Delegate Christensen ‘sponsors’ commissioning and welcomes crew; Pledges to continue fight for Virgin Islands border protection
Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen during a Monday morning ceremony in San Juan, welcomed the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter REEF SHARK, the new cutter assigned to patrol the waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Congresswoman was invited by Rear Admiral Steve Branham of the U.S. Coast Guard to be the vessel’s sponsor and to give the keynote speech during Monday’s formal commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Traditionally, the sponsor is a civilian with close ties to the Service. The Delegate was invited to bestow good luck and divine protection over the ship and its crew.
“I am honored to have been asked to sponsor the Cutter REEF SHARK and to be a part of this morning’s commissioning,” Christensen said, in her keynote address Monday. “This is really exciting!”
When she served as a member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Christensen had pushed Coast Guard officials to establish a stronger presence in Virgin Islands with legislation asking for a border patrol specifically for the territory and for acknowledgement that the territory was an important part of the United States border in need of stepped up patrols. Last April, the House Homeland Security Committee visited the territory and an interagency Department of Homeland Security report concluded that there was a need for an increased presence in the waters surrounding the Virgin Islands.
Christensen said they were also able to raise awareness of the need for more border security resources when the House Committee on Homeland Security passed H.R. 2830 (September 25, 2007), the Coast Guard Authorization of 2007, which authorized appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for the Coast Guard.
The bill included an amendment Christensen sponsored which provided increased funding for the Secretary of Homeland Security to station additional Coast Guard assets in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“My priority has been to strengthen and protect America’s Caribbean border as it continues to be the first point of entry for refugees, weapons and drug trafficking, criminal activity, and possibly terrorism,” Christensen said. “I plan to continue to work with the Homeland Security division of Customs and Border Patrol on establishing a Border Patrol Marine unit with additional units to be added as more resources become available.”
Rear Admiral Branham thanked Christensen for agreeing to serve as the sponsor and commended her hard work and support of the service. He said that a ship “comes alive” on commissioning day and it is a time-honored naval tradition that the ship being commissioned takes on the personality of its sponsor.
“I am sure that by having you as its sponsor, the ship will serve many years and its crew will lay the foundation for a fine heritage of service,” said Rear Admiral Branham.
The vessel’s commanding officer, Captain Rachel Cruzcosa, said her crew is ready to serve the people of the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean.
Christensen said with March being Women’s History Month, she was proud to salute Capt. Cruzcosa on being the first commanding officer of the REEF SHARK.
“With her experience in counter narcotic operations on the Cutter HAMILTON, I know she is ready, willing and able for any eventuality that the REEF SHARK will encounter,” Christensen said.
Christensen added that she intends to work with Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh in hosting a joint regional maritime security summit to forge closer information sharing and collaboration with Caribbean neighbors.
The REEF SHARK missions will be search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, Marine Environmental Protection and Homeland Security. The 87-foot long REEF SHARK and its 12-member crew will homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
All official press releases from Former Delegate Donna Christensen (D-VI)
