Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2838, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill.

House Resolution 455 provides for a structured rule for the consideration of H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011. The rule makes 18 amendments submitted to the Rules Committee in order for robust debate here in the House of Representatives: 10 of those 18 amendments made in order are Democrat-sponsored amendments; 7 are Republican amendments; and one is a bipartisan amendment.

Five information-gathering subcommittee hearings were held prior to this bill being reported out of committee. Further, this legislation passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with bipartisan support by a voice vote.

The Coast Guard is comprised of nearly 100,000 military personnel, reservists, civilian employees, and auxiliary volunteers. It is one of the five branches of the armed services that constitutes our Armed Forces. The Coast Guard or its predecessors has defended this Nation in every war since 1790. Charged primarily with enforcing the laws of the United States in, under, and over the high seas and waters under American jurisdiction, the Coast Guard is asked to serve many functions simultaneously. This is important in my own State of Florida, which has the largest coastline of any of the 48 contiguous States. From drug interdiction to port security to border enforcement, the Coast Guard's reach is wide and its mission critical.

This bipartisan legislation authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 2015 for the Coast Guard to carry out all of its many responsibilities. It also authorizes appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission, including grants for certain short-distance shipping activities. Finally, the bill makes some changes to current law, affecting maritime safety, transportation and the authorities of the Coast Guard.

The rule also allows for the consideration of H.R. 2840, the Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act. Ballast water and the subsequent discharge of ballast water are essential to the safe operation and stability of our seafaring vessels. This bill will simply set a single uniform, nationwide standard for ballast water discharge from commercial vessels.

Currently, the Coast Guard and the EPA have developed separate regulations under two different laws to govern ballast water discharge. The EPA's regulations are particularly burdensome as they allow each State to impose different requirements on top of the Federal regulations. The result: 29 differing and often contradicting standards. A uniform national standard, as set by this legislation, will assure the free flow of ships in and out of United States ports while protecting both the jobs, dependent on their efficient operation, and U.S. waters.

It should be stressed that the standard is meant to protect commerce and the environment. It conforms with the standards set by the International Maritime Organization and the EPA's Science Advisory Board. They have found that the standard set in the bill is the best currently achievable standard. Should a higher standard become achievable due to technological improvements, this legislation allows States to petition for an improved nationwide standard. Further, the bill allows for a review of the performance standard no later than January 1, 2016, and a new review can be ordered upon petition from the States after that.

So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has worked to provide us with a very good bipartisan bill, which provides for the ongoing needs of the Coast Guard and the important missions that they carry out on a daily basis.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, this rule provides for ample and open debate, allowing our colleagues from across the aisle the opportunity to offer their legislative proposals to this bill.

This bill provides a single uniform, nationwide standard for how commercial vessels discharge ballast water, a standard that protects American jobs by encouraging the efficient flow of goods in and out of our ports while also protecting our unique water bodies. More importantly, the bill provides the service men and women of the United States Coast Guard the funding they need to fulfill their critical missions: keeping our borders secure, preventing drugs from infiltrating our communities, and safeguarding our men and women.

Service men and women in the Coast Guard deserve our gratitude and support. This includes Coast Guard veterans, such as Garrett Bess, a member of my own staff here in Washington, D.C. Partisanship has no place in providing the resources necessary for those brave men and women in uniform to do what they do best, keep us safe. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of the rule and passage of the underlying bill.

The material previously referred to by Ms. Slaughter is as follows:

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source