III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 137 

Honoring the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman program on 

Ombudsman Appreciation Day. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2023 

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. CRUZ, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. SULLIVAN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman 

program on Ombudsman Appreciation Day. 

Whereas the Coast Guard Ombudsman program was formally 

established by Admiral James S. Gracey, the 17th Commandant of the Coast Guard, to provide a link between 

the Coast Guard command and Coast Guard families 

through the engagement of spouses of members of the 

Coast Guard; 

Whereas the leadership of Wanda Allen-Yearout for over 36 

years helped establish and shape the Coast Guard Ombudsman program into the robust volunteer force it is 

today; 

Whereas Ombudsman Appreciation Day is celebrated on 

March 26, 2023, to honor Coast Guard ombudsmen for 


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•SRES 137 ATS 

the dedicated service they provide to the mission-ready 

workforce of the Coast Guard; 

Whereas Coast Guard ombudsmen serve as volunteers— 

(1) providing information and referral resources; and 

(2) acting as advocates for the families of members 

of the Coast Guard; 

Whereas the selfless Coast Guard ombudsmen volunteers are 

essential to the success of the Coast Guard, supporting 

families to enable service members and service commands 

to focus on mission requirements; 

Whereas, in 2022, Coast Guard service members were helping 

the public and carrying out missions, and ombudsmen 

across the Coast Guard were helping by making over 

350,000 contacts with, and volunteering more than 

13,000 hours to assist, Coast Guard families; 

Whereas, recognizing that military service involves sacrifices 

and difficulties with separation from family, frequent 

moves, new schools, and long distances from loved ones, 

Coast Guard ombudsmen respond to ensure military families are not alone by providing vital information to facilitate the transitions of those families to new assignments 

and to overcome family challenges; 

Whereas Coast Guard ombudsmen were vital to supporting 

family members after the terrorist attacks on September 

11th, 2001, the most extensive organizational transformation of the Coast Guard since World War II; 

Whereas, as the Coast Guard responded to and rescued displaced people during Hurricane Katrina, Coast Guard 

ombudsmen, often consisting of spouses of Coast Guard 

rescuers and hurricane evacuees— 

(1) tracked and accounted for Coast Guard families; 


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(2) rendered assistance; and 

(3) communicated vital evacuation information; 

Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic, Coast Guard ombudsmen recognized challenges and ensured the operational readiness of the Coast Guard was maintained by 

providing direct support to Coast Guard families; and 

Whereas, by volunteering on the home front, being available 

for Coast Guard families, and helping Coast Guard families obtain the resources and information necessary for 

success, Coast Guard ombudsmen help ensure that members of the Coast Guard and their families remain ‘‘Always Ready’’ to meet the needs of the United States: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates Ombudsman Appreciation Day 

3 and Coast Guard ombudsmen on March 26, 2023; 

4 (2) is grateful to the women and men who vol5 unteer their time as Coast Guard ombudsmen to as6 sist the families of members of the Coast Guard; 

7 and 

8 (3) congratulates the volunteers of the Coast 

9 Guard Ombudsman program on 37 years of service. 

Æ 


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