The Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing convened to review the effectiveness of US Coast Guard (USCG) operations in combating fentanyl and other drugs during a hearing on September 19, according to a news release from Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office.
“In recent years, fentanyl has killed thousands of Wisconsinites, devastating families and communities in every corner of the state. I’ve heard from mothers who lost children, cops and paramedics on the front lines, and advocates – all demanding we do more to end this crisis. This crisis demands a whole-of-government effort and I’m pushing to ensure all law enforcement and armed forces are working in lockstep to protect our communities. The Coast Guard plays a critical role in disrupting the global fentanyl supply chain, and I called this hearing today to see how we can bolster their efforts, including stopping the flow of precursor chemicals from China,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin in a September 19 news release.
The hearing, titled “Coast Guard Drug Interdiction and Enforcement in the Maritime Environment,” featured various witnesses from the USCG. These included USCG Vice Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday, Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force South Rear Admiral Jo-Ann Burdian, Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force West Rear Admiral Bob Little, and Director of Homeland Security and Justice U.S. Government Accountability Office Heather Macleod.
“Drug interdiction is a priority Coast Guard mission and one for which the Service is uniquely qualified. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Coast Guard removed over 96 metric tons of cocaine, bringing our six-year total to 977 metric tons removed. While this is a substantial amount, it falls short of our annual goals for several reasons, including fewer available surface interdiction assets – Coast Guard cutters and Navy ships – and increased demands from the Coast Guard’s other missions,” said Lunday.
Senator Baldwin is a Wisconsin native with an extensive educational background. She graduated from Madison West High School and Smith College with a double major in political science and mathematics. She earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989. Her political career began in 1986 when she served on the Madison Common Council. Baldwin later served four terms on the Dane County Board of Supervisors before being elected State Representative for the 78th District in 1992. She served three terms before being elected to represent Wisconsin’s Second Congressional District. Baldwin was elected to the Senate in 2012.
