HOUSTON - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee watches as Cmdr. Lamar Johnson demonstrates Rescue 21's capabilities at Sector Houston-Galveston as part of the Rescue 21 acceptance ceremony and demonstration June 1, 2009. Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard’s critical command, control and communications acquisition project, offering cutting edge technology to mariners nationwide. It is the backbone of the National Maritime Distress and Response System, a maritime version of 9-1-1 that allows the boating public, the Coast Guard and other response agencies to communicate more effectively during emergency situations in the marine environment. The advanced Rescue 21 system offers: Direction-finding capability. Reduction of coverage gaps along the coast. Improved call clarity. Enhanced playback capability. Digital archiving of calls. Increased and simultaneous channel monitoring capacity. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Patrick Kelley)