WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today joined Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Oceans Subcommittee Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) to introduce legislation to 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 ensure that the Coast Guard has the tools and funding it needs to meet its broad and expanding responsibilities,” said Senator Stevens.  “From high seas rescues and fisheries enforcement to port security, the United States Coast Guard plays a vital role in America’s safety.”

On a typical day the Coast Guard conducts 82 search and rescue cases, saves approximately 15 lives, assists 114 people in distress, conducts 23 waterfront facility safety or security inspections, maintains 140 aids to navigation, and monitors the transit of 2,557 commercial ships through United States ports.  

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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