Duncan Hunter

Where are we in relation to other countries, Dr. Nield? Are any other countries further along in this area than we are?

Last week there was an article in the AP. It ran across the country and including in my district, in Las Vegas, and the article was entitled, 'Union: New Airport Towers Must be Remodeled Before Opening.' In the article, Mr. Rinaldi, you…

I'm asking, how did you not have a 100-percent solution but still get the job done for 40 years?

Wars don't come on our acquisition timelines. Wars don't match our 12-year outlook. Wars happen when they happen, and right now we're not prepared for one.

What you're offering me is kind of a non-solution solution.

the only ensured global access to ice-covered regions, regardless of seasonality and otherwise

that's a national capability. That is a national sovereignty capability.

So what is our capability now, then? Right, right now?

the bar needs to be lower in terms of what their assets can actually do.

But you wouldn't spend the money on a UAS platform or system to go look at the far reaches of REEZ?

Absolutely. Let me tell you, what you guys are saying down South. We have statements from multiple coastguardsmen about their requests being denied by the CBP when they asked for the assets.

Then why don't we work with the Senate right now to work on saving $100 million and trying to build two.

you are reaching your full capacity, it's just that the bar is set too high.

So beyond getting it fixed, what is our capability right now in heavy ice?

it's important to break ice

If you can't get there because you've been area-denied by the environmentals, you cannot assert sovereign rights.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the biggest threat to the United States right now is Russia.

you'd rather have zero capability than 80 percent capability?

I don't care about, you know, some ship getting stuck who's doing science stuff. Why is it a national security priority?

This is becoming more and more, it's becoming clearer day by day that we have to be up there.

So if the Coast Guard is semper paratus, so too must the Congress.

I was proud to play a leading role in advancing H.R. 1493, along with the support of the Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and Chairman Judge Poe.

The U.S. Coast Guard has not taken a position on this yet.

Then why are you here?

Let's just go slow. I am a slow Marine, all right?