R 036
2019 -- H 5135
Enacted 01/16/2019

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
Date Introduced: January 16, 2019

     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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