Wayne Gilchrest: “Mr. Speaker, August 4 will mark the 210th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard. Since 1790, the men and women of the…”

“Mr. Speaker, August 4 will mark the 210th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard. Since 1790, the men and women of the Coast Guard have demonstrated that they are always ready, Semper Paratus, to carry out their critical duties. Today's Coast Guard has primary responsibility for the promotion of safety of life and property at sea. That is easy to say and difficult to do, because there are days when the seas are calm and there are days when the seas are stormy. There are evenings when the stars are out, and the twilight is beautiful. And there are evenings when the storm rages, the icebreakers are out there, and the storm ensures that the hours the Coast Guard is on duty will be very, very dangerous. But, Mr. Speaker, they do their job in spite of all that. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing all Federal laws, at sea and under the sea, in all of the United States' waters and the United States' territories. They maintain the aids to navigation, which is something we almost never think of until we are in a boat and we do not want to run aground. As a result of that, as a result of the Coast Guard's professional, efficient, persistent adherence to those aids of navigation, the mariners, whether they are on the high seas, in our coastal waters, or in our rivers, they are safe. The protection of the marine environment, which is one of the major responsibilities exclusively designated to the U.S. Coast Guard.”