Coast Guard modernization plan gets panel's backing

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a bill Thursday that would authorize $8.2 billion for the Coast Guard in fiscal 2006, including $1.1 billion for the service's Deepwater modernization program.

"Our men and women deserve quality assets," said Coast Guard Subcommittee Chairman Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. She said the Coast Guard's fleet of cutters is rapidly aging, as are its aircraft.

The committee voted 22-0 for the bill, which would authorize nearly $1 billion more in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2007 than President Bush requested. The bill calls for $8.8 billion in fiscal 2007.

The measure would authorize full funding for Deepwater. That authorization would increase to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2007. The Coast Guard estimated that by accelerating Deepwater to a 10- or 15-year timeline, there could be up to $4 billion in saved maintenance costs and better performance over the life of the program.

Snowe was disappointed by the Bush administration's proposal released in March to curtail the number of ships and aircraft in the program, saying it would compromise the service's overall mission. Deepwater would help support the nations' two remaining shipyards that build the Navy's larger surface ships in Maine and Mississippi.

There was little discussion of the bill. The committee approved, by voice vote, an amendment that would require Senate confirmation of Coast Guard officers above the rank of lieutenant commander. Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said that would make the Coast Guard procedures consistent with other services.

The Senate bill is similar to one passed last month by the House. That measure also calls for boosting the program to bring more ships on line.

The first of the new cutters is being built now at Ingalls Shipbuilding, in Pascagoula, Miss., and is to be delivered in 2006.

Snow said the authorization would allow the Coast Guard to also perform non-security tasks such as search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, and marine environmental protection, as well as fund the necessary missions related to ports, waterways and coastal security.

The bill also would: allow the Coast Guard to enforce provisions of the Maritime Transportation Security Act; continue safety training for both the commercial fishing industry and the recreational boating public; address joint training for foreign nations, which facilitate development of bilateral agreements to effectively combat trafficking of illegal narcotics; allow the Coast Guard to work with other federal agencies in developing plans to assist vessels in distress; and direct the Coast Guard to develop steps for better detecting and interdicting vessels that are violating fishing regulations.