Rep. Gillen Secures Coast Guard Commitment to Prioritize Restoring Station Jones Beach to Full Capability
A video of the full remarks is available HERE.
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04), Vice Ranking Member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, secured a commitment from the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, to prioritize restoring the full capabilities of Station Jones Beach at a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing following a 2024 reduction due to recruitment and funding shortages. Admiral Lunday’s commitment to Rep. Gillen will help mitigate a slow reduction in Station Jones Beach’s capabilities, including year-round search and rescue, that could lead to eventual closure.
In 2025, the Coast Guard received billions in needed investments and achieved one of the strongest recruitment years in more than 30 years.
Rep. Gillen also pressed Admiral Lunday on how new investments in the Coast Guard’s Boat Safety Program will lead to a reduction in boating deaths. In 2005, 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck was killed, and her family was severely injured off the coast of Long Island when a boater without a license crashed into their vessel. Rep. Gillen cosponsored bipartisan legislation named in Brianna’s memory to require the Coast Guard to study and report to Congress on recreational vessel operator education and training.
On securing Admiral Lunday’s commitment to prioritize restoring Station Jones Beach to full presence and capability:
Rep. Gillen: “I am proud to represent the extraordinary men and women of Coast Guard Station Jones Beach in the Fourth Congressional District of New York.
Under the Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 24 Force Realignment Initiative, Station Jones Beach was one of 19 stations that the Coast Guard adjusted to a new operational status, part of a broader reduction in the presence and capabilities devoted to Long Island.
I'm deeply concerned about the impact of those changes…when you appeared before this committee, and you expressed your commitment to continue to prioritize the safety of Long Island boaters, you said that you would evaluate this situation as the Coast Guard's workforce recovers.
Admiral Lunday: “We have a plan to be able to move, if supported in the [FY]27 [budget] request to move [Coast Guard men and women] out to those small boat stations, and that'll help us restore the operating posture. And so I look forward to getting back to you as I hear from Admiral Burdian on the station priorities, including the prioritization of Jones Beach.
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