Still. the Coast Guard has proven to be a key to the newly created South Florida Task Force on Crime. chaired by Vice President BUSH. Although still in its first year of operation. the task force has made significant gains in controlling the overwhelming drug flow into the United States through Florida. In addition. the increase of patrol ships in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico has sharply reduced the illegal immigration of Cuban and Haitian refugees on the Florida coast. These accomplishments. in addition to those duties such as life and property saving search and rescue missions which are now almost taken for granted. have been met on an ever increasingly tight budget. One can only wonder how much greater an impact the Coast Guard would have on our Nations r .tofcontrol drug and refugee problems if it was provided with the necessary funds to maintain an adequate personnel level. carryout desperately needed equipment maintenance and replacement. and purchase fuel to increase patrol time on the sea and in the air. The legislation we consider today will provide a funding level of the Coast Guard which will meet its budgetary needs and will allow it to operate without the need for the service reductions it was forced to make this year. Mr.
Keywords matched
illegal immigration refugee refugees