Political Quotes

“the administration's roles and missions Presidential Advisory Council would have come at a great cost to the Coast Guard's operating budget. Despite the announcement of this commission several months ago, the administration has not appointed this council. The gentleman is correct. In disapproving the administration's plan and setting up in its place the blue ribbon panel contained in the bill, it is our intention that the Coast Guard's modernization effort, Deepwater, should not be held up pending the result of this panel. There is nothing in the bill or report which would indicate these two efforts should be linked. We expect Deepwater to proceed independently of the blue ribbon panel. By having the former commandants look at this, there will be some historical factors, because much of what the Coast Guard has is so old that the more attention we can bring to it, I think the better it is for the Coast Guard, for search and rescue, drug interdiction and everything else.”