Posted on 03/08/2017 6:07:16 PM PST by mdittmar
WASHINGTON, D.C. In a letter sent today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) led a bipartisan group of 23 senators urging Office of Management and Budget Administrator Mick Mulvaney not to make a $1.3 billion dollar cut to the budget of the United States Coast Guard. According to reports, the FY 2018 Presidential Budget Request could amount to almost 12 percent of the services budget being cut.
President Trump has committed to stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the country, protecting our borders, investing in national security, and improving support for our armed service members and their families. The Senators note that the Coast Guard plays an outsized role in all three of these areas and that the Coast Guard budget should be increased rather than gutted.
(Excerpt) Read more at murray.senate.gov ...
I know that at one point the United States had only one working icebreaker. I believe protecting our northern border is important too.
I see none of them have read his book.
Should “the wall” become highly effectine from Brownsville to San Diego, there will be more pressure on the Gulf of Mexica Coast. Not a tough prediction.
I like the coast guard and think it is a wonderful opportunity for young people.
I wonder if we build the wall are we going to start seeing more boat people from Central America coming ashore. Seems like we need a strong CG.
Let’s see what the USCG can do with 12% less money. Cutting that amount has been routine for businesses under Obama.
It’s called “tightening the belt”, government ought to try it sometime.
As far as the $1.3 billion haircut, I don't know why or what the plan might be. USCG has had funding issues for a long time. Need to see Kelly's ideas on this first.
Does the Coast Guard still fly border patrol? My moms uncle was stationed in El Paso Texas in the thirties. I’m sure things have changed since though.
Why doesn’t the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs merge into a United States Guard? Ditto for the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S Marshals, which should become the Federal Law Enforcement Agency (FLEA).
USCG is a vital element in the US National Defense posture, and should be considered for budget increases vice cuts.
USCG is kinda like the USMC in that they get a lot done with minimal assets. President Trump would be well advised to tread carefully and ensure that his administration does not reduce USCG funding without some VERY careful consideration.
Make a deal with these guys. I will restore the Coast Guard budget but I will take the money out of the EPA budget.
No they can't! First for the one that stated USCG is DOD, it is not. It is part of homeland security. My niece has been in the coast Guard close to ten years with an E-5 frozen rank the last several years. She is high on her scores and is a Machinist Mate. Rank is just not available because of the severe cuts the Coast Guard has received under Homeland security. Ships and boats are dry docked for parts not available until the next budget cycle.She has completed requirements for time aboard ship serving in Hawaii on patrol boats and cutters, and Alaska where she was involved in some of the most dangerous rescues. I know, I was up with her at night on the phone after some of them.
It’s been going on for years already. Boats used to sail into Catalina island where they had a Mexican consulate set up in a Catholic Church which would issue ID. Probably still going on, they just sail into San Pedro or LA harbor.
I think these may be NOAA cuts related to climate change nonsense.
Everyone wants to cut, until the cutting starts.
Then one segment of our society or another has a pet project you’re not supposed to touch.
Pretty soon you’re back to where you started, no cuts, and talking about needing to start making cuts.
I hope we don’t get into that crap again.
I imagine PRESIDENT Trump has heard some of the Coast Guard PSAs on talk radio that I have. According to the PSAs, the Coast Guard is “savin’ da enviomen”. Pisses me off. OTOH, it is my humble opinion that Coast Guard Rescue has some of the finest helicopter pilots around. To me, Coast Guard rescue, aviation and marine, are some awesome dudes.
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