The Honorable Richard B. Cheney
President of the Senate                                      July 25, 2001
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. President:

     I am pleased to transmit for introduction and referral to the appropriate committees a bill

            "To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes."

     This legislative proposal, entitled the “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2001,” implements the President’s budget for the current fiscal year and, importantly, for fiscal year 2002.  It supports the President’s initiative to fully fund the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act and the Coast Guard’s recapitalization of vessels and aircraft fleets, information resource management systems, shore facilities, and aids to navigation.  This includes $338 million for 2002 for the deepwater capability replacement, which will fund the initial phase of the full production contracts for the development of an integrated system of assets to carry out Coast Guard’s deepwater missions.

     This proposed Coast Guard authorization legislation would improve Coast Guard personnel management, improve financial and property management, and enhance law enforcement and marine safety and environmental protection.

     Title I fulfills the President's budget by authorizing the funds and personnel levels necessary for the Coast Guard to conduct its vital missions, such as search and rescue, illegal drug and migrant interdiction, environmental protection, promotion of safe and efficient commercial navigation, fisheries enforcement, and national defense, while serving the public as efficiently and economically as possible. Title II significantly enhances Coast Guard personnel management and improves the Coast Guard's ability to efficiently manage its financial and property resources. Title III promotes law enforcement, marine safety, and environmental protection. Provisions contained in Title III will strengthen protections for recreational boaters by increasing the recall period for recreational vessels and associated equipment and enhancing the penalties for violating boating safety standards for failing to follow statutory recall provisions. Title IV would amend the statutes governing seven Coast Guard advisory committees to extend their termination dates and to clarify the coordination role of the Commandant in the appointment of their members.

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    The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection, from the standpoint of the Administration's program, to the submission of this proposed legislation to Congress, and that its enactment would be in accord with the President's program.

      I recommend that the proposed legislation be enacted by Congress.

Sincerely yours,

 

 

 

/s/

 

                                                                                                Norman Y. Mineta

 

 

2 Attachments

      Identical letter to the Speaker of the House

      Draft Bill (bill text, comparative type, and section-by-section analysis