WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (S.1892).  Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is a cosponsor of the bill which now awaits action by the full Senate.  This measure would authorize $8.7 billion for the United States Coast Guard in Fiscal Year 2008.  This includes a six percent increase in the Coast Guard’s operating budget and $998 million for renovations to Coast Guard facilities, as well as acquisition of Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.

“This bill will help the Coast Guard continue its role as the guardians of the sea,” said Senator Stevens.  “The Coast Guard plays a vital role in Alaska and across the nation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues as this bill moves to the Senate floor.”

The Fiscal Year 2008 Coast Guard Authorization would specifically:

·         authorize the Coast Guard to align its senior command structure with that of the other armed forces and create deployable force packages;
·         improve the quality of life for servicemen and women through reimbursement of medical-related travel expenses, legal assistance, and emergency leave;
·         increase criminal penalties to any person (including an alien) engaged in illegal alien smuggling in the maritime environment;
·         require the Coast Guard to keep the LORAN-C navigation system operating until authorized by statute to cease operating the system;
·         include oil spill provisions that improve the oil spill protection programs;
·         improve government efficiency by providing authority for reimbursable agreements between Department of Defense services and Coast Guard industrial facilities; and
·         authorize the Coast Guard to begin improvements to rapidly deteriorating, and in some cases inadequate, operational support facilities including $13 million for a Rescue Swimmer Training Facility.

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