June 29, 2006 Contact: Leslie Phillips (202) 224-2627 DODD, LIEBERMAN HELP SECURE ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION FOR COAST GUARD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LAB Substantial Increase over Proposed Administration Budget Results in $17 Million Total   Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) today announced that they have helped secure $17 million for the Coast Guard’s Research and Development (R&D;) Center in New London. The funding is included in the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Senators Dodd and Lieberman, upon seeing that the Administration’s proposed 2007 budget included only $13 million for the facility, sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security to request full funding. The committee approved the bill on Tuesday. “The Coast Guard has navigated natural disasters and terrorist threats. They shouldn’t have to weather funding shortages,” said Dodd. “Now more than ever we need to ensure that the Coast Guard has the resources to protect our nation. This assistance is a step in the right direction.” “This is a real victory for the men and women of the Coast Guard who contribute so much to the safety and protection of American waterways. Full funding of the Center will allow the Guard to continue the research that enables it to respond so well to disasters like Katrina,” said Lieberman. The Homeland Security Appropriations Bill also included $2 million for the ongoing renovations to the Coast Guard Academy’s Chase Hall dormitory. Since 1972, the Coast Guard has maintained a strong R&D; program, autonomous from its supervising federal agency. A recent independent study conducted by the Potomac Institute concluded that keeping the R&D; facility autonomous within the Department of Homeland Security is essential to the expanding missions of the Coast Guard and to the personnel who rely on cutting-edge technologies to best serve their country. The Coast Guard R&D; Center in New London is the only such facility in the country. -30-   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 June 2006 Press Releases   June 30 - Collins, Lieberman Seek to Address Government Fraud   June 29 current Press Release   June 29 - Lieberman Says DHS Infrastructure Protection Plan Not Enough   June 28 - Lieberman Speaks on Introduction of Bill to Reinvent FEMA   June 27 - Collins, Lieberman Seek Greater Funding To Protect Transit, Rail and Ports   June 27 - Lieberman Says Appeals Court Decision Reaffirms Opposition To DHS Personnel Changes   June 23 - Lieberman Demands Greater Information Security For DHS Trusted Traveler Programs   June 20 - Lieberman Welcomes Reversal of FEMA Trailer Evictions   June 20 - Democrats Seek Oversight of Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts   June 19 - Lieberman Says Federal Efforts to Ensure Diversity Must Improve   June 16 - Lieberman Says NRP Conclusion is Not Surprising   June 16 - Senators Collins, Lieberman, Coleman and Murray Call on Chertoff to Issue Transporation and Port Security Grant Guidance   June 15 - Senate Homeland SEcurity Committee Unanimously Passes Collins-Lieberman Chemical Security Legislation   June 15 - Lieberman Heralds Advancement Of Chemical Security Bill   June 14 - Lieberman Leads Defeat of Industry's Preemption Amendment to the Chemical Security Bill   June 14 - Lieberman Says Disaster Aid Abuse Underscores Need For A Reinvented FEMA   June 14 - Lieberman Calls for Investigation of the Appearance of Widespread Censorship by the Administration on Climate Change Research   June 9 - Some Katrina Victims Get a Break on Unemployment Benefits   June 9 - NASA Admits Wrongdoing in Not Allowing Top Scientist to Discuss Climate Change Research   June 8 - Senate Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Where FEMA Belongs   June 8 - Lieberman Calls for Reinvention, Strengthening of FEMA   June 6 - Lieberman Assails GOP for Refusing to Extend Unemployment Benefits for 2005 Hurricane Victims
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510