John Mica: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. First, I want to take a moment to thank Mr. LoBiondo for his outstanding leadership…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. First, I want to take a moment to thank Mr. LoBiondo for his outstanding leadership of the Coast Guard Committee, and also Mr. Larsen, the ranking member from Washington. I know Frank LoBiondo has a great love for the United States Coast Guard. He has worked diligently, long, and tirelessly for one of our most important branches and most historic branches of government over the years and dedicated part of his time, but a full commitment, to the United States Coast Guard. As we take up H.R. 2838 today, as we consider that reauthorization for the United States Coast Guard--and Congress must authorize every program. We create the Coast Guard by law. We must also set the policy and the programs and the funding levels through our committee, an important responsibility. Now, we have an important responsibility, but we're reminded again, even in the last few days, of the death of one of our Coast Guard officers, Chief Mate Terrell Horne. He was killed protecting the United States. I think it was drug smugglers who took his life in southern California while a small boat was trying to stop their activities. Here again we are painfully reminded of the sacrifice of those men and women in service to the United States. So this morning, I really would like to dedicate this reauthorization to his memory and the memory of all the men and women who have served in the Coast Guard. I had lost one young lady from St. Augustine in the Arctic.…”