[House Report 110-513]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     110-513

======================================================================
 
HONORING THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WHOSE 
  TIRELESS WORK, DEDICATION, AND COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE UNITED 
   STATES HAVE LED TO THE COAST GUARD SEIZING OVER 350,000 POUNDS OF 
 COCAINE AT SEA DURING 2007, FAR SURPASSING ALL OF OUR PREVIOUS RECORDS

                                _______
                                

  January 22, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 866]

  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 866) honoring the brave 
men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless 
work, dedication, and commitment to protecting the United 
States have led to the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds 
of cocaine at sea during 2007, far surpassing all of our 
previous records, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the resolution be 
agreed to.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 866 recognizes the brave men and women of the 
Unites States Coast Guard for their tireless work and 
dedication which has led to them seizing over 350,000 pounds of 
cocaine at sea in 2007, surpassing all previous records.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The United States Coast Guard (``USCG'') is the smallest of 
the seven uniformed services of the United States, with a 
mission to protect the public, the environment, and the United 
States economic and security interests in international waters 
and along America's coasts, ports, and inland waterways.
    The Coast Guard has a 217-year legacy of border protection 
and maritime law enforcement. In addition to the Coast Guard's 
other safety and security duties, the service also conducts the 
dangerous duty of drug interdiction.
    In calendar year 2007, the Coast Guard seized more than 
350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea. The street value of this 
seizure was more than $4.7 billion. This amount is nearly one-
half of the Coast Guard's annual budget.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 866 honors the men and women of the United States 
Coast Guard for their tireless work and dedication to 
protecting the United States. The resolution also recognizes 
the Coast Guard for seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at 
sea in 2007, with an estimated street value of more than $4.7 
billion, which surpasses all of the Coast Guard's previous drug 
interdiction records.
    H. Res. 866 acknowledges that the Coast Guard's at-sea drug 
interdictions are reducing the supply of cocaine in more than 
35 major U.S. cities, making a positive difference in the lives 
of American citizens. The resolution also recognizes that the 
Coast Guard works with a robust interagency team and 
international partners that have contributed to the seizure of 
more than two million pounds of cocaine in the past ten years.
    H. Res. 866 commends the men and women of the Coast Guard, 
who are away from their families while they tirelessly work to 
execute the service's mission. The resolution acknowledges that 
the dedication and selfless service to protect the Nation and 
the American people is done by the men and women of the Coast 
Guard without want of public recognition.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On December 11, 2007, Representative Howard Coble 
introduced H. Res. 866.
    On January 16, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session, and ordered H. Res. 866 
reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum 
present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. 
Res. 866 reported. A motion to order H. Res. 866 reported 
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 866 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance 
goals and objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is 
required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for 
any measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 866 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H. Res. 866 is a resolution of the 
House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force 
of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 866 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 866 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 866 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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