A proposal by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (N.J.-2) to make sure the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard can continue to report directly to a Presidential Cabinet Secretary has been included in the Homeland Security Act that was passed by the House tonight by a vote of 295-132 . Rep. LoBiondo voted to pass the bill.

"The Coast Guard should report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security, keeping its current access to the highest levels of the Administration," said Rep. LoBiondo of his proposal in HR 5005 - the Homeland Security Act of 2002. "This point was a priority to me from the first days after the proposed reshuffle. I spoke out forcefully to make sure the Coast Guard was not lost in a bureaucratic jungle."

Under the original proposal from the Bush Administration, the Coast Guard Commandant would have lost access to the Cabinet Secretary, as it has now in the Department of Transportation, and instead would have had to go through an additional level of additional bureaucracy to get to the top decision makers. Concerned about this concept, Rep. LoBiondo talked with experts, other Members of Congress and White House officials and worked to find a solution.

Prior to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s consideration of the Homeland Security proposal on July 11, Rep. LoBiondo proposed language to keep the USCG Commandant reporting directly to a Presidential Cabinet Secretary in any rearrangement. House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young of Alaska endorsed the LoBiondo proposal in testimony before the House Select Committee on Homeland Security on July 17. As a result of this testimony and with support from the Select Committee, the LoBiondo proposal was included in HR 5005 and will ensure that the Coast Guard Commandant continues to enjoy open door access to a Presidential Cabinet Secretary and the Coast Guard retains flexibility to carry out its multi-mission duties.

"As we saw on September 11 and in the days afterward, the Coast Guard is at its most effective when it reports directly to the top decision makers, helping them understand the threats to America’s maritime transportation system," said Rep. LoBiondo.