Washington, D.C. – The following is the opening statement of U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member, from today’s hearing on the Coast Guard’s marine casualty investigation program and the maritime provisions of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) proposed reauthorization bill.
“The NTSB and the Coast Guard carry out the federal government’s responsibilities to investigate marine casualties to determine the causes that led to the incident, whether criminal acts were committed in connection to the incident, and whether improved practices or procedures should be recommended to deter future incidents in the maritime domain. These investigations and their findings provide critical information and tools that enhance the Coast Guard’s abilities to safeguard lives and property at sea, and I am concerned that the service has not maintained a sufficient performance level in carrying out this important mission.
“The Subcommittee has received a report prepared by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security which raises several concerns about the use of personnel that do not fully meet the service’s qualification standards for marine casualty investigators, ineffective management, and insufficient resources for this mission. The report also suggests that shortfalls in the program may have caused the Coast Guard to miss several opportunities to make recommendations that could prevent or minimize future casualties. While I commend the Coast Guard for agreeing to take action on many of the report’s recommendations, I remain concerned by the apparent transfer of focus and resources from this and other legacy Coast Guard missions.
“The Commandant has recently made statements about the need to increase the size of the Coast Guard to better perform its missions; however, outside of the Administration’s request to add 276 military and civilian marine inspection personnel, this subcommittee has never received a request for additional personnel or funding. Recently, the House approved an increase of 1,500 members to the service’s workforce, and the Subcommittee stands ready to work with the Coast Guard to provide such resources in the future. We will not, however, accept continued shortfalls in mission performance in the absence of such requests. I look forward to hearing from the Coast Guard and the Inspector General on the service’s plan to address training and personnel needs for the marine inspection program and other traditional mission areas and the resource needs for each of these important missions.
“Lastly, I would like to raise a few concerns with language that has been included in the NTSB’s proposed reauthorization bill. The NTSB has proposed a provision which would give the Board the authority to initiate an investigation of any marine casualty if it so elects and without regard or coordination with any Coast Guard investigation. Under current law and joint regulations between the Coast Guard and the Board, the Coast Guard has the responsibility to carry out the preliminary investigation after which the two agencies determine who should lead the investigation based on the nature of the incident and any safety or environmental effects. I am concerned that this new authority may have the unintended consequence of increasing duplication of effort between the Board and the Coast Guard and increasing confusion for investigators on the scene.”
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