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Recognition of the Heroic Job that was Done by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Time of Hurricane Katrina

Date: Dec. 8, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Military Personnel


RECOGNITION OF THE HEROIC JOB THAT WAS DONE BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD AT THE TIME OF HURRICANE KATRINA -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 08, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.
OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2005

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, we all witnessed the heroic job that was done by the U.S. Coast Guard at the time of Hurricane Katrina. It was widely noted in newspapers and on television that while other agencies of the Federal Government fell down on the job, the U.S. Coast Guard upheld the motto that has been its standard of performance since its creation in the 18th Century: Semper Paratus, Always Ready.

What is less well known is that the Coast Guard is unique among the armed services because it has, associated with it, a civilian support organization, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Since 1939, these volunteer life-savers have backed up the active duty Coast Guard by relieving the regulars of a number of tasks related to marine safety, search and rescue, and pollution monitoring and control. The 30,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary serve as a force multiplier in these times of threats to our national security and their unpaid service enables the Coast Guard to fulfill its missions in this time of fiscal constraint.

I would like to call special attention to the work of the 14 active members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 014-05-05 of Edison, New Jersey.

In the past year, these auxiliary members have conducted safety checks on 123 vessels, visited marine dealers and boatyards to distribute safety materials, conducted 3 dozen boating safety courses, and attended boat shows to stress to boat owners and prospective owners the importance of marine safety and the need to take safety courses to prevent accidents on the water. The Auxiliary helps maintain aids to navigation and conducts patrols using their own vessels.

I ask my colleagues to recognize the contribution of Flotilla 014-05-05 of Edison, New Jersey to the mission of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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