Allen: Coast Guard improved under DHS

WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- The head of the U.S. Coast Guard says in the five years since the agency's move to the Homeland Security Department more than 27,000 lives have been saved.

Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, released a statement Thursday recognizing the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Homeland Security Department and the subsequent move of the Coast Guard to the department. He acknowledged that more work needs to be done to improve security around the nation, but that ports, waterways and maritime infrastructure are safer from terrorism and other threats, the Coast Guard reported.

"Five years ago, the Coast Guard moved from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security in the largest reorganization of our federal government in more than 40 years," Allen said. "Since then, Coast Guard men and women around the country and across the globe have come together with our partner agencies within the department to protect and preserve the safety and security of all Americans."

Allen says more than 27,000 lives have been saved by the Coast Guard over the last five years, and that overall, the agency is better since the reorganization.

"While there is still more work to do, there is no doubt that our ports, waterways and maritime infrastructure are safer and more secure than they were before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," Allen said.