As a member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, I had an opportunity to consider carefully a multitude of ideas and concepts about the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. We heard testimony from Governor Tom Ridge, current director of the Homeland Security Administration, the directors of the FBI and CIA, and other security experts. They all shed light on the problems that have impaired our ability to defend our homeland, and on the threats that will challenge us in the future.
During the Committee's consideration of this bill, I expressed concern that, in our efforts to create a new Department, we also protect the roles of institutions and agencies that are important to America's economic and social fabric. In particular, I believe the Coast Guard's traditional functions — such as search and rescue and marine resource protection — must be protected and maintained.
Since the attacks of September 11th, the Coast Guard has focused the majority of its efforts on homeland security. I have no doubt that the Coast Guard plays an essential role in homeland security, and I believe that it should play a leading role in the new Department.
I am concerned, however, that, if the current resource allocation is maintained, and the Coast Guard assumes even more responsibilities, its traditional missions could be sacrificed. For example, prior to September 11th, port security accounted for approximately two percent of the Coast Guard's resources. Immediately following the terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard deployed 59 percent of its resources to port safety and security missions. As a result, many of the aircraft and vessels used for search and rescue were removed from their optimal locations for such tasks. In addition, from April through June of this year, the Coast Guard devoted nine percent fewer hours to search and rescue missions.
For the citizens of Maine, this is a matter of life and death. The Coast Guard performs more than 300 search and rescue missions off the coast of Maine each year. Since October 1999, 14 fishermen have lost their lives off the coast of Maine. Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous of occupations. How many more fisherman or recreational boaters would have died or been injured if the nearest Coast Guard vessel were not available? Nationwide last year, the Coast Guard performed over 39,000 search and rescue missions and saved more than 4,000 lives. On a typical day, the Coast Guard interdicts and rescues 14 illegal immigrants, inspects and repairs 135 buoys, helps over 2,500 commercial ships navigate into and out of U.S. ports, and saves ten lives. I agree that the Coast Guard must perform homeland security functions. But it is critically important that its traditional missions not be jeopardized.
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and I addressed these concerns through a successful amendment to the Homeland Security bill to preserve the traditional functions of the Coast Guard. Our amendment establishes the right balance between the homeland security functions and the traditional missions of the Coast Guard. It ensures that the Coast Guard's non-homeland security functions shall be maintained after its transfer into the new Department, and provides for flexibility to help ensure our national security. It also has the Commandant of the Coast Guard report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The amendment will help protect our coastal communities' economies, way of life, and loved ones, while Americans, wherever they live, can rest assured that the Coast Guard will perform its necessary and vital homeland security functions.