Duncan Hunter

That is unacceptable. There is no reason to be testing something that the Navy has been using for 5 years.

But, again, you are talking about ScanEagle, which is extremely old technology with hopefully new sensors on it, but this is not groundbreaking, right?

We are not going to have a driverless ship. Every Navy ship will be captained.

Is there a kind of symposium that the Coast Guard has every year?

I was hoping the DoD would provide insight as to whether the servicemembers may not understand the TSGLI requirements.

If you go to Title 38, Part 2, Chapter 19, Subchapter 3 of the code that talks about SGLI...

I want to express my disappointment that the DoD decided not to participate in today's hearing.

What do you think about having to notify the spouse if a servicemember opts out of their life insurance?

We are the ones, this committee before I was in Congress, put the C-RAM in Iraq in the first place.

the last 4 years I think was a sea change for the Coast Guard in the direction that you are going, and it has been an honor to be a part of it.

So what do you think, Master Chief?

But don't spend $18 billion that way. Spend it where it has the most effect, which is the U.S. Coast Guard.

I have ongoing concerns with the Coast Guard being an armed service within the Department of Homeland Security.

Do you think that gives you more tools in your toolbox?

I think he said $18 billion. Probably closer to twice that.

Take the $18 billion, spend some portion of it to rebuild the fences that we presently have.

Let us stay on the MSP, if you don't mind? We authorized $300 million. The administration only asked for $214 million.

Without the Jones Act, without the Maritime Security Program, without cargo preference, our ability to project the force is in jeopardy.

For me, the Jones Act, from a warfighting perspective, is all about the mariners and the ability to keep mariners trained and ready to go to war.

They got through the first gas tax increase in Tennessee in 30 years.

The Tennessee DOT has remained operating debt-free and on a pay-as-you-go basis.

I am not enthusiastic about seeing anything, frankly.

That is a great question, if you could track the icebreaker progress.

We are going to make sure too that we are not overburdening you with reports.

I want to make it clear so you know what this hearing is about. It is about the implementation of Coast Guard programs.