Political Quotes

“Mr. President, since 1790, the Coast Guard, our Nation's oldest continuous seagoing service, has been the world's premier force in maritime safety, security, and stewardship. Guided by its core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty, the Coast Guard is a symbol of resolve to our adversaries and of hope to those in peril at sea. Our Nation relies on more than 50,000 members of the Coast Guard each day to keep our country safe, to project national power, and to champion the rule of law and governance on our waters and beyond. In Texas, Coast Guard members are on patrol 365 days a year. From Station South Padre Island to Sector Houston-Galveston and beyond, Coast Guard members keep our citizens and our country safe. Just this week, a Coast Guard Air Station Houston helicopter crew completed a daring rescue, saving the life of a mariner 10 miles off the coast of Galveston, TX. When our Nation calls, the Coast Guard is always ready to answer. As the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has responsibility for policies affecting the Coast Guard and Coast Guard servicemembers and their families, I believe that in the event of a shutdown, the Coast Guard must be paid without question and without delay. That is why, last week, I introduced the bipartisan Pay Our Coast Guard Act, which would treat coastguardsmen the same as all other servicemembers for purposes of pay and benefits if there is a lapse in appropriations.…”