In the wake of Hurricane Katrina. we have seen how much our country relies on our Coast Guard. Currently. there are 2.400 Coast Guard members on the ground working on rescue and recovery efforts in the gulf coast. and to date they have saved over 33.000 lives. The Coast Guards contribution to disaster response is extremely valuable. and it is only one part of what the Coast Guards broad mission is. which includes port. waterways and coastal security. recreational boater safety. search and rescue. illegal drug and migrant interdiction. aids to navigation. and the protection of our natural resources. In the last couple of years. the Coast Guard security mission has grown exponentially as they work to secure our Nations ports. our ships. and the cargo. But despite these growing responsibilities. the Coast Guards authorized active duty personnel level is the same as it was in the early 1990s.