Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez | Official U.S. House headshot
Chairman Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida, recently convened a hearing to address the delays in the U.S. Coast Guard's Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, Gimenez expressed concerns over the extended timeline and increased costs associated with the icebreaker fleet's construction.
The PSC program was initially set to deliver its first operational cutter by 2024. However, due to various setbacks, this has been pushed back to 2030 at the earliest. "Today, we are reviewing the progress—or lack thereof—of the Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter program," stated Congressman Gimenez during his opening remarks.
Gimenez highlighted the strategic importance of Arctic operations for national security and economic interests. He pointed out that other nations like China and Russia are rapidly advancing their icebreaking capabilities. "For example, the People's Republic of China...is rapidly expanding its icebreaker fleet," he noted.
The United States currently relies on an aging heavy icebreaker, POLAR STAR, and a medium icebreaker, HEALY. Gimenez described this as "unacceptable" for a nation with significant resources and power. The cost overruns and management issues within the PSC program have drawn criticism from various quarters.
"The Coast Guard now estimates that the delivery of the first Polar Security Cutter will cost significantly more than originally anticipated," Gimenez added, referencing a report by the Congressional Budget Office released in August 2024.
Despite these challenges, there is cautious optimism regarding ongoing efforts between Bollinger Shipyards and the Coast Guard to address these issues. "Bollinger is making significant progress toward faithfully executing the PSC Program," said Gimenez.
The hearing aimed to assess current progress and determine necessary actions moving forward. Vice Admiral Allan was present as a witness to provide further insights into this critical issue.
Congressman Carlos Giménez represents Miami-Dade County and is known for his unique background as a Cuban-born member of Congress who previously served as Fire Chief of Miami.
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