WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today held an Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Coast Guard budget and oversight.

Witness List:

Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:

“As a nation, we depend on the Coast Guard to keep us safe and secure, but their ability to do that rests on their access to resources and other support necessary to perform their missions. They can’t do things like respond to the biggest oil spill in U.S. history and a massive earthquake in Haiti, conduct search and rescue operations, and countless other things all on a shoestring budget.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV 

“The U.S. Coast Guard is a multi-mission, military maritime force with nearly 42,000 men and women on active duty who carry out an array of civil and military responsibilities to protect the nation’s maritime economy and environment, defend our borders, and save those in peril on our waters. Congress should honor the Coast Guard’s everyday service and ensure they have the tools and resources they need to be mission-ready.”

Senator Mark Begich, Chairman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard 

"While 2010 was another exceptional ‘operational year’ by any standard, these operations further stressed existing aged and obsolete cutters, boats, aircraft and support infrastructure. Moreover, these extended surge operations strained workforce readiness due to increased op-tempo and deferred training. It is therefore imperative—even in the current fiscal environment—that we continue to invest in recapitalizing our fleet and enhancing support to our families.”

Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard 

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