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Coast Guard leader: More money needed to compete in Arctic

By JOHN ANTCZAK and JULIE WATSON
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Strapped with an aging fleet, the
U.S. Coast Guard is about to award a contract for a
much-needed new icebreaker to help compete against
Russia and China for a presence in the Arctic, but the
service needs more funding for operations and infrastruc-
ture, its commandant said Thursday.
Adm. Karl Schultz also outlined the Coast Guard’s plans
to improve conditions for women and minorities in an
annual address to personnel at the Port of Los Angeles,
which combined with nearby Long Beach harbor form
the world’s eighth-largest port complex.Schultz said he
appreciated the resources in the federal budget, but “to
be an absolutely ready, relevant and responsive service,
requires a 5 percent annual increase in operating and
support funding.” “As Congress makes tough final deci-
sions and looks to the best ways to spend the nation’s pre-
cious resources, there’s not a better return on investment
in government than your United States Coast Guard,” he
said. Funding for operational support has been flat for the
past eight years, resulting in deferred maintenance, a
strained and undersized workforce, antiquated informa-
tion systems and a backlog in shore infrastructure needs
that now exceeds $1.7 billion, he said. Adm. Karl Schultz, Coast Guard commandant, delivers the 2019 State of the Coast Guard Address
at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro, Calif., Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Continued on Page 2 Associated Press