U.S. Senator Tim Scott and Representative Joe Wilson have asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to consider Beaufort, South Carolina, as the site for the U.S. Coast Guard’s new training base.
The request follows a call from the U.S. Coast Guard late last year seeking information on possible locations for its newest facility.
In their letter, Scott and Wilson stated, “Beaufort has proven itself to be a reliable and mission-ready military community. In addition to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the city is home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, which trains and graduates thousands of Marines each year. This presence has fostered a community that is well-suited to the needs of military personnel, with the housing, schools, and infrastructure already in place to immediately support Coast Guard families.”
They added, “The city’s location places it between two of the nation’s most strategically important ports, Charleston and Savannah. Located less than two hours away, Charleston will soon host the Coast Guard’s largest homeport, while the Port of Savannah consistently leads the East Coast in container volume. Situated between these two critical hubs, Beaufort is uniquely positioned and prepared to leverage the existing infrastructure and regional connectivity to support the Coast Guard’s mission.”
The proposal has received backing from several local organizations including Beaufort County Council, Town of Port Royal, City of Beaufort, Town of Bluffton, Town of Hilton Head, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Beaufort County Military Enhancement Committee.
Senator Scott represents South Carolina in the United States Senate and focuses on economic development, education and health care priorities. He serves on committees such as Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Finance; Health; Education; Labor and Pensions; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship (official website). Scott also emphasizes workforce training initiatives for South Carolina residents (official website).
Scott provides constituent services including help with federal agencies for South Carolinians (official website). He was instrumental in passing Opportunity Zones legislation in 2017 to promote investment in underserved areas (official website).
For more details or to read the full letter sent by Scott and Wilson to Secretary Noem visit their official channels.
