Ranking Member Henry Cuellar Statement at the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request Hearing for the United States Coast Guard

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the United States Coast Guard:

Thank you, Chairman Amodei. 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 2025 budget request of $12.3 billion makes important 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 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.

The Coast Guard's role in the Indo-Pacific continues to expand as evident by the Coast Guard's $263 million request to expand Coast Guard Operations in the Indo-Pacific.

This funding will help the Coast Guard maintain persistent presence in the region.

I am interested in hearing more today about the Coast Guard's role in the Indo-Pacific. In particular, what the Coast Guard is doing to counter the threats posed by China and how this additional funding will be used.

In the Arctic, there is a growing need for icebreakers as China and Russia maintain and grow their presence in the region.

Yet, our icebreaker program remains severely delayed – we are not expecting to see the Polar Security Cutter until the 2030s.

In FY24, the Congress included funding for a Commercially Available Icebreaker – we hope today that you can provide us with an update on this program.

I also hope you can elaborate on the Coast Guard's efforts to stop the flow of drugs and the continued work you do to stem the flow of migration through our maritime border.

And finally, I'd like to know what the Coast Guard is doing to address some of its recruiting challenges. Recent numbers show that you are down 2,500 recruits.

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.