Dan Webster

To protect this crucial economic engine, we need to make the necessary investments and ensure our ports can effectively confront physical and cyber-threats.

Before we begin, I want to mention the recent tragedy in the Port of Baltimore. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

If we had a say in the final bill, we probably wouldn't have had so many discretionary grant programs.

the drawn-out timeline for MARAD and DOT during the grant obligation process...forces recipients to adjust their scopes due to inflation.

I introduced, along with Ranking Member Carbajal, Chairman Graves, and ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Larsen, a bill called the Coast Guard Accountability and Transparency Act.

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

Unfortunately, the Coast Guard's efforts to inform Congress and the public of these findings were not prompted by transparency.

I look forward to hearing more about the Coast Guard's multitiered effort to mitigate its recruiting challenges.

We want to continue to attract the best and brightest, and when people come to visit the Academy, particularly compared to West Point and Annapolis, our facilities don't match up. So, we definitely need to invest there.

Let's see, Mr. Auchincloss, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

I want to thank and welcome our witnesses, and thank them for being here today.

we want the fastest, best, smartest, most focused, and toughest military on the face of the globe.

If the former leadership had treated this issue with the seriousness it deserves, incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment would have been greatly prevented.

So, I introduced, along with Ranking Member Carbajal, Chairman Graves, and ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Larsen, a bill called the Coast Guard Accountability and Transparency Act.

Perpetrators of sexual assault and sexual harassment, and the command leaders who permit those actions, must be held accountable.

It is unacceptable that the Coast Guard decided to hide Operation Fouled Anchor.

The infrastructure at the Academy, because it is dilapidated in some cases, does that hinder your attraction of new applicants?

During the course of the Committee's investigation, it has become apparent that some of the Service's critical disclosures and document production continued to be driven by leaks and news reports, rather than true transparency and…

Congress must provide the appropriate funding to ensure a shift in culture within the Coast Guard.

We meet here today to examine the Coast Guard's implementation of the recommendations from the Accountability and Transparency Review.

I'd like to welcome our witnesses joining us today--Vice Admiral Paul Thomas, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United States Coast Guard, and Heather MacLeod, Director, Homeland Security and Justice at the United States Government…

But what's happening today with the kinetic responses to the activity there, that's treating a symptom.

Can you share with the subcommittee some of the risks currently incurred by American owned or flagged maritime assets transiting the Red Sea, as well as any other potential ones of concern emerging from the Houthis' increased aggression?

So, I would suggest infrastructure investments in the physical infrastructure; changing some of the operational constraints on maintaining inventory so there is more of a surge capacity...

We meet today to examine threats and emerging challenges to maritime commerce in and around the Red Sea shipping corridor.