Date: 2014-04-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Commandant Papp is a great American. He has been a friend to not only those of us in the United States Congress who are on the responsible committees. but he has been a friend to his men and women that serve in the United States Coast Guard. Commandant Papp. we salute you for your grand service and look forward to your continued service to America. but more importantly. we owe you a great deal of respect and honor. Thank you so very much. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak with reservations regarding the consideration of H.R. 4005. the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act under a suspension because the bill establishes appropriations limits. reduces the number of commissioned officers. alters the mission of Coast Guard Centers. and did not come before the Homeland Security Committee under a sequential referral. The bill before the House accomplishes several goals that may have been shared by the House Transportation Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security. but it also addresses areas that should have had more deliberation before coming to the House Floor for a vote with no opportunity to amend the legislation. On February 11. 2014. as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Securitys Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. I joined Ranking Member of the Full Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson in writing to urge a sequential referral of H.R. 4005. the "Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014." We were disappointed with the decision of the Homeland Securitys Chair and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security to waive the Committees right to a sequential referral of this important homeland security legislation. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is charged with port. waterway. and coastal security. putting them on the forefront of defending the Nations maritime borders. On March 25. 2014. I participated in the hearing held by the Homeland Securitys Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness. Response. and Communication when FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate testified. One of the provisions of H.R. 4005 would prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from making a determination that a waterway is navigable for purposes of the Coast Guards jurisdiction without conducting a rulemaking under appropriate administrative procedures. This provision of H.R. 4005 could have huge repercussions in an emergency related to a waterways safety. I raised the issue with Administrator Fugate regarding the critical role of the Coast Guard in making sure that our ports and waterways are navigable because of the 168.000 gallons of oil spilled due to a tugboat accident into the Port of Houston which led to a shutdown. The Port of Houston is critical infrastructure: According to the Department of Commerce in 2012. Texas exports totaled $265 billion. The Port of Houston is a 25milelong complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. In 2012 ship channelrelated businesses contribute 1.026.820 jobs and generate more than $178.5 billion in statewide economic impact. For the past 11 consecutive years. Texas has outpaced the rest of the country in exports. First ranked U.S. port in foreign tonnage. Second ranked U.S. port in total tonnage. Seventh ranked U.S. container port by total TEUs in 2012. Largest Texas port with 46 percent of market share by tonnage. Largest Texas container port with 96 percent market share in containers by total TEUs in 2012. Largest Gulf Coast container port. handling 67 percent of U.S. Gulf Coast container traffic in 2012. Second ranked U.S. port in terms of cargo value (based on CBP Customs port definitions). The Government Accountability Office (GAO). reports that this port. and its waterways. and vessels are part of an economic engine handling more than $700 billion in merchandise annually. The Port of Houston houses approximately 100 steamship lines offering services that link Houston with 1.053 ports in 203 countries. The Port of Houston has $15 billion petrochemical complex. the largest in the nation and second largest worldwide. The bill does establish rules for the Coast Guard engaging in ice patrol agreements with other nations and the need to establish reimbursement agreements prior to the commitment of resources in ice patrols. The bill provides for compensation of ship owners and operators who provide necessary support to seafarers paroled into the United States to facilitate investigations. reporting. documentation. or adjudications. The bill also addresses the definition of "highrisk waters." for the purpose of determining when owners and operators of U.S. vessels carrying governmentimpelled cargo are to be reimbursed for the cost of providing armed onboard safety personnel. Since being established as a standing committee in the 109th Congress. the Homeland Security Committee has failed to receive a referral of a bill authorizing the Coast Guard only during periods of Republican control of the House of Representatives. In contrast. during the 110th and 111th Congresses. during our time in the Majority. we insisted that both bills authorizing the Coast Guard be referred to the Committee. Given the critical role the Coast Guard plays in ensuring the security of our ports and maritime system the Homeland Security Committee should never waive its right to consider legislation directly related to homeland security. The Committee on Homeland Security had no chance to provide valuable input in the drafting of H.R. 4005. H.R. 4005. is an important bill that should have had the attention of the House Committee on Homeland Security. and if not members should have had an opportunity to offer amendments during full House Consideration of the bill.