Above: Gottheimer talks with Coast Guard servicemembers, shaking hands with Lieutenant Commander Hilton.

SANDY HOOK, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Sandy Hook in New Jersey to meet with servicemembers and officers to discuss their work to protect the NJ-NY region, our ports, waterways, and coastline. 

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, Gottheimer helps conduct oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Coast Guard, ensuring the Guard is able to keep our shores and waters safe.

“It was an honor to join the brave men and women who serve our country as a part of the U.S. Coast Guard today at Station Sandy Hook, to discuss their operation and how they keep our ports and our region safe from drugs and terror,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “From protecting our coastline and responding to maritime threats, our Coast Guard service members here in New Jersey are working to protect us each and every day.”

The Coast Guard Station at Sandy Hook is responsible for New York Harbor security; the base’s area of responsibility stretches from Long Branch outward to 50 nautical miles offshore, while also covering New York Lower Bay, Raritan Bay, Raritan River, a portion of the Arthur Kill and the east side of Rockaway Beach.

Sandy Hook is involved in many search and rescue missions in this region, as well as protecting operations at major ports. As part of Sector New York, Sandy Hook is involved in major security events in and around NYC that require a maritime presence, as well as response and rebuilding to 9/11 and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Sandy Hook Coast Guard members also protect the Port of New York/New Jersey, the 3rd largest U.S. port.

Gottheimer discussed key issues that affect the servicemembers’ daily lives, from the potential New York City congestion tax, which would impact servicemembers commute to the station, to concerns about critical shoreside infrastructure projects to better protect our waterways, to grants to help the U.S. Coast Guard and its many local partners fund critical search and rescue collaborations.

Below: Gottheimer hops aboard Sandy Hook Officer Station Commanding Officer Joe Carlino, for a boat tour of the immediate Station area.

Below: Gottheimer receives briefing from Coast Guard Officers, Captain Marc Sennick, Deputy Sector Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, and Sandy Hook Officer Station Commanding Officer Joe Carlino.

Below: Gottheimer talks with Coast Guard servicemembers, speaking with Lieutenant Racz.

Below: Gottheimer stands with Captain Marc Sennick, Deputy Sector Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York

Below: Gottheimer receives briefing from Coast Guard Officers, Captain Marc Sennick, Deputy Sector Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, and Sandy Hook Officer Station Commanding Officer Joe Carlino.

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