Rep. Mike Ezell: “236 Years of Standing Watch: Honoring the Coast Guard’s Past and Investing in Their Future”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Study Committee Member Mike Ezell (MS-04) is celebrating the United States Coast Guard’s proud history and unwavering commitment to protecting the American people over the past 236 years in a new op-ed in the Magnolia Tribune.

Rep. Ezell reflects on how the Coast Guard has evolved over more than two centuries to confront emerging threats, secure the nation’s maritime borders, and protect American interests globally. He also credits President Trump and Congressional Republicans for securing the largest investment into the Coast Guard through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, ensuring the service can preserve America’s leadership and maritime superiority for generations to come.

In the piece, Rep. Ezell writes, “On August 4, 1790, Alexander Hamilton established a fleet of vessels to enforce America’s trade laws, laying the foundation for what would become the U.S. Coast Guard. For 236 years, the Coast Guardsmen have stood watch over our nation’s maritime borders, protected American lives, and adapted to meet every new threat.”

He continues, “President Trump and Congressional Republicans are carrying the momentum of this legacy forward. In July 2025, in a partisan line vote, Congressional Republicans passed the largest investment ever in the Coast Guard through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Nearly $25 billion has been dedicated to help modernize the service with new cutters, helicopters, facilities, technology systems, and critical infrastructure needed to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.”

Rep. Ezell concludes, “Semper Paratus is more than a slogan. It’s the Coast Guard’s promise to protect the American people…As threats from communist countries, transnational criminal gangs, and other adversaries evolve, I am committed to ensuring our state continues supporting the Coast Guard’s mission. The men and women have never failed to answer the call. We should continue answering theirs.”

Read the full op-ed here. 

Background: Through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, President Trump and Congressional Republicans secured the single largest investment into the U.S. Coast Guard in the service’s history. The nearly $25 billion investment will help the Coast Guard procure new icebreakers, new cutters, and new aircraft while modernizing shore infrastructure, upgrading maritime surveillance systems, and strengthening the Coast Guard’s ability to combat drug and human trafficking, conduct search and rescue operations, and support maritime commerce. 

With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the Coast Guard plays a vital role in defending the nation. The Coast Guard serves as a federal law enforcement agency, a regulatory authority, and a member of the Joint Force and the U.S. intelligence community, allowing it to possess a unique combination of capabilities to protect and promote American interests at home and abroad.