Dan Webster: “Thank you so much for appearing.”

Today, the subcommittee will receive testimony from the Coast Guard's icebreaking recapitalization efforts and the ability of the Service to meet its icebreaking and polar region responsibilities.

To date, we have yet to see such a plan, let alone a cost estimate or a timeline of the first vessel in the fleet.

At the same time, our nation has two operational icebreakers, one of which is dedicated to the Service's Antarctic mission in support of the National Science Foundation and is operating well past its intended service life.

We absolutely have to do better on this.