Washington, D.C. — The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA) during today’s Subcommittee hearing titled “Taking Account: Implementation of the Coast Guard Authorization Acts of 2022 and 2025, Reconciliation, and Force Design 2028.”
Video of Ranking Members Larsen’s and Carbajal’s opening statements can be found here and here.
More information on the hearing can be found here.
Ranking Member Larsen:
Thank you, Chairman Ezell and Ranking Member Carbajal, for holding this hearing to examine the significant changes underway at the Coast Guard.
Congressional oversight is more important than ever as the Coast Guard undergoes transformational change as a result of recent authorizations, reconciliation funding and Force Design 2028.
I want to thank our witnesses, Vice Admiral Douglas Schofield and Ms. Triana McNeil, for being here today to discuss the Coast Guard’s successes and challenges in implementing recently enacted laws and in obligating the funding from reconciliation.
Despite these investments in the reconciliation bill, GAO reports the Coast Guard is not only falling behind its acquisition and procurement targets but has made operational decisions that have actively harmed its ability to carry out essential duties.
It is unacceptable that the Coast Guard has not yet restored the dozens of stations that have been closed or downgraded since 2024. These closures have reduced the agency’s ability to effectively conduct search and rescue operations across our country, a decision with life-or-death consequences.
A 2025 GAO report found that due to personnel shortages, the Coast Guard closed 23 seasonal boat stations and reduced SAR coverage associated with 19 other stations.
This reduced capability has also put a strain on local first responders.
The Commandant has said that the Coast Guard’s search and rescue mission represents a “sacred trust with the American people.” The agency must prioritize using its new resources and servicemembers to restore that sacred trust.
A question I will have is when is the Coast Guard going to reconstitute the 42 search and rescue focused stations?
I’m also concerned that the Administration is going to negatively impact the Coast Guard’s efforts to curb sexual assault, sexual harassment and harassment.
While I believe that the Commandant is truly invested in this issue, the Administration’s decision to shutter the Women’s Leadership Initiative, Federally Employed Women and the Women’s Leadership Council all of that limits the voice of women in the service—the very people whose input is needed when developing policies to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Congress enacted dozens of reforms in response to Operation Fouled Anchor, which revealed flagrant and negligent mishandlings of sexual assault and sexual harassments cases involving Coast Guard personnel. Some of these reforms include expedited transfers for victims and survivors, updating the process for obtaining protective orders and establishing a confidential reporting system.
The women and men of the Coast Guard deserve the immediate and complete implementation of these reforms as we work to eliminate sexual assault and harassment from the service.
I do want to acknowledge that the Coast Guard has had success in implementing parts of recent reauthorizations.
For instance, the 2022 Coast Guard Authorization Act authorized the creation of a “whale desk” traffic alert system in Washington state, a new program to protect orcas and other marine life from vessel strikes by providing operators and mariners with near real-time location data.
The program has been a success in my home state, allowing for safer maritime operations and reductions in noise pollution around whales.
I am pleased that Congress reauthorized this program in the 2025 Coast Guard Authorization Act and look forward to working with the Coast Guard to expand it to other regions to protect marine life.
I look forward to engaging with our witnesses on the progress that the Coast Guard is making to modernize the organization and ensure that Coasties have the necessary funding, resources and infrastructure to save lives, protect the American public and keep commerce flowing.
Thank you, and I yield back.
Ranking Member Carbajal:
Good morning, and thank you, Chair Ezell, for calling today’s hearing.
Over the past year, we have spoken on many occasions about what reconciliation funding is going to do for the Coast Guard. Now that you’re spending it, Congressional oversight isn’t just appropriate, it’s necessary.
I am glad that we are here to talk about the implementation of the policies and projects that have come out of prior Coast Guard Authorizations, reconciliation, and the Commandant’s vision for the service. But I must say that it can be exceptionally frustrating when the agency refuses to be transparent, sidesteps the law, or says one thing and does another.
Let me give an example. Congress gave you money to buy C130s. We then found out from the press that, at the direction of the former Secretary of Homeland Security, you planned to purchase 2 shiny new G700 executive jets. When you came to brief Congress, you told us, “Don’t worry, we’re going to get reimbursed so we can buy and missionize 6 C-130s and purchase flight simulators.”
That Secretary left and you still haven’t been reimbursed. Congressional oversight isn’t just important, it’s necessary.
Now I want to be clear. I support more Coast Guard and that means more Coast Guard funding. I agree with the current and former Commandant that you are currently a $20 billion service and deserve that level of funding.
I believe all of my colleagues on this Subcommittee agree but as Congress provides more funding and the size of the Service grows, the Coast Guard must remain accountable.
Congress works—sometimes for years—on negotiating changes to the law based on issues or the needs of the service. Unfortunately, we often have to revisit those laws because the Coast Guard deceptively changes regulations, implements incorrectly or refuses to enforce altogether.
This can be frustrating for Congress but more importantly, it hurts the readiness and resiliency of servicemembers who rely on the steady principled leadership to do their jobs.
Proper oversight and meaningful legislative change depends on trust and transparency, and the Coast Guard needs to do better.
In the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, Congress enacted my bill, the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act, which included several changes that increased the safety of small passenger vessels. This legislation came following the tragic loss of 34 lives when the M/V Conception caught fire. As a result, I have worked tirelessly to ensure no family loses their loved one in a similar way and, in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, ensured victims or their families can recoup the damages they are owed.
Last, I heard that the Coast Guard was working expeditiously to update regulations and enforce all but one requirement: updates to safety management systems. I look forward to hearing from the Coast Guard today about their efforts to complete full implementation of that law.
There truly is no organization like the Coast Guard in the world. Our country is undoubtedly safer because of their service. Every time we’ve called on them, they’ve answered.
I look forward to hearing from the Coast Guard about spending plans, policy changes and policy implementation.
With that, I yield back.
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