Geographic Diversity Needed at Coast Guard Academy
(WASHINGTON) – Today, U.S. Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), and Resident Commissioner Pedro R. Pierluisi (D-PR) sent a letter to Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), expressing concerns regarding the geographic diversity of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy – many states, for example, are not represented in this year's class.
The letter similarly urges the adoption of a congressional nominations process, which has a proven method of achieving greater geographic diversity and can be done without lowering the institution's admissions standards or increasing class sizes. Congressman Thompson, who is Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, plans to introduce legislation this month that will address this issue. He previously offered an amendment on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to the "Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011" (H.R. 2838) that would have allowed Members of Congress to nominate qualified candidates for admission to the Academy. More info available here.
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