Dan Webster: “What do you think that we as a Congress should do?”

While recovery efforts continue, it is important that we also maintain stable trade flows.

However, this committee is well aware also of the aging infrastructure and workforce shortages and insufficient budget that has operationally constrained the Coast Guard for--more than just this year--many years.

I have major concerns about the funding needed to keep up with the backlog in infrastructure, the investments in new assets such as cutters and helicopters and everyday support services to the fleet.

Admiral Fagan, during your address on the state of the Coast Guard, you rightly recognized your Service's funding challenges.