Session: State Capitol, Room 417 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2487 Toll Free: (800) 865-2487 Fax: (907) 465-4956 Interim: 112 Mill Bay Road Kodiak, AK 99615 Phone: (907) 486-8872 Fax: (907) 486-5264 (at LIO)

Coast Guard Needs Continued Federal Support

(JUNEAU)-The Alaska House unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday urging the United States Congress to fully fund the U.S. Coast Guard.

Since its inception over 200 years ago, the Coast Guard has served the United States in a number of ways: augmenting the Navy in times of war and protecting our waters from pollution, our borders from drug smuggling, our fisheries from over-harvesting. The combination of the Coast Guard's military structure, law enforcement authority and humanitarian functions make it a uniquely effective arm of our uniformed services.

The most visible function of the Coast Guard is its high seas search and rescue missions. With 6,640 miles of coastline, Alaska depends on the Coast Guard to help keep our recreational and professional sailors safe.

"Last year the Coast Guard conducted an average of 3 search and rescue missions each day in Alaska," said Sen. Alan Austerman (R-Kodiak), sponsor of the resolution. "They saved 225 Alaskan lives and assisted additional 1255 people in our state."

Studies have shown that commercial fishing is the most dangerous occupation in the United States, and in the 1980's Alaska lost an average of 40 fisherman a year to accidents at sea. Under the Coast Guard's safety activities, such as dock-side exams and at-sea boardings, the fatality rate has been cut by more than 75 percent. In 2000, only 7 fishermen lost their lives.

But recent budget deficits have put the agency that Alaskans count on so much in the position of having to scale back. In Juneau, law enforcement patrols are being cut back to save on fuel costs and the C-130 aircraft stationed on Kodiak will soon begin a 33 percent reduction in flight hours. Already, Coast Guard patrols across the country have logged 3,000 fewer hours in the air and 4,800 fewer hours at sea than if they had not faced a deficit.

Senate Joint Resolution 10 urges the Congress to fully fund the U.S. Coast Guard's operational readiness and recapitalization requirements to ensure that it will be able to continue protecting our shores and our people.

"As funding continues to be cut by Congress, Alaskans have to ensure that our congressional delegation and the White House know how important the Guard is to Alaska and this country," said Austerman.

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Attachments:

• Sponsor Statement for SJR 10
• Print Friendly Version
  requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 2 page(s) - 106 K

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