WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressmen Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) and Steve Chabot (R-OH-01), along with 68 other Members of the United States House of Representatives, recently sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging the Secretary to immediately release Fiscal Year 2020 funds for the U.S. Coast Guard’s 12th National Security Cutter.

“Given the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to identify ways to invest in our nation’s businesses and critical domestic supplier base which includes hundreds of small businesses across the country,” said Congressman Norcross. “Along with Congressman Steve Chabot, I was honored to lead a bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives that urges the Department of Homeland Security to release funding for our nation’s 12^th National Security Cutter (NSC).” 

“At a time in which many American small businesses are fighting for their very survival, the federal government should take every reasonable step to help them in that struggle,” said Congressman Chabot.  “In this case, awarding the contracts necessary to build the Coast Guard’s 12th National Security Cutter will provide an immediate boost to numerous small businesses who will serve as suppliers and contractors on this project that is crucial for national security.  Since Congress already appropriated funds for the project, it just makes sense that the Department of Homeland Security move forward as expeditiously as possible.  I thank Congressman Donald Norcross, as well as our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, for their leadership on this important project.”

The release of Fiscal Year 2020 funds, which Congress appropriated, and the speedy award of the long lead time material contract for NSC-12 will bring immediate support across the nation to companies that provide materials critical to the production of these cutters; the largest and most capable cutters in the Coast Guard fleet.  It will also keep the highly successful NSC program moving forward and help ensure we keep NSC-12 production on schedule, so it can enter the fleet as soon as possible and serve our nation and Coast Guard for decades to come.

The US Coast Guard plays an important role at the intersection of law enforcement and national defense. National Security Cutters are one of the Coast Guards main tools to carrying out their important missions from homeland defense, keeping illegal drugs out of the country, protecting our nations fisheries and securing our ports, as well as assisting the Navy in keeping the sea lanes open for commerce.

The full letter can be found here.

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Contact: Carrie Healey, Communications Director
carrie.healey@mail.house.gov