Big Steps for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2006
By Tara Fehr
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 – The House of Representatives unanimously voted Thursday afternoon to authorize a budget of $8.7 billion for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2006.
The Coast Guard Academy in New London would receive $39.7 million for renovations of its cadet barracks.
The rest of the New London budget will be decided after Congress appropriates the money, the next step in the budget process, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Jolie Schifflet.
The Coast Guard is happy with Congress’ effort, Schifflet said.
“Congress has been very supportive over the past years for the Coast Guard, as has the administration,” she said. “I hope that will continue.”
Before the authorization vote Thursday, certain amendments stirred some controversy among the members.
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., proposed an amendment that would ensure the safety of liquefied natural gas facilities, though the amendment failed 163-254. Rep. Robert Simmons, R-Conn., a member of the transportation committee’s Coast Guard subcomittee, voted yes.
This is important to Connecticut because one such facility sits in the middle of the Long Island Sound.
“I supported it as a safety issue,” Simmons said.
Schifflet said $5.5 billion of the budget would go to operating expenses to be split as follows: 28 percent will go to coastal security, 13 percent for search and rescue, another 13 percent for drug interdiction, 16 percent for navigation and 30 percent for other expenditures.
###
