U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate as well as the House and Senate leadership and House and Senate committees.
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Senate Special Committee on Aging Issues Testimony From Bosma Enterprises President Mittman
WASHINGTON, March 18 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by Jeffrey Mittman, president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises, involving hearing on Feb. 29, 2024, entitled "All Means All: Empowering People with Disabilities to Thrive in Careers and the Workplace":
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Thank you, Chairman Casey, Ranking Member Braun, and the committee for allowing me to testify today.
My name is Jeffrey Mittman, and I am the president & CEO of Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, IN. Bosma is a nonprofit social enterprise that is the largest employer of Hoosiers who are blind and the
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WASHINGTON, March 18 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by Jeffrey Mittman, president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises, involving hearing on Feb. 29, 2024, entitled "All Means All: Empowering People with Disabilities to Thrive in Careers and the Workplace":
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Thank you, Chairman Casey, Ranking Member Braun, and the committee for allowing me to testify today.
My name is Jeffrey Mittman, and I am the president & CEO of Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, IN. Bosma is a nonprofit social enterprise that is the largest employer of Hoosiers who are blind and thesole comprehensive provider of blind rehabilitation services in Indiana. Bosma employs nearly 200 people, and over half are blind. We have employees who are blind at all levels of our company.
In 2005, I served in the US Army deployed to Iraq. While in a convoy with some of my Iraqi counterparts, an IED exploded. I was critically injured, and I lost my eyesight. After years of recovery, I eventually returned to work. I restarted my career at the National Industries for the Blind. Here, I was introduced to the AbilityOne Program and the employment it provides to nearly 40,000 Americans with disabilities. After NIB, I began to work at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Indianapolis. During this time, I became a member of the Board of Directors at Bosma Enterprises and was eventually appointed the president and CEO.
Employment is the backbone of our society. It allows people to live independently and support their families. Across the country, 60 to 70 percent of people with a disability are not employed. This is not because they do not want to work or are incapable, but because of the lack of comprehensive training services giving individuals the skills needed or opportunity and support from employers once they find a job.
The federal AbilityOne Program is designed to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It leverages the procurement of needed goods and services for the government to create employment at a fair market price. There is a network of nearly 500 nonprofit agencies nationwide. At one of those AbilityOne-affiliated agencies, an employee who was blind produced the combat helmet that saved my life.
Bosma Enterprises is the primary provider of exam and surgical gloves to the Department of Veteran Affairs through AbilityOne. Over 50% of our workforce is visually impaired and employed at all levels of the company and are paid competitive wages and benefits. The employees are proud to serve our nation's veterans and were essential to their protection during the pandemic. Bosma is an employer of choice, as evidenced by our low turnover rate and high employee satisfaction ratings. Our mission is to create opportunities for people who are blind, but it is a work environment where its employees can thrive and have room to advance if they choose.
In addition to employment, Bosma offers statewide blind rehabilitation and training. We came to offer these programs because the state of Indiana asked to transition them to us as they saw our success in employing individuals who are blind. These programs operate at a deficit; however, this public-private partnership thrives because of the AbilityOne Program, Indiana's support, and donors' generosity.
As part of our rehabilitation services, we also have a dedicated team that assists individuals with vision loss to find employment outside our organization. Everyone should have a choice of where they want to work. Just as employment is the backbone of society, individualism and choice are paramount to our freedom as Americans.
Unfortunately, people who are blind are facing challenges to that freedom. The government has severely limited or eliminated AbilityOne agencies as potential choices for employment because they don't fit into their outdated definition of competitive integrated employment. This limits employment and creates a stigma that people who have disabilities working alongside disabled colleagues do not have value. We would never tell wounded warriors they can't work with other wounded warriors. But that is precisely what government agencies are doing when trying to tell a person they can't work someplace that employs people with disabilities. As I have described, Bosma has blind employees working in various positions throughout the company, including 15 leaders with vision loss. All employees are offered opportunities for cross-training, upward mobility, and provided assistance if they want to seek employment elsewhere.
Bosma Enterprises is a perfect example of how a public-private partnership can work to serve people with disabilities by providing the dignity of work, competitive pay and benefits, and turning taxtakers into taxpayers.
Thank you again for this opportunity.
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URL: Bosma Enterprises
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Original text here: https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/3f920044-c113-ed64-3c94-acbad9d6783d/Testimony_Mittman%2002.29.24.pdf
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee Issues Testimony From U.S. Coast Guard Master Petty Chief Jones
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Heath Jones, master petty chief of the U.S. Coast Guard, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today and echo the Commandant's appreciation for your enduring support of the United States Coast Guard. I would
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Heath Jones, master petty chief of the U.S. Coast Guard, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today and echo the Commandant's appreciation for your enduring support of the United States Coast Guard. I wouldlike to personally thank each of you for your unwavering support of our workforce here in the Great Lakes and everywhere your Coast Guard serves. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to serve alongside members of the most capable and dedicated workforce in the U.S. Government, and I am thankful for the privilege to discuss their needs with you today.
As America's maritime first responder, the Coast Guard is woven into communities across the Great Lakes, along the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Gulf Coasts, and throughout our inland rivers.
I am proud of the ways we contribute to national security and prosperity: we rescue mariners in distress, protect vital marine natural resources, break ice to facilitate commerce, inspect ships to verify safety and pollution controls, deliver aid after disasters, mark navigable waterways to keep mariners safe from hazards, secure our ports and harbors, and interdict illegal drugs far from our shores. Across these Lakes, in the ports, on the seas, throughout cyberspace, and around the globe, we are the world's premier maritime Service, positioned to protect, defend, and save. I am extremely proud of our Coast Guard Active Duty, Reserve, Civilian, and Auxiliary workforce and humbled to serve as their Senior Enlisted Leader. The Coast Guard workforce delivers when called upon.
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Workforce
The Coast Guard workforce is the heart and soul of our organization, and their dedication and sacrifices keep our Nation safe and secure. These Sentinels have the right to a safe workplace, free from harassment, bullying, retaliation, and assault. They deserve nothing less, and the Coast Guard leadership team is committed to strengthening our Service culture to achieve this end.
Every day, the Coast Guard workforce in the Ninth District puts themselves at risk to protect our natural resources, defend our maritime transportation system, and save lives. For those who serve here and everywhere I am committed to modernizing our talent management system so that we can best recruit and retain Sentinels in the 21st century. The Coast Guard workforce must reflect the American public we serve and requires the tools, policy, training, and support to succeed across all our mission areas. As we expand our reach and capabilities, we are committed to enhancing support structures to ensure the well-being and effectiveness of our workforce.
Those joining our Service today have new expectations, and we are taking this to heart as we adjust how we recruit, train, and retain them and their families. We must expand access to high-quality physical and mental healthcare, childcare, and affordable housing especially for units in idyllic, close-knit, but often high cost, communities. We continue to revisit policies that prevent otherwise qualified applicants from beginning their careers, and we are implementing policy changes designed to retain the best our Nation has to offer. Similarly, we are pursuing new training designs focused on meaningful learning, both in classrooms and in the field. I am committed to pursuing this necessary, transformational work.
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Infrastructure
Investing in the workforce means providing modern working, living and training facilities. Coast Guard facilities must be functional and resilient enough to meet both daily and emergent mission demands. The Nation's reliance on the Coast Guard as a first responder after natural disasters underscores the importance of resilient facilities to all our operations. Based on the nature of our missions, Coast Guard facilities are in areas prone to hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, deadly wildfires, and other natural disasters. Your support for a stable, predictable budget and continued investments in modernizing facilities and infrastructure are crucial for our mission readiness, effectiveness, and success.
Housing is a concern for our Sentinels and their families. All servicemembers and their dependents deserve access to safe, quality, and affordable housing within a reasonable commute of their workplace. Unlike the other Armed Services whose workforce is often centralized around large military bases, many Coast Guard personnel are stationed in small communities across the country.
Forty percent of Coast Guard units are in small coastal communities or areas with a high percentage of vacation rentals. Many of those units are located right here in the Ninth District. While these amazing communities are supportive of their Coast Guard, many members struggle to find affordable and available housing in the areas where they serve. We monitor locations that are often impacted by short-term rental markets and are working to provide additional housing options and resources to members here in the Ninth District and across the Service. In locations such as Sault St. Marie, Michigan; Neah Bay, Washington; and Jonesport, Maine, the Service provides Coast Guard-owned family-type housing for members with dependents to supplement rentals in the communities.
We are currently exploring ten Department of Defense (DoD) housing authorities that could potentially benefit the Service and our families and we continue to participate in processes that contribute to how Basic Allowance for Housing is calculated. I look forward to the results of the 14th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation and the recommended changes to Basic Pay and housing allowances to better support our Sentinels and their families in these areas.
A modernized approach to project planning, prioritizing, and execution coupled with additional investments is necessary to ensure the Service has the facilities we need to meet the operational demands of a recapitalized fleet. We must proceed with diligence, as this work will provide the future facilities to meet the needs of Sentinels for generations to come.
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Healthcare
Healthcare is a pillar of the Armed Services quality-of-life benefit system. When I visit cutter and shore commands, I hear the same concerns from our Sentinels and families about timely access to healthcare in close proximity to where they live and work. Acceptable, consistent, available, and timely healthcare for our service members is the minimum standard. Access to quality healthcare, mental and physical, is one of the most important issues affecting Coast Guard families today. The Coast Guard is unique among the Armed Services in that our mission set often dictates that a very high percentage of our workforce is geographically dispersed, sometimes at very small commands like our units along Great Lakes coastlines.
Coast Guard families often find themselves spending days to identify and access healthcare providers within Tricare's network to obtain specialty care when there is a shortage of local doctors and practitioners participating in the system. To mitigate this challenge, the Service is leveraging and expanding telehealth capabilities to provide medical care to members in remote locations.
However, additional support is critical to meet the needs of our Coast Guard families. The Coast Guard needs the support of local health institutions and practitioners, and community leaders, to address these critical support services in remote locations.
In FY 2023, the Service released the Coast Guard Behavioral Health Playbook, which provides supervisors and command leadership with tools, guidance, and tips to respond sensitively, professionally, and respectfully to behavioral health concerns. The Service is committed to supporting clinical resources and full-time, permanently staffed positions to meet deployment and readiness demands. We must ensure members have timely access to high quality health care.
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Childcare
Access to childcare is a significant concern of our workforce and impacts our ability to recruit and retain. This is not just a Coast Guard or military issue, and shortages have a direct impact on the readiness of our units. High childcare costs impact our workforce across the Nation, particularly here in the Ninth District and other areas without the large bases that allow access to DoD or Coast Guard Child Development Centers. We have found that in some areas, childcare subsidies can minimize financial burdens, increase accessible options, reduce significant stressors, and improve the quality of life for our Coast Guard families. Your continuing support of these subsidies is vital to ensuring our workforce and their families are supported and able to continue to meet the Coast Guard's mission.
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Conclusion
I am inspired by the Service's focus on improving the quality of life for our Coast Guard families here in the Ninth District and across the Service. Change in Coast Guard policy can only move the needle so far for our workforce. The Service appreciates the continued support of
Congressional assistance to ensure we can continue to make improvements. I am humbled to have the privilege to serve with and represent our Sentinels and am grateful for your support.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/48A58031-EF89-46F7-81B6-1E5F0429DDB6
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee Issues Testimony From Ninth District Coast Guard Command Master Chief Buckman
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Mathew Buckman, master chief of the Ninth District Coast Guard Command, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished subcommittee members. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today representing the Ninth District workforce to express our appreciation of your support for the United
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Mathew Buckman, master chief of the Ninth District Coast Guard Command, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished subcommittee members. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today representing the Ninth District workforce to express our appreciation of your support for the UnitedStates Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard's commitment in the Ninth District is to provide and optimize support to our members and their families. We recognize that work is necessary to achieve the quality of life they deserve. Personnel support challenges in the region are similar to those impacting members throughout the Service. Sufficient Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to secure a home where our families can thrive, timely access to physical and behavioral healthcare, and access to childcare are the primary concerns of the Ninth District's workforce. Our recently published Great Lakes Maritime Strategy and Action Plan will focus our efforts on providing the best individual services and workplaces for our members.
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Housing
Securing adequate housing is a significant concern for Coast Guard members, particularly in the Ninth District. Many of our units are in seasonal tourist destinations and areas with limited housing. Both factors significantly impact housing availability and affordability for our members.
Given the limitations of Coast Guard-owned housing, our members often rely on BAH entitlements, which may not fully cover the cost of housing in these high-demand and remote areas. We have worked with local partners to lease and manage housing units where possible. In areas where leases are unavailable, the difference between BAH rates and market prices leave some members in a difficult position, as seen in places like Sturgeon Bay and Bayfield, WI.
Recognizing these challenges, we have initiated a comprehensive Housing Action Plan as part of our Great Lakes Maritime Strategy. This plan, under the direction of Rear Admiral Hickey, aims to provide the best possible input to the BAH calculation process and expand the availability of leased housing. Our goal in the Ninth District is to ensure that every member has access to adequate and affordable housing, supporting their well-being and ability to serve. This initiative represents a critical step forward in addressing the unique housing needs of our service members, reinforcing our commitment to their quality of life and operational readiness.
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Infrastructure
Investments in infrastructure are vital for enhancing the Coast Guard's operational performance, member satisfaction, pride, and retention rates. Over Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, the Coast Guard invested $17 million in projects that addressed emergent repairs and quality of life necessities here in the Ninth District. With an additional planned investment of $65 million over the next five years, the Ninth District will still carry a substantial backlog.
Significant infrastructure challenges exist at the 18 boat stations constructed before 1970, with five boat stations over 100 years old. One of those units, Station Sturgeon Bay, was built in 1896 for the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Despite updates to the building over the last 128 years, its size restricts the comfort and operational capacity for personnel.
Our Strategic Action Plan in the Ninth District focuses on infrastructure investments to enhance our members' mission readiness and the quality of life. Following feedback from our station Officers in Charge, the Ninth District has allocated funding to install boat maintenance sheds at 10 stations, addressing winter protection needs for our response boats ---a measure expected to improve mission readiness and crew comfort significantly. In Wisconsin, our focus is on recapitalizing Sector Lake Michigan's facility in Milwaukee to address space and utility shortcomings. Additionally, modernization of the Green Bay Station is nearly complete. The modernization will provide a robust location for targeted operations, signaling a step forward in operational capacity and resilience for the upcoming boating season.
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Healthcare and Childcare
Timely healthcare near where our members live and work is a concern commonly expressed during unit visits. Many locations in the region have limited healthcare options and require long commutes to obtain care. This challenge affects medical readiness for our members as well as their families.
To address medical readiness, we have leveraged a contract with Quality Timeliness Customer Service Medical Services to organize focused geographic readiness events to complete annual health assessments and provide limited dental care. While this allows us to better assess the health readiness of our members, more work is needed to address long-term care and care for dependents.
Mental health providers are also in high demand everywhere, including many communities where our members are assigned. Undertreated mental wellness can have crippling effects on members that may, in turn, impact operational readiness and families. Mental telehealth services such as Telemynd and CGSUPRT service have increased access, and I thank you for the support provided to care for Coast Guard families. I echo Master Chief Jones' request for community and provider support to achieve the quality physical and mental care our Coast Guard families deserve.
Childcare challenges have a direct impact on the readiness of Ninth District units. Typically, members must secure individual care utilizing the established subsidy program to help offset the cost. Were it not for this subsidy program, quality childcare can be prohibitively expensive and unattainable for our members. Your continuing support of these subsidies is essential to safeguarding the readiness of our workforce and their families.
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Conclusion
The Ninth District's senior leadership dedicates itself to providing our members the personal and professional resources to thrive and provide the best service to the Great Lakes and Nation.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you and for all you do for the Coast Guard, including the Ninth District's workforce. Our Sentinels are committed to the mission, are impressively talented, and are why the U.S. Coast Guard is the world's best.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/3EE0D61D-4BA6-4D4F-BA28-E09E5B8DCDCC
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee Issues Testimony From Ninth Coast Guard District Commander Hickey
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify and for your continuing support of the United States Coast Guard. As the Ninth District Commander, I am
... Show Full Article
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Sullivan, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify and for your continuing support of the United States Coast Guard. As the Ninth District Commander, I amexcited to discuss Great Lakes operations including domestic icebreaking, and to highlight examples of our recent successes and our ongoing efforts to advance mission excellence. The Sentinels of the Ninth District are committed to overcoming challenges so that we can continue to assure mission execution across the economic, strategic, and culturally significant maritime environment throughout the Great Lakes.
The Ninth District is responsible for a vast area of operations, covering 94,000 square miles with coastlines spanning a distance equivalent to the Atlantic coastline from Maine to Florida. This immense footprint requires a talented and dispersed workforce to provide the services needed to facilitate this region's safe, secure, and robust Marine Transportation System (MTS). Nearly 2,500 Active Duty, Civilian, and Reserve personnel and 2,000 Coast Guard Auxiliarists operate from four Sectors, two Air Stations, 44 Small Boat Stations, four Marine Safety Units, two Marine Safety Detachments, seven Aids to Navigation Teams, and nine Coast Guard Cutters to carry out critical Coast Guard missions across the Great Lakes.
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Ninth District Operations
The seasonality of the Great Lakes impacts the operations and services provided to this region's mariners, industry, and waterways users. The environmental shift between "soft and hard water" seasons can be severe and is somewhat unique to this Coast Guard District, requiring tailored operations and specialized expertise for those who serve here. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Ninth District responded to 2,004 Search and Rescue (SAR) cases, the second largest number of SAR cases among all Coast Guard Districts, assisting 2,457 persons, and saving 805 lives.
It is worth noting that while most of these rescues occurred in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, these figures also include search and rescue on ice covered waterways in the winter months. The Ninth District is purposefully trained for ice rescue and while overall SAR responses are fewer in the winter, each response is urgent and oftentimes more dangerous.
The Aids to Navigation mission is also affected by seasonality, as the Ninth District removes and replaces 1,210 summer aids with more resilient ice aids in the fall to withstand Great Lakes ice coverage. In the spring, this process is reversed, restoring the Aids to Navigation constellation to best mark waterways for both commercial and recreational mariners. Last year, Ninth District units also conducted more than 7,000 vessel inspections and investigations and responded to 401 Marine Environmental Response (pollution response) cases to protect the Great Lakes' sensitive environment and support the region's MTS.
The importance of the Ninth District's fleet of cutters is paramount to achieving success across this unique maritime domain. Annually, nine cutters participate in the largest domestic icebreaking mission, keeping commerce moving throughout the winter months. Although these cutters are focused on ice breaking in the winter, they are employed year-around. In fact, on an annual basis, they provide nearly 18,000 hours of service to the Great Lakes across all mission sets, including Icebreaking, Aids to Navigation, Search and Rescue, participating in interagency drills and exercises, supporting major marine events (e.g., substantial marine regattas), and providing law enforcement support to significant events (e.g., this year's National Football League Draft in Detroit and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions being held in Milwaukee and Chicago this coming summer).
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Cutter Readiness
Cutters and crews do an exceptional job covering this expanse of operations while facing challenges to meet the mission. Our system of approach provides icebreaking capabilities throughout the Great Lakes with one heavy domestic icebreaker, six 140-foot icebreakers and two 225-foot ice-capable buoy tenders. The cutters are workhorses and essential to icebreaking operations; however, this system can be stressed in winter months when a casualty to our cutters places an increased strain on the others and impacts capacity to meet mission demands. Timeliness matters when breaking ice, as freeing a commercial ship beset by ice or providing flood control to coastal communities can have catastrophic consequences if we cannot provide the level of service and response time required.
Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Mackinaw, our sole domestic heavy icebreaker is a key capability, essential to our icebreaking mission, providing the strength needed to operate in the most challenging ice conditions and vital to supporting the Great Lakes commercial fleet. That said, unscheduled maintenance can sideline this capability. A second Great Lakes icebreaker, as proposed in the President's 2024 budget, will provide much needed redundancy and capacity.
Any unscheduled maintenance due to system failures or long-lead times to replace failed parts puts a strain on our crews to find ways to provide for waterway availability, support SAR operations, and perform other missions. Sustaining this fleet is critical to meeting mission demands and providing adequate capability and capacity for the future.
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Great Lakes Maritime Strategy Action Plan
As highlighted in past hearings on the Coast Guard's workforce, the Service faces personnel readiness challenges as a result of personnel shortages. Here in the Great Lakes, this is requiring more than 600 days of temporary duty surge staffing support to safely and effectively operate our fleet of icebreakers. We continue to be resilient and meet the needs of commerce and the public due to our dedicated workforce which is committed to getting the mission done. This team is clearly our greatest asset. We recognize this, which is why we are also prioritizing support for our workforce.
The uniqueness of the Great Lakes and areas where our units are located create challenges to obtaining timely medical care, including dental, mental, and behavioral health, often requiring long waits and significant travel to access needed services. Additionally, access to affordable housing within a reasonable commute to work is a stressor for many of our members who may struggle to find a home where their families can thrive in the dynamic markets of these idyllic, close-knit communities. These challenges can impact individual and operational readiness, family wellbeing, and retention. In January 2024, the Ninth District released the first-ever Great Lakes Maritime Strategy Action Plan, which is meant to focus our efforts on our highest priorities over the next 12 to 24 months. A key part of this Plan aims to bolster the readiness and resilience of our workforce, including actions to strengthen our Service culture and improve access to health care and affordable housing for our members and their families.
The Action Plan will guide the Ninth District to deliver the Coast Guard's vital services in new ways by focusing our efforts to ensure preparedness for emerging threats; further strengthen partner cooperation and stakeholder relationships; maintain the safe, secure, and efficient use of the Great Lakes MTS; protect the cyberspace of the Great Lakes MTS; optimize mission readiness and execution; and improve Coast Guard facilities.
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Ninth District Success
Through the amazing work of those who serve in the Ninth District, operational success has been achieved and mission requirements have been met while remaining always ready to serve across the Great Lakes, including right here in Wisconsin. For example, recently our team executed two ice rescue cases on the same day, February 8, 2024. First, Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay and Air Station Traverse City supported the rescue of three people from an ice floe off Benderville, WI, with the New Franken Fire Department. Shortly after the rescue of those three lives, Station Sturgeon Bay and Air Station Traverse City responded to four individuals stranded on another ice floe off Bay Shore Park, WI. Station Sturgeon Bay successfully saved the stranded individuals with the support of first responders from Brown County. Additionally, in January 2024, Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay, homeported in Sturgeon Bay, broke a critical path through ice choked waters off Green Bay, ensuring three critical home heating oil deliveries totaling 10.5 million gallons made it to households in need.
Recognizing the inherent risk that accompanies the intense winter maintenance required to sustain the domestic commercial vessel fleet which operates in this region, the Ninth District Coast Guard operational commanders established a workgroup with key agencies to develop procedures to mitigate hazards that may arise in this compressed maintenance period.
This workgroup - the Great Lakes Marine Firefighting Task Force - combines federal, state, local, and industry expertise to prevent and effectively respond to major marine fires in ports like Sturgeon Bay, where much of this work is done. Looking ahead, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan has a significant role in the planning for the protection of the 2024 Republican National Convention being held in Milwaukee this July and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August. Sector personnel and assets will support the interagency team across the convention events and will lead security for events with proximity to the waterfront.
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Conclusion
The Coast Guard's Ninth District workforce is devoted every day to safeguarding the Great Lakes MTS. They are also devoted to the safety of those who rely on these waters for their livelihoods and recreation, and to delivering Coast Guard services in new ways to meet future challenges.
This team is getting the job done with the current operational fleet and existing facilities. The continued support of Congress to sustain our capabilities and provide healthcare, housing, and childcare services for our members and their families is critical to the long-term success of the Coast Guard's Ninth District.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/D4C4306E-6B9E-48A0-A334-4A46DA849C14
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee Issues Testimony From GLC Minerals Operations VP Przybyla
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Ken Przybyla, vice president of operations for GLC Minerals, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee.
I am Ken Przybyla, the Vice President of Operations for GLC Minerals, one of the terminal operators at the Port of Green Bay.
We are a fifth-generation,
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, March 18 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing issued the following testimony by Ken Przybyla, vice president of operations for GLC Minerals, at a field hearing on March 1, 2024, entitled "The Importance of Great Lakes Icebreaking to the Regional Economy":
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Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee.
I am Ken Przybyla, the Vice President of Operations for GLC Minerals, one of the terminal operators at the Port of Green Bay.
We are a fifth-generation,Green Bay area legacy business - founded in 1871 as the Hurlbut Calcium and Chemical Company.
Located on the banks of the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin, GLC Minerals has become a leader in mineral manufacturing for agronomy, animal nutrition and industrial applications throughout the upper Midwest.
GLC processes and distributes calcium carbonate, dolomite and gypsum products to agricultural users and manufacturers of glass, plastics and other products.
Our minerals arrive by boat from Great Lakes quarries in the spring and summer months.
Our location in Green Bay allows for optimal transportation of our products to our customers across the Midwest.
The Port and our access to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway are essential to our business and the businesses we serve.
We believe in using waterways for business - shipping is an environmentally-friendly, sustainable and cost-effective mode of transportation.
GLC recently purchased additional land at the mouth of the Fox River - part of the former Pulliam Power Plant site - which will provide room to expand our mineral processing operation.
The purchase will result in an additional $7.5 million investment by GLC over the next five years, creating at least 10 new, full-time jobs.
But, to continue to grow and be successful - which includes reinvesting in our operations - we need to be able to ship and receive products for as long as possible throughout the shipping season.
As you know, ice can form very early in the bay and that directly impacts our ability to ship and receive commodities and product.
And when we talk about impacts to our business, you have to think about impacts that go beyond the business itself.
If we must cut back or close our operations due to ice, it impacts our employees, our customers, and their employees who are relying on our products to continue their operations.
When the movement of goods are curtailed due to ice, it directly impacts our regional economy.
But we also need to co-exist with those who use the waterways for recreation and tourism. And, in winter, that means ice fishing, snowmobiling and other sports.
We know it is not possible to have a year-round shipping season due to heavy ice in the dead of winter.
We also respect those who want to be out on the ice for recreation during the off-season.
But, with a second heavy U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, we can have a longer shipping season and that accommodates everyone and best supports our regional economy.
That is why we support the expedited acquisition of a second heavy U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) icebreaker for the Great Lakes and the immediate recapitalization of the 140-foot USCG icebreaking tugs.
On behalf of GLC Minerals, I thank you for coming to Green Bay to hear our testimony and to learn why this icebreaker is so important to our regional economy.
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URL: GLC Minerals
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/1033F233-4455-4991-842B-53CA5C8E3206
Rep. Carlos Gimenez Sounds the Alarm on the Crisis in Haiti
MIAMI, Florida, March 18 -- Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, issued the following news release on March 16, 2024:
Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28), who represents South Florida and the Florida Keys, sounded the alarm on the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti and its impact on the community he represents. The political unrest and rampant gang violence are creating conditions for another mass migration surge that will directly impact South Florida and the Florida Keys. Rep. Gimenez will continue to work closely with local, state, and federal authorities to protect our community
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MIAMI, Florida, March 18 -- Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, issued the following news release on March 16, 2024:
Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28), who represents South Florida and the Florida Keys, sounded the alarm on the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti and its impact on the community he represents. The political unrest and rampant gang violence are creating conditions for another mass migration surge that will directly impact South Florida and the Florida Keys. Rep. Gimenez will continue to work closely with local, state, and federal authorities to protect our communityand call for the restoration of democracy, security, and order in Haiti.
"Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise three years ago, the Biden Administration stood idly by while Haiti descended into chaos," said Rep. Gimenez. "As the Representative for South Florida and the Florida Keys, the security of our community is at risk of another mass migration event from Haiti due to the rampant gang violence and the mass release of thousands of violent criminals from the country's jails. I demand the Biden Administration implement a comprehensive strategy to address the unrest in Haiti and prevent this security crisis from impacting South Florida families."
To watch Rep. Gimenez's remarks, CLICK HERE (https://twitter.com/RepCarlos/status/1768981721729348019).
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Congressman Carlos Gimenez represents Miami-Dade County and the beautiful Florida Keys. He is the only Cuban-born Member of the 118th Congress, having fled his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover of the island. He is the first career firefighter paramedic elected to the House of Representatives and served as the former Fire Chief of the City of Miami and Mayor of Miami-Dade County. He serves as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
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Original text here: https://gimenez.house.gov/2024/3/rep-carlos-gimenez-sounds-the-alarm-on-the-crisis-in-haiti
Rep. Carlos Gimenez Issues Statement on Massive Anti-Regime Protests in Cuba
MIAMI, Florida, March 18 -- Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, issued the following statement on March 17, 2024:
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Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28) issued the following statement after thousands of Cubans took to the streets to protest the Castro dictatorship:
"On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding freedom," said Rep. Gimenez. "Today, on March 17, thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets again to protest the murderous Castro dictatorship and demand freedom, power, and food. In response, the regime shut down the internet to prevent protesters from
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MIAMI, Florida, March 18 -- Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, issued the following statement on March 17, 2024:
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Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28) issued the following statement after thousands of Cubans took to the streets to protest the Castro dictatorship:
"On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding freedom," said Rep. Gimenez. "Today, on March 17, thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets again to protest the murderous Castro dictatorship and demand freedom, power, and food. In response, the regime shut down the internet to prevent protesters fromorganizing and mobilized its secret police to brutalize and jail the opposition. Today, over 1,000 brave men and women are being jailed unjustly for exercising their basic Human Rights. After sixty four years of tyranny, the Cuban people want to be free. I'm calling on the Biden Administration to do the right thing and provide the island of Cuba with satellite internet to stop the repression of the dictatorial regime.
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Congressman Carlos Gimenez is the only Cuban-born Member of Congress, having fled the island with his family shortly after the communist takeover. He represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. He is the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security and serves on the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on China.
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Original text here: https://gimenez.house.gov/2024/3/rep-carlos-gimenez-issues-statement-on-massive-anti-regime-protests-in-cuba