WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar called on Office of Management Director Mick Mulvaney to fully fund the U.S. Coast Guard in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2018 budget, a news release from her office stated.
According to recent reports, a $1.3 billion cut has been proposed in the budget for the Coast Guard. Between 2010 and 2015, the acquisition budget decreased by 40 percent, resulting in negative impacts to Coast Guard infrastructure and operations. In a letter to OMB Director Mulvaney, Klobuchar urged against further reductions to the Coast Guard budget.
"In Minnesota, we are grateful for the members of the Coast Guard responsible for operations in Lake Superior and along the Mississippi River," Klobuchar said in the letter. "Minnesotans who live near Lake Superior or have vacationed in the Great Lakes region understand that the Coast Guard protects our environment and provides lifesaving support during natural disasters. When Minnesota's I-35W bridge tragically collapsed in 2007, Coast Guardsmen were among the first responders on the scene to assist in the rescue of 145 injured survivors, and help maintain safety on the water in the following days and weeks."
