Amata Celebrates the U.S. Coast Guard’s Birthday
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is celebrating the 235th birthday of the United States Coast Guard. On August 4th, 1790, President George Washington signed a bill passed by Congress that authorized ten revenue cutters, initially under Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to enforce tariff laws and prevent smuggling, and their mission has grown over the years, now protecting many thousands of miles of coastal waters.
“Happy birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard, celebrating 235 years of service to the nation! American Samoa has a special relationship with the Coast Guard, which frequently arrives in our port, and I advocate the possibility of home porting in the near future. Some of our own from American Samoa serve or have served with the Coast Guard. Their proud motto is ‘Semper Paratus’ or Always Ready. The Coast Guard are sure to be on their way immediately in our part of the world after any natural disaster. They help protect our waters, promote maritime safety, and help preserve our law-abiding fishing by deterring Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing by their presence. Thank you to every Coast Guardsman, and we pray for your strength and safety.”
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