MARQUETTE – U.S. Senator Gary Peters highlighted concerns over the potential closure of United States Coast Guard units in Michigan during a confirmation hearing for Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, nominee to be commandant of the USCG.

During the hearing in the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Peters raised concerns about changes to search and rescue units across the country, which are critical to the safety of Michigan’s Great Lakes communities. Peters went on to applaud successful efforts by the USCG to surpass its recruiting goals and asked specifically if an increase in personnel will enable the USCG to fully staff Michigan’s USCG units.

“Particularly, given the fact that, as we talked about in my office, you have experienced record recruitment, which is a certainly a hats off to the men and women in the Coast Guard, that folks want to be a part of a great service,” said Peters during the hearing. “But with those extra folks coming in, will that potentially lead to additional support for your facilities in the state of Michigan?”

In response, Lunday said: “We are directed now in force design to assess our operating concept in our entire force structure everywhere the Coast Guard is located. We haven’t gotten far into that analysis yet, we owe that recommendation and report to the secretary, and we’re just getting that work. But, an important part of that will be making sure we understand the concerns of those in the communities and the Senate here and the rest of Congress are in terms of our facilities throughout the United States, especially in Michigan.”