Jack Kingston: “there are so many success stories that are going on around Katrina and yet we always dwell on things that are not so…”

“there are so many success stories that are going on around Katrina and yet we always dwell on things that are not so successful, but I want to talk about the Coast Guard and some of the great things that the United States Coast Guard has done in the Gulf area. They have rescued 33,000 lives and evacuated another 9,400 from local hospitals. They delivered tons of food and water to survivors. They have responded to over 650 spills of oil, gas and other hazardous material. They have repaired and replaced several hundred aids to navigation to get ports and waterways reopened to oil, gas and commerce. They brought in over 3,300 servicemen and women and called up another 800 reservists to undertake response operations. And they have moved over 75 aircraft, 25 cutters, 110 small boats into the disaster area to execute and search and rescue. Their environmental cleanup has been probably the first that has taken place of any government agency. I commend the United States Coast Guard and wish them the best. Keep up the good work. ____________________”