Thomas E. Petri: “I applaud the vision of the Chairman of the Subcommittee and the Ranking Minority Member in recommending additional…”

“I applaud the vision of the Chairman of the Subcommittee and the Ranking Minority Member in recommending additional helicopter assets to be deployed on the West Coast for drug interdiction and port security. Currently, there are eight leased, armed helicopters based in Jacksonville, FL, which make up the entire Coast Guard Airborne Use of Force capability. Pre 9-11, this Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (or HITRON) was used solely for drug interdiction, primarily in the Caribbean. Occasionally, some or all of the fleet was sent to the West Coast since about 50 percent of the drug interdiction has occurred in the eastern Pacific. Post 9-11, insofar as possible, these same eight armed helicopters have also assumed port and inland waterway security duties. Lakes Michigan and Superior form part of the Wisconsin border. Currently the air stations at Travers City, Michigan, and Detroit monitor the Great Lakes from Niagara Falls through Lake Superior. They are already stretched very thinly. To meet increased terrorist threats wherever they occur, the Coast Guard must rob Peter to pay Paul. The humanitarian aspect of the Coast Guard's mission is a constant, so it is imperative that they obtain more assets--ships, fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Since their introduction into the Coast Guard Inventory many years ago, the role of helicopters has expanded.”