White House threatens to veto House's Coast Guard bill
Final reauthorization bill includes a provision that would require the service to provide security around liquefied natural gas terminals.
The White House Wednesday threatened to veto the House version of the fiscal 2008 Coast Guard reauthorization measure if the final bill includes a provision that would require the Coast Guard to provide security around liquefied natural gas terminals and vessels.
According to a Statement of Administration Policy released Wednesday morning, the provision provides "an unwarranted and unnecessary subsidy to the owners of private infrastructure that is contrary to the existing assistance framework and would divert finite Coast Guard assets from other high-priority missions."
The language is contained in a broad substitute amendment that House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., added to the bill.
During floor debate Wednesday, Reps. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, and Charles Boustany, R-La., will offer an amendment to mitigate the disputed provision.
Their amendment states that the Coast Guard may seek security help from state and local officials, as well as contractors at other personnel at liquefied natural gas terminals.