We recognize that in this years budget climate we cannot provide that growth. We must. however. insure that we provide sufficient funds to enable the Coast Guard to safely maintain its facilities and equipmenttrain and house its personneland fulfill its assigned missions to the greatest extent possible. The Coast Guards recent experiences in coping with the flood of refugees from Cuba to Florida graphically illustrate the nature of the agency we are providing funds for. The exodus of refugees started only a few days after the Coast Guard had prepared plans to limit routine operations in order to save fuel. The Cuban exodus has. of course. resulted in greatly increased fuel usage as the Coast Guard has had to call in ships and aircraft from all along the east and gulf coasts to cope with the drastic increases in search and rescue and law enforcement duties. Fuel costs will undoubtedly go up dramatically.
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