Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4188, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015.

H.R. 4188 authorizes the United States Coast Guard, a critical component of the Department of Homeland Security, through fiscal year 2017 at $8.7 billion per year. The bill includes provisions aimed at improving Coast Guard mission effectiveness, modernizing the Service's aging vessels and other assets, and reforming U.S. maritime transportation laws.

Since our Nation's earliest years, the Coast Guard has kept our ports and waterways secure, protected our shores and coastal communities, and responded to disasters and other emergencies. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I recognize and thank the men and women of the Coast Guard for their work, particularly their efforts at fulfilling the Coast Guard's critical homeland security missions. I am pleased to support legislation that reauthorizes the Coast Guard to ensure that it is positioned to effectively execute its eleven vital statutory homeland security and non-homeland security missions.

Modernizing the Coast Guard's aircraft, vessels, and other technology is critical to its operations. H.R. 4188 includes provisions that seek to improve the Service's acquisition process and improve the quality of assets delivered. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop and present to Congress a strategic plan for the Coast Guard's long-term acquisition and manpower needs. This requirement will go a long way to enhancing both the DHS and Congress' understanding and prioritization of Coast Guard capability needs.

In addition, H.R. 4188 directs the Coast Guard to have a new manpower requirements plan that assesses all projected mission requirements for the next four fiscal years; the number of personnel available currently and projected; capability gaps caused by a lack of available personnel; and the steps the Coast Guard will take to address these gaps. In carrying out this requirement, it is important that the Coast Guard take into account the need to foster greater diversity at all levels of the organization. Consistently deploying broad recruitment efforts can only strengthen the Coast Guard.

Congress must continue to ensure these brave men and women have the necessary authorities and resources to accomplish all that they do on behalf of our Nation. H.R. 4188 is a good step in that direction, and I congratulate my colleagues in moving this important legislation forward.

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