Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this morning, I rise in support of the 42,000 men and women of the United States Coast Guard, the vital public safety, humanitarian, and national defense missions they perform, and this House's passage yesterday of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2019. Coast Guard members are the first responders of America's oceans, waterways, and coastlines, conducting varied missions, often at a moment's notice, including search and rescue, securing our Nation's ports and waterways, and conducting law enforcement operations. In my district in New Hampshire, we have been home to the Coast Guard since its founding, and the Granite State has relied on its work to keep us safe and strong for generations. Last month I had the privilege of meeting with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. As I met officers and crew members and toured their vessel, I was struck by the critical nature of their missions and the challenges they encounter in executing them. Cutters like Tahoma patrol international waters and interdict drugs coming to America's shores. Their work saves lives and makes our communities safer. The Coast Guard has been doing this work despite being chronically underfunded and under-resourced. The Coast Guard faces cartels and smugglers with staggering resources and advanced technology, and studies show that only 20 to 30 percent of the illegal drugs coming to our shores are interdicted.…”