Alejandro Mayorkas: “It would be a disservice to the American people and to the men and women who safeguard our homeland not to approve it.”

Chair Murray, I remember very well when you and I visited a Coast Guard facility in your jurisdiction when I served as a Deputy Secretary.

I believe very strongly that the United States Coast Guard belongs in the Department of Homeland Security.

but I do believe that Senator Murkowski is correct that we need to fund the Coast Guard at a greater level than, historically, has been the case.

I would welcome the opportunity to work with you to increase the Coast Guard's budget quite significantly.