REFERENCE TITLE: coast guard auxiliary; recognition

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-second Legislature Second Regular Session 2016

SCR 1013

Introduced by Senator Smith; Representatives Borrelli, Campbell, Saldate: Senators Donahue, Shooter

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

HONORING THE ARIZONA MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FOR THEIR LIFESAVING EFFORTS.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the community volunteer lifesaving arm of the United States Coast Guard; and

Whereas, Lake Powell alone has more miles of coastline than does the entire west coast of the United States; and

Whereas, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in Arizona has more than 200 members that together volunteered over 50,000 hours of their personal time during 2015; and

Whereas, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members conducted over 600 vessel safety checks of Arizona boaters to ensure that the watercraft met the minimum federal and Arizona safety requirements; and

Whereas, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members conducted over 540 visits to Arizona marine dealers in 2015, helping maritime dealers and their customers increase their knowledge of boating safety; and

Whereas, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members provided 13 boating safety classes, which directly impact the safety of hundreds of Arizona boaters; and

Whereas, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members offered their personal watercraft to patrol Arizona waterways more than 500 times during 2015; and

Whereas, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members contacted over 6,000 boats and over 20,000 boaters in 2015, assisting 217 boats and 676 boaters in distress and saving 76 lives; and

Whereas, the efforts of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary resulted in a significant downturn in the number of boating injuries and fatalities in Arizona during 2015; and

Whereas, the work of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary provides a valuable service to the United States Coast Guard, enabling them to focus greater resources on safeguarding this nation's maritime interests, protecting the maritime economy and environment, defending our maritime borders and saving those in peril.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature recognize and honor the lifesaving work of the Arizona members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and commend these volunteers for the vital support role they play in the mission of the United States Coast Guard.