Dan Webster: “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.”

Congress must do better. The Commandant has said that the Coast Guard needs to be a $20 billion service by 2030, and I believe that should be the minimum.

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.

This reminds of us the vital importance of the Coast Guard in protecting our nation's waterways.

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.