Dan Webster: “I look forward to hearing from Chairman Maffei today on the status of FMC's efforts.”

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.

It is not enough to build airplanes in the U.S.--U.S. aviation must build safe airplanes in the U.S.

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.

The House passed an authorization bill earlier this year that begins to appropriately resource the Coast Guard.