Working to increase Coast Guard presence and funding

This week, I, along with eight of my colleagues, urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem to request a significant increase in the U.S. Coast Guard’s budget to support its growing mission in the Indo-Pacific. The Coast Guard’s resources and assets have been mobilized to respond to the needs of the nation’s southern maritime borders. But this reallocation of resources have not corresponded with sufficient offsets. Pulling resources from our region, compromises the Coast Guard’s ability to fulfill its full range of missions at this critical time. While the Indo-Pacific faces rising tensions and escalating national security challenges, the Coast Guard must remain vigilant in drug and migrant interdiction at our borders and needs robust resources to safeguard U.S. interests abroad. Strengthening readiness in the Pacific protects American lives and our national security. Ensuring the Coast Guard can meet these evolving threats is essential this coming Fiscal Year.