WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine “Frontline Defenders: How the Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces Combat Narcoterrorists and other Maritime Threats on the High Seas.”

“For far too long, narcoterrorists and foreign adversaries have exploited weaknesses along our maritime borders to flood our country with deadly drugs, poison American communities, and undermine the rule of law. That era is over. Under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, border security on land and at sea are once again a top national priority,” Chairman Carlos Gimenez said. “Operation Absolute Resolve delivered a decisive blow to a criminal narco-regime with the swift capture of Nicolás Maduro and set in motion the restoration of democracy and the rule of law throughout the Western Hemisphere. The United States Coast Guard plays a unique and indispensable role in defending our homeland in this region. As threats from Communist Cuba and Communist China continue to grow, we must ensure our Coast Guard has the specialized workforce, real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated strength, and cutting-edge capabilities needed to confront these threats head-on and keep America safe.”

Watch the full hearing HERE.

Read Chairman Gimenez's opening statement as prepared for delivery below:

Good morning, everyone, and thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. I appreciate you both being here despite a partial shutdown, including for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I am hopeful we can reach a deal this week to reopen DHS so they can return to their
important work protecting and serving the American people.

Today’s hearing will focus on the Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces, and particularly their role in halting maritime narcotrafficking, smuggling of illicit goods, and related threats from Communist dictatorships.

For far too long, Venezuela’s export of sanctioned oil and drug cartels has prolonged the regime of Nicolas Maduro, harming both the Venezuelan people and the security of the United States.
On January 3rd, Operation Absolute Resolve marked a turning point in dismantling Venezuela’s regime with the swift capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife. This powerful operation begins to restore democracy for the people of Venezuela and upholds the rule of law. I commend President Trump, our military, and diplomatic leaders for their coordinated efforts to complete this successful operation. This decisive action sent a clear message to adversaries worldwide: The United States
must not be trifled with.

This operation is personally significant to me, as my family fled to America from the Cuban Communist regime over seventy years ago. The United States is the shining light of democracy, and through this Operation, can support a future of democracy in Venezuela. America is a
leader in peace through strength and must continue to confront threats around the world.
Cuba must be considered next: Just the other day, I echoed President Trump’s executive order to impose strict tariffs on all countries that send oil to Cuba’s dictatorship, to end the Castro regime once and for all. I have called for the immediate end of oil shipments to Cuba that fund the
corrupt communist regime and crush the Cuban people.

It’s why I am eager to hold today’s hearing on the Coast Guard’s role in protecting our homeland from Venezuela’s actions, which helped pave the way for the success of Operation Absolute Resolve. Securing our maritime front by halting and disrupting these sanctioned oil tankers
from Venezuela is key to unlocking security and freedom in our corner of the Western Hemisphere. We are grateful for the Coast Guard’s bravery and exceptional tactical operations to properly conduct these right-of-visitation boardings and seize vessels found in violation of U.S. and international law.

This hearing will highlight the Deployable Specialized Force’s historic drug interdiction results, seizing nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine in Fiscal Year 2025. We also have the opportunity to hear how the Deployable Specialized Forces have become one of the most tactically capable maritime forces of the United States, and what their future holds amid an ever-increasing maritime threat landscape.

We appreciate GAO for being here to testify to its review of the Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces and areas for improvement. Congress should consider GAO’s recommendations and provide further direction for the future of the Coast Guard. We should also consider the
initiatives laid out in the Coast Guard’s recently released Force Design 2028, which calls for a Deployable Specialized Forces Command.

We are grateful to have the witnesses here today to discuss this important topic, and also appreciate the Coast Guard’s willingness to work with us in order to continue this dialogue in a classified setting in the near future, so Members can learn more about the specifics of these oil tanker seizures off the coast of Venezuela. Hearing directly from operational leaders from the Joint Interagency Task Force South would be beneficial for Members to receive further details on operational impacts, emerging threats, and any ongoing challenges.

Thank you, and now I recognize the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Carter, sitting in for Ranking Member McIver today, for his five minutes for an opening statement.

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