Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), the Republican leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today said the Obama Administration was on a collision course with disaster by asking the U.S. Coast Guard to do more with less, even before the disastrous April 20^th oil spill.

At a Congressional hearing today, Mica said it would take a new position of “Second Lieutenant Magician” for the U.S. Coast Guard to comply with the policy that was recommended in the 2011 Obama budget.  In that February document, the Coast Guard budget was targeted for cuts of 1,100 uniformed positions, along with ships, aircraft and helicopters.  Shortly thereafter, on March 31^st, the Obama Administration announced its support for expanding oil drilling in the Gulf and other U.S. waters.

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member, shared Mica’s concern: “I am very concerned about the ability of the Coast Guard to absorb yet another mission at the same time the Administration is proposing to recklessly slash the service’s operating budget.”

In the hearing before the Subcommittee, the Coast Guard testified they were barely meeting their personnel and asset requirements to conduct their first responder and inspection duties on deepwater rigs and vessels in the Gulf.

            Mica also questioned the Coast Guard regarding the failure to employ the assistance of U.S.-flagged clean-up vessels that have contacted the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with offers to aid in the Gulf spill cleanup.  Mica said, “I had been advised over the weekend by a major maritime operator that their vessels are standing by and are ready to assist, but have not been contacted by any federal agency or BP.”  In a letter earlier this week, Mica asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano why these U.S.-flagged vessels and resources were not being utilized.

Mica this week has also released copies of the Obama budget which proposed to slash funding for Minerals Management Service (MMS) environmental studies by $2 million.  The MMS is the agency which reviews and approves oil drilling permits. 

(Below are the proposed Obama 2011 Budget cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard and MMS.

·        Minerals Management Service (MMS) – Cuts $2 million for environmental reviews      

·        U.S. Coast Guard – Cuts 1,100 military positions, in addition to ships, aircraft and safety and security teams

·        The FY 2011 President’s Budget requests $9.86 billion for the Coast Guard – which is a 0.24% decrease from the FY 2010 enacted level of $9.88 billion.

• Coast Guard asset cuts include decommissioning 4 of the service’s largest cutters; removing 5 HH-65 helicopters from service; eliminating 5 of 12 Maritime Safety and Security Teams; and reassigning 4 HH-60 helicopters & eliminating their work in drug law enforcement and anti-terrorism response.