It has been a very good hearing, and I thank the members for coming and paying such close attention to this important budget.

Please look at those U.S. vessels first, and only if you have to, please, use those foreign vessels.

I think the American people will continue to be surprised that the United States of America does not have a capital budget.

This misguided 'cut at any cost' approach has forced this year's reduction in the budget request for the Coast Guard.

I believe the top line given to the Coast Guard in the President's budget is just not adequate.

The Coast Guard, as you know, I have said to you many times, both in private and public, will forever be in my heart and the hearts of the constituents that I represent in Louisiana and that I try to represent along the gulf coast.

If Congress approves the President's request, the DHS budget will fall for the third straight year.

the bill you refer to as statutory is the National Flood Insurance Program, which has not been authorized for quite a while over this issue and other issues.

I think we are going to have to find a way forward.

Clearly, major refineries, major pipelines, utilities.

But the equipment side of the Coast Guard is a serious issue.

What I want to make sure is that whatever we do, we are really recognizing the importance of local government in charge of disasters.

It is going to be hard for us to hire people at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

We need that bill, and we need an approach that requires the core critical infrastructure of this country to unanimously reach at least a base level of security.

Thank you very much, Madam Secretary.

Congress has a responsibility to make sure the next generation of Coast Guard and Customs men and women serving on the front lines have the equipment they need.

Secretary Napolitano, you lead a Department of 230,000 men and women who are on the front lines every day protecting our citizens.

It has been said that budgets reflect our values. This is absolutely true, and is more important than ever that we invest in priorities that are consistent with our character as a nation.