Mark Souder: “I want to thank and praise Chairman LoBiondo for his steadfast, consistent, constant advocacy of the Coast Guard because…”

“I want to thank and praise Chairman LoBiondo for his steadfast, consistent, constant advocacy of the Coast Guard because that has been very important here in Congress and very important to the Coast Guard. I rise to commend the Coast Guard's outstanding response to Hurricane Katrina and support the Coast Guard Hurricane Relief Act of 2005. Recently, more than ever, the Coast Guard has demonstrated its unique multi-mission role as the world's premiere maritime service. The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina along our gulf coast had been well documented. One of the best stories to emerge from this disaster has been the heroic work of our Coast Guard. Hurricane Katrina ravaged Coast Guard stations in Gulfport and Pascagoula, Mississippi, and looters wrecked part of its New Orleans base. {time} 1715 But that did not stop the Coast Guard from sending out rescue helicopters, cutters, and small boats on dangerous and exhausting missions to save lives and clear waterways after the hurricane ravaged the gulf coast. By August 30, the Coast Guard had rescued some 1,200 people even though continued gale force winds made air and sea operations extremely hazardous. In the first 5 days after Katrina hit, the Coast Guard surged 30 cutters, 38 helicopters and over 5,000 personnel into the affected areas. In addition to search-and-rescue operations, these assets also provided vital security, logistics, and communications support to the areas hardest hit by the storm.…”