An Overview Of The U S Coast Guard S Missions

An overview of the U.S. Coast Guard's missions : hearing before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, first session, April 15, 2015.

The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five Armed Forces of the United States and the only military organisation within the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard protects against hazards to people, maritime commerce, and the environment, defends our maritime borders, and saves those in peril. It responds quickly to disasters to restore the Nation's waterways and promotes resiliency of the Maritime Transportation System. When called upon, it defends the nation at home and abroad alongside the other Armed Forces. In the heartland, in the ports, on the seas, and around the globe, the Coast Guard is "Here to Protect, Ready to Rescue." This book explores and describes the fundamental roles and forces of today's Coast Guard while tracing its history and how the Coast Guard acquired its diverse mission set.

The United States has enduring national and strategic interests in the polar regions, including citizens living above the Arctic circle and three year-round scientific stations in the Antarctic. Polar icebreaking ships are needed to access both regions. Over the past several decades, the U.S. government has supported a fleet of four icebreakersâ€"three multi-mission U.S. Coast Guard ships (the POLAR SEA, POLAR STAR, and HEALY) and the National Science Foundation's PALMER, which is dedicated solely to scientific research. Today, the POLAR STAR and the POLAR SEA are at the end of their service lives, and a lack of funds and no plans for an extension of the program has put U.S. icebreaking capability at risk. This report concludes that the United States should continue to support its interests in the Arctic and Antarctic for multiple missions, including maintaining leadership in polar science. The report recommends that the United States immediately program, budget, design, and construct two new polar icebreakers to be operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The POLAR SEA should remain mission capable and the POLAR STAR should remain available for reactivation until the new polar icebreakers enter service. The U.S. Coast Guard should be provided sufficient operations and maintenance budget to support an increased, regular, and influential presence in the Arctic, with support from other agencies. The report also calls for a Presidential Decision Directive to clearly align agency responsibilities and budgetary authorities.

Since its original printing in 2002, Pub 1 has served as the Coast Guard's capstone doctrinal publication. It defines its principles and culture. It describes its history, missions, purpose, and ethos. It communicates who and what the Coast Guard is and how it accomplishes its missions. This May 2009 update includes data on roles and missions, forces, historic evolution, and values.