Political Quotes

“I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in very strong support of H.R. 5855. Earlier this year, the President requested to cut funding for the Coast Guard more than 4 percent below the current level. This was the first time in over a decade that a President has proposed to reduce funding for the Coast Guard. In his budget, the President proposed to slash the number of servicemembers by more than 1,000, which would shutter recruiting stations, take recently upgraded helicopters out of service and exacerbate the growing patrol boat mission-hour gap by retiring vessels before their replacements arrive. For acquisitions, the President proposed to slash the budget by more than $270 million, or 19 percent below the FY2012 enacted level. The request proposed to terminate or delay the acquisition of several critically needed replacement assets and eliminate funding to renovate derelict housing for servicemembers and their dependents. The cuts put forth by the Obama administration were simply unacceptable and I myself and, I think, a large number of Members were gravely concerned.…”