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Washington –
Working
together
to
prevent
the
closure
of
lifesaving
air
facilities
in
Charleston,
South
Carolina
and
in
Newport,
Oregon,
U.S.
Senators
Tim
Scott
(R-SC),
Lindsey
Graham
(R-SC),
Ron
Wyden
(D-OR),
and
Jeff
Merkley
(D-OR)
today
applauded
inclusion
of
language
in
the
final
Coast
Guard
Authorization
Act
of
2015
that
now
heads
to
the
President
for
signature.
The
bill,
which
passed
the
Senate
in
December
and
the
House
earlier
this
month,
ensures
neither
region
loses
current
search-and-rescue
capability
for
at
least
the
next
two
years,
and
puts
severe
restrictions
on
closing
the
facilities
after
that.
Following
the
U.S.
Coast
Guard’s
abrupt
announcement
in
October
2014
that
they
would
close
the
air
facilities
in
Charleston
and
Newport,
this
bipartisan
group
of
Senators
began
working
to
secure
continued
operation.
While
the
Coast
Guard
originally
claimed
that
it
will
still
be
able
to
meet
a
two-hour
search-and-rescue
response
time,
the
lawmakers
argue
that
fewer
assets
could
lengthen
response
times
and
threaten
the
safety
of
local
mariners.
With
thousands
of
South
Carolinians
and
Oregonians
often
risking
their
health
and
safety
in
unpredictable
waters,
it
was
vital
that
there
be
search-and-rescue
teams
that
can
arrive
on-scene
quickly.
“Losing
the
Air
Facility
Charleston
and
its
search-and-rescue
helicopter
would
have
serious
effects
on
one
of
our
nation’s
critical
port
cities
and
adversely
impact
the
safety
of
mariners,
residents
and
tourists
in
the
Lowcountry,”
said
Senator Scott.
“Working
with
my
Senate
colleagues,
we
were
able
to
ensure
that
before
the
US
Coast
Guard
closes
facilities
–
not
just
the
ones
they
were
looking
at
in
South
Carolina
and
Oregon
–
they
do
serious
due
diligence
and
strongly
understand
the
affects
their
decision
would
have
on
public
safety
in
a
region.
The
facility
in
Charleston
provides
important
safety
and
economic
benefits
to
South
Carolinians
and
those
in
the
region.
I
plan
to
keep
working
with
my
Congressional
colleagues
and
the
Coast
Guard
to
explore
options
that
will
keep
the
Air
Facility
Charleston
operational.”
“I’m
very
pleased
that
before
the
Coast
Guard
is
able
to
close
these
facilities
they
must
take
their
time
and
fully
study
the
impact
their
decision
will
have
on
public
safety,”
said Graham.
“I
know
the
Charleston
facility
provides
an
important
public
safety
service
to
both
business
and
recreational
mariners
who
sometimes
need
emergency
assistance.
In
these
situations,
minutes
can
literally
be
the
difference
between
life
and
death.
I
fear
losing
the
Air
Facility
Charleston
would
have
a
negative
impact
on
operations
at
one
of
America’s
most
critical
ports
and
leading
coastal
communities.”
“This
success
recognizes
the
vital
importance
of
the
Coast
Guard
to
Newport,
the
Oregon
Coast
and
coastal
communities
around
the
country,”Wyden said.
“I’ll
never
stop
fighting
to
protect
the
lives
of
Oregon
Coast
residents
and
visitors
and
I’ll
keep
working
to
ensure
the
safety
of
people
working
and
recreating
in
the
cold
waters
of
the
Pacific.”
“Losing
the
Newport
Coast
Guard
helicopter
would
put
lives
at
risk
all
along
the
Oregon
coast.
In
the
cold
waters
off
our
shores,
people
in
harm’s
way
don’t
have
the
luxury
of
waiting
an
hour
or
more
for
rescue. The
Newport
community
deserves
tremendous
credit
for
their
tenacity
and
determination
in
fighting
for
the
helicopter
and
keeping
their
residents
and
visitors
safe. It’s
great
news
that
the
Newport
helicopter
will
continue
to
be
there
as
a
lifesaving
resource,
and
I’ll
keep
fighting
to
make
sure
that
it
always
is,” said
Senator Merkley.
Charleston
is
one
of
the
nation’s
busiest
cargo
ports,
and
is
home
to
a
robust
tourism
industry
as
well
as
large
shrimp,
crab
and
oyster
fleets.
Newport
houses
National
Oceanic
and
Atmospheric
vessels
and
Oregon’s
largest
commercial
fishing
fleet,
in
addition
to
research
vessels
from
Oregon
State
University.
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