria at Tongue Point, 
     Oregon;
       Whereas during an average year, Coast Guard Group Astoria 
     units respond to more than 800 search-and-rescue calls for 
     help, assist more than 1,700 mariners, and save nearly 100 
     lives;
       Whereas the 325 men and women of Coast Guard Group Astoria 
     perform many missions including search and rescue, homeland 
     security, enforcement of laws and treaties, and maintenance 
     of Aids to Navigation;
       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria supports local Coast 
     Guard cutters in maintaining 470 Aids to Navigation, enabling 
     mariners to safely navigate the coastal waters of Oregon and 
     Washington;
       Whereas since 2003, the men and women of Coast Guard Group 
     Astoria have assisted more than 10,000 individuals in 
     distress and saved more than 500 lives;
       Whereas since 2003, Coast Guard Group Astoria has conducted 
     more than 1,200 Living Marine Resources missions to ensure 
     commercial fishing vessel crews abide by Federal and State 
     laws in order to preserve fisheries for future generations;
       Whereas since 2003, Coast Guard Group Astoria has spent 
     more than 1,000 hours responding to High Interest Vessels to 
     ensure the security of United States ports and waterways in 
     accordance with the Coast Guard's statutory homeland security 
     responsibilities;
       Whereas during the December 2007 Pacific Northwest winter 
     storm, Coast Guard Air Station Astoria helicopter crews flew 
     28 sorties to rescue and save 136 persons as winds exceeded 
     130 knots; and
       Whereas Coast Guard Group Astoria continues to protect the 
     Pacific Northwest and embody the Coast Guard motto, Semper 
     Paratus: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 
     years of service to the Pacific Northwest;

[[Page 5479]]

       (2) honors the brave men and women of Coast Guard Group 
     Astoria who risk their lives daily to ensure the safety and 
     security of the people of the Pacific Northwest; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Coast 
     Guard Group Astoria for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Coble) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1062.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation, I rise in very strong support of H. Res. 1062 
offered by Congressman Wu. This resolution recognizes the Coast Guard 
Group Astoria for the more than 60 years of service it has provided to 
the Pacific Northwest.
  Founded in 1948, Group Astoria is today comprised of Station Grays 
Harbor in Westport, Washington; Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, 
Washington; Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, Oregon; Air Station 
Astoria in Warrenton, Oregon; and Aids to Navigation Team Astoria at 
Tongue Point, Oregon.
  Staffed by 325 Coast Guard members, Group Astoria oversees an area of 
responsibility that covers 140 miles of coastline in Oregon and 
Washington. In an average year, members of Group Astoria respond to 
more than 800 search-and-rescue calls; and since 2003, Group Astoria 
has saved more than 500 lives and assisted more than 10,000 individuals 
in distress.
  Group Astoria also supports the maintenance of 478 aids to 
navigation, and over the last 7 years the group has conducted more than 
1,200 missions to ensure that fishing vessels working in its area of 
responsibility are in compliance with commercial fishing laws.
  Later this year, Group Astoria will gain additional responsibilities 
and will be renamed Sector Columbia River. The title Group Astoria will 
become a historical name.
  In advance of these planned transitions, H. Res. 1062 recognizes 
Group Astoria for its service to the Pacific Northwest and honors the 
members of the Coast Guard who have served at Group Astoria over the 
past six decades. I join with my friend Congressman Wu and the five 
cosponsors of H. Res. 1062 in honoring the service of Group Astoria, 
the 13th District, and indeed of all our Coast Guard members.
  I urge the adoption of the resolution by the House today and commend 
Congressman Wu for his work on this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1062, as indicated by the 
distinguished chairman, recognizes the longstanding service of Coast 
Guard Group Astoria to the people of the Pacific Northwest. Group 
Astoria members, along with their partners at the co-located air 
station, carry out search and rescue, maritime homeland security, 
fisheries enforcement, and aids to navigation missions throughout their 
area of responsibility.
  Group Astoria is one of the last of its kind as the Coast Guard has 
consolidated its personnel and mission capabilities through the 
establishment of sectors. Members and assets currently assigned to 
Group Astoria will be combined with other Coast Guard units to stand up 
the new Sector Columbia River in Astoria later this year, and it is 
fitting that we celebrate Group Astoria's long history as it embarks on 
this transformation.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1062 gives this House the opportunity 
to express thanks to members of Coast Guard Astoria and their 
colleagues stationed at other Coast Guard sectors and groups for their 
selfless service to protect those in need.
  Madam Speaker, if I may assume a personal role, some years ago, as an 
active-duty Coast Guardsman, I was assigned to the Port Security Unit 
at Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. So this resolution is 
taking me down a nostalgic trail, a pleasant nostalgic trail. The past 
is coming alive, reviving old memories.
  So with that in mind, I join with the resolution's sponsor and 
cosponsors in honoring their service and the service of all Coast Guard 
members and officers.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
Mr. Wu.
  Mr. WU. I thank the gentleman.
  I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in supporting House 
Resolution 1062, which recognizes Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 
60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest. And I thank the gentleman 
for his service in Coast Guard Group Astoria, his personal service. I 
want to welcome him back to Oregon any time he chooses to come.
  For more than six decades, Coast Guard Group Astoria has served the 
people of Oregon and Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The 325 men 
and women of Group Astoria are responsible for patrolling more than 140 
miles of coastline, stretching from Queets, Washington, to Pacific 
City, Oregon, one of the most dangerous and beautiful expanses of water 
in the world.
  The group is compromised of Station Grays Harbor in Westport, 
Washington; Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington; Air 
Station Astoria in Warrenton, Oregon; Aids-to-Navigation Team Astoria 
at Tongue Point, Oregon; and Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, 
Oregon.
  Group Astoria carries out a diverse set of missions, from search and 
rescue to law enforcement, and from environmental protection to aids to 
navigation maintenance, but its contributions to our community do not 
end there. Coast Guard members are also responsible for homeland 
security functions vital to our national defense. Moreover, Group 
Astoria personnel are ever-present sentinels guarding our coastal 
waterways and enabling the safe and steady flow of both commercial and 
recreational traffic.
  I want to add as a personal note that I deeply appreciate the 
community service and community contributions of the many individuals 
in Coast Guard Group Astoria that I have known over the past years.
  Group Astoria continues to embody the Coast Guard's motto, ``Semper 
Paratus,'' always ready, each and every day. These men and women risk 
their lives to ensure that those who venture to sea return home and 
return home safely.
  Each year, Coast Guard Group Astoria responds to roughly 800 search-
and-rescue calls for help, assists more than 1,700 mariners, and saves 
nearly 100 lives. They do so in all types of weather and amid the many 
challenges of our harsh and beautiful coastline.

                              {time}  1130

  One effort in particular stands out in my mind, not only for its 
heroism but also for the way that it lifted the spirits of all of those 
affected: in December 2007, Oregon was hit by a winter storm with 
hurricane-force winds in excess of 130 miles per hour. The storm 
knocked out power in thousands of homes in northwest Oregon and 
southwest Washington, and communication in many areas was completely 
cut off.
  Of the many heroes who distinguished themselves that week, the Coast 
Guard ranks amongst the most courageous. For instance, Coast Guard Air 
Station Astoria helicopter crews rescued over 130 people trapped by 
flooding in Chehalis, Washington. In my personal visit there a day or 
two after the storm, I met one of the rescue divers. He didn't tell me 
the story, but his colleagues did.
  With high winds blowing, he was dropped in the water near Chehalis.

[[Page 5480]]

There was a residential structure there, a home there. Not only were 
the lights still on and electricity still flowing to that house, but 
there was sheet metal flapping in a very strong wind there. At great 
risk to himself, ignoring the hazard posed by flying sheet metal, he 
entered this home and found an elderly gentleman lying on a floating 
couch inside a flooded room. It takes a lot of courage to enter 
structures like that, which is to do the right thing and to bring the 
citizens of Oregon and Washington to safety.
  For their extraordinary heroism, many of the aircrews involved in 
these December 2007 rescues were awarded the Distinguished Flying 
Cross. Group Astoria's bravery during that storm is just one example of 
its service to Oregon's north coast. It illustrates the selflessness 
and the professionalism that gives Group Astoria its reputation.
  Madam Speaker, it is right and fitting that we should recognize Coast 
Guard Group Astoria's service to the Pacific Northwest. These brave men 
and women give so much to their fellow Americans, and they ask so 
little in return.
  At this time, I would like to specifically recognize the leadership 
of Captain Peter Troedsson, who commanded Group Astoria during the 2007 
winter storm, as well as Captain Doug Kaup, Group Astoria's current 
commander.
  I am grateful for Coast Guard Group Astoria's service, and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing their ongoing efforts in 
protecting the people of the Pacific Northwest. I urge my colleagues to 
support House Resolution 1062.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, let me associate myself with the words of both of my 
colleagues. Again, I want to thank Mr. Wu for sponsoring the 
resolution. I also want to thank Mr. Coble for his service, not only to 
the United States Coast Guard, but to our subcommittee. He is one of 
our strongest members and has tremendous passion about the Coast Guard.
  As I was listening to both of them, I could not help but think about 
the fact that the Coast Guard does not always get the recognition that 
it deserves. It has a little bit over 41,000 members. It is a small 
agency, a small organization; but I call them our thin blue line at 
sea. Certainly, Coast Guard Group Astoria is typical of the men and 
women whom I see all over our country as I travel, and I commend them 
on so many things that they have done so well.
  On that note, when we look back at Katrina and at all of the agencies 
which operated during Katrina, there is absolutely no question that the 
United States Coast Guard was the agency that went far beyond the call 
of duty, rescuing some 35,000-plus lives. Many of these people would 
have perished if it were not for the bravery and the courage of the 
United States Coast Guard.
  In this resolution, while we are addressing Coast Guard Group 
Astoria, I think it also says to the other members of the Coast Guard 
that we are a grateful Congress and that we appreciate everything that 
they do every day in putting their lives on the line so that they can 
continue to be our thin blue line at sea.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1062, 
as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu), 
recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of 
service to the Pacific Northwest.
  With 325 Coast Guard personnel and six units, Group Astoria's area of 
responsibility encompasses over 140 miles of coastline between Queets, 
Washington, and Pacific City, Oregon. Group Astoria conducts numerous 
missions, such as search and rescue, aids-to-navigation, homeland 
security, and enforcement of laws and treaties.
  Each year, Coast Guard Group Astoria receives more than 800 distress 
calls, assists over 1,700 mariners and save approximately 100 people 
from perishing at sea. Since 2003, Group Astoria has saved over 500 
lives and assisted more than 10,000 recreational boaters and commercial 
mariners in distress.
  Since 2003, Group Astoria had conducted over 1,200 Living Marine 
Resource missions to ensure commercial fishing vessels are not over-
fishing in certain areas, conserving marine resources for future 
generations.
  Air Station Astoria assets provide coverage and respond to offshore 
distress calls up to the Canadian border and down to northern 
California. In December 2007, crews from Air Station Astoria flew 28 
sorties in 130 knot winds during the Pacific Northwest winter storm 
saving 136 people. Air Station Astoria also provides assistance to the 
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other local responders with 
inland search and rescue.
  This August, Group Astoria will gain additional responsibilities and 
will be redesignated as Sector Columbia River, making the title ``Group 
Astoria'' a historical name. In light of these planned transitions, H. 
Res. 1062 recognizes Coast Guard Group Astoria for 60 years of noble 
service and honors the brave Coast Guard men and women who put their 
lives at risk every day for the safety and security of the people in 
the Pacific Northwest.
  I thank the gentleman from Oregon for bringing forth this resolution 
to recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of 
service to the Pacific Northwest.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1062.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 
1062 that recognizes the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years 
of service to the Pacific Northwest.
  Let me take a moment to commend Congressman David Wu for bringing 
this resolution to the floor and giving us the opportunity to commend 
the Coast Guard for its continued service.
  The Coast Guard Group Astoria, based out of Warrenton, Oregon, 
operates three Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters as it patrols and 
responds to emergencies throughout the Pacific Northwest. I know how 
important the Coast Guard is because of its presence in the Port of 
Long Beach in the 37th District of California, which I represent. I see 
on a regular basis just how hard those men and women work to protect 
our coastal areas and waterways. Their presence in my district, as well 
as my position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, make me acutely aware of how 
important the Coast Guard is to our national security and safety.
  We are indebted to the men and women who dedicate their lives to the 
Coast Guard. These brave men and women, such as those who have spent 
the last 60 years working for Coast Guard Astoria, are ready and 
willing to serve their country in whatever way necessary. I support 
this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1062, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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