HR 9147 2003
   
1 House Resolution
2          A resolution honoring the United States Coast Guard and
3    the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
4         
5          WHEREAS, Operation ON GUARD is a national campaign
6    originating in the State of Florida that provides a means for
7    the American public to have an active part in the fight against
8    terrorism on the domestic front, and
9          WHEREAS, an initiative employing the joint efforts of the
10    Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast
11    Guard, Customs Service, and Immigration and Naturalization
12    Service, as well as other national, state, and local agencies,
13    Operation ON GUARD seeks to enlist the aid of workers in the
14    maritime industry, recreational boaters, commercial fishermen,
15    and other waterfront users to detect and report suspicious
16    activity that may be a threat to America's security at home, and
17          WHEREAS, characterized as being similar to the coast watch
18    programs of World War II and neighborhood crime watch programs
19    that have been successfully employed throughout the nation for
20    more than 40 years, Operation ON GUARD suggests the criteria for
21    detecting suspicious or unusual activity and provides the
22    avenues for reporting such activity, and
23          WHEREAS, this partnership formed by federal, state, and
24    local agencies, private industry, and the American public is a
25    key factor in guarding the nation's coastline and protecting its
26    native soil, and
27          WHEREAS, in the South Florida area, the United States Coast
28    Guard Auxiliary has been given the primary responsibility for
29    mounting the necessary Operation ON GUARD uniformed presence and
30    creating public outreach patrols by boat or car or on foot, as
31    appropriate, NOW, THEREFORE,
32         
33          Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
34    Florida:
35         
36          That the House of Representatives salutes the efforts of
37    Operation ON GUARD and pays special honor to the members of the
38    United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary for the
39    work they are doing to protect the coasts of America from
40    terrorism.