Ranking Member Cuellar Statement at the U.S. Coast Guard Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request Hearing

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the U.S. Coast Guard:

**As prepared for delivery**

Thank you, Chairman Joyce. And good morning, Admiral Fagan. It's nice to see you again.

The Coast Guard plays a critical role in many facets of our lives — from saving those in peril to securing our borders and ensuring our national security. The Coast Guard's fiscal year 2024 budget request of $12.1 billion makes key investments in personnel, vessels, aircraft, and other programs that will assist in its search and rescue mission along with critical activities at our maritime border, including the interdiction of drugs and addressing the increasing flow of migrants.

To add to its growing set of responsibilities, the Coast Guard is also playing a critical role in the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic region. China continues to call itself a "near-Arctic" nation, even procuring at least two ice-breakers despite being thousands of miles from the Arctic. China also collaborates with Russia, a country with at least 40 icebreakers, some armed, to increase its presence in the Arctic. I am interested in hearing more today about the Coast Guard's role in the Administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. In particular, what the Coast Guard is doing to counter the threats posed by China and whether there are any resourcing gaps that we can address.

I also hope you can elaborate on the Coast Guard's efforts to stop the flow of drugs from entering through our maritime borders.

And finally, I'd like to know what the Coast Guard is doing to address some of its recruiting challenges. According to a GAO study, many cite a lack of access to childcare and education as a reason to avoid service. Additionally, increasing mission demands outpace staffing levels. I hope the Coast Guard has made progress on addressing these barriers to recruitment and retention.

Admiral Fagan, thank you for being here and I look forward to your statement and answers to our questions.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back.