The decline in operational hours has been the result of aging assets and the loss of 8 patrol boats deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Under the Coast Guards Deepwater modernization plan. this gap wont be closed until 2012 at the earliest. Funding in my amendment would enable the Coast Guard to purchase 2 additional patrol boats for a total of 5 in fiscal year 2007. This will provide the Coast Guard with 6.000 desperately needed Deepwater patrol boat hours in drug and migrant transit zones. Finally. my amendment includes $190 million for port security grants. which would bring fiscal year 2007 funding to $400 million. The Coast Guard estimates that $5.4 billion is needed through 2012 for security at our ports.