ATLANTA — The Georgia House of Representatives today unanimously passed House Resolution 1516. Sponsored by Representative Cecily Hill (R-Kingsland), HR 1516 urges the federal government to retain the services of every member of the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91108 of St. Marys, Georgia.
“The Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91108 is increasingly important to not only the state’s security, but to our national security as a whole,” said Representative Hill. “We must ask the federal government not to decommission this vital team.”
Formed in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91108 consists of 85 members. The team is trained for a broad range of port security and harbor defense missions, which include protecting the United States and allied forces, detecting weapons of mass destruction and explosives, and performing maritime law enforcement, interdiction, and support. The unit is also capable of deployment to anywhere in the United States within 12 hours to protect the citizens the United States of America.
Established in St. Marys, Georgia, to protect major ports along the eastern seaboard, the unit provides an estimated economic impact of almost $9 million to the local economies of St. Marys and other Camden County communities. The Unit has also received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award for providing security at the 2004 G-8 Summit at Sea Island, the Republican National Convention of 2004, and the 2005 presidential inauguration in Washington.
Due to proposed cutbacks in the United States Coast Guard’s 2011 budget, the United States Coast Guard is recommending the decommission of five of 12 Maritime Safety and Security Team, including Team 91108 in St. Marys.
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Representative Cecily Hill represents the citizens of District 180, which includes Camden County and portions of Glynn County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, is currently the Secretary for the Banks and Banking Committee and the Game Fish & Parks Committee. She also serves the Appropriations, Economic Development & Tourism, and Transportation Committees.