Recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes.

I thank the gentleman.

I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 1062, which recognizes Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest. And I thank the gentleman for his service in Coast Guard Group Astoria, his personal service. I want to welcome him back to Oregon any time he chooses to come.

For more than six decades, Coast Guard Group Astoria has served the people of Oregon and Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The 325 men and women of Group Astoria are responsible for patrolling more than 140 miles of coastline, stretching from Queets, Washington, to Pacific City, Oregon, one of the most dangerous and beautiful expanses of water in the world.

The group is compromised of Station Grays Harbor in Westport, Washington; Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington; Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, Oregon; Aids-to-Navigation Team Astoria at Tongue Point, Oregon; and Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, Oregon.

Group Astoria carries out a diverse set of missions, from search and rescue to law enforcement, and from environmental protection to aids to navigation maintenance, but its contributions to our community do not end there. Coast Guard members are also responsible for homeland security functions vital to our national defense. Moreover, Group Astoria personnel are ever-present sentinels guarding our coastal waterways and enabling the safe and steady flow of both commercial and recreational traffic.

I want to add as a personal note that I deeply appreciate the community service and community contributions of the many individuals in Coast Guard Group Astoria that I have known over the past years.

Group Astoria continues to embody the Coast Guard's motto, ``Semper Paratus,'' always ready, each and every day. These men and women risk their lives to ensure that those who venture to sea return home and return home safely.

Each year, Coast Guard Group Astoria responds to roughly 800 search- and-rescue calls for help, assists more than 1,700 mariners, and saves nearly 100 lives. They do so in all types of weather and amid the many challenges of our harsh and beautiful coastline.

One effort in particular stands out in my mind, not only for its heroism but also for the way that it lifted the spirits of all of those affected: in December 2007, Oregon was hit by a winter storm with hurricane-force winds in excess of 130 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power in thousands of homes in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and communication in many areas was completely cut off.

Of the many heroes who distinguished themselves that week, the Coast Guard ranks amongst the most courageous. For instance, Coast Guard Air Station Astoria helicopter crews rescued over 130 people trapped by flooding in Chehalis, Washington. In my personal visit there a day or two after the storm, I met one of the rescue divers. He didn't tell me the story, but his colleagues did.

With high winds blowing, he was dropped in the water near Chehalis. There was a residential structure there, a home there. Not only were the lights still on and electricity still flowing to that house, but there was sheet metal flapping in a very strong wind there. At great risk to himself, ignoring the hazard posed by flying sheet metal, he entered this home and found an elderly gentleman lying on a floating couch inside a flooded room. It takes a lot of courage to enter structures like that, which is to do the right thing and to bring the citizens of Oregon and Washington to safety.

For their extraordinary heroism, many of the aircrews involved in these December 2007 rescues were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Group Astoria's bravery during that storm is just one example of its service to Oregon's north coast. It illustrates the selflessness and the professionalism that gives Group Astoria its reputation.

Madam Speaker, it is right and fitting that we should recognize Coast Guard Group Astoria's service to the Pacific Northwest. These brave men and women give so much to their fellow Americans, and they ask so little in return.

At this time, I would like to specifically recognize the leadership of Captain Peter Troedsson, who commanded Group Astoria during the 2007 winter storm, as well as Captain Doug Kaup, Group Astoria's current commander.

I am grateful for Coast Guard Group Astoria's service, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their ongoing efforts in protecting the people of the Pacific Northwest. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1062.

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, April 15, 2010, I was away from this House on a matter dealing with constituency and official business regarding NASA, and I would like to submit into the Record the following votes if I had been present.

On rollcall vote 204, on agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 1248. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 205, on a motion to suspend the rules on resolution, H. Res. 1062. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 206, on a motion to refer the resolution, H. Res. 1255. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 207, on agreeing to the amendment, H.R. 4715, the Shea- Porter of New Hampshire amendment. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 208, on a motion to recommit, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 209, on the final passage of H.R. 4715, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 210, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to resolution, H. Res. 1242, congratulating Duke University. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 211, H.R. 4851, on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment H.R. 4851, continuing the extension of unemployment benefits. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the Chair regarding my absence from rollcall votes 204-211 on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to cast my votes during rollcall 204-211 on last Thursday because I was away working to save jobs for the American people. I would like to state for the record how I would have voted had I been present.

For rollcall vote 204, on agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 1248, ``Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4715), Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 205, on motion to suspend the rules and agree as amended, H. Res. 1062, ``Recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astorias' more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 206, on motion to refer the resolution, H. Res. 1255, ``Raising a question of the privileges of the House,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 207, on agreeing to the amendment, H.R. 4715, ``Shea-Porter of New Hampshire Amendment,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 208, on motion to recommit with instructions, ``To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted no;

For rollcall 209 on passage of H.R. 4715, ``To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 210 on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1242, ``Congratulating the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 211, H.R. 4851 on motion to concur in the Senate Amendment H.R. 4851, ``Continuing Extension Act,'' I would have voted aye.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1062) recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1062.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise in very strong support of H. Res. 1062 offered by Congressman Wu. This resolution recognizes the Coast Guard Group Astoria for the more than 60 years of service it has provided to the Pacific Northwest.

Founded in 1948, Group Astoria is today comprised of Station Grays Harbor in Westport, Washington; Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington; Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, Oregon; Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, Oregon; and Aids to Navigation Team Astoria at Tongue Point, Oregon.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Wu.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, let me associate myself with the words of both of my colleagues. Again, I want to thank Mr. Wu for sponsoring the resolution. I also want to thank Mr. Coble for his service, not only to the United States Coast Guard, but to our subcommittee. He is one of our strongest members and has tremendous passion about the Coast Guard.

As I was listening to both of them, I could not help but think about the fact that the Coast Guard does not always get the recognition that it deserves. It has a little bit over 41,000 members. It is a small agency, a small organization; but I call them our thin blue line at sea. Certainly, Coast Guard Group Astoria is typical of the men and women whom I see all over our country as I travel, and I commend them on so many things that they have done so well.

On that note, when we look back at Katrina and at all of the agencies which operated during Katrina, there is absolutely no question that the United States Coast Guard was the agency that went far beyond the call of duty, rescuing some 35,000-plus lives. Many of these people would have perished if it were not for the bravery and the courage of the United States Coast Guard.

In this resolution, while we are addressing Coast Guard Group Astoria, I think it also says to the other members of the Coast Guard that we are a grateful Congress and that we appreciate everything that they do every day in putting their lives on the line so that they can continue to be our thin blue line at sea.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1062, as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu), recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest.

With 325 Coast Guard personnel and six units, Group Astoria's area of responsibility encompasses over 140 miles of coastline between Queets, Washington, and Pacific City, Oregon. Group Astoria conducts numerous missions, such as search and rescue, aids-to-navigation, homeland security, and enforcement of laws and treaties.

Each year, Coast Guard Group Astoria receives more than 800 distress calls, assists over 1,700 mariners and save approximately 100 people from perishing at sea. Since 2003, Group Astoria has saved over 500 lives and assisted more than 10,000 recreational boaters and commercial mariners in distress.

Since 2003, Group Astoria had conducted over 1,200 Living Marine Resource missions to ensure commercial fishing vessels are not over- fishing in certain areas, conserving marine resources for future generations.

Air Station Astoria assets provide coverage and respond to offshore distress calls up to the Canadian border and down to northern California. In December 2007, crews from Air Station Astoria flew 28 sorties in 130 knot winds during the Pacific Northwest winter storm saving 136 people. Air Station Astoria also provides assistance to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other local responders with inland search and rescue.

This August, Group Astoria will gain additional responsibilities and will be redesignated as Sector Columbia River, making the title ``Group Astoria'' a historical name. In light of these planned transitions, H. Res. 1062 recognizes Coast Guard Group Astoria for 60 years of noble service and honors the brave Coast Guard men and women who put their lives at risk every day for the safety and security of the people in the Pacific Northwest.

I thank the gentleman from Oregon for bringing forth this resolution to recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria's more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1062.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the legislative week of Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

For Tuesday, April 13, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 196 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1222), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 197 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1041), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 198 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1042).

For Wednesday, April 14, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 199 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1236), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 200 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4994), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 201 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3125), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 202 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1249), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 203 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1246).

For Thursday, April 15, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 204 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1248, which provides for consideration of H.R. 4715), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 205 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1062), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 206 (on motion to refer H. Res. 1255, raising a question of the privileges of the House), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 207 (on Shea-Porter amendment to H.R. 4715), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 208 (on motion to recommit H.R. 4715 with instructions), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 209 (on passage of H.R. 4715), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 210 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1242), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 211 (On motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act).