Nick Rahall: “I thank the subcommittee ranking member, the gentleman from Washington, for yielding me the time. In recognition of the…”

“I thank the subcommittee ranking member, the gentleman from Washington, for yielding me the time. In recognition of the tradition of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to annually move bills to reauthorize the Coast Guard and the indispensable services it provides to the Nation, I am inclined to support this effort if it will improve the condition and readiness of the Coast Guard. My home State of West Virginia may not be a coastal State; but our many stakeholders who use our inland waterways, such as shippers, tug and barge operators, and recreational boaters, appreciate the services provided by the Coast Guard, our guardians of the sea. For example, the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, handles the processing and approval of all mariner credentials for roughly a quarter million mariners. Additionally, the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit Huntington, located in Barboursville, West Virginia, inspects vessels, conducts casualty investigations, and ensures port security along the Ohio River and other navigable waterways. These and other vital services provided by the Coast Guard directly support our maritime commerce, which is critical to the future economic health of our country. Yet despite widespread acknowledgment of its importance, the Coast Guard has rarely received sufficient resources to accomplish its many complex missions.…”