▶ 0:29:46>> prior tostephen caramel to be administrator of the maritime and ministration. Laura dibella to the federal maritime commissioner. If inclined to be associate director of the office of science and technology policy. Trent morse to be a member of the board of directors of the metropolitan washington airports authority.
▶ 0:30:14Timothy petty to be assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and michelle schultz as a member of the surface transportation board. He's capable nominees bring the range of experiences across government and I've sector. They embodied the spirit of public duty that supports the essential, often overlooked functions on which americans depend every day. We know that reason partisan delays have placed a real strain on basic governmental services.
▶ 0:30:42At this moment it is critical that we swiftly install leaders who will protect the public interest by overseeing federal agencies core responsibilities. In the interest of filling these essential roles, I urge my colleagues to help advance qualified nominees before us today. I now turn to ranking member --. >> stephen carmel is nominated to be administrator of U.S. maritime administration, I believe he has a clear vision to rebuild the U.S.
▶ 0:31:08Shipbuilding ecosystem, which is very important to our economy and to our national security. So I'm pleased to support his nomination and glad that is committing to address sexual misconduct in the merchant marine academy. Laura dibella made clear she supports the jones act as well.
▶ 0:31:34Her clear comments supporting the dependence of the federal maritime commission. Dr. timothy petty is nominated to be assistant secretary of commerce for oceans atmosphere. He has significant experience which I believe is important in assisting. He also supports an organic act, a pacific coastal salmon recovery fund and other priorities.
▶ 0:31:59Lastly, michelle schultz is nominated to serve another term and as the service transportation board prepares to preserve the largest railroad merger in U.S. history we must leave no room for doubt about the importance of an independent commissioner without political pressure so I appreciate her commitment to review decisions based only on the record for the board.
▶ 0:32:26I was pleased to see her recognized and the importance of the board acting impartially so I will not be supporting the other nominees. Dr. ethan klein nominated to be assistant director for the office of science and technology policy, frankly there were answers that I found were insufficient on several issues about guardrails, whether it was a I-4 aviation safety, and I do not support Mr. morse's nomination today.
▶ 0:32:52We were hoping to see more financial paperwork disclosed which we did not see, so I can't support his nomination at this moment. Thank you, Mr. chair.
▶ 0:32:59Chair Cruz: Thank you. I now recognize senator wicker for a motion.
▶ 0:33:05Senator Wicker: In full support of the shipbuilding ecosystem I move that one under 4110, the nomination of stephen carmel to be administrator of the maritime administration the favorably approved.
▶ 0:33:17Chair Cruz: I'm not remotely surprised that the great state of mississippi promote shipbuilding. Is there a second to this motion? The clerk will call the role. [calling names]
▶ 0:34:24Chair Cruz: The eyes are 21, the nose are seven. >> the motion is agreed to in favorably reported. I recognized senator fischer for emotion. >> I move that the nomination to the federal maritime commission or the favorably reported.
▶ 0:34:42Chair Cruz: Second? Clerk will call the role. [calling names]
▶ 0:35:46Chair Cruz: The ayes are 20, the nose are eight.
▶ 0:35:50Chair Cruz: The motion is reported favorably. I know recognized senator moran for emotion. >> nomination of keith inclined to be an associate director of the office of science and technology. We favorably report.
▶ 0:36:03Chair Cruz: Is there a second? >> [calling roll]
▶ 0:37:07Chair Cruz: Ayes are 15, nos are 13.
▶ 0:37:13Chair Cruz: The nomination is armed to be imported favorably. I know recognized senator sullivan for emotion. >> I move that the nomination of trent morse to be a member of the board of directors over the metropolitan-washington airports authority we favorably reported. The clerk will call the roll.
▶ 0:37:33Chair Cruz: >> [calling roll] the
▶ 0:38:25Chair Cruz: Ayes are 15, the nos are 13.
▶ 0:38:31Chair Cruz: The nomination is ordered to be reported favorably. I know recognized senator blackburn for emotion. >> I move that 462-four, nomination of timothy petty to be assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere be favorably reported.
▶ 0:38:50Chair Cruz: >> [calling names] >>
▶ 0:39:51Chair Cruz: The ayes are 21, the nos are seven.
▶ 0:39:57Chair Cruz: I know recognized senator young for emotion.
▶ 0:40:01Senator Young: I move that the nomination of michelle schultz to be a member of the service transportation board be favorably reported. The clerk will call the role.
▶ 0:40:20Senator Young: >> [calling names] >>
▶ 0:41:08Senator Young: The ayes are 18, the nos are 10.
▶ 0:41:16Chair Cruz: Are there any members wishing to make remarks on any of the nominations today? If not, that concludes our markup and the nomination hearing for admiral lundy will begin momentarily. This executive session is adjourned.
▶ 0:45:12Chair Cruz: Good morning, the senate committee on science, commerce, and transportation will come to order. Always prepared. That is the motto and sworn mission of the united states coast guard. Unfortunately insufficient financial support over the years has left the coast guard without all of the equipment needed to stay prepared.
▶ 0:45:37Chair Cruz: Facilities are moldy, including needing water. >> he loves the coast guard, he's very emotional about this.
▶ 0:45:47Chair Cruz: [laughter] texas has a lot of coast, and we do love our coast guardsmen. Facilities are moldy and decrepit. Technology to thwart drug cartels and human traffickers is outdated. The united states has only three aging polar icebreakers whereas china has four and russia has more than 40.
▶ 0:46:16Chair Cruz: Earlier this year our committee and the trump administration took the momentous step toward changing that. The one big beautiful bell act made a historic $24.6 billion investment in the coast guard. It was the single largest appropriation in coast guard history. It includes funds to acquire at least five polar icebreakers, 40 helicopters, and nine patrol cutters.
▶ 0:46:45Chair Cruz: It unleashes $4 million for the short facilities like the boot camp barracks, multiuse training centers in the coast guard yard. Put simply, it funds the coast guard of the future. The coast guard need leadership to implement this investment. It needs a commandant who will reinvigorate efforts to protect and patrol america's waters. That's precisely why I'm so glad that president trump has nominated admiral kevin lunday.
▶ 0:47:14Chair Cruz: Since january, admiral lunday has served as the acting commandant of the coast guard. In this role he is exceptionally managed long-overdue surges of coast guard resources at the gulf coast and the pacific while also balancing the services of many other directors. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the coast guard seized nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine.
▶ 0:47:43Chair Cruz: By far the largest in its history and three times the annual average. That's the equivalent of 193 million lethal doses. More than enough to poison half of the united states population. Just since august, the coast guard's newly launched civic fiber has netted 100,000 pounds. These results show that the coast guard is dismantling narco terrorist networks before they even reach american shores.
▶ 0:48:15Chair Cruz: As admiral lunday has put it, we owned the seas. Along with partner agencies, the services that are securing our border. It recently launched operation river wall along the rio grande, deploying watercraft and tactical teams to help defer and defeat illegal immigration, smuggling and other national security threats. I have every confidence that this good work will continue under admiral lunday.
▶ 0:48:43Chair Cruz: A graduate the coast guard academy he has served his country for close to four decades, leading the coast guard cyber command, and the entire atlantic area including all U.S. waterways east of the rocky mountains. Now I look forward to leadership of the coast guard as commandant. >> thank you Mr. chairman. Admiral lunday, congratulations on your nomination.
▶ 0:49:11Chair Cruz: If confirm you will continue to lead a force of 41,000 active-duty and 7000 reserve and nearly 10,000 civilian employees as they fulfill this core mission of service providing maritime security, law enforcement, fisheries enforcement, icebreaking capacity and prevention response to the largest system of ports and waterways in the world.
▶ 0:49:36Chair Cruz: In nearly 2.5 centuries the coast guard has -- hurricanes, search-and-rescue missions, and national emergencies. From the icy waters of the arctic to the port of the puget sound, they keep america safe, protect our environment and keep commerce moving. But the coast guard is not without challenges, especially at this moment. I'll have many questions for you about how you plan to address those challenges.
▶ 0:50:02Chair Cruz: Unlike your predecessor youth and serving as acting commandant for nearly 10 months so you've been in the room already making decisions that directly impact the coast guard future. First I have serious concerns about where the coast guard is pulling back from its core mission of search-and-rescue. There are 23 vacant search and rescue stations with zero permanent staffing or assets.
▶ 0:50:26Chair Cruz: Even more concerning, the coast guard informed the committee that there is no plan to reopen the stations and there are reports of phased plans to shutter even more stations amid rumors about potentially privatizing search-and-rescue. While none of the current closures impact the state of washington, our fishermen are impacted when they are further north than oregon and they find coast guard small boat air rescue stations shuttered.
▶ 0:50:57Chair Cruz: The dungeons crab industry is one of the most dangerous fisheries in the nation and they rely on the coast guard. Admiral lunday, I expect you to provide clarity on that issue and I also expect you to address morale issues. I'm hearing at the service we need to make sure that in the backdrop of the firing of, not admiral -- 18 months after -- 18 months before the end of her senate confirmed term. That's never happened.
▶ 0:51:25Chair Cruz: They later she was evicted from her home and at the same time I think this is an appalling way to treat a top military officer who served the country with distinction. And it's not a responsible way to govern. It sends a clear message that professional independence can be overridden by petty grievances. Meanwhile there are still serious questions about resources. Last month the coast guard purchased two luxury executive aircraft for more than $172 million.
▶ 0:51:55Chair Cruz: Using funds intended for both search-and-rescue missions. So I expect to ask about that particular issue this morning as well.
▶ 0:52:07Chair Cruz: The coast guard plays an important role in assessing impacts like the bridge and what impact it would have on military and maritime traffic and completing a pulmonary assessment is necessary for the department of transportation to finish his environmental review, so I expect the coast guard to complete that promptly so we can get closer to replacing this bridge that is 108 years old.
▶ 0:52:30Chair Cruz: I also expect the coast guard to address the urgent issues at stage at cape -- a critical unit in the northwest. This includes emergency damage that has occurred at the base, bringing a comprehensive strategy to invest and ensure that it can continue to do its search and rescue missions.
▶ 0:52:53Chair Cruz: And I'd like to return to the coast guard's decades-long mishandling of the sexual conduct cases at the coast guard academy. I worked with senators baldwin, cruz and sullivan to initiate a dhs investigation into the coast guard cover-up. It's been two years in them still waiting for the results I inspect the expected general to finish this without delay and fully cooperate with the investigation.
▶ 0:53:22Chair Cruz: Rest assured that we will continue to hold the coast guard accountable on these issues. The committee work together to draft common sense legislation for the act of 2020 5000 expand coast guard authorities and programs hold perpetrators accountable, enhance investigations, and the legal process to improve victim services. I look forward to hearing about how we may improve the accountability and your leadership on that particular front.
▶ 0:53:54Chair Cruz: Again, congratulations on your nomination.
▶ 0:53:55Chair Cruz: Thank you, senator cantwell. We now recognize our friend and colleague from the great state of south carolina, senator graham. I would note that I expect you to get us as choked up and emotional about the coast guard as I am.
▶ 0:54:09Senator Graham: We have a plan apparently to move entire coast guard south carolina.
▶ 0:54:15Chair Cruz: Cure time is expired.
▶ 0:54:19Senator Graham: The reason I'm here as I've known admiral lunday for a while. He was born in columbia, south carolina. To both of you, chair and ranking member, I appreciate you acknowledging the role the coast guard plays. It is a mighty coast guard and we are the commerce committee and without the coast guard the less safe and less prosperous. Admiral lunday and his lovely wife linda are here. They dedicated 39 years of service to the U.S. coast guard.
▶ 0:54:52Senator Graham: He's a graduate of the U.S. coast guard academy with honors. The naval war college and george washington university law school. One thing I want to highlight, he's the first judge advocate in the history of the coast guard to be a commandant. I think now is a good time for that expertise. He served as a judge advocate in the air force and his experience, he's a cybersecurity expert. He's commanded forces all over the world.
▶ 0:55:21Senator Graham: He has been the commandant for the last 10 months. These are dangerous times in which we all live. He's got the expertise, the academic background, a character, the judgment to continue to lead the coast guard. I would urge you to continue making him the commandant. I think he's earned that distinction. His record is unblemished.
▶ 0:55:45Senator Graham: He understands the men and women of the coast guard because he has lived his life in their ranks. He's been all over the world in service of our nation and I just can't recommend him to you more highly. I'm proud of the fact that he started his life in south carolina and he is risen the ranks as a judge advocate all the way to the top.
▶ 0:56:05Senator Graham: That is something to be proud of, so I wish you and your wife all the best and I know that if you are the commandant of the coast guard and continue in that role, american will be safe and prosperous. Thank you.
▶ 0:56:19Chair Cruz: Thank you, senator graham. I now recognize admiral lunday for his opening statement.
▶ 0:56:24Admiral Lunday: Senator graham, thank you very much for the introduction. Good morning chairman cruz, ranking member cantwell, chairman sullivan, ranking member rochester. Distinguished members of the committee. I'm honored to appear before you today. I'm thankful to president trump and secretary gnome for their trust and confidence to nominate me at the next commandant of the coast guard subject to senate confirmation. I thank the committee for your enduring support for our service.
▶ 0:56:54Admiral Lunday: If confirmed, forward to working closely with the committee and the rest of congress. I also want to thank the team that helped prepare me for today. The most important part of that team is right here with me today, my wife. I am blessed by our 36 years of marriage and her enduring love and support that has enabled me to continue to serve in the U.S. coast guard. She's a proud military spouse and a champion for joint force family readiness.
▶ 0:57:27Admiral Lunday: She's also maintained her own professional career as a gifted speech language pathologist. She is remarkable and I would not be here today without her. I'm from a family of military service. My dad was a career army soldier , infantry and special forces. Rose from private to colonel. He fought in vietnam in the cold war and committed troops to combat in crisis. My mom was an officer in the army medical corps before raising three sons.
▶ 0:57:58Admiral Lunday: My parents taught me my values and instilled in me my faith in god. They set the example of its guided me throughout my life and inspired me to join the armed forces. When I joined the coast guard because I wanted to fight the spread of communism and the soviet union to stop drug smugglers and save lives. I wish drawn to the proud history of fighting and everyone at our nation's wars.
▶ 0:58:24Admiral Lunday: Over the past nearly 39 years I've served with senator -- crews and led them in the atlantic and pacific region and in cyberspace. I found the most joy serving as part of a coast guard crew alongside men and women who share the same values as me and who are without question the very best in the world at what they do. I'm fiercely proud to serve with them and inspired every day by their unwavering dedication.
▶ 0:58:55Admiral Lunday: Today as threats and challenges grow, I believe the american people need a strong and capable coast guard today more than ever. For the past 10 months, I've led the coast guard to achieve full operational control of our border by controlling, securing and defending our border. To facilitate commerce that is vital to our economic prosperity and mobility, by ensuring the safety and security of that commerce in physical and cyberspace.
▶ 0:59:24Admiral Lunday: Ensuring the coast guard is ready to respond to a crisis that comes with little or no warning. I prioritize taking care of our people, our most precious resource. The service readiness starts with the readiness of every coast guard man and women and their families and to that end we continue to work hard to improve access to quality health care and housing and childcare and strengthen our program.
▶ 0:59:47Admiral Lunday: At the same time I led the early and limitation of one of the most sweeping transformation and modernization effort for the coast guard and the last century.
▶ 0:59:56The Secretary: Security has directed me to transform the coast guard into a more agile, responsive and capable fighting force. This bold plan drives rapid innovation, delivers new capabilities at speed and scale and growth the coast guard by 15,000 military personnel.
▶ 1:00:15The Secretary: This transformation is coupled with a historic capital investment of $24.6 billion through the one big beautiful bill act that will rapidly deliver new boats, aircraft, infrastructure and technology. This down payment is the first step to ensure the coast guard remains always ready.
▶ 1:00:33The Secretary: If confirmed I'll leave the service under the direction of the secretary and the president and with a strong support of congress to ensure we continue to deliver the best value to the american I'm filled with hope for the future of our coast guard because no matter the challenges ahead, we will prevail. If there's one thing I know in our service history proves with a ready coast guard crew and the strong support of the american people, there was nothing we can't accomplish. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and I look over to your questions.
▶ 1:01:05The Secretary: -- look forward to your questions.
▶ 1:01:06Chair Cruz: Thank you. After years of neglect the coast guard is finally receiving the resources it needs to stop illegal immigration, intercept drug traffickers and keep americans safe at sea. Senate republicans fought hard to secure nearly $25 billion for the coast guard and the one big beautiful bill to fund the largest recapitalization of the coast guard in history.
▶ 1:01:32Chair Cruz: In your judgment, how big a deal is that investment of the coast guard?
▶ 1:01:37Admiral Lunday: Mr. chairman, is not only historic investment but comes at a time where the coast guard was facing decades of underinvestment that resulted in a spiral. This fusion of capital investment will enable us to recapitalize in the areas I've just described.
▶ 1:01:58Admiral Lunday: That coupled with higher sustained annual authorization appropriations, particularly the operating ones necessary to bring on those 15,000 men and women are going to enable us to be successful in the future.
▶ 1:02:10Chair Cruz: I very much agree. Another element of the one big beautiful bill is that we cut through layers of red tape and we get the coast guard flexibility to quickly buy a new ship aircraft. This would help you address urgent readiness stands before the funding window closes and adversaries get ahead of the U.S. your judgment, how would backtracking and reinstating those acquisition hurdles impact the coast guard need to deliver the paid for assets on time and on budget?
▶ 1:02:40Admiral Lunday: Mr. chairman, the relief provided in the one big beautiful bill act from the regular preacquisition requirements and title 14 chapter 11 is essential for our ability to move at speed and scale to deliver the coast guard in america need. So if that were to be pulled back, that would slow us down.
▶ 1:03:02Admiral Lunday: Those requirements are originally intended to reduce risk, but there resulted in delays and we did not move at the pace america needed us to move. And so a permanent change that allows us to not be bound by those that slow us down so we can continue to deliver at speed is vital.
▶ 1:03:19Chair Cruz: Thank you. Earlier this month, a coast guard base alameda, we saw what happens when anti-enforcement activism gets out of hand. During a protest by the radical left against immigration enforcement, a driver attempted to ram a truck into coast guard personnel. Meanwhile, the left has continued to vilify law enforcement and homeland security personnel simply for doing their jobs.
▶ 1:03:47Chair Cruz: Admiral lunday, what message does it send to your service members when acts of aggression like this are met with political indifference?
▶ 1:03:56Admiral Lunday: Mr. chairman, the safety of our coast guard men and women is our heart and soul. The coast guard men and women were faced with an imminent threat as a driver that truck reversed and accelerated toward them and presented a deadly force situation. All accounts that I know of and can see they acted in the discipline and professionalism to defend them sounds and also to protect the public.
▶ 1:04:25Admiral Lunday: The driver of that truck, there's an ongoing fbi investigation. The drivers been charged with a federal crime and our personnel acted with discipline and restraint in that situation.
▶ 1:04:37Chair Cruz: Turning to a different topic, iran has used maritime drug trafficking in the middle east including trafficking drugs on fishing taoists to finance its maligned activities. I know that you operating under the command of the navy but is it fair to say that the coast guard discovers illegal narcotics in this region, these would be drug traffickers face no punishment other than having the drugs seized?
▶ 1:05:05Admiral Lunday: Under the current practice under the department of war, that is the outcome. Seize and destroy the drugs, but we do not see is the vessel.
▶ 1:05:15Chair Cruz: And it's my understanding that the fishermen aboard face no legal punishment, is that correct?
▶ 1:05:20Admiral Lunday: That's correct in almost all cases.
▶ 1:05:23Chair Cruz: And the fishermen take control and are allowed to continue salmon after the interdiction.
▶ 1:05:31Admiral Lunday: Yes, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:05:32Chair Cruz: You will not be surprised to know that I think that makes no sense whatsoever and I very much hope the department of war changed the protocols in those circumstances. Shifting to another topic. For too long the coast guard's watch from the sidelines as russia and china have expanded their operations with fleets of heavy icebreakers. That's why the one big bit of a bill helped fund a modern icebreaking fleet.
▶ 1:06:01Chair Cruz: My understanding is that the coast guard is spreading a plan as directed by a presidential memorandum to phase construction and eventually transition production to U.S. shipyards including the great state of texas. What are some of the critical debates were having about that plan?
▶ 1:06:18Admiral Lunday: Mr. chairman, we are continuing to work on delivering that plan within 60 days of his october announcement. Our principal focus on that plan is to deliver and on ensuring strategy to determine that four of those would be built first overseas, but then women onshore that capability back into U.S. shipyards that strengthens a U.S.
▶ 1:06:47Admiral Lunday: Ship building industrial base built here in the U.S. by american workers.
▶ 1:06:54Chair Cruz: That is enormously important and I think it is going to have a profound and long-term effect. Final question, how do you expect the coast guard to take full advantage of these new security cutters to support U.S. presence and interest in the arctic? How will things be different for the coast guard going forward?
▶ 1:07:10Admiral Lunday: As you know the coast guard operates the only U.S. surface presence that accesses both of the polar regions. Particularly the arctic giveth the ability to have sustained presence to challenge adversary behavior. This summer we saw five chinese research vessels that were operating along our northern border within alaska along our extended shelf area.
▶ 1:07:36Admiral Lunday: We sent the medium icebreaker up there and the new commercial icebreaker stores that we just commissioned. But we need stronger sustained coast guard presence to be able to enforce sovereignty, protect our borders and our american approach.
▶ 1:07:54Chair Cruz: I very much agree. Senator klobuchar. Congratulations on your nomination and I'm going to take you to some colder places as senator cruz left off with that. The port of duluth, have you been there before?
▶ 1:08:11Admiral Lunday: Senator, I've not been to the port of two booth but I look forward to visiting.
▶ 1:08:15Sen. Klobuchar: Excellent answer. It is in fact the largest port by tonnage on the great lakes, 35 million tons of cargo, one of the nation's top 20 ports. We are very proud of it and there's all kinds of things shipped back and forth.
▶ 1:08:36Sen. Klobuchar: Senator baldwin and I as a result of her work on the great lakes have been really focused on the acquisition of a second coast guard great lakes icebreaker to be used on the great lakes and the port. Do you have the resources you need and can you talk about the import icebreakers?
▶ 1:08:52Adm Lunday: Senator, thank you. The great lakes as you know is a critical system to our national security. When the coast guard operates the current great lakes icebreaker, we need a second great lakes icebreaker.
▶ 1:09:11Adm Lunday: I want to thank the support of congress in the fy 2024 budget for appropriating $20 million to continue to reacquisition the analyze and select phase. But we need an additional $35 million to complete that phase and move toward that acquisition. I just released our 2026 priorities list and that includes a request for that additional funding on the priority list.
▶ 1:09:40Sen. Klobuchar: Very good, thank you. It is just so important for the future of the economy. I know you've worked on supply chains and what are some of the biggest challenges the coast guard is facing when trying to manage shipping vessels when there is congestion?
▶ 1:09:59Adm Lunday: Senator, one of the biggest challenges that we face is we have to keep the commerce moving. And while we keep it moving we also have to make sure it is safe and secure through our entire transportation system. Our ports, our waterways, and of course the great lakes system. We also license U.S.
▶ 1:10:21Adm Lunday: Mariners which is critically important to make sure that our mariners have the training and capability to be able to operate what will be a growing U.S. fleet under the president's direction to restore america's maritime commitments. All of that falls under the coast guard authority and responsibility.
▶ 1:10:38Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you. And you pledge to coordinate with very friendly neighbor to the north, canada, which is near there.
▶ 1:10:47Adm Lunday: Senator, we do. The coast guard has a strong operational relationship with canadian forces, whether it is medical or defense. A strong working relationship across our northern border and into the arctic. Yesterday I was a secretary known at the icebreaker collaboration meeting that she chaired with representatives of canada and finland.
▶ 1:11:13Adm Lunday: She talked about the importance of our partnership with not only canada, but also finland.
▶ 1:11:20Sen. Klobuchar: Senator mccluskey and I are meeting with members of the finnish parliament today about the same subject. The edmund fitzgerald, we just recognized the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the edmund fitzgerald, loss of 29 crewmembers, transporting for minnesota's iron range where my dad grew up.
▶ 1:11:45Sen. Klobuchar: It wasn't just a very famous song that came out of that, but coming out of that was a coast guard investigation that led to major changes to great lakes shipping practices. You should know increasing cold weather, 2000 minnesotans gathered outside on the north shore just last week to recognize the lost including some of their descendants' family members. You mentioned the coast guard's role in responding to the crisis is that come without warning.
▶ 1:12:15Sen. Klobuchar: Just to confirm that you will continue to prioritize that. We lost a coast guard station in grandma ray. We've now worked with a tribe for some funding to have a tribal coast guard because the coast guard comes from duluth, it is such a long way, it is worth looking into. But we do have some votes that can rescue people that the state and the tribe worked on together.
▶ 1:12:43Sen. Klobuchar: But just in general I would look into that and mandating it together and also just a commitment to continue to prioritize safety.
▶ 1:12:51Adm Lunday: Senator, if confirmed I look forward to working to prioritize safety and also to visit.
▶ 1:12:59Sen. Klobuchar: You would be a famous celebrity to come to duluth to see that port, only because we just love the coast guard there. So thank you.
▶ 1:13:08Adm Lunday: Thank you senator.
▶ 1:13:10Chair Cruz: And admiral, I will say it's excellent instincts if any member in this committee asks you to visit their state, the only answer is absolutely yes. Senator wicker?
▶ 1:13:21Senator Wicker: I would suggest you wear layers when you go to duluth.
▶ 1:13:27Sen. Klobuchar: Unnecessary. Sen. has benefits. I ran a corporation study on the students who participated in jrotc have higher grades, better attendance rates and are more likely to graduate than other students. Mississippi was pleased to welcome the coast guard's first jrotc program in the state at clinton high school in 2023.
▶ 1:13:59Sen. Klobuchar: This is in the heartland district of the coast guard. Let me also note that the coast guard is congressionally required to have a jrotc unit in every district.
▶ 1:14:23Sen. Klobuchar: In 2025, the senate passed the coast guard reauthorization act that included a negotiated provision directing you to expand jrotc to no fewer than 20 programs by the end of 2026. There are currently 14 programs. It shouldn't be too difficult for you to get from 14 to 20 by the end of next year. Would you comment about that?
▶ 1:14:49Admiral Lunday: Thank you senator wicker. The jr. Rotc programs are great programs and the one in clinton high school is one of our largest. I am proud to tell you that we are ahead of schedule in establishing a coast guard jr.
▶ 1:15:11Admiral Lunday: Rotc program in every of the -- every one of the coast guard's districts and if confirmed, I will work to complete the requirement by the end of 2026 as you described.
▶ 1:15:24Sen. Wicker: That is good to hear. Let's move to iuu, illegal underreported and under regulated fishing. It is a real problem. We have commended the coast guard for its service in -- area of the world. Do you believe the coast guard is serving U.S.
▶ 1:15:51Sen. Wicker: Interests of the indo pacific by combating illegal underreported and under regulated fishing?
▶ 1:16:00Admiral Lunday: Thank you senator, I do. This is a topic I have talked personally about. Combating iuu fishing is not just one of our statutory missions, it is an issue of national security, particularly against china. Throughout the indo pacific, we see fleets encroaching on nations and we don't always have the capability to push back.
▶ 1:16:31Admiral Lunday: Or even on the high seas, violating international rules about illegal fishing. The coast guard's presence in the indo pacific to enforce not only our sovereignty because beyond hawaii and our territories and their economic zones, there are broad other areas of U.S. sovereignty including small islands throughout the south pacific and we are responsible for protecting our sovereignty.
▶ 1:16:57Admiral Lunday: We also know the pacific island nations don't have the capability for our ships.
▶ 1:17:06Sen. Wicker: It is a more than $2 billion problem, iuu fishing. It is more than an economic problem. Human trafficking, forced labor and utter cutting -- undercutting a very vital industry in the united states. Finally let me ask this.
▶ 1:17:30Sen. Wicker: It is a bit of good news that amtrak has opened the service between new orleans across the gulf coast to mobile. Passenger participation has been through the roof, outstripping every optimistic projection.
▶ 1:17:56Sen. Wicker: One lingering issue, csx's effort to remotely operate several draw bridges in alabama and mississippi. This company has invested nearly $60 billion in safety and automation upgrades, to run a remote pilot due to the pandemic. They've been working for a full element -- full automation approval from the coast guard.
▶ 1:18:25Sen. Wicker: Would you be willing to work with me to resolve this issue and ensure the process better supports modern rail infrastructure while maintaining navigational safety?
▶ 1:18:37Admiral Lunday: I am aware of the issue and if confirmed, I look forward to working with you to resolve that.
▶ 1:18:44Sen. Wicker: I think if we work together we can get that resolved. The automation is ready and we need to find a way to yes, so thank you for that. Thank you Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:18:56Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator baldwin.
▶ 1:19:01Sen. Baldwin: Thank you. Admiral lunday, thank you for meeting with me in advance of this hearing today and for your service. When we met, you said that closure of a number of search-and-rescue facilities across the country is under consideration by the coast guard , including at least three in wisconsin. I actually think this would be a reckless decision.
▶ 1:19:30Sen. Baldwin: Search-and-rescue is one of the core missions of the coast guard. The people of wisconsin depend on the coast guard when disaster happens. The coast guard resources in the region are already stretched very thin. By the significant commercial and recreational usage of the great lakes.
▶ 1:19:54Sen. Baldwin: Any cuts to the coast guard's search-and-rescue capabilities means wisconsinites will be less safe on the water. Admiral lunday, will you commit today that you will not close facilities in wisconsin, and ensure that there are adequate search-and-rescue resources on the great lakes?
▶ 1:20:17Admiral Lunday: Senator, thank you for the question. Search-and-rescue is not just one of our missions, it is part of our dna, and the communities you are describing, unlike the other military services that live on base, we live in those communities, so we are neighbors. We took action to reduce staff and change the status temporarily several years ago because of a shortage.
▶ 1:20:47Admiral Lunday: I was at the atlantic area and I was part of the decision on where to take action to reduce staffing, so I was responsible for that. We are looking at those decisions to make sure we are not reducing search-and-rescue coverage in a way that unduly creates risk, but we are still assessing it.
▶ 1:21:12Admiral Lunday: Part of force designed 2028 is to look at our operating concepts and force structure throughout the coast guard everywhere we are located and we are just beginning that work. Part of that will be an assessment of where our stations are and other facilities are located as well.
▶ 1:21:30Admiral Lunday: We have not gotten deep into that work yet, so I'm not ready to commit that we won't close any stations, but there is a statutory process the coast guard will use moving forward, that includes public comment and input, and we know that the members of the public are very interested in coast guard facilities and stations in their community.
▶ 1:21:54Sen. Baldwin: Please keep me apprised. I know our communities in wisconsin that could be impacted by the closures would be very eager to provide input. You heard from my colleague about the port of duluth. We call at the twin ports of duluth and superior.
▶ 1:22:19Sen. Klobuchar: Please correct the record.
▶ 1:22:22Sen. Baldwin: We hope that if you visit duluth that you will also visit superior but I want to seriously focus as my colleague did, on the existence of only one heavy coast guard icebreaker in the great lakes.
▶ 1:22:39Sen. Baldwin: There are certainly smaller icebreakers there, but when we are talking about early winter and late winter commerce, we have a need for an additional heavy icebreaker. I think about when we've had heavy ice in the great lakes, the negative impact on commerce.
▶ 1:23:07Sen. Baldwin: It can affect billions of dollars in commerce and tens of thousands of jobs in the great lakes region. Over the last several years, I have advocated for both authorization of a second heavy coast guard icebreaker, but also funding to get that process moving.
▶ 1:23:30Sen. Baldwin: There is a lot of discussion of recent investment in coast guard assets, but I have seen progress on the heavy icebreaker. If confirmed will you commit to prioritizing this project so that the great lakes can be more accessible to commerce?
▶ 1:23:53Admiral Lunday: Senator, thank you. If confirmed, I will commit to prioritizing the acquisition of a second heavy icebreaker in the great lakes.
▶ 1:24:06Sen. Baldwin: I appreciate that. Finally, supporting strong by america standards is a top priority for me, especially when it comes to the areas under this committee's jurisdiction. Making sure that coast guard ships, components and equipment are produced in the united states guarantees that coast guardsmen are getting the best products while providing well-paying jobs to americans.
▶ 1:24:40Sen. Baldwin: I've been particularly concerned over the last several years with irregularities in coast guard procurement and I question whether the coast guard is fully adhering to buy american requirements. If confirmed, will you commit to following all of the buy american requirements for coast guard procurement?
▶ 1:25:03Admiral Lunday: Thank you for the question. I will commit to complying with the law are related to construction of coast guard cutters and assets in the united states.
▶ 1:25:17Admiral Lunday: I would note that for the arctic security program, under the president's authority, the announcement in october about the construction and national security need for construction and the first of four of those overseas to be able to onshore the remaining program back in the united states, but that was a specific action. The remainder of coast guard ship construction is conducted in the united states shipyards.
▶ 1:25:49Sen. Baldwin: Thank you.
▶ 1:25:50Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator sullivan.
▶ 1:25:55Sen. Sullivan: Great to see you again, I appreciate our meeting yesterday and I want to thank your wife, the master chief of the coast guard is here. I appreciated you coming up to alaska many times already. We love our coast guard in alaska. I don't like bragging about alaska but I always do. We have more coastline than the rest of the country combined, so the coast guard is really important.
▶ 1:26:23Chair Cruz: Did you just say you don't like bragging about alaska?
▶ 1:26:28Sen. Sullivan: I do like bragging about alaska. And you love hearing it. By the way this is an alaska-texas issue. The recent typhoon, the big floods in texas, just heroic efforts, you and our national guard and coast guard members saved 51 people in alaska. Unbelievable.
▶ 1:26:57Sen. Sullivan: Crews operated in the middle of a typhoon, isolated communities with no infrastructure, it was incredible. Please pass on my thanks in the community's thanks for the great work you do. It is never a better time to be in the coast guard. The chairman and I worked very closely with secretary noem and you on the budget reconciliation bill, the biggest investment in coast guard history, $25 billion.
▶ 1:27:29Sen. Sullivan: Walked past the senate liaison office, a giant sign for the coast guard, historic investment. Part of that, 16 icebreakers in the budget reconciliation bill. We need it as you know. The russians have 54 icebreakers, many of which are nuclear powered and weaponized. The chinese have more heavies than we do.
▶ 1:27:58Sen. Sullivan: We have two heavies and one is broken so we have a lot of work to do. I want to thank president trump who has been focused on closing this icebreaker gap. As you mentioned, the russians and chinese are all over my state and the arctic. We've had six russian incursions since august.
▶ 1:28:19Sen. Sullivan: We've had chinese ships doing research in the arctic, also known as spying, and off the coast of alaska all summer. The ice pack event was a great event yesterday, essentially what we want and you want to build icebreakers and deploy them. Can I get your commitment to work with this committee to doing just that?
▶ 1:28:48Admiral Lunday: I will work with this committee, yes or.
▶ 1:28:55Sen. Sullivan: In terms of importing icebreakers, especially the heavies in the mediums. I can't imagine any scenario where you would import the icebreakers where the ice actually is and where our adversaries are. That hasn't been the case always. I was the chair of the coast guard subcommittee.
▶ 1:29:19Sen. Sullivan: A few years ago, you announced he would put all heavy icebreakers in seattle, over 2000 miles away from the ice. I learned about it in a press release which I did not like. So there was zero consultation. Can I get your commitment or do you agree that was unacceptable? For the chairman of the coast guard to learn about the home porting of icebreakers in a press release?
▶ 1:29:47Admiral Lunday: I wasn't involved in that but I think it is important to the skill -- to consult with the committee and it was unacceptable.
▶ 1:29:54Sen. Sullivan: Let me get your commitment to work with me and this committee on the home porting of the medium icebreakers. Can I get your commitment?
▶ 1:30:07Admiral Lunday: Yes.
▶ 1:30:10Sen. Sullivan: I know the coast guard is working on plans right now. Is there any situate -- scenario in which a significant number of these medium icebreakers throughout the great lakes already, the heavies are going to go to seattle which I don't think makes sense but whatever.
▶ 1:30:31Sen. Sullivan: Is there any scenario in which a significant number of these medium icebreakers would not be home stationed in the arctic, in a state where the ice is, in the state where our adversaries are? Our adversaries are in alaska and the arctic a lot.
▶ 1:30:48Admiral Lunday: We have not made any decisions yet but we look forward to working with you as the chair and other members of congress on that decision-making process. I want to thank you for being with us in august.
▶ 1:31:09Sen. Sullivan: I want to get your commitment -- I already have it. Work closely with this committee, no blindside's for sure as what happened with the heavies. I appreciate your commitment. One final question. We talked about yesterday, about the delivery and timeline for the -- slated for kodiak. Are they still expected?
▶ 1:31:43Sen. Sullivan: Kodiak has the largest coast guard base in the country. Do you know the timeline?
▶ 1:31:46Admiral Lunday: I don't know the timeline but the third and fourth opc's delivered to the coast guard will be home ported their.
▶ 1:31:57Sen. Sullivan: We need to get you confirmed asap. There is so much work to do in the coast guard right now. It is a super exciting time. The congress of the united states has said enough of this -- hey the coast guard has this which I think is admirable but this eat of doing more with less.
▶ 1:32:21Sen. Sullivan: If you've got 50-year-old cutters and 60-year-old icebreakers, you can't do more with less so we said no, you will do more with more. That is why this bill we just passed is really exciting and it is a great time to be in the coast guard and I think you will be an exceptional leader and we need to get you confirmed asap. Thank you Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:32:44Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator kim e.
▶ 1:32:50Sen. Kimi: Thank you for your service to our country. I wanted to get a little more clarity from you in terms of the protocols when it comes to intersections of drug smuggling boats. Can you walk me through, as a coast guard approaching a drug smuggling boat, what are the next steps that happen?
▶ 1:33:12Admiral Lunday: Thank you for the question. Typically the coast guard is performing our drug interdiction mission as a matter of maritime law enforcement on the high seas, whether that is in the eastern pacific or the caribbean or other locations.
▶ 1:33:33Admiral Lunday: We normally receive information that could be from surveillance aircraft or other means that there is a suspected drug smuggling boat heading north and we will interdict that boat. Sometimes we use a armed helicopter to disable the boat and then go aboard and sees the boat and typically take a representative or take samples of cocaine that is on the boat if we can recover it and then destroy the boat as -- and then
▶ 1:34:06Admiral Lunday: Take the detainees operating the boat and process them, and take them wherever they are going to go.
▶ 1:34:13Sen. Kimi: You say armed helicopter. Is there a protocol for the coast guard to fire upon a ship with lethal force if unprovoked?
▶ 1:34:25Admiral Lunday: A normal use of the helicopter interdiction tactical squad, very specialized crews that do this work and they are trained and effective at disabling the engines. Any time they would use lethal force is if they were fired upon from the drug smuggling boat while operating as a law enforcement agency.
▶ 1:34:45Sen. Kimi: But without being provoked does the coast guard have legal authority to destroy a boat or kill the crew with lethal force if there has not been a provocation?
▶ 1:34:57Admiral Lunday: Operating out there under coast guard law enforcement authority, a maritime law enforcement agency, so that is not within our authority during our operations.
▶ 1:35:12Sen. Kimi: In your tenure so far , has anyone from the trump administration asked you if the coast guard is able to take action that would be against drug smuggling boats in the caribbean?
▶ 1:35:26Admiral Lunday: There are coast guard law enforcement authority continuing maritime law enforcement operations both in the caribbean and eastern pacific.
▶ 1:35:34Sen. Kimi: Have they asked you if you are able to use lethal force against these boats unprovoked?
▶ 1:35:40Admiral Lunday: No senator I have not had that discussion of the coast guard doing that as a maritime law enforcement agency.
▶ 1:35:47Sen. Kimi: Has the coast guard been asked to provide resources or assets to the current military buildup in the caribbean?
▶ 1:35:55Admiral Lunday: The coast guard is a proud member at all times of the military service and armed forces and the joint force and we regularly provide armed forces to operate under combat and commands all over the world, including U.S. cyber command, northern command in the indo pacific. When they operate in that mode, they operate under the authority of the department of defense. I would refer you to the department of war.
▶ 1:36:26Sen. Kimi: In terms of questions that came up earlier about the indo pacific that others have asked, I guess I just wanted to ask you, are we doing enough in the indo pacific when it comes to the coast guard actions?
▶ 1:36:40Admiral Lunday: Thank you senator. The indo pacific for the united states coast guard is not just an area somewhere over there. For us that is the U.S. homeland as well, not only because of -- but also our three U.S. territories in addition. That is the homeland. We have a responsibility to protect that border as well.
▶ 1:37:06Admiral Lunday: I had the privilege of serving out there from 2018 to 2020 and during that time we added nine cutters in the indo pacific because of the importance of our operations. With the support of congress, we have two additional fast response cutters that will be permanently based out there.
▶ 1:37:27Sen. Kimi: Do you think that level of resourcing and additions is enough?
▶ 1:37:33Admiral Lunday: It continues to move us in the right direction but I don't know that it is enough. I think we need more support. In the president's fiscal year 26 budget request, there is a request for an additional investment in operating funds specifically for the indo pacific to increase our operations.
▶ 1:37:53Sen. Kimi: I hope to work with you on that, I think it is incredibly important to make sure we are maintaining building up that capacity. Thank you I yelled back.
▶ 1:38:01Chair Cruz: Senator budd.
▶ 1:38:04Sen. Budd: Admiral, congrats on your nomination. In the big bill, 24 .6 million dollars of investment in the coast guard. This included $266 million for long-range unmanned aircraft systems.
▶ 1:38:26Sen. Budd: If confirmed, how will you use the new uas assets to more effectively perform coast guard missions especially in drug interdiction's?
▶ 1:38:36Admiral Lunday: Thank you for the question. We are looking at what the spend plan will be, which assets we purchase for the investment of long-range unmanned aerial systems. We have operated for over a decade with customs and border protection on a joint program office but we are looking at other solutions as well. We are currently prototyping one in san diego that has proven very effective.
▶ 1:39:07Admiral Lunday: It is longer-range but we are looking at different options to deliver that capability.
▶ 1:39:15Sen. Budd: Is that a clean sheet design or existing uis?
▶ 1:39:18Admiral Lunday: It is existing.
▶ 1:39:21Sen. Budd: Understood. I had a very good visit with the aviation logistics center in north carolina. I'm very proud of what they do their. It is the only maintenance facility for the coast guard.
▶ 1:39:39Sen. Budd: The big bill included $2.2 billion for maintenance facilities as well as $3.4 billion for 60 helicopters and c-130j airplanes. How might these investments impact the alc and the coast guard?
▶ 1:40:02Admiral Lunday: Coast guard engineers are the best in the world. The largest concentration of them is right there at the aviation logistics center in eastern north carolina. The investment in alc will be key to that.
▶ 1:40:19Admiral Lunday: We've already spent up to $80 million at the depot level maintenance line, to fund current gaps and that includes restocking critical parts for our fixed and rotary aircraft.
▶ 1:40:38Admiral Lunday: As we talk about the acquisition of up to 40 helicopters and six c-130j's, the support to that will happen right there at our location.
▶ 1:40:52Sen. Budd: Thank you. I want to talk about some of your disaster response. Hurricane helene devastated western north carolina and we are still working on recovery efforts. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, about 14 months ago, the coast guard responded and as I understand it, you saved about 21 lives across the southeast, so excellent work.
▶ 1:41:21Sen. Budd: Can you talk a little bit about your disaster response capabilities, particularly when responding to something more inland?
▶ 1:41:28Admiral Lunday: Thank you. It was very difficult to watch the devastating impact of helene on western north carolina. Our inland response capabilities and disaster response capabilities are a number of ways. We use our helicopters to be able to fly over inland areas, particularly where the state needs assistance.
▶ 1:41:59Admiral Lunday: We have coast guard authority to provide that assistance. A good example of that was the terrible flooding on the fourth of july last year in central texas, where we responded and successfully rescued people. For our response to helene, most of that, rescues were closer to the gulf coast but we did have a helicopter that went out and supported the national guard in their rescue efforts in western north carolina.
▶ 1:42:30Admiral Lunday: We also operate small skiffs powered by an outboard motor used for areas and can be used in a rapidly deployable mode for disaster response.
▶ 1:42:43Sen. Budd: Thank you very much.
▶ 1:42:45Chair Cruz: Thank you. Ranking member cantwell.
▶ 1:42:50Ranking Member Cantwell: We had a chance to talk about the I-5 bridge which is -- and if it is not operational would jeopardize $400 billion of freight. We discussed the fact that the coast guard to get to make a preliminary navigation clearance determination by january 6 or sooner. Can you commit to that deadline?
▶ 1:43:16Admiral Lunday: I commit to coming out with an updated navigation by that time.
▶ 1:43:24Ranking Member Cantwell: Thank you. The seafood industry is incredibly important to us. I've heard loud and clear from fishermen that coast guard search and rescue is vital to them. Do you have a plan to reopen the search and rescue stations that were temporarily closed?
▶ 1:43:50Admiral Lunday: We don't have a plan currently to reopen them. That is part of the assessment that the secretary has does -- has required of coast guard forces as we look at the operating concepts.
▶ 1:44:02Ranking Member Cantwell: So what do I tell the fishermen? About one of the coast guard is going to be there.
▶ 1:44:10Admiral Lunday: If there is someone in distress at sea, the coast guard will respond.
▶ 1:44:17Ranking Member Cantwell: If the stations are closed and there are no resources close by?
▶ 1:44:21Admiral Lunday: As we took actions to address that shortage in our personnel and through the force alignment initiative, we were very deliberate to making sure we still had adequate coverage even across those areas where we were going to take a station that was seasonal and turn it into a forward operating location, or we took a response station and changed it to scheduled only.
▶ 1:44:48Admiral Lunday: We are deliberate about the risk we are taking in those areas so we minimize any impact on our ability to timely respond to mariners in distress.
▶ 1:44:55Ranking Member Cantwell: I would like to go over that plane with you in more detail since we have such a great coastline. I will look forward to going over that with you. One of the other aspects of our coast guard presence in the northwest is the cape.
▶ 1:45:22Ranking Member Cantwell: Critical to our important strategy for the region, but also for the -- school which is very impressive. I remember the kevin costner movie where he rescues the woman and that is what we train people to do their. -- to do there.
▶ 1:45:45Ranking Member Cantwell: -- accommodate replacement of 52 to support the workforce, training and to help with critical infrastructure like protecting the rescue capacity and by dredging. Will you commit to those objectives?
▶ 1:46:00Admiral Lunday: I will. Coast guard boat drivers are the best in the world, including those who train them. It is critically important. The coast guard is going to expand hundred $10 million to address the dredging -- expand $110 million to address the dredging issue. We are going to work on a design that will be able to do that effectively.
▶ 1:46:29Ranking Member Cantwell: I welcome you to visit that area of the state. I brought up in my opening statement, obviously the challenges we faced about sexual assault, misconduct at the academy. Do you support legislation to improve coast guard oversight in terms of sexual assault and misconduct, establishing oversight, improving care for victims?
▶ 1:46:57Admiral Lunday: I commit if confirmed, working on any activity that will make the coast guard better able to combat and eliminate sexual assault from our organization.
▶ 1:47:09Ranking Member Cantwell: Would you approve a roll of the office of chief prosecutor? We have found that you have to have independence in oversight.
▶ 1:47:22Admiral Lunday: We currently have and have had since the changes to the national defense authorization, a flag officer who is our chief prosecutor in the coast guard who has the jurisdiction to prosecute those offenses, just as in the other military services.
▶ 1:47:46Ranking Member Cantwell: So there were 33 recommendations outlined by the previous commandant. I assume you work on a timeline to complete those.
▶ 1:47:57Admiral Lunday: I will. We've completed 24 of the 33 and we are working to complete the remaining ones. When those are done, we will not be finished because we are going to keep taking aggressive action to combat sexual assault. I only care for the victims of this terrible crime that is a cancer on our readiness. But also to make sure we have justice.
▶ 1:48:25Admiral Lunday: We investigate and prosecute those who commit these crimes and hold them fully accountable under the law.
▶ 1:48:28Ranking Member Cantwell: Thank you for that strong statement. Very much appreciate it. We talk about tsunami warning systems being canceled. I assume you would really appreciate tsunami warning systems in the coast guard.
▶ 1:48:43Admiral Lunday: I was not aware of that but we rely on tsunami warning because of the coast guard units around the pacific rim.
▶ 1:48:51Ranking Member Cantwell: Have you had a chance to talk about fentanyl and the challenges facing us and the cooperation between federal and state and local agencies? Do you support those kinds of efforts?
▶ 1:49:04Admiral Lunday: I do. On the 29th of january I directed a focused effort on fentanyl trafficking. It came from our discussion and the hearing last year before the committee. We have increased by 41%, our strikeforce operations targeting fentanyl and -- shipping and reports and that relies on a very strong relationship with state and local law enforcement and other federal partners.
▶ 1:49:33Ranking Member Cantwell: Thank you, thank you Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:49:35Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator blunt rochester.
▶ 1:49:40Sen. Blunt Rochester: Thank you for the meeting yesterday as well as our past briefings. One of the greatest honors for me was to be named ranking member of the coast guard maritime and fishery subcommittee. I take great pride in this role and take it very seriously.
▶ 1:50:05Sen. Blunt Rochester: As we discussed, I want to ensure that there is partnership and that we uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability and that we are fully committed to the well-being of our service and their families. I also shared with you, concerns about the coast guard not being politicized. The termination of admiral fagan left a poor taste for many.
▶ 1:50:41Sen. Blunt Rochester: The purchase of the two jets, I shared concerns even though we know there are some challenges with the current planes you have. What I appreciated in conversation was you focusing on making sure that you are mission ready, mission-critical. You are a political and just here to serve the american people.
▶ 1:51:07Sen. Blunt Rochester: And so hearing your vision was also very important to me as well. I recently had the honor of visiting a sector of delaware bay and I was proud to meet some really incredible individuals who love what they are doing and really are making a difference. I got a chance to talk to them about some of the concerns and challenges they have as well.
▶ 1:51:34Sen. Blunt Rochester: One of the top priorities for me has been affordable housing and for many of them, that is a huge challenge, so I wanted to make sure I put that on the record, and also asked what steps is the coast guard taking to ensure members assigned to high cost of living or high vacation rental markets can obtain safe affordable housing in the communities they serve? In delaware we are on that coast and it is really expensive.
▶ 1:52:03Admiral Lunday: Thank you. I want to make sure I address something you said in the beginning of the question. The purchase of the two c37 long-range aircraft. The coast guard operates as part of our fixed wing aircraft, these are military aircraft, we use them for command and control.
▶ 1:52:27Admiral Lunday: Secure, reliable, on-demand military transport and communications for the secretary, the deputy and regional command. That is part of the -- that is what we are purchasing.
▶ 1:52:39Sen. Blunt Rochester: But they have to be outfitted and refitted and retrofitted to make the military ready correct?
▶ 1:52:48Admiral Lunday: Yes they require a missionization process. Your question on the housing, that is critical to taking care of our people. We have three key areas we are focused on improving, access to available and affordable housing. The first is making sure that housing allowances reflect the cost of living. One way to do that is we increase the number of critical housing areas.
▶ 1:53:17Admiral Lunday: That enables us if there is not available housing in the market, it enables the coast guard person to have their family live elsewhere and then they get the benefit of a higher housing allowance. The second way is improving coast guard leased housing and the third way is building coast guard housing in places like alaska where we just opened some housing.
▶ 1:53:39Sen. Blunt Rochester: I know there had been an inaugural nationwide housing satisfaction survey. Will you continue to do that, continue to have regular structured feedback so that we can hear from the members themselves, and also tailor your housing policy?
▶ 1:54:00Admiral Lunday: We will. The housing survey is very important. What is also important is traveling around and meeting with the crews. -- will often hear from the family members and they sometimes tell a different story than the everything is great story that crewmembers tell me. She will hear about housing issues that she will take right back to me.
▶ 1:54:25Sen. Blunt Rochester: Excellent. Lastly I want to talk about supply chains. We talked a little bit about that in our supply chain legislation but as you know the coast guard, especially the cyber protection team is playing an integral role in improving the resilience of the maritime transportation system, which is key to our supply chain's.
▶ 1:54:47Sen. Blunt Rochester: How will you leverage the coast guard cyber capabilities to protect our ports and supply chains knowing that state actors like china or north korea continue to evolve in this space ? We can follow up with what is your strategic vision for that as well as it pertains to supply chains.
▶ 1:55:04Admiral Lunday: Thank you ranking member. We will use the authority we have, new regulations on cyber regulations to improve cybersecurity of U.S. facilities and shipping, so that has just gone into effect and that his groundbreaking regulation that is going to improve baseline standards. The second one you mentioned is deploying our coast guard cyber protection team. These are experts who are able to deploy in U.S.
▶ 1:55:32Admiral Lunday: Critical infrastructure, to harden that infrastructure and ensure that we are resilient in our supply chain, and also that signals to potential adversaries that they will be able -- they will be unable to hold our critical infrastructure at risk.
▶ 1:55:49Sen. Blunt Rochester: Thank you so much. Best of all to you.
▶ 1:55:53Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator markey.
▶ 1:55:57Sen. Markey: Thank you Mr. chairman and thank you for your service. I have worked with my colleague senator sullivan and senator wicker to support the commercial fishing occupational safety research and training program. This program is authorized for the annual coast guard bill and is administered through a memorandum of understanding from the department of health and human services.
▶ 1:56:28Sen. Markey: The program works with trusted local partners who understand the health and safety needs of our commercial fishermen. Mental and physical burdens, working in services for the fishing and safety programs, so admiral lunday, do you agree that fishing safety programs can help prevent catastrophe at sea?
▶ 1:56:54Admiral Lunday: Senator I agree. They are very important to prevent us from having search-and-rescue cases. The best search-and-rescue case is one that never happens because of good fishing safety programs like the one you mentioned.
▶ 1:57:11Sen. Markey: If confirmed will you support the ongoing implementation of fishing safety?
▶ 1:57:16Admiral Lunday: If confirmed I look forward to working with you on that.
▶ 1:57:21Sen. Markey: That is very helpful. Under the deepwater port act, the coast guard jointly processes deepwater license applications with ma. -- massive amounts of fossil fuels. This raises prices for americans at home and puts the health of our ocean in peril just to boost the profits of big oil and gas.
▶ 1:57:52Sen. Markey: Under the most recent coast guard authorization act, the coast guard would transfer its authority to act as the lead agency on environmental reviews of deepwater ports. Admiral lunday, is it true that the coast guard has 50 years of expertise in understanding construction, operation and the environmental impacts of deepwater ports?
▶ 1:58:17Admiral Lunday: The coast guard has significant experience with deepwater ports but -- owns the primary responsibility including managing that process. The coast guard and supporting them through that process, essentially that is under their authority.
▶ 1:58:38Sen. Markey: If the coast guard gives up its decades of expertise and authority in this area and it is then the understaffed ma -- maritime administration.
▶ 1:59:05Sen. Markey: They are not strong enough right now to remove the coast guard from the equation in terms of safety. I've introduced the no spills act to push marad to be more -- to protect the american public from spills and price hikes.
▶ 1:59:33Sen. Markey: I think it was a mistake to remove 50 years of expertise from this process, especially after we are seeing expansion. It is only going to get more dangerous. These accidents can occur.
▶ 1:59:50Sen. Markey: You need the smartest most experienced people on the job and by removing the coast guard and having an agency without the full level of personnel that they need, it is almost like they are putting this whole thing into a regulatory blackhole and that is dangerous because we have seen in the past the oil and gas industry just continues to move forward chasing profits.
▶ 2:00:21Sen. Markey: I thank you Mr. chairman and I thank you again admiral.
▶ 2:00:24Admiral Lunday: Thank you senator.
▶ 2:00:27Chair Cruz: Thank you very much. Senator peters.
▶ 2:00:33Sen. Peters: Thank you very much. It is good to see you here today. Congratulations on your nomination. I enjoyed the time we spent in my office and I understand that a number of my colleagues have already raised the 15th anniversary of the sinking of the fitzgerald it was a big story in michigan if two years ago -- in michigan 50 years ago.
▶ 2:01:00Sen. Peters: A reminder of how dangerous lake superior can be and the importance of the coast guard critical search and rescue missions. Folks in michigan love the coast guard and I also want to reiterate, we have addressed this question a few times but I want to reiterate concerns that I have about some permanent closures in the great lakes and my concern is in michigan and we
▶ 2:01:32Sen. Peters: Want to make sure -- because they are providing a critical service and we know there are going to be some operational adjustments that will be announced and if you could talk a little bit about that and how you see the services being provided to michiganders, experiencing record recruitment.
▶ 2:02:00Sen. Peters: With those extra folks coming in , will that potentially lead to additional support for your facilities in the state of michigan?
▶ 2:02:09Admiral Lunday: Thank you for the question and for sharing yesterday the letters from your constituents of strong support for the coast guard. I read those last night and I appreciated having that direct feedback from your constituents and our neighbors and communities in michigan. You know strong recruiting success we've had, more this year than any other time since 1981.
▶ 2:02:39Admiral Lunday: We just sponsored a recruit class and the caliber of those young men and women is remarkable, the best I have ever seen. Dressed about our presence in michigan -- you asked about our presence in michigan going forward. We had such a shortage, reducing our footprint and operating status.
▶ 2:03:01Admiral Lunday: That remains a temporary situation, but we are directing now to assess our operating concept and our entire force structure for where the coast guard is located. We haven't gotten far into that analysis yet. We will report to the secretary and we are just beginning that work.
▶ 2:03:19Admiral Lunday: Part of that will be making sure we understand the concerns of those in the communities and the senate here in the rest of congress in terms of our facilities throughout the united states, especially in michigan.
▶ 2:03:36Sen. Peters: I appreciate you referencing the letters that I brought and would ask unanimous consent that these letters are entered into the record.
▶ 2:03:45Chair Cruz: Without objection.
▶ 2:03:50Sen. Peters: Concerns about manning certain locations. In our office meeting, we talked about a variety of issues including visits to facilities in michigan and one I would like to talk about is the great lakes center for expertise and the concern about oil spills in the great lakes.
▶ 2:04:12Sen. Peters: The fact that we still need to learn a lot more about how we deal with oil, and regarding that for saltwater but fresh presents unique challenges. We think about the great lakes providing drinking water to over 40 million people. Could you share with the committee your takeaways from your visit to the center and how you believe it continues to be involved in your critical mission?
▶ 2:04:41Admiral Lunday: Thank you for asking and thank you for the support to create that center and have its work and its mission. I was able to go out there when I was commanding the coast guard atlantic area in january of 2023, to visit the region and I learned the important work that you do there -- that they do there to understand the critical nature of the great lakes system, not just from a national security perspective but also
▶ 2:05:15Admiral Lunday: Potential oil spills or environmental damage. So the importance of that informs our understanding and the ability to prevent activities that would cause that damage and then successfully respond to it.
▶ 2:05:34Sen. Peters: I have one brief question. Coast guard personnel including those in michigan reported to me significant challenges obtaining housing, particularly in areas of high demand, which we have along our lakes.
▶ 2:05:58Sen. Peters: Just a quick question, what actions do you plan to take to address housing challenges facing the coast guard, specifically in michigan and other high tourist areas where it is a real problem?
▶ 2:06:11Admiral Lunday: Housing is critical to the readiness of our families and their ability to be ready for the mission. One of the first things we did, we made sure that the information that feeds into the broader system that all military service is collect -- to calculate housing is accurate.
▶ 2:06:32Admiral Lunday: One of the things the great lakes district commander at the time did several years ago was made a company to gather that data that was more accurate and you could feed that into the system so we could more accurately reflect the outcomes and the cost of housing.
▶ 2:06:48Admiral Lunday: Another parallel effort is to designate additional critical housing areas that enable personnel to have their family in another area if necessary to take advantage of that higher housing allowance. The other area we are looking at is expanding the use of government leased housing.
▶ 2:07:12Admiral Lunday: When the coast guard leases housing and members come into the area, rather than spending time and effort trying to find housing, we already have a home or apartments or a block of homes they can live in. It is a challenge because our personnel don't typically live on large faces.
▶ 2:07:31Sen. Peters: I appreciate your attention to that. Thank you for that.
▶ 2:07:34Chair Cruz: Thank you. Senator lujan.
▶ 2:07:37Sen. Lujan: Thank you very much. Admiral for years, I've been pushing one administration after another to go after the cartels and drug trafficking. We all represent a lot of people who have lost lives and were preyed upon.
▶ 2:07:59Sen. Lujan: I've also been after administrations to say that we should be going after financial institutions in a meaningful way, that are suspected of laundering money for cartels. Those folks just pay a fine and no one ever goes to jail. It becomes the cost of doing business. Something has to be done in this space. Any attention brought to stopping this nonsense, I would appreciate.
▶ 2:08:27Sen. Lujan: With that, I have a lot of questions and there is no clarity I am aware of that has been shared from the administration to members of congress outside of maybe one -- that was available to a few members of the senate and you are asked about military strikes on vessels in the caribbean.
▶ 2:08:55Sen. Lujan: 83 people have been killed if I have the number correct unless something happened. My question is does the U.S. coast guard have a role in these military strikes on vessels in the caribbean or pacific?
▶ 2:09:11Admiral Lunday: Thank you for the question. Under our maritime law enforcement authority, we are not involved in the department of war operations you have described.
▶ 2:09:23Sen. Lujan: Are you aware -- I'm still going to call it the department of defense -- utilizing the coast guard maritime law enforcement authorities to conduct the strikes?
▶ 2:09:36Admiral Lunday: I am not aware of that.
▶ 2:09:38Sen. Lujan: As a lawyer and career coast guard officer, do you believe the strikes fall within U.S. and international law?
▶ 2:09:46Admiral Lunday: Those strikes you are describing are being carried out under the department of war's authority, so I will leave that with them.
▶ 2:09:57Sen. Lujan: You are the top person at the coast guard aren't you?
▶ 2:10:00Admiral Lunday: I am the acting commandant.
▶ 2:10:04Sen. Lujan: You are a career coast guard officer?
▶ 2:10:07Admiral Lunday: Yes senator.
▶ 2:10:09Sen. Lujan: One of the most knowledgeable people serving the coast guard today. I will ask the question one more time. As a lawyer and career coast guard officer do you believe these strikes fall within U.S. and international law?
▶ 2:10:26Admiral Lunday: My focus as the acting commandant is on our operations under coast guard maritime law, not the department of war operations. I would refer to them to answer those questions on military activities.
▶ 2:10:42Sen. Lujan: Have you been pulled in to any meetings around this?
▶ 2:10:45Admiral Lunday: I have not been involved in meetings regarding those military activities.
▶ 2:10:50Sen. Lujan: The secretary of defense has not had a conversation with you about these strikes?
▶ 2:10:59Admiral Lunday: I have not had a conversation with them about this -- about these strikes.
▶ 2:11:06Sen. Lujan: Is this the coast guard's response ability in the caribbean and the pacific -- responsibility in the caribbean and the pacific?
▶ 2:11:18Admiral Lunday: We are continuing to execute the direction of the secretary of homeland security under law enforcement authority. That is one of a series of instruments that are available to the president and we are continuing activities under that authority and making record seizures of drugs. This morning the coast guard was offloading in florida a record amount of drugs that they seized in the eastern pacific as part of operation pacific viper.
▶ 2:11:47Sen. Lujan: This is the coast guard's mission.
▶ 2:11:50Admiral Lunday: That is a coast guard mission.
▶ 2:11:52Sen. Lujan: I applaud you for that. I agree that the U.S. coast guard vessels have been effective. In 2025, the numbers I have is you've disrupted over 402 metric tons of cocaine, estimated value of $7.2 billion. Do your interdiction operations yield intelligence opportunities beyond the mission?
▶ 2:12:18Admiral Lunday: Our interdiction operations yield intelligence.
▶ 2:12:23Sen. Lujan: To those efforts contribute to helping prevent pirate -- private -- piracy and smuggling?
▶ 2:12:32Admiral Lunday: Yes.
▶ 2:12:33Sen. Lujan: Have they resulted in intelligence that could be used to dismantle networks and prosecute individuals involved?
▶ 2:12:40Admiral Lunday: Yes sir. We have gathered intelligence that is fed into the cycle and that continues today with the introductions.
▶ 2:12:51Sen. Lujan: It sounds like this is all the mission of the coast guard. I'm surprised that the secretary of defense, they did not even talk to you about this. That sounds disrespectful and irresponsible. I apologize but I am out of time. I hope that gets corrected.
▶ 2:13:15Sen. Lujan: I hope the secretary appreciates your expertise in service to our country, what you have achieved and what you have done, and is willing to pull you in. Mr. secretary if you are listening to this, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Have a good conversation with this wise person.
▶ 2:13:36Chair Cruz: Thank you. Admiral lunday my final question is required of all nominees. It confirmed do you pledge to work collaboratively with this committee to provide thorough and timely responses to the committee requests and to appear before the committee when requested?
▶ 2:13:51Admiral Lunday: Yes Mr. chairman.
▶ 2:13:53Chair Cruz: Senators will have until the close of business on november 21 to submit questions for the record, the nominee will have until the close of business on november 24th to respond to those questions. That concludes today's hearing, the committee stands adjourned.
▶ 2:14:07Admiral Lunday: Thank you Mr. chairman.