Dan Webster: “Chairman Webster, Ranking Member Carbajal, and Members of the Subcommittee, this completes my prepared statement.”

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.

Your maintenance budget will only cover half of planned cutter maintenance projects in 2024.

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.

I urge funding levels in line with H.R. 7659, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024.