Frank Pallone: “Mr. Chairman, I listened to what the gentleman from North Carolina said, and again I know of his distinguished career…”

“Mr. Chairman, I listened to what the gentleman from North Carolina said, and again I know of his distinguished career, both here in Congress as well as having been a member of the Coast Guard, but I, listening to him, believe in some ways he was making the case for the Traficant amendment, even though I know that was not his intention. He said that the small boat stations tend to get involved with the local community. They are almost like the church. I have to agree. But that is the very reason why the Coast Guard presence is necessary to small boat stations. Again, I would reiterate that one of the propositions that the Coast Guard is putting forward is that somehow when these stations close, that other State or local or nonprofit organizations are going to take up the slack. The bottom line is, and I will use my own station at Shark River in New Jersey as an example, the only reason why those other organizations are involved, like the auxiliary, is because of the presence of the Coast Guard.”