Sheila Jackson Lee: “As a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, I rise in strong support of…”

“As a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3409, the ``Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019.'' H.R. 3409 is bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard and Federal Maritime Commission through the 2021 Fiscal Year. This legislation contains improvements to promote the U.S. maritime industry and offshore renewable energy development, authorization of funding for new heavy ice breakers, and provisions to increase diversity at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Additionally, this legislation will enhance recruitment and retention of merchant vessels, along with advancing new opportunities to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. maritime and shipbuilding industries. Earlier this year the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the United States Coast Guard, was adversely affected by the Trump Administration's government shutdown. The shutdown affected the pay of over 40,000 active duty Coast Guard members, 6,000 reservists, and 8,500 civilian employees. It took 35 days for Congress and the White House to agree on a FY 2019 funding bill. During this time the brave men and women of the Coast Guard endured the cold winter weather while conducting life-saving rescues, drug interdiction operations, environmental protection missions, and costal security operations.…”