The 21st century promises continued demand for the services the Coast Guard provides. America s interconnection to the rest of the world will magnify the importance of an efficient and safe marine transportation system, of security from terrorist attack and criminal enterprises, of protection of living marine resources and the marine environment, and of the continued preservation of our national liberty. The maritime dimensions to the threats that will challenge our peace and tranquility in those areas are real, growing, and clearly Coast Guard business. Performance Throughout our history, Coast Guard men and women active duty, reserve, civilians, and auxiliarists have performed superbly in responding to expanding roles and increasing operational tempo. Over time, our blend of military, multimission, and maritime character and competencies have yielded adaptable and capable service to the American public.
Today is no exception.
Our exemplary performance record extends beyond operations to proactive leadership in enhancing the way government does business. In fact, the Coast Guard may represent one of the taxpayers best investments, and we have invited scrutiny by holding ourselves accountable for quantifiable performance measures across a broad mission spectrum. In fact, Government Executive magazine recently published a segment of the 1999 Government Performance Project in which the Coast Guard was rated at the top of those federal agencies analyzed in the survey. Despite the superb performance of Coast Guard men and women, there are serious concerns about our ability to maintain our performance now and in the future. We have too frequently met our growing operational needs by artificially sustaining high levels of perform-ance, accepting cumulative increases in operational requirements, and by working harder without commensurate increases in capabilities or resources.