AUXILIARY PATROL & VESSEL FACTORY VISIT ASSISTANCE Question: How is the Auxiliary assisting the Coast Guard with its safety and security patrols and its vessel factory visits? Answer: In 1997 the Auxiliary performed over 27,000 surface patrols and 1,600 air patrols, for a total of over 187,000 patrol hours. This patrol effort allows regular Coast Guard forces to focus on higher priority missions. Auxiliary patrol resources also allow the Coast Guard to expand its safety "umbrella" over a wider segment of the boating population at a very low cost. The feasibility of using the Auxiliary in a vessel factory visit program is currently being evaluated. A decision as to whether or not to proceed with full development of such a program should be reached later this year. REPORT ON COAST GUARD RESERVE REQUIREMENTS Question: During the Subcommittee's March 4th hearing on the President's Fiscal year 1999 Budget request, Representative Coble asked the Commandant a question about the low number of Coast Guard Reservists, and their ability to man the Coast Guard's port security units. Admiral Kramek responded that he had sent a letter to the administration stating that the Coast Guard needs 12,300 reservists to man its port security units in case of a total military mobilization. Please provide the Subcommittee a copy of this letter. Answer: There is no Administration-approved report that indicates that the Coast Guard requires 12,300 Selected Reservists. However, the Coast Guard study, A Unique National Security Asset: Roles and Missions of the Coast Guard Reserve, initiated at the request of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) indicates that the Coast Guard would require 12,293 Selected Reservists under a scenario of two Major Theater Wars and a domestic emergency. ADDITIONS TO THE RECORD THE FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION Statement of the Fleet Reserve Association House Subcommittee on Coast Guard CERTIFICATION OF NON-RECEIPT Pursuant to the requirements of House Rule XI, the Fleet Reserve Association has not received any federal grant or contract during the current fiscal year or either of the two previous fiscal years. INTRODUCTION Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Subcommittee: The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) wishes to express its sincere appreciation for the opportunity to present its position on the Fiscal Year 1999 Coast Guard Budget. The FRA was founded in 1922 and now represents nearly 160,000 active duty, reserve, and retired members of the Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps. In recognition for its work on personnel issues so important to the men and women serving in our Nation's uniformed services, the association was granted a Federal Charter by Congress in 1996. In keeping with the Association's mission, personnel issues are the focus of this statement. THE COAST GUARD'S SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY The United States Coast Guard provides invaluable service to our country and offers a tremendous return each year on the taxpayer's investment. Although largely unnoticed and often unpublicized, these services include saving thousands of lives and assisting tens of thousands in distress; saving and protecting billions of dollars worth of property; preventing drugs from entering our country; intercepting illegal immigrants; maintaining over 50,000 aids to navigation; performing merchant ship inspections and licensing 36,000 merchant mariners. In addition, the Coast Guard is active in responding to thousands of water pollution reports and supervising hundreds of oil and chemical spills. Because of this tremendous service to our country, FRA strongly supports full funding of the Coast Guard at the level |