Today, during the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing titled “Drugs, Thugs, and Fish: Examining Coast Guard Law Enforcement Efforts,” Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) underscored the urgent need for strengthened maritime law enforcement, improved international cooperation, and greater accountability in U.S. Coast Guard operations.
The hearing featured testimony from Rear Admiral David C. Barata, Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities at the U.S. Coast Guard, and Heather MacLeod, Director for Justice and Homeland Security Programs at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
A rough transcript of Carbajal’s full opening statement is available below and a video can be found here.
Good afternoon, and thank you, Chair Ezell, for calling today’s hearing.
The U.S. Coast Guard is the nation’s premier, multi-mission law enforcement agency. As the only uniformed service to conduct both Homeland Security and Defense missions, the importance of the Coast Guard cannot be understated.
One of the reasons why the Coast Guard is so successful is their unique status as both a branch of the military, and as a law enforcement agency. When the Coast Guard conducts counter-drug missions, they not only successfully stop, board, and search vessels suspected of trafficking illegal narcotics, but they also detain individuals who often provide critical intelligence on the drug trafficking organizations that put them on that vessel in the first place.
This critical piece of the puzzle is only made possible by the precise and professional actions of our Coast Guard boarding teams. Upholding American Constitutional values and the international rule of law is exactly why the Coast Guard is so successful.
Another unique aspect of the Coast Guard is its ability to enter into bilateral and [multilateral] agreements with other countries to help bolster law enforcement efforts for both the U.S. and its partners. This real-time engagement with other countries not only helps preserve rules-based order in the maritime domain, but it also helps the U.S. engage in strategic soft power diplomacy across the world.
While the Coast Guard continues to put up record-breaking numbers of drugs seized and migrants rescued at sea, the numbers behind its budget have not increased at an equal rate.
There’s no doubt that we’ve seen an increased demand on Coast Guard law enforcement efforts, but we cannot forget the personnel who make these missions possible.
I am very concerned that the [DHS] appropriations bill will not appropriately fund the Coast Guard operations and support account – Coast Guard assets don’t run themselves.
As GAO has noted, insufficient asset readiness – coupled with workforce shortages hinder the Coast Guard’s impact. We must address this issue.
The Coast Guard’s international collaboration is imperative. The Coast Guard is also a party to bilateral and multilateral agreements and conventions to protect natural resources and fish stocks from exploitation around the globe.
Further, the Coast Guard works hand in hand with NOAA to protect and enforce our domestic fisheries, which is a multi-billion-dollar industry. This mission cannot be overlooked as well.
Finally, while I have serious concerns about the Administration’s actions in Venezuela, I am encouraged by the Coast Guard’s actions to enforce the law at sea.
The Coast Guard’s recent detention and seizure of dark fleet vessels operating outside of international laws highlights the risks inherent in a “flag of convenience” system.
American flagged vessels are owned by Americans, crewed by American mariners, and follow American laws. We should be doing everything we can to encourage other countries to follow suit.
I look forward to today’s hearing, and the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the Coast Guard.
I am proud to champion the service and the dedicated Coasties who prove day in and day out that the Coast Guard is truly a global force for good.
With that, I yield back.
