Lawmaker lights fuse under Coast Guard to get report

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., threatened the Coast Guard again Thursday, informing an official that his committee will not approve any increases in the agency's fiscal 2006 budget if the agency misses a second deadline for a report on its beleaguered Deepwater program.

"If we don't get that report by the 25th, are you ready to pay the consequences?" Rogers asked Coast Guard Commandant Thomas Collins.

In response, Collins said the agency understands Rogers has a "short fuse," but quickly added a "short timeline to do your work."

Rogers has warned Homeland Security Department officials over the last month that their agencies would suffer fiscally this year for missed deadlines and lack of communication.

The Deepwater program was created to modernize the Coast Guard's aging fleet of cutters and aircraft at a cost of $17 billion over 22 years. Several lawmakers want to accelerate the program at a cost of $13 billion over 10 years.

But Collins told the panel Thursday that President Bush's request for $966 million next year -- $242 million more than last year's amount -- does not reflect an accelerated schedule. Collins said most of the adjustments in the program are based on improving capabilities.

Last year, the agency adjusted the program to reflect its new homeland security responsibilities. In the department's fiscal 2005 spending bill, appropriators required the Coast Guard to explain the revised plan, but they have yet to receive the report. Rogers agreed to extend the deadline to later this month after new Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff asked for more time to review the program.

Other committees have also asked for the revised plan at recent hearings and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee told the agency last week that it could not move forward with its annual authorization measure until it receives the information.