House Subcommittee On The Coast News

On May 23rd at the National Press Club in Washington DC, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA)  and IHS Fairplay will be hosting a dinner to commemorate National Maritime Day, which is held on May 22nd to honor merchant mariners. At this dinner, the 2010 AMVER (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System) Award recipients will receive recognition for their service from Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and Coast Guard Commandant Robert Papp. The evening begins at 6:00PM with a reception. The genesis of the Amver system ultimately finds its roots in the RMS TITANIC disaster in 1912.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7) congratulated VADM Robert J. Papp Jr., President Obama’s choice to become the next Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. If he is confirmed by the Senate, Papp would replace Admiral Thad Allen as the 24th Commandant of the Coast Guard in May 2010. Cummings, in his role as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, congratulated Papp and said he looked forward to helping him continue to move the Coast Guard into the future. “Admiral Allen and I have a great working relationship,” said Cummings. “I look forward to having a similar relationship with Vice Admiral Papp. This is an important time for the agency tasked with protecting our nation’s coasts and waterways.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7) offered his congratulations this week to United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral (lower half) Sandy Stosz, on the occasion of her promotion to that rank. Stosz, who is from Ellicott City, in the Seventh District, is the first female graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to be selected for promotion to flag rank. As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman Cummings took particular pride in the promotion of RADM Stosz. “This is a wonderful time for Sandy Stosz and her family,” said Congressman Cummings. “Other women have excelled in service to our nation and have attained a flag officer rank.

Implementation of the U.S. Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize over 90 ships and 200 aircraft used in its offshore missions - including drug and migrant interdiction, homeland security and fisheries law enforcement - will be the topic of a Congressional oversight hearing on Wednesday. The hearing by the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20th in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. - Admiral Thomas A. Accompanied by Rear Admiral Patrick M. The Coast Guard began planning a recapitalization program to replace existing deepwater-capable assets in 1996.

Legislation to amend and improve laws relating to the U.S. Coast Guard and maritime transportation will be the subject of a Congressional hearing on Thursday. The legislation, the Coast Guard Amendments of 2005, has not yet been introduced in the U.S. House. The hearing by the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 12th in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Mr. Calvin M. Lederer, Deputy Judge Advocate General of the United States Coast Guard, will testify at Thursday’s hearing. Section 101 redefines “navigable waters of the United States” to include territorial waters out to 12 nautical miles from shore…