Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Robert Papp, Jr. joined a Congressional Delegation led by Senators Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski in a visit to Cold Bay, Alaska. Secretary Napolitano and Admiral Papp arrived in Cold Bay having first visited the Coast Guard Air Station in Kodiak, Alaska as part of an overall mission to visit District 17 of the U.S. Coast Guard and assets in the region.

“The Coast Guard’s mission in Alaska is becoming all the more important given the growing shipping and commercial interest in the Arctic,” said Secretary Napolitano. “As activity in the region increases, we will continue to work closely with state, local, tribal and private partners to secure our waters and enhance our capability to respond to any threats or disasters.”

Following the visits with to Coast Guard assets, Secretary Napolitano, Admiral Papp and the Congressional Delegation participated in a series of roundtable meetings in Anchorage with oil industry representatives and tribal leaders.