Lucille Roybal-Allard: “My amendment would increase funding for the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker program by $850 million. The amendment is…”

“My amendment would increase funding for the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker program by $850 million. The amendment is offset by a reduction to the funding for ICE's interior immigration enforcement. The increases for ICE hiring and detention beds are not well justified and do not have a security focus. In contrast, the need for heavy icebreakers is very well documented. A recent report from the National Academy of Sciences warned that ``the United States has insufficient assets to protect its interests, implement U.S. policy, execute its laws, and meet its obligations in the Arctic and Antarctica because it lacks adequate icebreaking capability.'' Mr. Chairman, this vulnerability exists because, currently, the Coast Guard has only one functioning heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star. Built in 1976, it is well past its 30-year expected operational life. It no longer has the reliability we need, and the cost to maintain it will continue to rise. Currently, its primary mission is to clear a path through the ice to our research facilities in Antarctica. This means the only icebreaking asset we have in the Arctic is the Coast Guard's only medium class icebreaker, the Healy. The Polar Star is expected to continue functioning for just 3 to 7 years. This will leave the United States with no heavy icebreaking capability. We are dangerously falling behind.…”