Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released today the legislative language of his Subcommittee's mark of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Chairman Forbes wrote legislation that authorizes funds and sets priorities for large parts of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
"The last eight years have shown that bowing down to bullies or ignoring them does not make them go away. We need to make sure that when we have men and women from this country who are willing to stand up to them, that they have the resources they need to win that fight. Among those resources are the ships and planes necessary to win and come home safely," Chairman Forbes said.
"Hampton Roads is the epicenter for national defense in this country, and its strategic importance as a center of shipbuilding and ship repair make it a national strategic asset," Chairman Forbes said. "This legislation strengthens Virginia's maritime industrial base by investing in additional ships, increasing funding for ship maintenance, and preventing further cuts to critical assets like our Navy's cruisers or a Carrier Air Wing. It is a down payment on the 350 ship Navy America needs. As the world becomes more dangerous, the U.S. will rely even more on its Navy to support our national security. And the Navy will continue to rely, as it has always done, on Hampton Roads."
Highlights of the Seapower Subcommittee mark include:
Revitalizes Navy Shipbuilding and Accelerates Key Programs in Hampton Roads. Forbes' legislation authorizes procurement of 3 additional ships (a destroyer, an amphibious ship, and a Littoral Combat Ship) above the administration's budget and provides an additional $2.3 billion for shipbuilding beyond the President's budget request. $8 billion of the funding authorized in Forbes' legislation is for work on aircraft carriers and submarines performed in Hampton Roads.Between the shipbuilding account and the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund, it authorizes $20.6 billion for shipbuilding--the highest level of shipbuilding funding, accounting for inflation, since President Reagan was in office.
Calls for Navy to Build Aircraft Carriers 20% Faster. Forbes' legislation calls upon the Navy to build aircraft carriers every four years instead of five, a change in tempo that will increase the size of the carrier fleet and create more jobs at Newport News. The mark also authorizes the "block buy" of components for multiple carriers, reducing costs for the taxpayer. Carriers will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. Navy's ability to prevent and win America's wars.
Prohibits Inactivation of Navy Cruisers. Forbes' legislation prohibits the Navy from simultaneously inactivating 11 of 22 cruisers under its "phased modernization plan" and holds the administration accountable for cruiser modernization by withholding funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense until modernization contracts have been signed.This will help ensure that the Navy keeps these important vessels in service for years to come.
Denies Administration's Request for Authority to Deactivate a Carrier Air Wing. Forbes' legislation, along with efforts made by the Readiness and Military Personnel Subcommittees in their marks, denies the Navy's request to deactivate one of ten Carrier Air Wings and funds the continued operation of this critical capability. The Air Wing allows the aircraft carrier to remain the principal instrument of American power projection around the world.
Directs Navy to Study Increasing Attack Submarine Production. Forbes' legislation directs the Navy to report to Congress on options for building additional Virginia-class submarines at Newport News. These vessels, which are vital for the Navy's continued undersea dominance, are a key component of the dynamism of Hampton Roads' industrial base. While the U.S. Navy's submarine force is shrinking, it is estimated that by 2030 China will have 99 submarines in service.
Grants New Authorities to the National Sea-Based Deterrent Fund. The legislation shifts funding for procurement of the Ohio Replacement submarines into the NSBDF and grants the fund additional authority for "continuous production," allowing the Navy to procure components like missile tubes in one large production run at substantially lower cost.The Congressional Budget Office has noted that this fund, established by Forbes in 2014, will save several hundred million dollars per boat.
Sustains Maritime Security Program's Fleet. Forbes' legislation provides a stipend of $5 million for each ship in the Maritime Security Program, ensuring that we sustain a 60-ship fleet and a robust merchant in peacetime and in war.
Continues Landing Craft Overhaul Program at Joint Base Little Creek. Forbes' legislation restores funding for the service life extension of 4 air-cushioned landing craft (LCACs), continuing a service life extension program (SLEP) prematurely stopped in the President's budget.These critical vessels, designed to get our troops safely to their onshore objective, will undergo their service-life extension at Joint Base Little Creek.
Authorizes Funds for Amphibious Ship Construction. Forbes' legislation provides funding and grants authority to the Secretary of the Navy to accelerate procurement of the next-generation LX(R) amphibious ship or a 13th San Antonio-class amphibious ship (LPD-29), enabling the Navy and Marine Corps to more rapidly mitigate the shortfall in amphibious lift.
Restores Funding for Maritime Heritage Grant Program. Forbes' legislation redirects revenue from ship recycling to the Maritime Heritage Grant Program, ensuring that funding goes back to expert-run maritime museums in Virginia and around the country.
Supports Other Critical National Security Projects. Forbes' legislation fully funds the Air Force's B-21 Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B);doubles procurement of the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) by 98 missiles; and authorizes $385 million for the third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that had previously been struck from the President's Budget.
In addition to these provisions in Chairman Forbes' Seapower legislation, Forbes worked to include provisions in the broader annual defense policy bill that:
Supports the Ship Repair Industry. In coordination with the Readiness subcommittee, Forbes worked to increase funding for ship repair beyond what was requested by the administration, while also directing the Navy to work with industry to avoid workload fluctuations and layoffs
Funds Military Construction Projects in Hampton Roads. In coordination with the Readiness subcommittee, Forbes worked to secure funding for 2 military construction (MILCON) projects at Langley Air Force Base, and to provide additional funding for the recapitalization of the magazine at Norfolk Naval Station's Chambers Field, a project that went unfunded in the President's budget.
Encourages the Navy to Work with the Port of Virginia. In coordination with the Readiness subcommittee, Forbes included language in the bill's report encouraging the Navy to work with the Port of Virginia on dredging and mitigating the increased commercial traffic anticipated in Hampton Roads.
Supports Increased Military Missions at Wallops Island. As a member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Forbes included language that recognizes the growing military significance of the state-owned spaceport at Wallops Island and directs the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency to identify opportunities to enhance Wallops' role in national security.
Increases Readiness funding for work in Hampton Roads. Forbes advocated for increased readiness funding to pay for items on the Navy's unfunded requirements list, including ship and aviation depot maintenance and facility restoration and modernization projects at Naval Station Norfolk, Oceana, Little Creek, and Wallops Island.
Authorize Additional F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35 Lightning II Strike Fighters. Forbes worked to authorize procurement of additional F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II Strike Fighters on the Navy and Marine Corps' unfunded requirements lists.