Bill Would Require Congressional Nominations for CGA

[zaatarmonster]

Also, who says the other SA's need Congressional nominations

It's required by law. If you're asking fundamentally why, I don't have an answer for you.

To me, it seems like since all of the services are national services, they should draw from a national pool of applications and not a bunch of state pools of applicants. I guess it really boils down to a states' rights debate, which might be where the whole nomination idea came from.

I sort of remember hearing that the reason CGA didn't require nominations was that somebody thought it was a conflict of interest to have the tariff makers (Congress) appointing the tariff enforcers (the Coast Guard / Revenue Cutter Service?). I'm not sure that's a relevant argument today now. Does the Coast Guard still do tariff enforcement?

If anyone cares, here's where all of the nomination requirements are codified:

USNA: 10 USC §6954
USMA: 10 USC §4342
USAFA: 10 USC §9342
USMMA: 46A USC §1295b
USCGA (Proposed text): HR 2830.EH §221 (110th Congress - check http://thomas.loc.gov for text)​

 

[Luigi59]

To me, it seems like since all of the services are national services, they should draw from a national pool of applications...

....without regard to Congressional quotas, thereby insuring the best possible candidates get admitted, instead of denying admission to a top-tier candidate because of where he lives.

 

[WESKI]

any congressional action on this?

 

[Luigi59]

The likelihood of enactment this late in the second session of the 110th Congress is uncertain.

If a nomination system for the Coast Guard Academy were to become law, implementation would take several years.

The first class admitted under a congressional nomination system would probably not enter until 2011. (the Class of 2015).

 

[LineInTheSand]

It's required by law. If you're asking fundamentally why, I don't have an answer for you.

To me, it seems like since all of the services are national services, they should draw from a national pool of applications and not a bunch of state pools of applicants. I guess it really boils down to a states' rights debate, which might be where the whole nomination idea came from.

I sort of remember hearing that the reason CGA didn't require nominations was that somebody thought it was a conflict of interest to have the tariff makers (Congress) appointing the tariff enforcers (the Coast Guard / Revenue Cutter Service?). I'm not sure that's a relevant argument today now. Does the Coast Guard still do tariff enforcement?

If anyone cares, here's where all of the nomination requirements are codified:

USNA: 10 USC §6954
USMA: 10 USC §4342
USAFA: 10 USC §9342
USMMA: 46A USC §1295b
USCGA (Proposed text): HR 2830.EH §221 (110th Congress - check http://thomas.loc.gov for text)​

Yes, the question was "fundamentally", I understand the legality of it.

As far as the reasoning you have listed...it doesn't seem very sound. Congress votes (yes) on the commissions of all US Coast Guard officers. Each name is listed, voted for, and passed. You get your commission from the President however.