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During the first week of April the Georgia State Senate passed a Resolution (SR 596) recognizing the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in that state.

Seven Senators sponsored the legislation which stated in part, "hundreds of our fellow Georgians volunteer more than 15,000 hours each year to assist the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in accomplishing missions of recreational boating safety and Coast Guard support ..."

Georgia State Seal

The Resolution continues, "these members contribute valuable time, talent, and resources in the area of harbor and inland lake safety patrols, vessel safety checks, safe boating courses, search and rescue and marine environmental protection ..."

The sponsors note that Auxiliarists "devote thousands of hours to training in order to better prepare the recreational boating public..."

The passage of the Resolution is due primarily to the tireless efforts of the Legislative Liaison Officer for Georgia, Auxiliarist Ed McGill.

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LC 96 2681
GA Senate Resolution 596
By: Senators Murphy of the 27th, Mullis of the 53rd, Douglas of the 17th, Hooks of the 14th, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and others

A RESOLUTION
Recognizing Georgia volunteers of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Georgia is the home of the fourth largest port on the Atlantic east coast, over 350 miles of intercoastal waterways, 20 major inland lakes, five major rivers, and thousands of miles of smaller rivers; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of our fellow Georgians volunteer more than 15,000 hours each year to assist the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in accomplishing missions of recreational boating safety and Coast Guard support with Maritime Homeland Security and other challenges that have emerged as a result of growing changes required in the post-9/11 era; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is home to the Seventh Coast Guard District, Divisions 2 and 10, and the 8th Coast Guard District, Flotillas 81 and 83; and

WHEREAS, these members contribute valuable time, talent, and resources in the area of harbor and inland lake safety patrols, vessel safety checks, safe boating courses, search and rescue, and marine environmental protection; Auxiliary Air Squadron Coast Patrols; Crew Augmentation to USCG Air Station Savannah, USCG Station Tybee, USCG Cutter Tarpon, and USCG Station Brunswick as Radio Watch Standers, Boat Crew, Engineer, Cutter Crew, and Cutter Rescue Swimmer; and

WHEREAS, while boating is a marvelous source of recreation to all Georgia citizens, it can be a risky sport to those who are not properly prepared; and

WHEREAS, members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary devote thousands of hours to training in order to better prepare the recreational boating public to be more aware of navigation rules and obey the nautical "rules of the road"; and

WHEREAS, of particular importance in the overall boater education mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Membership each year is to reduce the loss of lives of drowning victims who are not wearing a life jacket; and

WHEREAS, Georgia Volunteer Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary were credited during 2006 with five lives saved, more than $500,000.00 in property saved, and more than 200 public education classes given, approximately 2,000 vessel safety checks, and countless hours in harbor and inland lake safety patrols.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the Georgia volunteer members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and commend their tireless service as the civilian component of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Department of Homeland Security.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the District 7 and District 8 Commodores of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.