Mucarsel-Powell Lauds Bipartisan Reauthorization of Coast Guard, Tackles Backlog of Shore Infrastructure Maintenance

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, lauded passage of bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3409) to reauthorize, strengthen, and support the U.S. Coast Guard in its critical missions to save lives, safeguard our shores, protect living marine resources, and help ensure a 21st century maritime transportation system.

H.R. 3409 includes the Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act, legislation Mucarsel-Powell and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (LA-06) introduced to help reduce and better manage the serious maintenance backlog for Coast Guard shore infrastructure. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced companion legislation (S. 2212) in the Senate.

Mucarsel-Powell delivered the following statements in support of the reauthorization:

I rise in support of this bill, which incorporates the Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act that I introduced with Representative Garret Graves of Louisiana. It directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to tackle the maintenance backlog of its shore infrastructure. The Coast Guard currently has a 2.6 billion dollar project backlog, and 45% of its assets have exceeded their service lives.

We must rebuild our Coast Guard in a strategic way – one that accounts for stronger storms that will only worsen with climate change. This bill will ensure that the Coast Guard has the processes in place to carry out crucial shore infrastructure repairs.

Coasties often spend their personal time working on infrastructure improvements. It is unacceptable that they have to sacrifice their rest and family time to repair crumbling buildings.

Passing this bill will help ensure America’s security, the success of our Coast Guard, and the well-being of our servicemembers.

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