Mary Landrieu

These boats need to be seaworthy and have a very different mission, of course, than the Navy, but they have to be big and strong and able to maintain.

We just cannot patrol waters--we are not patrolling waters within just 15 miles, as you know, of our coastline.

I have to just say for the record, it is shocking to see the technology that the drug cartels have.

There has to be a better way to do this, because we have to take that money out of the Coast Guard budget.

A recent study sanctioned by the Coast Guard, named the 'High Latitude Study', calls for a minimum of three heavy polar icebreakers and a minimum of three medium polar icebreakers.

I like to say, as an advocate for the industry, but also for good environmental practices, that until the Deepwater Horizon, there was more natural seepage of oil into the ocean than oil ever spilled from a rig.

We have all mentioned this in our opening statements, but I would like to give you an opportunity to take 1 minute to describe in even more detail for the subcommittee how the retreating Arctic ice will dramatically change the Coast…

I do hope that as we leave this field hearing this morning, not only Senator Landrieu gets a little bit deeper appreciation of the role that the Coast Guard is playing.

The Coast Guard will forever be in my heart and in the hearts of my Louisiana constituents in light of its heroic efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

With the help of Senator Murkowski, the fiscal year 2013 Senate appropriations bill includes $10.336 billion for the Coast Guard.

We are an Arctic Nation.

I want to be a partner with her to develop assets that our Nation needs to stay first in global competition.

I would be remiss, Senator Murkowski, if I did not mention the special place the Coast Guard holds in my heart...

With her help, our bill will include $10.36 billion for the Coast Guard, $282 million above the President's request.

I am so pleased to join my dear friend and colleague and partner, Senator Lisa Murkowski.

America is a maritime nation and an Arctic nation. We must recognize this reality and act accordingly.

I am pleased to join my friend and colleague, Senator Lisa Murkowski, to discuss Coast Guard operations in Alaska.

I thank Senator Murkowski for encouraging me, as a wonderful member of this subcommittee, to hold this important field hearing here in Kodiak, Alaska.

I am forever grateful to him and the Coast Guard men and women who helped aid those in need following the hurricane.

I know that Senator Murkowski, who has just been a phenomenal leader for Alaska, and such a strong voice, not only for this community, but for the entire State.

We are going to have to find a way to get the assets for this Nation that we need to protect our homeland.

How much do those new polar icebreakers cost, approximately?

It is truly an honor for me to be back here in Alaska.

I thank Senator Coburn for letting me speak in advance of his time on the floor. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cardin). The Senator from Oklahoma.

Reducing investments in education is not the way to close the achievement gap or stimulate reform.