Washington, D.C. — The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA) during today’s hearing titled, “The Future of the Coast Guard: Review of Coast Guard Programs and Structure.”
Video of Ranking Member Carbajal’s opening statement can be found here.
More information on the hearing can be found here.
Ranking Member Carbajal:
Good morning, and thank you, Chair Ezell, for calling today’s hearing.
Welcome Admiral Lunday, and congratulations on your nomination.
One thing that’s great about this Subcommittee is that we’re all on the same page on a very important issue: supporting the United States Coast Guard. There is no organization like it in the world. The servicemembers are top notch, and, since 1790, our country is safer because of their service.
I also agree with Secretary Noem when she said that the Coast Guard has been neglected and under resourced for far too long. Unfortunately, when I look at the budget, this is another case of “watch what I say, not what I do.”
The overall funding is not as exciting as one would hope. It does not account for increasing the size of the service. It does not account for taking on new missions like those associated with the Arctic Security Cutter. And, most importantly, it reverses course on recapitalizing the Coast Guard’s shoreside infrastructure.
The Government Accountability Office recently issued a report that found the Coast Guard’s $7 billion estimate for the shoreside infrastructure backlog is actually much higher.
Over 200 projects to date still have no cost-estimates, and none have been adjusted for inflation. The shoreside infrastructure backlog directly impacts Coasties and their families.
This is real world stuff. In my district, a member of the Coast Guard recently fell through the floor of Coast Guard housing as they were taking a shower because the persistent moisture and mold rotted the floor.
We must do better—because this is completely unacceptable.
What is in the Administration’s first “transformational” budget for the Coast Guard infrastructure you may ask? A cut of 90%. A scant $21 million dollars to address a more than $7 billion-dollar backlog.
Budgets demonstrate values and priorities. What are this Secretary’s priorities? Well, we know that she is planning to follow the President’s lead in obtaining not one but two new Gulfstream 5 jets to accommodate her travel at a cost of upwards of $54 million.
That’s two-and-a-half times the entire shoreside infrastructure budget for the Coast Guard. Budgets show priorities.
Talk about fraud, waste and abuse!
Fortunately, I believe that my colleagues on this Subcommittee share my interest in providing for servicemembers, and I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure Congress provides prudent and robust investments in the Coast Guard.
Another place where I am certain my colleagues, and I agree with is the importance of the Coast Guard’s role in law enforcement. The first step to enforcing the law is following the law.
Unfortunately, just last week the Service sent us a letter saying that they have zero intention of following a law that is instrumental to growing the Coast Guard. Why? Because it conflicts with an Executive Order. I know that Admiral Lunday is an attorney so I look forward to hearing a legal justification for that decision.
I have always been, and continue to be, a champion for fully funding the Coast Guard at a level commensurate with their needs and their service to the country.
To be clear, Congress and every President for the past 20 years has failed to do this. Admiral Fagan boldly stated that the Coast Guard is a $20 billion dollar service and deserves to be funded as such.
Despite their stated interest in reviving and growing the service, I am concerned that this Administration’s actions show that they do not agree with Admiral Fagan’s assessment.
While the prospect of funding through reconciliation is welcome news, it still falls short and does not provide the long term and predictable funding the Coast Guard needs. We must do better.
Congress and Coast Guard leadership owe it to the Coasties who serve this Country to deliver on these promises.
With that, I yield back.
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