Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 5
CHAPTER 67
Relative to the United States Coast Guard.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 21, 2001.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 5, Strom-Martin.
United States Coast Guard.
This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United States to fully fund the Coast Guard’s operation readiness and recapitalization requirements.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The United States Coast Guard is a military, multimission, maritime service that has answered the calls of America continuously for over 210 years; and
WHEREAS, Over that history the Coast Guard’s roles as lifesavers and guardians of the sea have remained constant, while their missions have evolved and expanded with a growing nation; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard mission is to protect the American public’s most basic need, our safety and security, the environment, and our economy; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard responds to more than 50,000 calls for assistance and saves thousands of lives and billions of dollars in property; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard’s five operating goals: safety; protection of natural resources; mobility; maritime security; and national defense, define the focus of the Coast Guard’s service and enable it to touch everyone in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The goal of safety is pursued primarily through its search and rescue and marine safety missions; and
WHEREAS, No other government agency or private organization has the extensive inventory of assets and expertise to conduct search and rescue of both recreational boaters as well as commercial mariners, from the lakes, rivers, and nearshore areas to the high seas; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard provides the first line of defense in protecting the maritime environment through the marine safety program, ensuring the safe commercial transport of passengers, cargo, and oil through our waters, and by guarding our maritime borders from incursions from foreign fishing vessels; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard serves as a global model of efficient military, multimission, maritime service for the emerging coast guards of the world and helps friendly countries become positive forces of peace and stability, promoting democracy and the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, Coast Guard men and women are a highly motivated group of people who are committed to providing essential and valuable service to the American public; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard military structure, law enforcement authority, and humanitarian functions make the Coast Guard a unique arm of national security enabling it to support broad national goals; and
WHEREAS, The Coast Guard is well known for being the first to reach the scene when maritime disaster strikes, and continues to be tasked with protecting our waters from pollution, our borders from drug smuggling, and our fisheries from overharvest as well as additional assignments that stretch its people and resources thin; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State California urges the President and Congress of the United States to fully fund the Coast Guard’s operational readiness and recapitalization requirements to ensure this humanitarian arm of our National Security remains Semper Paratus through the 21st century; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States and all members of Congress of the United States.