Political Quotes

“the amendment offered by Mr. LaTourette and Mr. Boustany, the ranking member on the Coast Guard subcommittee, would amend section 720, a section that addresses waterside security around LNG terminals and tankers, and I fully support it. Subsection C of that section requires that, before the Coast Guard can approve a facility's security plan for a new LNG terminal, the service must determine that it has available to the sector in which the terminal is to be located the resources it needs to carry out the risk mitigation measures identified in the waterway suitability report for that terminal. This amendment would include State and local resources in the assessment, which is a good thing. With the adoption of this amendment and with the measures already included in subsection C, section 720, we will ensure that the Coast Guard's resources do not have to be diverted from other high-priority missions as determined by the commandant to secure LNG operations. The Coast Guard will be able to depend upon those State and local law enforcement resources that have the proven training, resources, personnel, equipment, and experience necessary to combat a terrorist attack, to conduct waterborne patrols around LNG facilities. I emphasize that the State and local law enforcement cannot and should not be seen as replacements for the Coast Guard resources, as the Coast Guard is our Nation's maritime time security agency.”