$8.7 Billion Coast Guard Budget Cleared

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<p>$8.7 Billion Coast Guard Budget Cleared</p>

<p>By TARA FEHR
Published on 9/16/2005</p>

<p>Washington –– The House of Representatives unanimously voted Thursday afternoon to authorize a budget of $8.7 billion for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2006.</p>

<p>The Coast Guard Academy in New London would receive $39.7 million for renovations of its cadet barracks.</p>

<p>The rest of the New London budget will be decided after Congress appropriates the money, the next step in the budget process, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Jolie Schifflet. </p>

<p>The Coast Guard is happy with Congress' effort, Schifflet said. “Congress has been very supportive over the past years for the Coast Guard, as has the administration,” she said. “I hope that will continue.”</p>

<p>Before the authorization vote Thursday, certain amendments stirred some controversy among the members.</p>

<p>Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., proposed an amendment that would ensure the safety of liquefied natural gas facilities, though the amendment failed 163-254. Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, a member of the Transportation Committee's Coast Guard subcommittee, voted yes.</p>

<p>This is important to Connecticut because one such facility has been proposed for the middle of the Long Island Sound.</p>

<p>“I supported it as a safety issue,” Simmons said. </p>

<p>Schifflet said $5.5 billion of the budget would go to operating expenses to be split as follows: 28 percent will go to coastal security, 13 percent for search and rescue, another 13 percent for drug interdiction, 16 percent for navigation and 30 percent for other expenditures.</p>

<p>$39.7 MM for barracks improvement. Darn, another beautiful, air conditioned barracks building that's not at West Point. ;)</p>

<p>This is really great news. The Coast Guard is getting so much positive attention, and deservedly so.</p>

<p>this should help CGA's ranking of #1 for worst dorms.</p>

<p>oh, and take THAT usmma forum section, 36-33 :)</p>

<p>Yes they are doing a wing at a time and air conditioning is part of the plan! Connecticut summers are also hot and humid! Even in Sept. this year.</p>

<p>when will they be done? probably not before i get there :(</p>

<p>They are doing a wing at a time, each year. Should be done sometime during your "stay."</p>