Congress, federal agencies decline to help coast guard fund new polar icebreaker.

• Author: Munnell, Christina
• Position: Homeland Security News

The Coast Guard needs $1 billion to build a new polar icebreaker. Members of Congress at a recent hearing said the service wasn't going to get it. At least not from them.

Although a Navy representative and officials from other federal agencies testified to the importance of attaining a new icebreaker for the Arctic, none of them promised to help the Coast Guard out with the pricey project.

"You're not going to get the $1 billion from this Congress to build a new icebreaker. That's simple. You're not going to get it," Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, told a senior Coast Guard official at a House Transportation Committee Coast Guard and maritime transportation subcommittee hearing.

Committee members said they were skeptical of funding a new polar ship because the agencies have failed to come up with a collaborative budget plan. Represented at the hearing were leaders from the Department of State, Department of Commerce, National Science Foundation and the State of Alaska.

While committee members agreed that outside agencies needed a new icebreaker to guarantee security and access during Arctic missions, they criticized the agencies' unwillingness to contribute funds to the Coast Guard.

"The gap between what is needed to effectively implement the Arctic strategy and what is requested and funded is huge, growing and, frankly, doesn't work," said Ranking Member Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif.

As navigable waters in the Arctic continue to expand, pressure is being put on U.S. forces--especially the Coast Guard--to increase presence in the region and keep the homeland safe, said Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. He was pessimistic about the current state of U.S. icebreakers to carry out this mission and feared that rival nations had more determination to develop polar vessels.

"The U.S fleet of icebreakers is in a dismal state . . . we have one that can't go in the thick ice at all," Hunter said.

The Coast Guard is the sole federal agency responsible for managing the nation's polar icebreakers. Currently, the U.S. operates just two: the Healy and the Polar Star. The Healy is a medium-sized ship mostly used for scientific research. The Polar Star is the lone heavy icebreaker.

Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, vice commandant of the Coast Guard, said those vessels are becoming dated. The Polar Star is expected to last only another six to nine years. These vessels are essential for securing the high seas, protecting natural resources and enforcing maritime...