James Barcia: “the Coast Guard's mission in helping to provide for public boating safety is most important. As a Member whose district…”

“the Coast Guard's mission in helping to provide for public boating safety is most important. As a Member whose district contains more shoreline than most other States, I sincerely appreciate the need for the Coast Guard. It is also why I am upset about proposals to close small Coast Guard facilities. We face a situation in my district where the facility at Harbor Beach may be closed, and the nearest coverage will come from 60 miles away. No realistic individual believes that adequate assistance can be provided to boaters facing emergencies from such a distance. Certainly Mike Gage, the sheriff of Huron County, disagrees with the Coast Guard's assessment that his department can provide adequate coverage for the area. Public safety is also broader than the presence of a Coast Guard station. It is also affected by the provision of other Coast Guard services. Now we are hearing of several cases in which the Coast Guard will not place marker buoys in waterways this year because these waterways have not been dredged. The Coast Guard doesn't want the liability for placing the buoys, because the Corps of Engineers will not dredge these riverways as they have done in the past. Mr. Chairman, when people wonder what is wrong with Washington and agency bureaucrats, they need look no further than their own personal needs for day-to-day routine services. The Coast Guard is about public safety.”