2019 -- H 5135

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LC000709

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASS, AND

THE PRESIDENT SIGN, NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN JEFF VAN

DREW’S BILL TO FUND THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DURING THE

CURRENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Costantino, Corvese, Almeida, and
Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The United States Coast Guard is one of our nation's seven branches of the

Armed Forces. The Coast Guard plays a vital role within maritime home security, maritime law

enforcement, maritime patrol, search and rescue, and maritime environmental protection; and

     WHEREAS, The Coast Guard is perhaps most known for being the oldest search and

rescue organization in the world. Heroic Coast Guard personnel have saved countless lives

through the years and are the best friend, and hope, for those desperately needing aid and

assistance in American coastal waters. The Coast Guard also plays a key law enforcement role,

especially regarding the interdiction of illegal narcotics; and

     WHEREAS, In a typical day for the United States Coast Guard, they will conduct 109

search and rescue missions, save ten lives, assist 192 persons in distress, protect $2.8 million

dollars in United States property, and seize 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of cocaine;

and

     WHEREAS, The United States Coast Guard currently has 40,912 men and women on

active duty, 7,000 reservists, 31,000 auxiliarists, and 8,577 full-time civilian employees for a

combined workforce of 87,569. If something isn't done soon, these brave members of the Coast

Guard will not get paid and they and their families will face difficult times, with many unable to

pay their bills or put food on the table; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that the United States Congress pass, and the

President sign, Congressman Jeff Van Drew's bill to fund the United States Coast Guard during

the current federal government shutdown; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Donald J.

Trump, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, the United

States Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, and the Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation.

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LC000709

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