Statement on Signing the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1988
I
have today approved H.R. 2342, the ``Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1988,''
which in part authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for Fiscal Years
1988 and 1989.
During
congressional consideration of H.R. 2342, my Administration expressed serious
concern about Section 30 of the bill, which might have been misconstrued to
call for inappropriate competition by the Coast Guard Auxiliary with private
sector towing operations when rendering nonemergency
assistance to disabled vessels.
I
have approved H.R. 2342 with the understanding, which is clearly supported by
the Joint Statement of Managers to accompany the Conference Report on H.R.
2342, that this section is not intended to affect the Coast Guard's recently
announced policy regarding nonemergency assistance.
Accordingly, the Coast Guard will continue to implement this policy that, in
the words of the conferees on H.R. 2342, represents ``an attempt to strike a
balance between the needs of commercial and volunteer interests, while still
providing the highest level of safety services . . . .''
Ronald
Reagan
The
White House,
Note: H.R. 2342,
approved September 28, was assigned Public Law No. 100 - 448.