Political Quotes

“I rise today in emphatic support of H. Con. Res. 372. I want to thank my colleagues who helped make this resolution possible: My fellow co-sponsor Congressman Mike Caupuano as well as Congressmen Shuster and Gilchrest from the Transportation Committee, and the House Leadership for bringing this to the floor in expedited fashion. As a proud member of the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, I am in awe of the U.S. Coast Guard and all the hard work that each and every member selflessly gives each day to our nation. The United States Coast Guard is this nation's oldest and its premier maritime agency. Indeed, this year we will celebrate the 210th anniversary of the creation of this August service. The history of the Service is historic and multifaceted. It is the amalgamation of five Federal agencies--the Revenue Cutter Service, the Lighthouse Service, the Steamboat Inspection Service, the Bureau of Navigation, and the Lifesaving Service, which were originally independent agencies with overlapping authorities. They sometimes received new names, and they were all finally united under the umbrella of the Coast Guard. The multiple missions and responsibilities of the modern Service are directly tied to this diverse heritage and the magnificent achievements of all of these agencies. The Coast Guard, through its previous agencies, is the oldest continuous seagoing service and has fought in almost every war since the Constitution became the law of the land in 1789.”