Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Florida Government & Politics

Marco Rubio’s, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell‘s ‘Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act’ Included in NDAA

Rubio and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, brought out the “Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act” in July 2019. Pairing up with U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., brought out the House version in June 2019. 

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., were able to get their proposal to help the Coast Guard clear its infrastructure backlog included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Rubio and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, brought out the “Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act” in July 2019. Pairing up with U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., brought out the House version in June 2019.

Pointing to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which showed a project backlog of $2.6 billion and which found that 45 percent of shoreside assets have exceeded their service lives, the two representatives insisted the bill would help alleviate those problems. The bill would have the Coast Guard commandant create a plan to “standardize Coast Guard facility assessments, establish baseline measurements to track effectiveness of maintenance and repair investments, and implement the GAO’s recommendations to better manage its maintenance projects.

“Florida is home to four Coast Guard Sectors and multiple units, including stations, equipped with shore infrastructure assets that are vital to executing Coast Guard missions,” Rubio said when he introduced the bill. “This legislation seeks to address the Coast Guard’s maintenance backlog, which includes construction and improvements to facilities damaged by recent hurricanes. We must ensure that this critical infrastructure is up to par to support our servicemen and women who are always ready to protect our nation.”

“The brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do an amazing job protecting the homeland day in and day out and often on a moment’s notice, in some of the toughest conditions,” Sullivan said. “By implementing the GAO’s recommendations proposed in this bill, we can ensure that our Coast Guard’s shore side infrastructure is up to the standards these men and women deserve and need to effectively serve our nation.”

“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to standardize maintenance of Coast Guard installations as we prepare to bring our national defense to the 21st century and combat the effects of climate change at home,” said Mucarsel-Powell when she introduced her bill. “At U.S. Coast Guard stations in my district, Coast Guard members spend off-duty time doing repairs and maintenance on their station – instead of resting and preparing for their next assignment. The infrastructure maintenance backlog is hurting our Coast Guard’s readiness and making us less secure, and I’m pleased that we can tackle this serious issue on a bipartisan basis.”

“America’s prosperity, security and future rely on the global economic advantage of our maritime transportation system – and that system depends on the Coast Guard and its partnership with industry to keep waterborne commerce moving safely and efficiently,” said Graves. “With an aging fleet and facilities that are falling apart, the Coast Guard’s readiness is jeopardized. This solution just makes sense – we can save taxpayers money and keep our Coasties focused on delivering the services our economy and national security depend upon.”

Mucarsel-Powell took to the House floor in the summer of 2019 to urge its passage when it was included in the Coast Guard Authorization Act.

“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 project backlog, and 45 percent of its assets have exceeded their service lives,” she said. “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,” she added. “Passing this bill will help ensure America’s security, the success of our Coast Guard, and the well-being of our service members.”

Despite President Donald Trump’s veto threat, the House passed the NDAA last week with Mucarsel-Powell’s proposal included in it.

“It has been an honor to serve as an NDAA conferee and oversee negotiations to get this fundamental legislation over the finish line. This bipartisan, bicameral agreement gives a much-deserved pay raise to our troops, bolsters our national security, and includes my legislation to strengthen the Coast Guard that dutifully protects Florida’s coastline,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “I urge the president to end his threats to veto the NDAA, which has been passed on a bipartisan basis every year for 59 years and is essential to keeping our nation secure.”

Mucarsel-Powell was defeated by Carlos Giminez in last month’s election.

 

Reach Kevin Derby at [email protected].

 

Author

  • Kevin Derby

    Originally from Jacksonville, Kevin Derby is a contributing writer for Florida Daily and covers politics across Florida.

    View all posts

Archives

Related Articles

Opinion

Op-Ed by Jim Farley President Donald Trump won Florida in the 2024 election by more than 13 points. With nearly 1.5 million more votes...

Political News

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to abolish the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Below is an overview of recent votes of involving...

Political News

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) and U.S. Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07), co-chairs of the Congressional DOGE Caucus, introduced H.R. 2006, the Department of Government...

Education News

 U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump‘s executive order aimed at “dismantling the U.S. Department of...

Advertisement
Florida Daily
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

HOW WE COLLECT E-MAIL INFORMATION:

If you sign up to subscribe to Florida Daily’s e-mail newsletter, you will provide us your e-mail address and name, voluntarily, and we will never obtain any of your contact information that you don’t voluntarily provide.

HOW WE USE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS IF YOU VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE IT TO US:

If you voluntarily provide us with your name and email address, we will use it to send you one email update per weekday. Your email address will not be given to any third parties.

YOUR CONTROLS:

You will have the option to unsubscribe to our E-mail update at anytime by clicking an unsubscribe link that will be provided in each E-Mail we send.