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Opening remarks, as prepared, of Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Ranking Member Bob Gibbs (R-OH) from today’s hearing entitled, “Western Hemisphere Drug Interdictions: Why Maintaining Coast Guard Operations Matter”:

The United States Coast Guard carries out a broad array of law enforcement, including drug interdiction in U.S. waters and on the high seas. 

The Service works as part of the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force – South to remove drugs from the Transit Zone.  Removing drugs in the Transit Zone, closest to the source and in their purest form, not only keeps those drugs off the streets and out of school yards in the United States, but also makes much more efficient use of law enforcement assets.  Capturing bulk shipments of cocaine in this manner takes less time and effort than following smaller packages of less-pure product being moved to users. 

Looking at the falling targets for cocaine removal, and the consistent failure to meet even those falling targets, I want to hear from the Coast Guard how the falling targets relate to surface fleet recapitalization, and the failure to implement the intended communication goals originally set out for the Service’s new assets. 

I am particularly concerned to know why, despite a decade of Congressional questioning, the Coast Guard has still failed to undertake a ship life extension program for its workhorse Medium Endurance Cutters, especially given potential further delays in the construction of the new Offshore Patrol Cutters.

In addition to Coast Guard assets, I also look forward to learning what other agencies can contribute to and participate in Transit Zone drug interdiction efforts. 

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